Some locations saw improvement through the month but areas of the Extreme (D3) Drought saw expansion through the end of September. Drought conditions did contract across portions the Missouri Ozarks generally along and south of I-44. Rainfall amounts from 1 to 3 inches with localized 3 to 5 inch amounts occurred during the month allowing for improvement of drought conditions over southern Missouri. Across central Missouri Extreme (D3) and Severe (D2) drought expanded or remained. Severe (D2) drought also contracted in southwestern Missouri. Moderate (D1) Drought and Abnormally Dry (D0) condition areas made up much of the remainder of the area though some locations saw the removal of all drought conditions. The primary impacts of the drought occurred in the agricultural communities. Hay growth was impacted along with reports of crop and vegetation impacts due to limited soil and surface moisture, dry stock ponds and low flows on some streams and rivers. Final reports of damages will be placed in the last month the drought occurred in the counties impacted in 2023.

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

There was a little contraction to the Extreme (D3) Drought conditions only in the northeastern corner of the county during October thanks to some rainfall. Severe (D2) drought remained across the remainder of the county for the most part. Farm and stock ponds saw continuing impacts with ground water levels and reservoirs showing limited drought condition improvement. Crop and vegetation growth was showing signs of stress due to limited moisture despite the time of year. Monetary crop losses for 2023 beginning January first will be included in future reports when the drought ends and loses are assessed.

Drought in ST. CLAIR, MISSOURI
From 01-OCT-23 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-23 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Drought Monitor

St Clair County saw Extreme (D3) drought contract slightly across the county through the month with some rainfall helping to ease drought slightly. Impacts across the region were primarily felt in larger scale agriculture. Farm and stock ponds saw continuing impacts with ground water levels and reservoirs showing limited drought condition improvement. Crop and vegetation growth was showing signs of stress due to limited moisture. Monetary crop losses for 2023 beginning January first will be included in future reports when the drought ends and loses are assessed.

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

Enough rain fall during the month allowing drought conditions to improve. The Extreme (D3) drought were mitigated leaving only Severe (D2) Drought across the northern half of the county. Impacts across the region were primarily felt in larger scale agriculture. Farm and stock ponds saw continuing impacts with ground water levels and reservoirs showing limited drought condition improvement. Crop and vegetation growth was showing signs of stress due to limited moisture. Monetary crop losses for 2023 beginning January first will be included in future reports when the drought ends and loses are assessed.

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

Enough rain fell across the region during the month allowing Extreme (D3) Drought to contract and move out of the county. Severe (D2) Drought conditions contracted north slightly with Moderate (D1) Drought across the remainder of the county. Farm and stock ponds saw continuing impacts with ground water levels and reservoirs showing limited drought condition improvement. Crop and vegetation growth was showing signs of stress due to limited moisture. Monetary crop losses for 2023 beginning January first will be included in future reports when the drought ends and loses are assessed.

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

Extreme (D3) Drought condition contracted and was pull out of the county leaving  Severe (D2) Drought across the county. Impacts across the region were primarily felt in larger scale agriculture. Farm and stock ponds saw continuing impacts with ground water levels and reservoirs showed modest impacts due to limited rainfall. Crop and vegetation growth showed signs of stress due to limited moisture. Monetary crop losses for 2023 beginning January first will be included in future reports when the drought ends and loses are assessed.

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

Enough rain fell through the month to contract the area Extreme (D3) Drought conditions into the western portions of the county. Severe (D2) Drought remained across the reminder of the county. Impacts across the region were primarily felt in larger scale agriculture. Farm and stock ponds saw continuing impacts with ground water levels and reservoirs showed modest impacts due to limited rainfall. Crop and vegetation growth showed signs of stress due to limited moisture. Monetary crop losses for 2023 beginning January first will be included in future reports when the drought ends and loses are assessed.

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

No change to the Severe (D2) Drought conditions were noted in October. Farm and stock ponds saw continuing impacts with ground water levels and reservoirs showing limited drought condition improvement. Crop and vegetation growth was showing signs of stress due to limited moisture. Monetary crop losses for 2023 beginning January first will be included in future reports when the drought ends and loses are assessed.

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

No change to the Severe (D2) Drought conditions were noted in October. Farm and stock ponds saw continuing impacts with ground water levels and reservoirs showing limited drought condition improvement. Crop and vegetation growth was showing signs of stress due to limited moisture. Monetary crop losses for 2023 beginning January first will be included in future reports when the drought ends and loses are assessed.

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

No change to the Severe (D2) Drought conditions were noted in October. Farm and stock ponds saw continuing impacts with ground water levels and reservoirs showing limited drought condition improvement. Crop and vegetation growth was showing signs of stress due to limited moisture. Monetary crop losses for 2023 beginning January first will be included in future reports when the drought ends and loses are assessed.

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

No change to the Severe (D2) Drought conditions were noted in October. Farm and stock ponds saw continuing impacts with ground water levels and reservoirs showing limited drought condition improvement. Crop and vegetation growth was showing signs of stress due to limited moisture. Monetary crop losses for 2023 beginning January first will be included in future reports when the drought ends and loses are assessed.

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

No change to the Severe (D2) Drought conditions were noted in October. Farm and stock ponds saw continuing impacts with ground water levels and reservoirs showing limited drought condition improvement. Crop and vegetation growth was showing signs of stress due to limited moisture. Monetary crop losses for 2023 beginning January first will be included in future reports when the drought ends and loses are assessed.

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

No change to the Severe (D2) Drought conditions were noted in October. Farm and stock ponds saw continuing impacts with ground water levels and reservoirs showing limited drought condition improvement. Crop and vegetation growth was showing signs of stress due to limited moisture. Monetary crop losses for 2023 beginning January first will be included in future reports when the drought ends and loses are assessed.

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

Dry conditions during the month allowed for the expansion of Severe (D2) Drought into the northern most portions of the county. Impacts across the region were primarily felt in larger scale agriculture. Farm and stock ponds saw continuing impacts with ground water levels and reservoirs showed modest impacts due to limited rainfall. Crop and vegetation growth showed signs of stress due to limited moisture. Monetary crop losses for 2023 beginning January first will be included in future reports when the drought ends and loses are assessed.

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

Rainfall through the month allowed for improvement across the county though Moderate (D1) Drought conditions continued across the region through the end of October. The US Drought Monitor indicated that the county remained in Moderate (D1) Drought with the southwestern corner having improved to Abnormally (D0) dry. 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. Crop loss estimates notated in this month encompass losses from continued drought since July 2023.

Drought in BARTON, MISSOURI
From 01-OCT-23 00:00:00 to 31-OCT-23 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 9.00M
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Rainfall through the month allowed for improvement across the county though Moderate (D1) Drought conditions continued across the northern portions of the county through the end of October. The US Drought Monitor indicated that much of the remainder of the county was Abnormally (D0) dry. 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. Crop loss estimates notated in this month encompass losses from continued drought since March 2023.