Drought

Every day, Missourians pay a small tax with each purchase they make that’s been supporting conservation efforts in the state. And now that Missouri is in a drought alert, those dollars are helping farmers prepare.

Drought has scorched much of the Midwest and Great Plains for the last four years. It has destroyed crops and sparked wildfires. Wildlife is also reckoning with the dry conditions – which can change animal behavior and even push species out of some regions.

This year saw one of the wettest Aprils on record in Missouri, which is welcome during the state’s ongoing drought.

Legislation granted initial approval Wednesday in the Missouri House prohibits exporting water to other states without a permit.

Small nonfarm companies in the St. Louis region that have lost agricultural business due to the recent drought can apply for low-interest federal loans. The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering 30-year max economic injury loans at a 4% interest rate for businesses and 3.25% for nonprofits.

A dry winter, El Niño and the warmest winter temperatures on record are contributing to ongoing dry conditions across the Midwest.

Huge swaths of Missouri and Kansas have continued to be stuck in a months-long drought.

“What we really need is a cold, wet and snowy winter to help recharge this river,” said one climatologist.

The corn and soybean crops in Missouri and Illinois are in better condition because of the recent rain, meaning it didn’t come too late in the growing season to make a difference.

Growing interest rates, high crop prices and rising transportation costs are making it more expensive to store grain — a critical step for many farmers. Economists and grain merchandisers say the market conditions leave them and farmers in an awkward place.