The region is lacking a lot of needed moisture going into the growing season. According to an updated drought monitor from NOAA, has moderate drought expanding into South Dakota and Nebraska since last week. April is expected to continue the trend with drier than average conditions, according to SDSU Extension Climate Field Specialist, Laura Edwards.
Edwards says drought expansion happens when there has been enough reports of drought impacts, which is required for classification. Those include reports of reduced stock ponds, surface water, dry lawns, and lower soil moisture. She says that with the dry winter, impacts have come early.
Edwards says there is a possibility for some moisture as we move farther into the season.
She says that farmers may want to consider thinking about conserving moisture and chemical and fertilizer application plans around the dry climate outlook.
