Western Illinois might be close to the Mississippi and Illinois rivers, but it’s the driest part of the state this year.
The worry also is widespread, considering the reach of this winter’s drought is even worse than in 2012, a year that brought the worst drought in the U.S. since the Dust Bowl and cost cost farmers, ranchers and governments an estimated $30 billion, according to the federal National Centers for Environmental Information.
And, outside of some winter wheat, the lack of moisture won’t impact many crops.
There’s still time for spring rains to rehydrate the region.
I mean, it was like Biblical amounts of rainfall in one month.” Climate change is bringing these massive, wet storms to the Midwest more often, Angel says, especially in the last four or five years.
The West is another story: “California, Arizona, New Mexico, that area is getting drier over time,” he says.
In 2012, for example, there were $17 billion in crop insurance payouts, and the government covered $12 billion.
Stein says he’ll be hoping for the best.
And back in Jerseyville, Schafer says he’ll need at least a little rain by April to help his corn sprout.
Yet, he’s also concerned about possible massive storm events, because flooding won’t be good for his crops, either.