(Photos from ISU Extension)
The signs of drought in Iowa are becoming more obvious, especially in southern Iowa.
Iowa State University Extension Agronomist Rebecca Vittetoe says some of the stalks look more like pineapple plants, with curling leaves spiking upward. She says that's okay if it's late in the day, as the plant's trying to conserve moisture, but she's seeing in the morning too in some locations, which is a bad sign.
She says they're seeing ears of corn that are not fully formed, or have a "zipper" effect, kernels have aborted in a ribbon-like way.
She says rain would still help save some stressed crops, but some producers may opt to chop their corn crop and use it feed livestock.
Vittetoe says soybeans are in better shape.
ISU Extension will have several meetings next week for southern Iowa farmers:
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.