The Colorado River deal will pay people to use less water. What to know.
A new deal aims to pay people to use less water from the drought-stricken Colorado River. Here's what we know.
Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
DENVER – Heavy winter snows have temporarily eased the well-documented water crisis in western states, including Colorado and California, but now Midwestern farmers in America's Breadbasket are more concerned about their crops as the drought is getting worse beyond Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri and Ohio.
While dry spells are not uncommon in the Midwest, the current lack of rain is exacerbating existing problems with dry soils and streams, experts say, potentially increasing the cost of cattle feed and ultimately the price Americans pay for beef.
“These are pretty severe drought conditions that we're seeing right now,” said Dennis Todey, director of the Department of Agriculture's Midwest Climate Hub in Ames, Iowa. “It's not yet a major national issue, but it could become a bigger one if things don't change soon.”
What's up with the drought in the Midwest?
Many states are reporting drought conditions, ranging from “unusually dry” to “exceptional drought.” These states include Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, and as far east as Indiana and Ohio. Missouri Governor Michael Parsons has issued an executive order to help his state manage the dry conditions.
“The Midwest and east-central Great Plains mostly saw worsening conditions and widespread crop stress and low flows after another week of mostly dry weather,” the federal government's U.S. Drought Observatory warned Thursday. “Heavy rainfall across parts of Ohio and Kentucky led to some improvements in the ongoing short-term drought. Otherwise, much of the region saw conditions remain the same or worsen this week.”
Drought at this time of year can be troublesome because it can stunt the growth of corn and grass, which are primarily used as cattle feed. Few Midwestern farmers irrigate their crops, so they depend heavily on spring and early summer rains to provide water during this critical period.
Federal officials also noted reports of drought problems for vineyards, soybean growers and strawberry growers.
The ground is already drier than it would otherwise be, thanks to a dry fall. Thus, the falling moisture soaks deeper into the soil, which absorbs it like a sponge.
“It's a little bit more of a problem because some of this area has had a drought that hasn't been over for several years, so we have such very dry groundwater conditions,” Todey said.
How does drought affect food prices?
A poor corn crop would help raise feed prices, which in turn are passed on to consumers through the price they pay for beef at the supermarket. But corn and grass aren't the only forages, and soybean crops are generally doing well so far, Todey said.
Elsewhere in the country, scorching heat across much of Texas is jeopardizing both hay growth and cattle survival, experts say. When feed prices are high, farmers often sell their younger, smaller cows for slaughter earlier than usual, which brings them less profit.
The federal government's cattle survey in January showed the number of cattle on farms fell by 4% in 2022.
Prices paid to beef producers have risen steadily since mid-2020 and recently reached levels not seen since 2015. Consumer prices for beef have risen from $9.12 a pound for prime rib steak in May 2021 to $10.22 in May 2023, reflecting a 12 percent increase, according to federal statistics.
Some liberal politicians, incl Vermont Senator Bernie Sanderscriticized meatpacking companies, saying they raise prices beyond what is necessary to cover the higher costs paid to producers.
What happened to all the snow from this winter?
While most of the West saw record snowfall — from Colorado to Utah, Nevada and California — the Midwest and East had mild winters with less snow. Because the vast majority of this snow fell west of the Continental Divide, levels in Lake Powell and Lake Mead are rising significantly and drought conditions in the Southwest have generally eased.
How does climate change play into this?
It's important to remember the difference between weather and climate: Weather is what happens every day, while climate reflects patterns over years or decades.
While Midwestern temperatures are generally colder in December than August, climate change means temperatures in both months are likely to be warmer on average than they used to be. The average December temperature in the Midwest has risen between 2.5 and 3 degrees over the past century, according to National Weather Service records.
Similar warming temperatures are changing patterns of heat and precipitation across the country, climate scientists say. For the Midwest, scientists predict higher average temperatures of 5-10 degrees by the end of the century and more frequent heavy rains in winter, but less spring and summer rains.
