Farmers Play Waiting Game for More Rain

Drought concerns continue to across northeast Iowa.

That’s ISU Field Agronomist Terry Basol with the Borlaug Learning Center in Nashua, who says, unless farmers can irrigate their crops, there’s nothing to do but wait.

Basol adds that the shortfall in precipitation isn’t at the critical stage yet for crops and the impact on crops can vary from field to field.

The Borlaug Learning Center and Northeast Iowa Research and Demonstration Farm are located in the southwest corner of Floyd County, an area rated by the latest U.S. Drought Monitor in the D1/moderate drought category.

Just to the south and southwest of the farm, portions of Butler and over three-quarters of Bremer County have been placed into the D2/severe drought category. 

According to the National Weather Service in Lacrosse, since the growing season began April 1st,  precipitation deficits in some areas of northeast Iowa are now down 6 to 8 inches below normal.