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Much of Missouri soil still dry from drought

The effects of the two year drought in much of Missouri are still apparent five feet down. University of Missouri soil scientist Randy Miles says there has been some improvement but the central and western parts of the state need the soil to recharge and become moist enough for crop development.

Miles says very little of the moisture this winter – snow melt and rain – soaked into the soil and instead ran into rivers and streams because the levels were below normal.

“First of all, we have been lacking moisture compared to normal distribution at least for the calendar year. A lot of places the areas of the state are somewhere between two to four inches below normal just for calendar year 2014.”

Miles says it could take another full year of solid rain and snowfall to get back to normal moisture levels.

~Missourinet contributed to this story