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Open winter increasing drought concerns for parts of Iowa

A lack of snow cover is raising drought concerns in central and southern Iowa.

Knoxville farmer Mike Finarty says a late January warm-up melted away what little snow had accumulated so far this winter.

“Unfortunately, we’re dry.  And I think that’s a worry on every producers’ mind, from the row crop producer to the cattle producer because we all rely on that weather and that moisture.  So, it’s a worry.”

Speaking to Brownfield at the Cow-Calf Conference and KIIC Farm Show in Ottumwa over the weekend, Finarty says the current lack of moisture comes on the heels of a very challenging 2017 growing season.

“I was in the drought area, and i also got hit by hail, so i got a double-whammy.  So 2017 was not a good year for me.”

The latest U.S. drought monitor indicates abnormally dry conditions for most of south-central and southeastern Iowa.

 

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