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Plenty of yards, fields, and pastures in Western New York with brown-colored grass in the current drought conditions.

WNY drought zone expanded



Western New York (WBEN) -- A government agency has expanded the drought zone in Western New York.

The U.S. Drought Monitor says all eight counties of the Western New York region are feeling drought conditions.

A few weeks ago, the agency said portions of five counties -- Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming -- were under a moderate drought.  Now, that classification applies to the entirety of all five counties. 

In addition, the Drought Monitor also now classifies Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Allegany as abnormally dry.

The widest U.S. drought in decades has now enveloped more than half of the continental U.S. Even states not technically in a drought are still dealing with abnormally dry conditions. Kelly Helm Smith -- with the National Drought Mitigation Center -- says don't expect much relief heading into the fall.

Meantime, Wisconsin dairy farmers tell CBS News the cost of feed going up, and cows producing less, so a gallon of milk could rise 10 cents more by August, maybe a quarter more by Christmas.


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