Winter Snow (Lack Thereof) Not Helping Extreme Drought Across Northeast Iowa
Similar to the last half of 2023, much of our region remains in extreme drought.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, based on precipitation through 7 am Tuesday, February 6, all of Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Howard, Chickasaw, Fayette, and Floyd counties are still rated in the D3/extreme drought category. Almost all of Butler, Cerro Gordo, Mitchell and Winneshiek counties also remain in extreme drought.
ISU Extension Agronomist Terry Basol is with the Northeast Iowa Research Farm, just west of Nashua, at the heart of some of the driest land.
Basol says snow and rain this winter have only been sufficient helped hold the status quo.
Despite the shortage in precipitation last growing season, Basol says he’s amazed at the resiliency of the crops, thanks to advances in seed technology.
About half of the state as a whole remains in the severe to extreme drought categories.
