May 21, 2021 – Large areas of the country are experiencing extreme or exceptional drought conditions, the two most severe levels of drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor’s May 18, 2021 map. And Iowa farmers are hoping summer 2021 does not have a repeat of the Aug. 10, 2020 derecho, a very strong wind storm that flattened millions of acres of corn and soybeans.

Posted weekly, assessment of drought conditions through the U.S. Drought Monitor is scientific and very helpful to farmers who, with a glance at the map, have an overview of their area and the country as a whole.

Some may say farmers don’t need a map to know their fields need rain but the map also has short term and long term assessments.The map is developed weekly through a collaboration of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Five levels of drought (from less severe to most severe) are color-coded and noted on the map. Those are:
1. Abnormally dry (yellow on  map)
2. Moderate drought (tan on map)
3. Severe drought (orange on map)
4. Extreme drought (red on map)
5. exceptional drought (maroon on map)

Irrigation

Many farmers have mechanical irrigation systems ready to go to make sure their crops receive enough water to thrive. Drawing from wells deep in the ground, the cost of irrigation is the cost of the equipment. But nothing beats the water that falls from the sky for low cost and low maintenance.

Derecho

Let’s hope 2021 summer weather is kind to Iowa farmers. On Aug. 10, 2020, they suffered from a rare weather event, called a derecho.

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), which is part of NOAA, a derecho (pronounced similar to “deh-REY-cho”) is a widespread, long-lived wind storm that is associated with a band of rapidly moving showers or thunderstorms.

Very strong front line winds flattened millions of acres of corn and destroyed millions of acres of soybeans. Iowa grows more corn than any other state so the storm was devastating not only to Iowa but also to the nation. Especially hard hit was the Cedar Rapids, Iowa area. Winds more than 120 miles per hour (mph) were reported.

In 2019, Iowa farmers harvested 2.6 billion bushels of corn and 502 million bushels of soybeans, according to the USDA. The derecho also damaged some crops in storage silos and the silos as well. Not only are farmers faced with crop loss, but they are also faced with loss of barns and silos needed for their operation.

And the derecho was on top of the 2020 pandemic. Farmers are known for being resilient but 2020 was a year of unprecedented challenges. Mother Nature hit them with both a rare storm and a new virus.

Everyone is looking forward to summer 2021 for some fun in the sun with friends and family. Ice cream socials, even with a little bit of social distancing, are far better than connecting virtually as so many people had to do last summer. Start those ice cream machines now!

Check back for updates on drought conditions throughout the summer.

Review Questions

1. What is a derecho?

2. What are the five levels of drought?

3. Where did the Aug. 10, 2020 derecho hit?

Inquiry Questions

1. From the map, what state has a large area that is having an exceptional drought, the most severe level?

2. Why was the derecho so devastating to Iowa corn farmers?

3. Why are farmers, by their nature, resilient?

4. FInd your state on the map. What is the status of drought in your state? Write a summary.

5. From one of the maps in the story, name two major areas where corn is grown.

6. Compare the 2021 map to the 2022 map. What conclusions can you draw?