
This soil moisture map portrays the moisture of the top 1 meter of soil as of April 2, 2024, expressed as a percentile showing the probability of occurrence within the period of record between 1948 to present. The map is based on terrestrial water storage observations derived from NASA GRACE satellite data using a sophisticated model of land surface water and energy processes. Red and orange hues indicate drier soil moisture conditions, while blue hues indicate wetter conditions. NASA, National Drought Mitigation Center
Drought continues to be a concern for many growers especially for much of the midwest and southern United States, as is depicted in the soil moisture conditions map. Cover crops can be a valuable tool for conserving moisture during drought, but cover crop management strategies are important when attempting to conserve soil moisture. Adjusting termination timing by even a few days, for example, could make a major difference in total moisture content, according to Rob…