Drought conditions saw improvements across portions of the southwest Missouri Ozarks during the month of December. By the last week of December, the US Drought Monitor had designated around 23 percent of the area as being in moderate drought (D1) to significant drought (D4). Across the Ozarks, the month started with 7 counties in Severe Drought (D2) to Extreme Drought (D3), by the end of the month 3 counties were in (D2) Severe drought with no counties in Extreme Drought (D3) or greater. The Extreme Drought (D3) had improved falling to Sever Drought (D2) by the end of the month across the Missouri Ozarks. The primary impacts of the drought continued to occurred in the agricultural communities. Hay growth was impacted along with reports of crop failures, dry stock ponds and low flows on some streams and rivers.

Drought in BARTON, MISSOURI
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Despite rainfall towards the end of the month and some improvement across portions of the county, drought conditions continued across the region through the month of December. The US Drought Monitor indicated the southwestern half of the county as being in Severe (D2) Drought with the remainder of county in Moderate (D1) Drought to Abnormally Dry (D0). Impacts across the region were primarily felt in larger scale agriculture. Farm and stock ponds saw some continuing impacts with ground water levels and reservoirs showing slight drought condition improvement. Estimated monetary crop losses will be included in future a report when the drought ends and loses are assessed.

Drought in VERNON, MISSOURI
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Despite rainfall towards the end of the month and some improvement across portions of the county, drought conditions continued across the region through the month of December. The US Drought Monitor indicated most of the county as being in Severe (D2) Drought with the remainder of county in Moderate (D1) Drought. Impacts across the region were primarily felt in larger scale agriculture. Farm and stock ponds saw some continuing impacts with ground water levels and reservoirs showing slight drought condition improvement. Estimated monetary crop losses will be included in future a report when the drought ends and loses are assessed.

Drought in JASPER, MISSOURI
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Despite rainfall towards the end of the month and some improvement across portions of the county, drought conditions continued across the region through the month of December. The US Drought Monitor indicated the northwestern corner of the county as being in Severe (D2) Drought with the remainder of county in Moderate (D1) Drought.  Impacts across the region were primarily felt in larger scale agriculture. Farm and stock ponds saw some continuing impacts with ground water levels and reservoirs showing slight drought condition improvement. Estimated monetary crop losses will be included in future a report when the drought ends and loses are assessed.

Drought in DADE, MISSOURI
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 3.50M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought conditions improved across Dade County by the end of December. The US Drought Monitor indicated that moderate (D1) drought conditions remained at the end of the month after several rainfall events helped ease drought conditions below severe (D2) drought levels. Impacts across the region were primarily felt in larger scale agriculture with farm and stock ponds low but improved. Dry conditions caused grasses to dry and significantly impact hay production causing losses in hay cutting. Many farmers saw impacts to row crops such as soy beans, corn and other specialty crops.  Estimated monetary crop losses included in this months report are for drought conditions through December 31st, 2022.

Drought in LAWRENCE, MISSOURI
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 5.10M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought conditions improved across Lawrence County by the end of December. The US Drought Monitor indicated that moderate (D1) drought conditions remained at the end of the month after several rainfall events helped ease drought conditions below severe (D2) drought levels. Impacts across the region were primarily felt in larger scale agriculture with farm and stock ponds low but improved. Dry conditions caused grasses to dry and significantly impact hay production causing losses in hay cutting. Many farmers saw impacts to row crops such as soy beans, corn and other specialty crops.  Estimated monetary crop losses included in this months report are for drought conditions through December 31st, 2022.

Drought in NEWTON, MISSOURI
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 2.70M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought conditions improved across Newton County by the end of December. The US Drought Monitor indicated that moderate (D1) drought conditions remained at the end of the month after several rainfall events helped ease drought conditions below severe (D2) drought levels. Impacts across the region were primarily felt in larger scale agriculture with farm and stock ponds low but improved. Dry conditions caused grasses to dry and significantly impact hay production causing losses in hay cutting. Many farmers saw impacts to row crops such as soy beans, corn and other specialty crops.  Estimated monetary crop losses included in this months report are for drought conditions through December 31st, 2022.

Drought in MCDONALD, MISSOURI
From 01-DEC-22 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-22 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 400.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Drought conditions improved across McDonald County by the end of December. The US Drought Monitor indicated that Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions remained at the end of the month after several rainfall events helped ease drought conditions below severe (D2) drought levels. Impacts across the region were primarily felt in larger scale agriculture with farm and stock ponds low but improved. Dry conditions caused grasses to dry and significantly impact hay production causing losses in hay cutting. Many farmers saw impacts to row crops such as soy beans, corn and other specialty crops.  Estimated monetary crop losses included in this months report are for drought conditions through December 31st, 2022.