In 2018 an exceptional drought plagued parts of northwestern Missouri. Cities and towns reported water supplies falling to critical levels.
Livestock farmers worried about hay reserves and row crop farmers were eyeing the situation with caution as planting season neared.
For Missouri, September 2017-January 2018 ranked as the driest September to January period in more than 40 years, according to University of Missouri Extension climatologist.
The statewide average precipitation for the period was 8.3 inches—slightly more than half the normal of 15.9 inches. That situation has changed. But maybe not for the better as historic flooding is now in the news.
Mandi Bird, Farm Service Agency County Executive Director, reported that from January 1 to April 30 of this year, the area is 1.28 inches above normal for rainfall.
She’s measured total rainfall for May at 6.94 inches so far. As of Tuesday morning it had rained 3.22 inches over the last few rainy day period and it was still raining.
The 30 year average rainfall for May is only 5.3 inches.
According to the Missouri Crop Progress Report, which ended last week, not quite three days were suitable for fieldwork last week. 95% of the corn was planted last year, compared to 62% this year; 58% of the soybeans, compared to 9%; alfalfa hay first cutting was at 24% in 2018, compared to 12% in 2019, and the same for other hay, 10%, compared to 5%.
Severe flooding that has impacted northwest Missouri and communities along the Missouri and Mississippi rivers will go on for some time due to continued snowmelt and heavy rain. Hundreds of Missouri families have already lost their homes, crops have been damaged and compromised levees have left more communities at risk.
Governor Mike Parson on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in Missouri in response to continuing severe weather and forecasts for tornadoes, strong straight-line winds, hail, heavy rainfall, and worsening flooding due to prolonged soil inundation throughout the state.
According to records kept by Mandi Bird, Daviess County’s yearly rain totals reflect 0.11 in 2015; -1.11 in 2016; -8.69 in 2017; and -8.76 in 2018.
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