USVI Drought Update - June 2021
Drought conditions have improved over the past month due rainfall across the Territory.
St. Thomas and St. John are abnormally dry and in moderate drought respectively. St. Croix remains in severe drought. This map is from the U.S. Drought Monitor website and is updated weekly.
Territory-wide Overview
Drought conditions improve due to intermittent and sporadic rain across territory
Sporadic rainfall Territory-wide is mildly recharging ponds and collection containers
Soil moisture has increased due to sporadic rainfall, but persistent high wind speeds are likely to somewhat reduce this beneficial impact
Vegetation and trees are showing signs of improvement
At the beginning of this quarter, all major islands in the USVI were experiencing a severe drought (D2 classification). They all received a drought disaster declaration, and currently remain at that level.
In the past few weeks, the USVI has experienced regular showers. Farmers are reporting mild signs of vegetation return from dry and brittle to green, as well as increased soil moisture. As a result, they are no longer planning mitigation efforts to feed livestock. Also, VI Department of Agriculture (VIDA) has not ordered hay as farmers reported having enough to get through the dry season. VIDA also reported that on St Croix, water deliveries to the agricultural community included more than 1,312,000 gallons in May and in June water deliveries were listed as 976,170 gallons.
St. Thomas
Bordeaux farmland showing Henniman’s farm and pond (St Thomas) May 3, 2021 (left). Green Ridge Guava Berry Farm June 7, 2021 (right). Photos by Royce Creque.
Farmers are reporting intermittent and sporadic rain, and trees and vegetation are responding. Poultry farmers who have had access to little or no grass are reporting an uptick in grass and related vegetation for feed which is increasing overall production.
St. John
Mary’s Point near Trunk Bay (St John) March 22, 2021 (left) and June 9, 2021 (right). Photos by Rafe Boulon.
Farmers are reporting that rain has quelled drought conditions and has had an impact so that they can collect water to regulate irrigation practices in early morning and late afternoon to maximize water resources.
St. Croix
Lang’s Peak (St. Croix) March 18, 2021 (left) and June 5, 2021. Photos by Mike Morgan of UVI AES.
Livestock farmers on St Croix are no longer seeking to purchase feed as chop as it is mildly available, and those seeking cut and carry to offset feed are no longer concerned about purchasing hay. Farmers reported that while some rain fell, intermittent high temperatures along with high winds is still creating an impact to soil moisture which is creating an underlying need for additional irrigation systems in their fields. Poultry farmers are reporting increased water in cisterns which is increasing egg production which was impacted due to extreme heat and drought
Acknowledgements
USVI Reporting Input:
Several individuals contributed to this report and we are acknowledging the following for their support including the faculty, staff and collaborators of the UVI School of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension, UVI Physics Program, UVI Etelman Observatory, UVI Agricultural Experiment Station, VI Department of Agriculture, UVI Caribbean Green Technology Center, as well as the USDA Office Chief Economist, National Parks Service in St. Croix, USDA Farm Service Agency, Coral Bay Community Council and the many volunteers, drought reporters and farmers from across the territory.
You can contact us by email christina.chanes@uvi.edu or by phone 340-693-1072 to be added to the UVI Caribbean Green Technology Center drought updates email list.
Also, please contact us if you would like to send photographs showing drought conditions on your farm. Photos may including distressed vegetation and/or livestock.
This June 2021 drought update was prepared by Christina Chanes and Greg Guannel of the University of the Virgin Islands Caribbean Green Technology Center.