Page 12 2026 Spring Farm Outlook LINCOLN DAILY NEWS March 2026 Logan County farmers face severe to extreme drought conditions ahead of spring planting As the 2026 growing season approaches, farmers across Logan County are likely keeping a close eye on soil moisture levels and precipitation trends. Recent severe drought conditions across central Illinois have raised concerns about how the Spring planting season may begin and whether early-Spring rainfall will be sufficient to replenish depleted soil moisture. Meteorologists at the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Lincoln, Illinois say that the overall dryness pattern that developed during late 2025 has persisted into 2026 and will likely influence agricultural operations this Spring. Drought Development Began Last Fall Across Central Illinois The drought developed gradually during the latter part of the 2025 growing season and into the fall. Across the Midwest, precipitation between September and November dropped significantly below average, with Logan County receiving only 25 to 50 percent of typical rainfall. That deficit limited soil moisture recharge going into winter. Although a couple periods of very cold temperatures during winter slowed evaporation and plant water use, snowfall and winter rainfall across central Illinois remained limited. As a result, meteorologists have observed declining soil moisture and streamflow indicators across portions of the region. Current Drought Conditions Across Central Illinois According to recent analyses from the U.S. Drought Monitor, the vast majority (96%) of Illinois continues to experience some level of drought. As of early March 2026, roughly 70 percent of the state is classified within drought conditions ranging from moderate to severe, while an additional portion is considered abnormally dry. Logan County has experienced precipitation deficits over the past several months, with a winter season deficit of 3.64” at the NWS office in Lincoln, which includes December 1, 2025 to February 28, 2026. Data compiled through the federal drought monitoring
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