Hello,

The Iowa Environmental Focus has just released its weekly radio spot on our blog.  

This week’s episode discusses the effects of an unusually warm March on Iowa's agricultural community.  

You can listen to the file or read the transcript to find out more here.

You can also access the clip and get more information on our project at our website, iowaenvironmentalfocus.org.

You can check us out on Facebook and follow us on Twitter as well.

We’re always looking for more content ideas at the Iowa Environmental Focus, so please e-mail any suggestions or comments to [log in to unmask]. 

For more information, contact:

Joe Bolkcom: (319) 353-2681, [log in to unmask]

Joshua Quinnett: (563) 340-9573, [log in to unmask]

Michael Gallagher: (847) 903-0216, [log in to unmask]

Thanks!

Transcript: Warmest March on record alters Iowa’s environment

Are you curious how the warmest March on record affected Iowa’s farming?

This is the Iowa Environmental Focus.

Iowa’s warm March presented a dilemma for Iowa’s corn farmers. The conditions gave them the opportunity to plant early, but doing so risked heavy damage from a May freeze. However, farmers that planted early have a chance to sell their corn at a premium if it is ready by September.

Fruit farmers were not given a choice. The warm weather caused some fruit in Iowa to bloom early, making it susceptible to damage from a spring freeze.

The warm temperatures also caused pests to emerge earlier than usual. As a result, some farmers sprayed their fields early.

Bees, in particular, benefit from the weather. This could boost honey production, and assist crops that rely on bees for pollination including soybeans.

For more information on the effects of Iowa’s unusually warm temperatures, visit IowaEnvironmentalFocus.org.

I’m Jerry Schnoor from the UI Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research.

Thank You.

End.