OSKALOOSA —
Drought conditions are causing issues for many Mahaska County farmers.
Bob Wells, Agricultural Economics and Farm Management with the Mahaska County ISU Extension Office, said a lot of corn in the county has suffered severely from the drought. He noted that some corn stalks haven’t produced a single ear of corn.
“That concerns us as far as the yield,” Wells said. “You can drive down the road and see a good green color. But, you walk out into the fields and the crop is just not healthy.”
Obviously, the lack of measurable rainfall and high temperatures have not helped the growth cycle of corn and soybeans. Wells noted that these conditions harmed the pollination phase of the local corn crop this past week. He also said soybeans are entering a critical stage in their growth right now.
It’s been bad before.
Wells said it’s been many years since Mahaska County has seen a drought of this nature. He cited severe droughts in 1988 and 1983 as examples of such dry conditions.
The best thing Mahaska County farmers can do at this point is relax, said Wells. He said the majority of farmers in the area have crop insurance to mitigate any losses in their yields.
The No. 1 piece of advice Wells has for area farmers is to contact their crop insurance agent if they feel like they have already or will suffer losses.
Working with area grain elevators is also key, according to Wells. He said that those farmers who are contracted with grain elevators when it comes to their bushels should work with these individuals earlier than later if they feel they will not be able to meet the level of bushels specified in a contract.
When it comes to the drought’s impact on agriculture, it’s not just the fields that are suffering. Wells said livestock producers should look into whether or not they need to cut back on their herds. He added that the first few alfalfa hay cuttings were at near normal yields and that the quality of hay was extremely good. This may come in handy when it comes to feed costs for animals, noted Wells.
The Mahaska County ISU Extension is offering a Webinar on the current drought conditions 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday at their North I Street office. Wells said the Webinar will touch on various topics including crops, livestock and farm management issues such as crop insurance. There will be a question and answer portion of this event.
The National Weather Service also has plenty to say about the current drought situation impacting much of Iowa. This past Thursday, the NWS issued a drought information statement, which noted that the drought is “rapidly intensifying across central Iowa.”
The NWS expects temperatures through Aug. 1 to be “well above normal.” However the precipitation outlook includes “below normal” rainfall amounts.
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Herald City Editor Andy Goodell can be reached at news2@oskyherald.com.
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This Iowa field is indicative of the plight of crops statewide. Photo courtesy of ISU Extension
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