Severe drought starts to enter north-central Iowa

DES MOINES — Most of north-central Iowa is now in moderate drought after another dry week while areas of the listening area are starting to see severe drought.

The latest Iowa Drought Monitor Report shows only the eastern part of Worth County and all but the far southeastern portion of Mitchell County are in the “D-0 Abnormally Dry” category. The southeastern corner of Floyd County and the eastern half of Butler County are in the “D-2 Severe Drought” level as 16% of the state is now in the severe drought category.

USDA Iowa Field Office ag statistician Melissa Couch says topsoil and subsoil moisture levels continue to worsen throughout the state.  “Topsoil moisture condition rated 35% very short, 41% short, 24% adequate and 0% surplus; subsoil moisture condition rated 27% very short, 45% short, 28% adequate and 0% surplus.”

All but 2.5% of the state is in some level of drought on the drought monitor scale. The only place that is seeing normal conditions is in southwestern Iowa in Taylor, Ringgold, Decatur and Page counties.