drought

Drought has affected several pumpkin-producing states, including Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. But rain arrived at the right time to produce a bumper crop in parts of the Midwest.

Quivira's marshes have a legal right to water. Kansas has never enforced it, because doing so would hurt farmers who use the water for crop irrigation.

Hot and dry weather across the Midwest is creating a ripe situation for wildfires, especially as farmers head into the fields for harvest.

Many pension-holding public employees in Kansas haven't seen cost-of-living adjustments in decades. Without lawmakers' support, years of higher inflation mean many retirees are seeing the value of their payments vanish. Plus: Climate change is making farming riskier and crop insurance more expensive.

Federally subsidized crop insurance made record-high payouts last year. While climate change is making farming more risky, the federal program often shields producers at taxpayer expense. Some argue it’s time that the fast-growing program encourages farmers to mitigate their risks.

Recent heat and drought have fueled concerns about this year’s corn crop, as producers in the Midwest see a wide range of conditions.

The lack of moisture has far-reaching implications, including on agricultural production and water levels on the country's largest rivers, like the Mississippi and the Missouri.

Dryness in the Great Plains began spreading east this year, affecting much of the Midwest and endangering crops, livestock and river shipping. Recent rains have been a god-send, but will it be enough to loosen the years-long drought?

Drought across the Midwest and the Plains means pastures aren’t as green as usual, leaving cattle with less to eat. Hay is in high demand and low supply.

The U.S. Drought Monitor reports that 80% of Kansas and 60% of Missouri are experiencing at least moderate drought. In Kansas City, that drought is partially due to a blocking pattern — a weather system that keeps others from moving in.

Data surveyed by the U.S Drought Monitor show that the percentage of "abnormally dry" conditions in Missouri is 93%, up from 7.5% just three months ago. The Kansas City area is in a "moderate drought." Fire officials say that could increase the possibility of fires being ignited by consumer fireworks.

Dry weather, high temperatures and a lack of rainfall across parts of the Midwest and Great Plains have caused a spike in water demand from city residents. In response, some cities are implementing conservation measures to keep their water supplies from drying up.