Persistent below normal precipitation allowed severe drought conditions to continue across all of northeast Iowa. With the continued lack of precipitation portions of southern Clayton and Fayette Counties along with the southwest sections of Floyd County deteriorated to extreme drought. Affects of the drought include damaged crops, pastures that have stopped growing, river flows that were less than 20 percent of normal, falling ground water levels and burning bans. In early August, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture declared 42 counties in Iowa to be natural disasters areas. This included both Clayton and Fayette Counties. The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture also announced an expansion of emergency haying and grazing on conversation land to bring greater relief to livestock producers dealing with shortages of hay and pastureland. The State of Iowa also announced that 6,000 acres of grasslands enrolled in the Wetland Reserve Program would be opened up to haying and grazing. Ethanol producing plants across Iowa voluntarily slowed production as corn prices rose and supplies tightened. Production was cut about 20 to 30 percent. The Iowa State Climatologist declared the 2012 drought worse than the 1988 event and the worst since 1936 because this years drought has eclipsed 1988 for breadth and severity. The Iowa Dept. of Agriculture started requiring all milk produced or received in the state to be tested for aflatoxin. Aflatoxin can sometimes be found in drought stressed corn, which when consumed by cows could pass into their milk. Alfatoxin is a concern because it is a known carcinogen and can cause damage to a person's liver.

Drought in MITCHELL, IOWA
From 01-AUG-12 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Severe drought conditions continued across Mitchell County because of a persistent lack of precipitation. Affects of the drought include damaged crops, pastures that have stopped growing, river flows that were less than 20 percent of normal on the Cedar River and falling ground water levels.

Drought in ALLAMAKEE, IOWA
From 01-AUG-12 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Severe drought conditions continued across Allamakee County because of a persistent lack of precipitation. Affects of the drought include damaged crops, pastures that have stopped growing, river flows that were less than 20 percent of normal on the Upper Iowa River and falling ground water levels.

Drought in CHICKASAW, IOWA
From 01-AUG-12 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Severe drought conditions continued across Chickasaw County because of a persistent lack of precipitation. Affects of the drought include damaged crops, pastures that have stopped growing, river flows that were less than 20 percent of normal, falling ground water levels and the implementation of burning bans.

Drought in CLAYTON, IOWA
From 01-AUG-12 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Severe drought conditions continued across the northern two-thirds of Clayton County because of a persistent lack of precipitation, while the southern third of the county deteriorated to extreme drought. Affects of the drought include damaged crops, pastures that have stopped growing, river flows that were less than 20 percent of normal on the Turkey River, falling ground water levels and the implementation of burning bans. In early August, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture declared Clayton County a natural disaster area.

Drought in FAYETTE, IOWA
From 01-AUG-12 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Severe drought conditions continued across the northern three-quarters of Fayette County because of a persistent lack of precipitation while the southern quarter deteriorated to extreme drought. Affects of the drought include damaged crops, pastures that have stopped growing, river flows that were less than 20 percent of normal, falling ground water levels and the implementation of burning bans. In early August, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture declared Fayette County a natural disaster area.

Drought in WINNESHIEK, IOWA
From 01-AUG-12 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Severe drought conditions continued across Winneshiek County because of a persistent lack of precipitation. Affects of the drought include damaged crops, pastures that have stopped growing, river flows that were less than 20 percent of normal on the Turkey River and falling ground water levels.

Drought in FLOYD, IOWA
From 01-AUG-12 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Severe drought conditions continued across the northeast two-thirds of Floyd County because of a persistent lack of precipitation while the southwest third deteriorated to extreme drought. Affects of the drought include damaged crops, pastures that have stopped growing, river flows that were less than 20 percent of normal on the Cedar River, falling ground water levels and the implementation of burning bans.

Drought in HOWARD, IOWA
From 01-AUG-12 00:00:00 to 31-AUG-12 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Severe drought conditions continued across Howard County because of a persistent lack of precipitation. Affects of the drought include damaged crops, pastures that have stopped growing, river flows that were less than 20 percent of normal, falling ground water levels and the implementation of burning bans.