Tag Archives: drought

Rain helps lessen drought in Iowa

Posted on April 12, 2013 by

This week’s rain has helped lessen the drought in Iowa. The rainfall for the week was the most that has fallen in Iowa since June 2011. The rain came after the ground thawed, which allows the water to soak in. … Continue reading →

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On the Radio: The drought’s environmental benefits

Posted on March 25, 2013 by

Listen to this week’s radio segment here or read the transcript below. This week’s segment discusses the benefits of last year’s drought. This past year’s drought actually had some benefits for Iowa’s environment. This is the Iowa Environmental Focus.

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On the Radio: Visitation increases at Iowa’s state parks

Posted on February 18, 2013 by

Listen to this week’s radio segment here or read the transcript below. This week’s segment discusses increased visitation at Iowa’s state parks. After a number of wet summers, the dry conditions of 2012 seem to have helped increase visitation at Iowa’s state … Continue reading →

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Drought could lead to forced water limits in Iowa

Posted on February 15, 2013 by

Drought conditions could lead to water conservation measures in some parts of Iowa. Especially in Iowa’s northwest counties, there’s a chance that some areas will have to limit water usage. To avoid getting to this point, Iowans are encouraged to … Continue reading →

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Benefits of the drought in Iowa

Posted on January 30, 2013 by

While the drought had many negative consequences, there were also a few benefits. Iowa Public Radio highlighted some of these benefits in a story last week. The drought provided near ideal conditions for Iowa’s wineries, since grapes grow better in … Continue reading →

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Iowa state parks draw more visitors despite drought

Posted on January 17, 2013 by

Despite above average temperatures and severe drought conditions, Iowa state parks welcomed 12 percent more visitors in 2012 than in 2011. According to data released by The Iowa Department of Natural Resources this week, the department’s 87 parks logged a … Continue reading →

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Possible changes on the way to water allocation law

Posted on January 15, 2013 by

Changes may be coming to a state law that allows the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to decide what water users get their water shut-off or restricted when water conservation is necessary. The state law was originally put into place … Continue reading →

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Iowa Crop Losses Exceed $1 Billion in 2012

Posted on January 3, 2013 by

The drought and heat wave this year inflicted more than $1 billion worth of damage to Iowa corn and soybean crops, according to estimates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The USDA administers the federal crop insurance program which … Continue reading →

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Iowa’s soil remains dry

Posted on January 2, 2013 by

Iowa’s drought isn’t a thing of the past. Iowa’s soil is still drier than normal in most of the state. It’s expected that soil will still be unusually dry in Iowa at the start of May. Listen to the full … Continue reading →

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Ethanol production remains steady in Iowa

Posted on December 21, 2012 by

For the first time in a decade, ethanol production in Iowa has remained steady. The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association says the state’s 41 ethanol plants produced a total of 3.7 billion gallons of ethanol in 2012 – equal to last … Continue reading →

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