Southern drought deepens; 11 million affected
Weeks of dry, hot weather have plunged the Deep South further into a drought that’s affecting more than 11 million people and threatening crops across the region, a new assessment showed Thursday.
Alabama and Mississippi drought-free for first time since 2016
Alabama and Mississippi are completely free from drought for the first time in more than a year.
USDA: Drought disaster help in 79 of 82 Miss. counties
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says drought disaster aid is available in 79 of Mississippi’s 82 counties — and in 22 counties in adjacent states.
Cotton may be best bet to ease fears of crop slump
While a study by the Mississippi State Extension Service forecasts a possible farm crisis for 2017, local farmers hold a more optimistic view, thanks to what they believe will be a strong cotton crop.
Southern plagues: Drought, flood, fire and now killer storms
Tornadoes that dropped out of the night sky killed five people in two states and injured at least a dozen more early Wednesday, adding to a seemingly biblical onslaught of drought, flood and fire plaguing the South.
Southern storms should ease drought, but fire threat remains
Storms roaring across the South appeared to be taking aim at some of the largest wildfires burning across the region, which could finally help firefighters in their efforts to subdue the blazes, authorities said Monday.
A different kind of drought
Mississippi is no stranger to extreme weather, including droughts.
Dry, windy conditions feed wildfires across the Southeast
Many of the nation’s largest active wildfires have been burning in the southern Appalachian mountains, where a relentless drought has turned pine trees into torches and forced evacuations in dozens of communities.
Weyerhaeuser addressing odor issues
Severe drought gripping the southeast is causing some extra odor near the local Weyerhaeuser paper mill, and the company is looking into ways to address the issue.
Drought won’t stop fireworks in dry western states
Arizona’s largest city has gone four months without any measurable rain, and neighboring New Mexico is in the midst of four years of severe drought.
Drought, old purse solve four-decade mystery
Cheryl Miller and Pamella Jackson had planned to celebrate the end of the 1971 school year by gathering with classmates at a quarry along a gravel road.
Experts: Expect bigger, fiercer wildfires in West
LOS ANGELES — There’s a dangerous but basic equation behind the killer Yarnell Hill wildfire and other blazes raging across the West this summer: More
Drought-stricken states welcome rain from Isaac
The remnants of Tropical Storm Isaac could bring welcome rain to some states in the Midwest this week, although it is unlikely to break the drought that has been gripping the region.
Drought bares mean side of thirsty Miss. River
Another day, another sandbar to clear on the clogged Mississippi River.
Drought worsens in Plains, despite cooler temperatures
While other corn growers already have knocked down their drought-ravaged crops to feed them to livestock, Nebraska farmer Doug Nelson still waits for his maize to mature, well aware it won’t be a banner year.
Macon hay: Mennonites respond to Ohio drought victims
Macon farmer Gary Miller didn’t hesitate when his neighbor, Morris Miller (no relation), called to say dairy farmers in northeast Ohio were suffering from a severe drought, dipping into their winter reserves to feed their cattle. The two men sprang into action, and within hours, 540 bales of hay was northward-bound.
Tombigbee water level remains in normal range
Drought conditions and resulting low water levels of the Mississippi River aren’t affecting the Tombigbee River, officials said Thursday.
Texas drought takes cow numbers down by 600,000, despite higher beef demand
LUBBOCK, Texas — The worst drought in Texas’ history has led to the largest-ever one-year decline in the leading cattle-state’s cow herd, raising the likelihood of increased beef prices as the number of animals decline and demand remains strong.
Hoping for rain: Crops struggling amid dry spell
Every day, local farmer Scott Enlow walks outside, looks at the sky and hopes to see a hint of gray. Some nights, he thinks he hears distant thunder, and he leaps from his bed to go outside and welcome the blessed rainfall that will nourish his crops. The rain never comes.