Northey: Talk of drought "dominates"

Iowa Ag Secretary Bill Northey visits with Winneshiek County farmer Barrett McCasland at the Winneshiek County Fair

Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey visited the Winneshiek County Fair Wednesday morning as part of a swing through Northeast Iowa.

"I saw more tough-looking corn than I thought I'd see," Northey told decorahnews.com.  He says corn crops appeared worse that soybean crops, although both crops could be saved if it rained right away.  The problem is, the forecast doesn't call for much relief--in fact, temperatures are expected to climb into the 90s again Sunday and Monday, with little chance of rain forecast.

Northey says state officials are worried about the drought's impact on corn, especially whether it will lead to using the corn as silage.  That's when the state will be alert to the presence of aflotoxin, which is toxic to animals, especially dairy cows.  Northey tells decorahnews.com if the drought worsens, state officials will begin testing for the aflotoxins.

Northey says in meetings with Northeast Iowa farmers, "nothing dominates (conversations) like the weather."  He says farmers want him to know how serious the situation is and want to hear from him "what happens if..."