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Townsend, Montana | I take a look at UNL's drought monitor every now and then just to see how the rest of the country is doing but I am starting to question the accuracy of it. I irrigate out of 2 mountain streams (and 3 wells luckily). I have had a total of 1.9" of rain year to date. The creeks are the lowest I have ever seen them in my short lifetime. Drought monitor has us in a "D2 Severe drought".
We have been really dry since 2019. 2021 the drought monitor showed us "D4 Exceptional drought" which is their worst rating. By this time in 2021, we had received over 3" of rain year to date and the creeks were running more. 2024 has been hotter all summer as well. First time in 15 years we have had weeks of 90's and triple digits and no breaks (heat wave is finally over for now).
2021 I harvested about 1/3 ton/acre off my dryland alfalfa. This year we didn't even cut it as the rakes and balers couldn't have picked it up.
What metrics do they use to determine drought?
Rainfall is less now than I have ever seen it.
Agrimet ET rates have been extremely high.
Stream flow is less than I have ever seen it which is a good indicator of subsoil moisture.
Subsoil moisture in my dryland fallow is less than I have ever seen (none to see period).
There is not a single russian thistle or kochia growing in the dryland stubble we harvested 3 weeks ago.
How accurate is the drought monitor actually?
If I have to deal with this level of dryness, I might as well be able to brag about being in an "Exceptional drought" "according to the experts"...
Edited by 1972RedNeck 8/25/2024 22:38
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Drought Monitor
