AMES, Iowa – Counties in south-central Iowa are currently under a moderate drought with some areas now under a severe drought. These drought conditions are causing major concerns for both crop and livestock producers. To help address those concerns, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will host informational meetings at the following locations:
- August 7, 1:30 p.m. – Roberts Memorial Building (20497 Hwy 1, Keosauqua).
- August 7, 6:30 p.m. – ISU Extension and Outreach Wapello County Office (13011 120th Ave, Ottumwa).
- August 8, 1:30 p.m. – Davis County Fairgrounds (20471 Old Hwy 2, Bloomfield in the Fair Hall).
- August 8, 6:30 p.m. – ISU Extension and Outreach Monroe County Office (219 B Ave West, Albia).
- August 9, 1:30 p.m. – ISU Extension and Outreach Wayne County Office (220 East Jefferson Street, Corydon).
- August 9, 6:30 p.m. – ISU Extension and Outreach Mahaska County Office (212 N I St., Oskaloosa).
Meeting topics include crop growth and development under drought conditions, feeding drought damaged crops, issues with drought silage and crop insurance considerations. ISU Extension and Outreach specialists Rebecca Vittetoe, field agronomist; Patrick Wall, beef specialist; Joe Sellers, beef specialist; and Charles Brown, farm management specialist, will host the event. No pre-registration is required, and the meetings are expected to last about 90 minutes.
Farm Service Agency county executives have been invited to share information on drought programs the FSA can offer if a county reaches the reliability requirements, as well as some crop insurance providers.
Starting approximately 45 minutes before each meeting, producers will have the opportunity to provide five representative corn stock samples for on-site nitrate assessment.
For questions about the meeting agenda, contact Rebecca Vittetoe at 319-653-4811 or rka8@iastate.edu, Joe Sellers at 641-203-1270 or sellers@iastate.edu, Patrick Wall at 515-450-7556 or patwall@iastate.edu or Charles Brown at 515-240-9214 or crbrown@iastate.edu.
Meeting sponsors include Crop Production Services, Bloomfield, and Son Risk Management, Ottumwa.
ISU Extension and Outreach provides resources for dealing with drought on its website at www.extension.iastate.edu/topic/recovering-disasters.
PHOTOS:
Farmers should be cautious feeding drought stressed corn as silage because of nitrate toxicity. Photo by Rebecca Vittetoe.
Corn ears are starting to tip back due to the drought conditions. Photo by Rebecca Vittetoe.
