Intensifying drought is worrisome for Colorado winter wheat growers and for those in the southern half of the Great Plains.

The wheat conditions are worst right now in Oklahoma where 72 percent of the crop is rated very poor to poor according to USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey.

“I will also add to that that 13 percent of the Winter Wheat in Oklahoma is currently jointing and thus beginning to demand more moisture.”

And conditions are similar in neighboring states.

“Southwest Kansas, Southeast Colorado, Eastern New Mexico and Northern Texas. A lot of those areas in the Southern Plains have not experienced meaningful precipitation since early October.”

Also this month, the Office of Weather and Air Quality (OWAQ) within NOAA Oceanic & Atmospheric Research says it is accepting proposals for projects that aim to expand and improve the use of snowpack and soil moisture remote sensing data. NOAA says, improving the collection and use the data could improve the NWM and would have a direct, positive impact on the activities and research at the National Water Center.

OWAQ is accepting proposals from a diverse pool of applicants, including: institutions of higher education; nonprofits; commercial organizations; state, local and Indian tribal governments; and federal agencies. Submitted proposals should outline research and/or development projects that span the next 1 to 2 years. The deadline to submit proposals is April 26, 2018.