The lack of rainfall in August is now drying up Iowa’s fields, and ISU experts say any rainfall now will do little to salvage the already-mature crops.

Daryl Herzmann, agronomy program assistant, said Iowa’s rainfall in August was three inches below normal.

“We haven’t had statewide rainfalls all summer. We’re six inches behind in central Iowa, and it’s worse in southern Iowa,” Herzmann said.

There’s a 50-mile swath to the east and west of Webster City that has had adequate rainfall, but the rest of the state has some really dry spots.”

Herzmann said weather conditions this dry only happen every few years.

Stephen Barnhart, professor of agronomy, said the dry conditions have reduced hay harvests and pasture productivity and have caused corn to produce prematurely.

Pastures and newly-seeded meadows have suffered the most from the lack of rainfall, he said.

Greg Vogel, agriculture specialist and faculty operator at the student-managed Ag 450 farm, said most of the damage has been done and there is little producers can do to salvage crops.

“Most of the crops have already reached maturity, so any rain now is only going to help boost soil moisture for next season,” he said.

Vogel said aphids, an insect that originated in China and began appearing in Iowa soybean fields several years ago, have caused additional problems for bean producers.

“Farmers were unprepared because aphids are a new pest, and there isn’t a whole lot we know about them,” Vogel said.

The drought, compounded with the aphids, has Vogel estimating bean yields down 20 to 30 percent from last year. He said he expects corn yields to be down about 15 to 20 percent at the farm.

The low yields will translate directly to the state economy, Vogel said.

“It’s terrible. Farmers are already losing money, and this drought just makes it worse,” he said.

Vogel said farmers are planning to receive some aid from the government, but are doubtful they will see very much money because of the already-sagging economy.