Dealing with Disasters

Crops

Resources for crop-related issues during a drought are listed below. Subscribe to Integrated Crop Management News to receive notification of articles as published. The USDA website Disaster and Drought Assistance is updated on a regular basis; it includes the map of USDA Drought Disaster Declared Counties.

• Emergency Water Storage for Crop and Livestock Production - April 2013. Understand how shallow groundwater resources (wells) are impacted during and beyond drought, and how to use onsite emergency water storage to help meet daily water demands with stressed or limited water supplies.
• Cutting Nitrogen Rates in 2013 — This April 1, 2013 document titled "Estimating N Carryover" encourages crop producers to test soils, estimate carryover N and reduce spring N rates.
• Crop Market Outlook — Chad Hart (2013)
• Iowa Hay and Straw Directory

• Related Topics
  • 2012 Drought in Iowa - Anticipating Economic Impacts — A brief prepared by David Swenson and Liesl Eathington, Community and Economic Development specialists; August 2012.
  • Iowa Crop Progress and Condition

Livestock Concerns

• Emergency Water Storage for Crop and Livestock Production - April 2013. Understand how shallow groundwater resources (wells) are impacted during and beyond drought, and how to use onsite emergency water storage to help meet daily water demands with stressed or limited water supplies.
• Water Conservation Fact Sheet — National Pork Board, includes water use with hogs, whole farm water system and farm house water use.
• Water Conservation in the Swine Industry — National Pork Board
• Pasture Recovery during Drought — Barnhart
• Managing Through Stress: A Livestock Information Event — February 4, 2013
  • Intro and Crop Outlook: President Craig Hill and Chad Hart, ISU - Duration: 20:29
  • Livestock Outlook: Lee Schulz, ISU - Duration: 20:46
  • Weather Outlook: Elwynn Taylor, ISU - Duration: 21:32
  • Financial Indicators/Strategy ideas: Sterling Liddell, Rabo AgriFinance - Duration: 16:42
  • Watching for Stress and What You Can Do: Michael Rosmann, Ag Behavioral Health - Duration: 26:42
  • Multi-Species handout
• Coping with Drought-Affected Private Water Supply Wells — January 2013
• Disaster and Drought Assistance — USDA website, updated on a regular basis.
• Feed
  • Management Tips for Drought-stressed Forages — Barnhart
  • Iowa Hay and Straw Directory
  • Farm Service Agency's Hay Net Ad Service
• Iowa Beef Center has drought resources for livestock producers. Information at this website includes:

These Iowa State University-based organizations also offer resources to the Iowa livestock industry.

• Iowa Manure Management Action Group
• Iowa Beef Center
• Iowa Pork Industry Center

Dealing with Stress

Everyone is susceptible to the stress caused by natural disasters. The following resources provide information to help you deal with stress.

• Hotlines
  • Iowa Concern Hotline: 800-447-1985
    Help and referrals for dealing with stress, crisis and loss in times of disaster.
  • Teenline — (800)443-8336 Available all hours, all days. Personal and health-related information and referral.
• Managing and Coping with Stress across the Lifespan
  • Watching for Stress and What You Can Do: Michael Rosmann, Ag Behavioral Health -video: 26:42
  • ISU Extension Publications on Managing and Coping with Stress
  • Encouraging Family Communication after a Disaster—from University of Arizona Cooperative Extension
  • Information for family caregivers—from eXtension.org
  • Coping with Disaster — from Mental Health America
  • After a Natural Disaster: Coping with Loss—from University of Minnesota Extension
• Stress in Children
  • Children and Disasters -- from the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN)
  • How to Help Children Frightened by News Events -- from CYFERnet
  • Help Children Cope with Frightening Events and Disasters — from ISU Extension and Outreach
  • Disaster Preparedness to Meet Children’s Needs— from American Academy of Pediatrics
  • Children’s Health in the Aftermath of Floods—from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • Children as Victims of Natural Disasters—from Purdue Extension
  • Understanding the Impact of Disasters on the Lives of Children and Youth—from University of Arizona Extension
  • Global Disasters: Helping Children Cope—from National Association of School Psychologists
  • Resources for Educators —from University of Illinois Extension
  • Resources for Parents and Teachers —from FEMA for Kids
  • School Safety and Crisis Resources —from National Association of School Psychologists 

Home & Yard

• Conserving Water and Water Supplies
  • Water Conservation Fact Sheet — National Pork Board, includes water use with hogs, whole farm water system and farm house water use.
  • Coping with Drought-Affected Private Water Supply Wells — January 2013
  • Water Conservation Tips — conserving water reduces usage and costs
  • Conserving Water (University of Minnesota Extension)
  • Quick Tips and water-saving devices for homes (University of Florida Extension Living Green)
  • Water Conservation in and Around the Home (Colorado State University Extension)
• Home
  • ISU Extension Answer Line: 800-262-3804 (toll free for Iowa residents); 515-296-5883 (outside Iowa)
    Information and resources on home and family questions.
  • Spend Smart Eat Smart — ways to spend wisely and eat nutritiously
  • Storm Recovery Guide — information on safety and household cleanup after tornadoes, floods and other disasters. This guide was created by LSU AgCenter and edited by Iowa State University Extension experts for use in Iowa.
• Yard
  • Drought Damaged Lawns Need Help — September 2012, David Minner
  • Horticulture Needs during Drought, 7/20/12: Archived webinar sessions:  Managing fruit crops; turfgrass; nursery stock; current issues
  • Lawn Watering and Drought Management
  • Trees Stressed by Lack of Water
  • DNR fact sheets — a snapshot of current water resource trends and links to additional information including

Financial Concerns

• Farm Finances
  • Disaster and Drought Assistance — USDA website, updated on a regular basis.
  • Managing Farm Family Finances — guide for managing irregular and unpredictable income for family living needs.
• Family Finances
  • Money Mechanics - Record Keeping — includes keeping a close tab on spending.
  • Money Mechanics - Communication — tips to start your family communicating about money, includes a plan to reach financial goals.
  • Spending Plans and Worksheets — Understand when and how much to borrow, how to shop for credit, and credit reports and credit rights.
  • Money Mechanics - Credit and Analyzing Your Debts Worksheet — tips on how much to borrow
  • Managing Farm Family Finances — guide for managing irregular and unpredictable income for family living needs.
  • Take Control of Your Money — free online course for families dealing with financial stress
  • Managing in Tough Times — eXtension Financial Security website
  • Your Money Your Future — Online classes begin Aug.6
  • Making Every Cent Count — University of California, Cooperative Extension website
• Disaster Recovery: A Guide to Financial Issues — helps you regain a sense of financial balance following a disaster. This guide is a joint effort of the National Endowment for Financial Education, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the American Red Cross.
• Disaster Recovery Journal app -- This smart phone app from North Dakota State University Extension helps you record information about damages to your home and property using text, images and audio.
• Recovery after Disaster: The Family Financial Toolkit  — strategies and tools that can help you move along the road toward financial recovery. The toolkit was created by University of Minnesota Extension, North Dakota State University Extension Service and Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota.

Businesses

Dealing with Drought — From the Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS)

• Drought Considerations for Manufacturers
• Water Supply Matrix
• DNR Water Summary Update

Additional Resources

• Alliance for Water Efficiency - Manufacturing Introduction
• Food Processing Industries Water Use Efficiency Ideas - California Department of Water Resources
• Iowa State University Extension & Outreach Dealing with Disasters
• Safeguard Iowa
• Save Water PA
• The American Water Works Association Waterwiser Resources
• The Governor's Office Drought Page
• Urban Drought Guidebook 2008 Updated Edition - State of California, Department of Water Resources, Office of Water Use Efficiency and Transfers

Drought 2012

CROPS

• Drought impact on crop production: 2012 experiences from Iowa
• Aflatoxin
  • Aflatoxins/Mycotoxins in Corn and Guidelines for Cattle Feeding — 09/4/12 presentation by Steve Ensley, ISU Veterinary Toxicologist
  • Form for aflatoxin testing — Submit form to ISU Veterinary Diagnostic Lab with samples for testing. See the ISU Veterinary Diagnostic Lab User Guide for specific submission guidelines.
  • Aflatoxins and other diseases in corn — Farm Progress Show video of Alison Robertson
  • Aflatoxin: Testing Corn; Aflatoxin: Handling Corn; Aflatoxin: Crop Insurance — ICM News article by Charlie Hurburgh
  • Aflatoxins in Corn — publication updated August 2012 by Charles Hurburgh, Alison Robertson and Dan Loy
  • ISU Aflatoxin website — information from the Iowa Grain Quality Initiative
  • Aflatoxin in Iowa and nearby states — information from the ISU Veterinary Diagonostic and Production Animal Medicine
• Corn
  • High Nitrates in Dry Corn Stalks — Stephen Barnhart article
  • Making Quality Corn Silage — ISU Extension Dairy Team
  • Pricing Drought-damaged Silage
  • Alternatives for Drought-damaged Corn — Grain Crop or Forage
  • Phosphorus and Potassium in Silage Harvest of Drought-Damaged Corn
• Crop Insurance — Ag Decision Maker information files
  • Fall Harvest Prices and Indemnity Payments — fact sheet
  • Adjusting Grain for Drought Damage — fact sheet
  • Preparing for a Crop Insurance Review of APH Yields — fact sheet
  • Crop Insurance Coverage for Drought-damaged Crops
  • Crop Insurance Coverage Frequently Asked Questions
  • The 2012 Drought and Income Tax Deferral of Crop Insurance and/ or Disaster Payments, Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation
  • Falling Short on Contracted Insurance Bushels — fact sheet
• Forages
  • Management Tips for Drought-stressed Forages — Barnhart
  • Alternatives for Drought Damaged Soybeans - Crop or Forage
  • Nitrate Toxicity
  • CRP Emergency Haying and Grazing: Spreadsheet Calculates Cost of CRP Hay and Grazing
  • Farm Service Agency's Hay Net Ad Service
  • Late Summer Forage Options and Management Strategies in Drought or Dry Summer
  • Getting Additional Forage This Fall (University of Wisconsin)
• Harvest
  • 2012 Iowa Harvest Exposure to Mold and Dust in Grain — Iowa Department of Public Health fact sheet
  • Small Grain Cover Crops For Corn and Soybean and resources from Iowa Cover Crop Working Group
  • Combine Settings for Drought — Mark Hanna ICM News article August 2012
  • Dry Field Conditions Increase Harvest Fire Risks — Mark Hanna ICM News article August 2012
  • Dry Soil Conditions and Liquid Manure Application — Mahdi Al-Kaisi ICM News article August 2012
• Soybean
  • SCN Damage Apparent Early, Yield Loss Likely Greater in 2012
  • Alternatives for Drought-damaged Soybeans — Bean Crop or Forage

LIVESTOCK

• Feed
  • 
    CRP Emergency Haying and Grazing: Spreadsheet Calculates Cost of CRP Hay and Grazing
  • High Nitrates in Dry Corn Stalks — Stephen Barnhart article
  • Making Quality Corn Silage — Making good corn silage, an excellent feed for cattle.
  • Nitrate Toxicity
• Iowa Beef Center has drought resources for livestock producers. Information at this website includes:
  • Cow-calf considerations — including Early Weaning in Drought Conditions
  • Grazing, pastures, forages — including Short-term and Supplemental Forages
  • Herd and animal health — including What's Ahead for Cows on Drought-stricken Pastures
• Farm Ponds — Aquatic Plants and Summer Fish Kills

FINANCIAL CONCERNS

• Farm Finances
  • Fall Harvest Prices and Indemnity Payments — fact sheet
  • Disaster and Drought Assistance — USDA website, updated on a regular basis.
  • Managing Farm Family Finances — guide for managing irregular and unpredictable income for family living needs.

Web Archive

Watch recorded and archived drought webinars. 

Swine Drought Response, 8/29/12

• Grain Outlook - Chad Hart
• Livestock Outlook – Lee Schultz
• Drought and Swine Pig Performance – Matt Swantek
• Stretching Corn Supply – Dave Stender
• Discussion Summary – participant ideas for stretching corn supply

Drought Issues – Current and Future, 8/21/12

• Introduction, Aflatoxin and Diseases
• Feed Implications and Harvest
• Future Considerations – Livestock options and Crop Markets

Find responses to questions asked during the Webinar.

Crops and Livestock Options During Drought, 7/25/12

• Introduction and weather
• Crops 
• Livestock management 
• Economic considerations 

Find responses to questions asked during the Webinar.

Horticulture Needs during Drought, 7/20/12

• Managing fruit crops
• Turfgrass
• Nursery stock
• Current issues