Des Moines, Iowa — The new US Drought Monitor shows the areas of Iowa with extreme and severe drought dropped following recent rains.
Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig says a lot of farmers are thankful for the rains.
He says the impact of the drought has not been totally washed away.
There’s been very little change in the past few weeks in northwest Iowa, however. And what little change there has been has been negative. The only change in the last month was a tiny sliver in the far northern part of western Lyon County went from moderate to severe drought. And that change was in the last week. Everything else remains the same, with the large majority of the four counties in moderate drought. There is a part of only abnormally dry area that covers about the eastern half of Osceola County and northeast O’Brien County. And there remains that area in northwest Lyon County that’s in severe drought. (see map below)
Naig was at the Iowa State Fair for its opening ceremonies Thursday. He touted the new “Choose Iowa” program.
Naig says consumers have been asking for and want to consider local when they are buying food.
Food, beverages and other agricultural products that are grown, raised or made within Iowa and meet or exceed minimum criteria can carry the “Choose Iowa” logo.
