Biz Buzz

It’s that time of the year again, and let’s hope things go much differently than last year (previous coverage).

According to today’s U.S. Drought Monitor, two counties in NeMiss are abnormally dry (D0 drought), and the rest are 100 percent drought-free. The map has the eastern edges of Itawamba and Monroe counties as being in a DO drought, a classification given to areas that show dryness but are not yet in drought OR for areas recovering from drought. Click here for the map.

This time last year, the entire state was in some stage of a drought, with 38 percent of the state in a D3 extreme drought. The highest classification is a D4 exceptional drought.

Alabama, Georgia and the Carolinas are still hurting, though. See the map.

German automaker Volkswagon, looking to build a U.S. plant, won’t be locating in Alabama, a local official said.

From the Associated Press:

An official says the Wiregrass area won’t be getting the new Volkswagen plant. Houston County Commission Chairman Mark Culver said Sunday night he had learned the area had been eliminated from an update sent out by Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce President Matt Parker.

Culver says he believes the competition for the plant now is between north Alabama and Tennessee.
Other Alabama sites no longer in consideration for a plant in the United States include the Mobile area and a Black Belt location near Meridian, Miss.

Volkswagen said last month it had narrowed its search for a U.S. factory to Alabama, Tennessee and Michigan.

After a successful run as head of the Greater Starkville Development Partnership, David Thornell is headed home.

Thornell, who was named president and CEO of the umbrella economic development group with its creation in April 2001, announced today that he was stepping down to get into the commercial estate business in his native Alabama.

Read tomorrow’s Daily Journal for more information.

The drought is creeping westward across the state, but at least we aren’t in Alabama or Georgia’s shoes. Or even Tennessee’s position for that matter.

As of the most recent U.S. Drought Monitor, 15.2 percent of the state is in a drought, up from 4 percent the previous week. The majority of NeMiss is either abnormally dry (D0 drought) or in a moderate drought (D1 drought). Technically, a D0 drought is used for areas showing dryness but not yet in drought or for areas recovering from drought.

OK. Playing catchup from yesterday’s meeting of the Natchez Trace Compact, the organization that promotes the communities along the Trace in Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi.

The big news is they are going to revamp www.scenicTrace.com. New colors, new features, new photos. The prototype looks impressive. A launch date hasn’t been set yet. The group also is getting a lot more aggressive with its online efforts. One of the main pushes is to buy tons of keywords on Google. The terms include the major geographic areas the Trace covers, plus categories such as American Indian, RVing, motorcycling, hiking, outdoor recreation and birding.

The Chickasaw museum is still in the works for Tupelo, but the National Park Service officials said there isn’t anything new to report. A site hasn’t been selected either.

There also was a lot of talk about fall foliage along the Trace. It’s a big reason why October is the park’s busiest month. The main message from the Compact members is that our region has just as much fall foliage as New England (but questions do remain about the effects of the drought).

Lots of reports from the member communities along the 444-mile scenic byway. One of the more interesting one sounds like Tishomingo’s Trash & Treasure event Saturday. The organizers are calling it the state’s largest yard sale. It starts at the Tennessee/Mississippi state line and goes along the Tenn-Tom Waterway down to Columbus. For more info, call 423-0051 or 1-800-386-4373.

Here we go again. The 50-year drought is back in Northeast Mississippi, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Granted, the most severe drought (D4 exceptional) is isolated to Tishomingo County and comprises 0.5 percent of the state. However, the lower intensity droughts (D3 extreme and D2 severe) are spreading over the rest of the area.

According to Weather Underground, the Tupelo area got 1.2 inches of rain in August. Normally, we get 2.67. The lack of rain in this area is amazing considering I spent the better part of my weekend with the windshield wipers going on the way to Gulfport and on my way back. However, the clouds seemed to dry up at the West Point city limit (note that the D3 drought extends into Lauderdale County, though). In fact, while Northeast Mississippi is in a 50-year drought, two-thirds of the coast is drought-free.

But even if we do get rain, ag experts aren’t so sure it will do any good. Here’s what MSU Extension Service Agent Charlie Stokes had to say about the spotty rains last month:

It’s pretty much too little too late for most of the growers. These rains will help some of the later planted/later maturing soybeans & cotton. It will also help the peanuts. I’m sure the cattle farmers are welcoming these showers to help pastures. Besides that, it’s just hampering corn harvest for corn growers.

But at least we don’t live in Tennessee, where 44 percent of the state is in a D4 exceptional drought and the rest is in a severe drought. Alabama is in the same boat.

From The AP:

“The nation’s biofuel market has long centered on the Midwest, where corn growers make up the backbone of a mature ethanol industry. But as technology yields new ways to extract energy out of biomass - from wood chips and sawdust to fruit waste - the South sees an opportunity.

Mississippi now offers up to $6 million in incentives to ethanol or biodiesel plants built in the state, while Tennessee’s governor has supported spending $70 million of the state budget to develop alternative fuels.”

Read the entire story.

Well, folks, it looks like the worst of the drought is behind us.

According the U.S. Drought Monitor that was released Thursday, Northeast Mississippi no longer is in a 50-year drought. While we still are in a drought, the intensity has weakened significantly.

As of July 10, 4.5 percent of the state is in a D3 extreme drought. The area covered by the drought includes Benton, Tippah, Alcorn, Tishomingo, Prentiss, Itawamba, Monroe and Lowndes counties. The rest of the region is under a moderate or severe drought. Take note that none of the state in a D4 exceptional drought, the most intense drought classification. Check the map for more specifics.

What’s really good is that until this week, the entire state was considered to be under some form of drought. Now, 17 percent of the state is drought-free.

Looks like things are even shaping up for Alabama.

The drought across Northeast Mississippi is retreating, according to today’s U.S. Drought Monitor.

As of July 3, 2.7 percent of the state is in a D4 exceptional drought, the most severe drought classification. The drought covers Monroe, Lowndes, Noxubee and Kemper counties.

The percentage is drastically lower than the June 19 report, in which 18.8 percent of the state was under a D4 drought. The area covered 19 counties in northeast and east central Mississippi.

Even our neighbor to the east is getting a little bit of relief. However, Alabama still has a long way to go with 41.9 percent of the state in a D4 drought.

Check out tomorrow’s paper for more about the drought and the USDA’s thoughts on it.