drought

Should You Be Talking To Your Plants?

Hilary Stohs-Krause — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:55:23 +0000

Ever know someone who talks to plants?

Maybe it was your offbeat neighbor cooing at his gardenias; maybe your grandmother analyzed baseball with her cucumbers. It seems a bit silly, but researchers say farmers should maybe take notice.

Effects Of An Extended Drought

Steve Kraske and Danie Alexander — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 23:00:00 +0000

Recent snowfalls brought much needed moisture to our region. Even so, the drought of last year has not been broken. Should it continue for months ... or even years ... what are the potential long-term effects?

Pumped Up Pumpkin Prices

Samantha Rinehart — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 14:35:14 +0000

Many shoppers will pay higher prices for pumpkins this fall as this summer’s drought continues to take its toll on local growers.

Update From Cass Co. Dairy Farmer Eric Neill

Steve Kraske and Danie Alexander — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 19:18:54 +0000

When we last spoke with dairy farmer Eric Neill, he was in the middle of trying to get his dairy cows through this summer's drought.

Nixon Warns Of Fall Wildfire Risk In Missouri

Marshall Griffin — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 14:14:24 +0000

Missouri’s drought conditions have increased the threat of wildfires across the state. Governor Jay Nixon presided over a drought briefing at the Missouri State Fair for emergency management and public safety workers.

Army Corps Of Engineers To Halt Some Water Releases From Kan. Reservoirs

Stephen Koranda — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 20:45:01 +0000

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will halt some water releases from three Kansas reservoirs next month.

Meat Producers And Ultimately, Consumers, Hurt By Drought

Daniel Charles — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 19:39:00 +0000

Despite headlines about the crushing drought that's afflicting much of the country's prime agricultural land, the USDA isn't expecting any dramatic increases in the price of food this year or next.

But you can see small signs of the drought's effects if you look closely at the agency's latest forecast of food prices, which it released today.

Pray For Rain: Food Prices Heading Higher

Marilyn Geewax — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 18:42:00 +0000

A fierce drought has been scorching crops this summer, but it's still too soon to know exactly how much of a hole it will burn in your wallet.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has just released its latest forecast for retail food prices.

Fire Departments Warn About Fire Hazard

Maria Carter — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 13:10:45 +0000

Local fire departments warn drought conditions are producing grass and brush fire hazards in the metropolitan area.

Despite Crop Insurance, Drought Still Stings Farmers

editor — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 08:45:00 +0000

Stop by most any unirrigated farm across the lower Midwest and you'll see crops in distress. Midwestern corn and soybean farmers are taking a beating during the recent drought, but it's not likely to drive many out of business.

Most of those farmers carry terrific insurance, and the worse the drought becomes, the more individual farmers will be paid for their lost crops.

Watering During Drought: Be Conservative, Urges Water One

Laura Ziegler — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 03:09:28 +0000

As the scorching hot weather continues this week, cities in the metro are urging water consumers to space out their watering and not to soak the ground.

Drought Brings Misery To Arkansas River Basin

Frank Morris — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 14:45:51 +0000

Drought has set in early and hard across the Midwest, parching the Arkansas River basin. The river trickling out of the mountains is dry before it reaches some of the major agricultural uses downstream.

Heat, Drought & You

Stephen Steigman, Steve Kraske and Frank Morris — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 04:05:24 +0000

Your neighbors' lawn is green. And yours? A pale shade of brown, with grass that crunches underfoot. Area golf courses remain emerald and pristine, yet corn fields in Missouri, Arkansas, and elsewhere wither, their kernels destined for silage.

The drought affects each of us a bit differently: will you spike your water bill just to keep your lawn green, your plants flowering, and your vegetables growing? Can area farmers salvage what little remains of their crops?

Governors To Visit Drought-Stricken Regions

Emilie Mutert — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 14:17:11 +0000

Both Missouri Governor Jay Nixon and Kansas Governor Sam Brownback embark on tours today of their states' most drought-affected regions. The USDA declared 82 Kansas counties federal disaster areas, while the entire state of Missouri — all 114 counties — meets disaster qualifications, based on losses of at least 30 percent of the estimated crop yield.

Relentless Heat, Hard Choices: Family Struggles As Utility Bills Rise

Laura Ziegler — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 06:49:12 +0000

The living room of Cheryl Landes' small apartment has the cozy feel of your grandmother’s living room.

No surprise. She’s often watching four grandkids, as well as her own 13-year-old son.

This afternoon, two of them are playing with their hand-held electronic games. They can play alone, or together. They laugh as their small computers make music.

Cheryl’s 90-year-old mother, Billie, lives here too. She quietly sinks into a club chair. She has chronic lung disease, and dementia.

Both Cheryl and her grandson have asthma.