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We analyzed 4-years of Advanced Scatterometer (ASCAT) incidence angle normalized C-band backscatter, Next-Generation Radar (NEXRAD) precipitation and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) crop yield data over the contiguous United States (U.S.). Large negative anomalies in backscatter are evident over the U.S. during the 2011 and 2012 growing seasons, coincident with two instances of severe drought. The backscatter anomalies were correlated with diminished growing season precipitation and with reduced crop yields reflecting where drought-induced impacts on above-ground biomass production occurred. During periods of acute drought, differences in diurnal backscatter were reduced and in some cases reversed reflecting diminished nocturnal leave rehydration. The results indicate that the C-band, VV-polarized ASCAT backscatter data is sensitive to interannual variability in agricultural …