Articles Tagged: Corn

Vilsack was in Iowa and spoke at a roundtable with Rep. Cindy Axne Thursday

State officials want to develop a drought plan that would include a trigger point to call for precautions, such as water rationing. Iowa has been ruled highly vulnerable to drought in part because crops are not irrigated.

Also, the new 988 line for suicide prevention launches Saturday

Most years, Iowa corn is far taller than “knee high by the Fourth of July,” but this year’s crop -- set back by late planting and too little rain -- fits the old adage.

Warm weather has allowed Eastern Iowa farmers to get out in their fields -- finally -- to plant corn, soybeans, oats and other crops. Input costs are rising, but corn expected to fetch a premium this year.

With persistent rain and lingering cool temperatures, corn planting in Iowa is 11 days later than last year and nine days behind the five-year average.

Robert Wade Chittick, 63, of Williamsburg, was found buried under 10 feet of corn after emergency responders were called around 7:30 a.m. Friday

The accident took place Friday. Rescuers found the man buried in about 10 feet of corn.

The Trump administration overpaid corn farmers by about $3 billion in federal aid in 2019 and farmers in the South were paid more for the same crops than those elsewhere in the country, a federal watchdog agency has found.

Drought, rain, rain, rain, and now, overflowing bushels

Both rainfall and temperatures were above average for the week ending Oct. 24, state climatologist reports.

Warmer than average conditions continued across Iowa with a statewide average of 65.2 degrees, 11.7 degrees above normal. The statewide weekly average precipitation was 0.26 inch while the normal is 0.66 inch.

The decision deals a significant blow to the ethanol industry and corn farmers who grow the crop from which the fuel additive is made. They had anticipated increased demand through year-round sales of a higher blend.

Timely rains aid some areas, not others

The key to taller corn — and better yields — is planting early and controlling weeds, most farmers say.