Above normal U.S. temps raise drought fear

ITHACA, N.Y., March 27 (UPI) -- Temperatures remained above normal across much of the United States for the second week in a row as farmers get ready for another growing season.

Weekly readings were as much as 15 degrees higher than average for this time of year across the nation's mid-section, but were 5 degrees below normal in the Northeast, the National Agricultural Statistics Service said Tuesday.

In the West, the warm weather promoted rapid crop development while contributing to premature melt of high-elevation snow packs. That could result in late-summer problems moisture stemming from low stream flows, reduced irrigation supplies and a longer wildfire season, NASS said.

Heavier rains in parts of the Southwest improved topsoil moisture but failed to significantly improve the long-term water supply, while showers in the Northwest aided pastures and winter grains.

Rains in the central and southern Plains region kept conditions favorable for vegetative winter wheat.

In the Mississippi Valley and eastern Corn Belt, flooding interrupted pre-planting fieldwork, but in the South, the extended warm, dry weather helped farmers get their fields ready for planting but caused concern of potential for a drought.

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