Drought persists in Plains, stunting winter wheat

Though drought in the Midwest seems to be easing, drought in the Great Plains continues to deepen, according to the most recent U.S. Department of Agriculture Drought Monitor. Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska all saw drought expansion, which is hindering growth of the new winter wheat crop in those states. Livestock grazing was also poor.

About 60 percent of the U.S. was listed in "moderate" drought as of Nov. 6, Carey Gillam of Reuters notes. That's down slightly from a week earlier. But the portion of the U.S. under "extreme" or "exceptional" drought rose slightly to 19.36 from 19.04 percent, mostly because of deepened drought in the Plains. In the High Plains, which includes Kansas, Nebraska and the Dakotas, the two highest drought levels covered 84 percent of the region. (Read more)