AMES, Iowa — With most of western Iowa experiencing some form of drought, specialists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach are partnering with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship to offer a series of drought webinars.
The series begins July 30, with the aim of answering questions about the development of drought in western Iowa, the expectation for continued hot and dry weather and the impacts on row crops and forages.
Webinar attendees will learn to better manage livestock and drought-stressed forages, prepare for use of alternative forages, understand important crop insurance and marketing decisions, and plan for harvest of a drought-stressed crop.
“The crop condition in west central Iowa has been declining with continued dry conditions and higher temperatures,” said Mark Licht, assistant professor in agronomy and cropping systems specialist at ISU. “This webinar series will provide some insights into the current weather patterns and approaches to proactively make decisions as crop progress continues to develop. While there is really no crop management decision to be made, this webinar series will help plan for potential forage options, estimating yield potential, and planning for harvest and storage of the existing crop.”
According to the latest report from the U.S. Drought Monitor, more than half of Iowa is considered “abnormally dry,” and nearly 40% of the state is in moderate to severe drought, with the worst conditions in the west central portion of Iowa.
“Precipitation deficits have been accumulating across the drought region over the last several months,” said Justin Glisan, state climatologist of Iowa. “With sparse rainfall and unseasonably warm temperatures, conditions have continued to deteriorate, rapidly in some parts of west-central Iowa locations.”
Webinar topics will include a general weather update, drought monitor updates, pasture and hay shortages, preparing for silage and nitrates, yield estimates, and end-of-year considerations related to grain quality and storage.
Along with Licht and Glisan, speakers will include Dennis Todey, director of the USDA Midwest Climate Hub, Aaron Saeugling, field agronomist with ISU Extension and Outreach, Chad Hart, professor of economics and extension grain market specialist at ISU and several others.
The webinars will run on Thursdays from 1-2 p.m. on July 30, Aug. 6, Aug. 13 and Aug. 20. Crop farmers and livestock producers in drought-affected areas will find the instruction useful as will ag service providers and ag retailers, farm managers, ag lenders and anyone impacted by drought conditions in Iowa. The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association and Iowa Corn Growers Association are sponsoring the series.
Registration is free but is required for participation and can be completed at any time during the series. A single registration allows for participation in any or all sessions.
In addition to the webinar series, local specialists are offering drought meetings in some of the most seriously affected counties from Aug. 3-7.
For more information, contact Meaghan Anderson, field agronomist with ISU Extension and Outreach, at 515-382-6551 or mjanders@iastate.edu. Mark Licht can be reached at 515-294-0877 or lichtma@iastate.edu.
