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Decreased rainfall in August sees return of dry conditions

Sep 6, 2024 | News

From the Iowa DNR

Consistent above-normal rainfall during the summer months slowed in August, leading to a return of dry conditions, according to the latest Water Summary Update. 

August’s preliminary statewide precipitation was 3.20 inches, or 0.93 inches below normal. At the end of August, Iowa’s Drought Plan showed overall drought conditions have remained mostly stable for the state. However, the decrease in precipitation has led to a return of dry conditions.

The U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) shows nearly 40% of the state carrying abnormally dry designations, with areas of western and northeast Iowa seeing the biggest change. This trend could turn worse if the dryness of August extends into the fall months. 

Temperatures for the month were near normal, with the summer months of June, July and August averaging 72.0 degrees statewide. The preliminary precipitation totals for that same period were 13.75 inches, or 0.19 inches above normal. 

Despite the dry conditions, the state has received more than 38 inches of rain in the past 12 months, which is a foot more than what the state saw between September 2022 and August 2023. 

“The Iowa Drought Plan rates statewide drought conditions as normal, although the month of August was drier than usual. As we move into September we would expect to get less than an inch of rain per week, with average rainfall continuing to drop through the rest of the year.  It is important that we continue to see normal precipitation through the fall and into the winter months,” Tim Hall, the DNR’s Hydrology Resources Coordinator, said. “We are to the point now where rainfall will begin to build up next year’s soil moisture and groundwater, so a wetter than normal fall would be great to see. If conditions remain dry, we could have issues going into 2025.”

For a thorough review of Iowa’s water resource trends, visit

 www.iowadnr.gov/watersummaryupdate. 

Baier memorial planned at ACGC stadium

Sep 6, 2024 | News

This conceptual drawing is an example of what the completed memorial could look like.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

ACGC Football Coach Cody Matthewson is leading an effort to create a memorial within ACGC stadium to honor Ron Baier. On social media, Matthewson shared details of the plan.

“On the west side of the stadium, inside the track, the project will entail a raised three-tiered flag bed with the top of the Jarmin Field stone on one side and a memorial for Ron Baier on the other. This will be privately funded with no expenses being paid from our schools. The goal is to raise $10,000 for the project. We will be hosting a Military Appreciation Night and reveal of the memorial during a football game this fall if all goes as planned,” Matthewson said.

For anyone interested in pitching in toward the project, an account has been opened at Guthrie County State Bank, titled “Ron Baier Memorial Fund.”  

Matthewson explained his personal reasons for wanting to create the tribute.

“Ron had a huge impact on me when I was first hired and showed me the right way to do things around the school,” Matthewson said. “He set the expectation of pride. He cared for the field, and I hope I can make him proud with how it looks on Friday nights.”

For more information, contact Matthewson at cmatthewson@acgcschools.org or 816-642-8817.

GCH Clinics adds new provider

Sep 6, 2024 | News

Special to the Times Vedette

GCH Clinics announces the addition of Renea Kestel, ARNP, as a board-certified family nurse practitioner. She received her BSN and MSN from the University of Phoenix and Family Nurse Practice Certification from Graceland University. She has spent the majority of her nurse practitioner career with family practice and walk-in clinics. She also served as a nurse practitioner within the Army Nurse Corps Army Reserves.

“I look forward to joining the Panora GCH team. I raised my family in a small town in northwest Iowa, and I truly enjoy a small-town environment. I enjoy getting to know patients and their families, and though I hope to inspire my patients, I find my patients most often inspire me,” Kestel stated. 

Kestel will be seeing patients at the walk-in clinic in Panora beginning in mid-September. The hours for the walk-in clinic are 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. each weekday. The clinic is closed for lunch from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Weekly Crop Progress and Condition Report — Sept. 6, 2024

Sep 6, 2024 | Crop Report

Special to the Times Vedette

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly April through November. Additionally, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship provides a weather summary each week during this time.

“September is always a busy month as farmers are beginning to make harvest preparations while also seeding cover crops and chopping silage,” said Secretary Naig. “As this year’s crop heads toward maturity, the outlook for the first half of September indicates the continuation of warm and dry conditions.”

The weekly report is also available on the USDA’s website at nass.usda.gov.

Crop report

The State experienced hot conditions and scattered rain this past week. Iowa farmers averaged 5.3 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending September 1, 2024, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Activities included preparing for the fall harvest and hay cutting.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 2 percent very short, 20 percent short, 76 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 3 percent very short, 19 percent short, 75 percent adequate and 3 percent surplus.

Corn in the dough stage or beyond reached 94 percent this week. Sixty-one percent of the corn crop reached the dent stage, 5 days behind last year and 1 day behind the five-year average. Corn mature reached 10 percent, 2 days behind last year but 1 day ahead of the five-year average. Corn condition rated 77 percent good to excellent. Soybeans setting pods reached 95 percent. Soybeans coloring reached 18 percent, 4 days behind last year and 2 days behind the five-year average. Soybean dropping leaves began at 2 percent. Soybean condition was 77 percent good to excellent.

The State’s third cutting of alfalfa hay reached 88 percent, 1 week behind last year but 1 week ahead of the five-year average. Pasture condition rated 64 percent good to excellent.

Weather summary

Provided by Justin Glisan, Ph.D., State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

The last reporting period of August was unseasonably warm across Iowa with pockets of positive departures approaching nine degrees; the statewide average temperature was 75.7 degrees, 6.7 degrees above normal. Much of the state also experienced wetter than normal conditions with many stations collecting surplus rainfall in the 0.50- to 1.00-inch range.

Southerly winds boosted Sunday (25th) afternoon temperatures into the low to mid 90s over southern Iowa as clouds increased over northern Iowa. Overnight temperatures through Monday (26th) morning were well above normal for late August, holding in the low to mid 70s at most stations. Daytime temperatures quickly rose into the mid to upper 90s with dewpoint temperatures in the upper 70s and low 80s; the statewide average high was 95 degrees, 14 degrees above normal along with triple digit heat index values. A weak cold front dropped southeast through the state on Tuesday (27th), producing showers over northern Iowa while stronger thunderstorms fired along an outflow boundary in southeastern Iowa through the evening hours. Daytime temperatures varied from the upper 70s in northwest Iowa behind the front to the mid 90s southeast. Rainfall totals were highest over southern Iowa with nearly 30 stations collecting at least an inch of rain. Three stations in Burlington (Des Moines County) registered from 2.13 to 2.53 inches. Totals farther north and west were generally under a few tenths of an inch.

Morning lows on Wednesday (28th) varied from the upper 50s north to upper 60s south as fog and partly cloudy skies were also reported. Cloudy skies remained through the day with temperatures in the low to mid 80s under southerly winds. A small complex of thundershowers formed after midnight in northeast Iowa, leaving behind 1.55 inches at Lime Springs (Howard County) with lesser totals at a handful of stations. A strong cold front propagated across Iowa on Thursday (29th) leaving widespread totals of over one inch at more than 230 stations National Weather Service (NWS) and Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow (CoCoRaHS) gauges. Eastern Iowa received the highest totals as the front slowly moved out of the state Friday (30th) morning; Marion (Linn County) registered 2.85 inches with a statewide average rainfall of 1.06 inches. Winds shifted to the northwest as cloud cover cleared southeastern Iowa by the early afternoon with daytime highs holding in the 70s. Light and variable winds developed through Saturday (31st) with morning temperatures in the 50s under clear skies. Afternoon conditions were pleasant with low 80s and southwesterly winds. Overnight lows into Sunday (1st) ranged from the mid 50s north to low 60s south.

Weekly rain totals ranged from 0.19 inch at Cherokee (Cherokee County) to 4.05 inches in Muscatine (Muscatine County). The statewide weekly average rainfall was 1.30 inches; the normal is 0.88 inch. Osceola (Clarke County) and Shenandoah (Page County) reported the week’s high temperature of 100 degrees on the 26th, on average 17 degrees above normal. Mason City Municipal Airport (Cerro Gordo County) reported the week’s low temperature of 47 degrees on the 1st, seven degrees below normal.

Our words — and our actions — can be impactful

Sep 6, 2024 | Publisher's Column

I was in seventh grade when my friend Brad, who was in eighth grade, told me guys like us can never use illegal drugs because we will get addicted. I didn’t fully understand his advice, but he was a year older than me and someone I admired, so I took heed. 

Today, I realize how the simple words of someone you look up to can impact the rest of your life. At that young age, I could have easily been convinced to use illegal drugs in the same way I was convinced to avoid them. My life today may have ended up much differently.

To be honest, I never really understood the attraction to roll something up, light it on fire and breathe in the smoke. My parents both smoked cigarettes when I was growing up, and the relentless stench of that kept me from ever wanting to ever smoke a cigarette, let alone marijuana. I also wrestled in high school and college, and competing in that sport meant you had to have strong lungs. Smoking anything was not part of that plan.

Drugs that don’t require inhaling are a different animal. I had my appendix taken out when I was in my 20s. It had started to burst, and I was in the hospital for an extended time. I vividly remember the nurse giving me some powerful pain medication, and I vividly remember how incredibly good that felt. Brad was right. I could have easily become addicted. Fortunately, it was not readily available to me.

Meanwhile, I did partake in moderate alcohol consumption, and I still do. My argument as an adult has been that it is legal, but I recognize that alcohol has created just as many, if not more, problems for people than drugs. I am fortunate that drinking too much alcohol gives me a horrible hangover for multiple days. So as much as I may enjoy it, I have a painful reminder of why I need to do so in moderation. 

I am concerned about illegal drug usage and its availability to kids today. Habits are difficult to break, so we all need to form good ones and encourage others to do the same.

Several years ago, I reminded Brad about his words of advice. He said he did not recall telling me that, but I do, and I owe him many thanks for steering me in the right direction. It is a reminder of how our words — and our actions — can be impactful to young and impressionable people.

Have a fantastic Friday, and thanks for reading. 

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital editions
shane@dmcityview.com
641-755-2115