Data or statistical facts on the situation and perspectives of agri-food systems and the impact of policies
Flash drought continues to worsen across the Southern Plains and the Lower Mississippi River Basin, and this week began affecting parts of the Southeastern United States as well, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor (week of September 9-15, 2026). Conditions improved in the Midwest and showed little change in the West.
The share of the United States and Puerto Rico in drought grew by 12.2 percentage points over the past month, reaching 49.77% as of September 15, 2026 (59.37% across the Lower 48 states); the affected population grew 11.2% over the same period, to 103.5 million people, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
5 to 15°F above normal were temperatures across much of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee the week of September 8, 2026, worsening soil moisture deficits and driving widespread agricultural drought impacts across the region.
10 to 15°F above normal were temperatures across large parts of Iowa, Missouri and Illinois (Corn Belt) the week of September 8, 2026, driving widespread agricultural drought impacts in south-central and southwest Missouri.
USD 351 per tonne was the quotation for US No. 2 Hard Red Winter wheat on 31 August 2026, representing an increase of 11.4% month-on-month and 51.9% year-on-year.
As of September 1, 2026, 49.51% of the United States and Puerto Rico was in drought (59.05% across the Lower 48 states), according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Drought conditions worsened that week across the south-central United States and along the North Dakota-South Dakota-Minnesota border area.
47.56% of the United States and Puerto Rico was in drought as of August 25, 2026.
99.7 million people in the United States were affected by drought during the week of August 19-25, 2026.
43 U.S. states were experiencing Moderate Drought (D1) or worse during the week of August 19-25, 2026.
3 agricultural products, coffee, beef and peanuts, would retain preferential treatment under the new tariff imposed by the United States on Nicaraguan exports.
