County experiencing ‘severe drought’; conditions worse in west Kentucky

STAFF REPORT

Tuesday, July 31, 2012, 2:55 p.m. — Sixty-five percent of Kentucky is experiencing moderate drought conditions or worse, according to the latest statistics from the U.S. Drought Center.

Nelson County and the counties east, south and west of Nelson are experiencing severe drought conditions. The counties south and west of Henderson — 20 percent of Kentucky — have been even dryer and are experiencing “Extreme Drought” and “Exceptional Drought” conditions.

The drought condition map of Kentucky was released last Thursday by the National Climatic Data Center.

In West Kentucky, many crops are showing stress across the region, and the situation is becoming dire for many farmers. The majority of corn and soybeans in the region are listed as poor or very poor. Livestock pasture is showing stress and the percentage of pasture rated as “poor” or “very poor” is expanding. Ponds and creeks in the region are dry or are drying quickly.

Burn bans remain in effect in most of western Kentucky.

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