The drought conditions in west-central Iowa are causing major concerns for both crop and livestock producers. Compounding this situation, the derecho windstorm damaged crops and infrastructure across the area. To help address those concerns, Iowa State University Extension will host a Virtual Ag Coffee Meeting at 9 a.m. Sept. 9. This will be a live webinar presentation with 11 in-person viewing locations across west-central Iowa.

The meeting will be split into two segments with Mike Witt, field agronomist with ISU Extension, discussing the agronomic impacts of the drought and derecho. Agronomic topics will include:

Tim Christensen, farm management specialist with ISU Extension, will discuss the financial impacts and strategies for fall. Specific farm management topics will include crop insurance conversations, new USDA Farm Service Agency programs, and considerations for handling the marketing of drought and low-yield crops. Handling stress on the farm will also be covered. The meeting will last about 90 minutes.

In-person and virtual event

The event will feature both in-person and virtual discussions. If you do not have internet access or would like to attend the meeting in person rather than from home, there are seats available at 11 county Extension offices listed below. The speakers will be live via Zoom and able to answer question during and after the presentation.

Each county office will be limited in their seating due to COVID-19 restrictions. Preregistration is required for in-person attendance and is on a first-come basis. Walk-ins will not be accepted unless confirmed by individual county offices the day of the meeting.

At home or virtual viewing of the meeting can be done by registering at the website aep.iastate.edu/coffee. This registration will provide a personal link to the meeting. The following ISU Extension county offices are holding the in-person option:

Preregister to attend in person

Due to COVID-19 and ISU Extension’s commitment to doing its best to keep the community safe, certain restrictions and requests will be required to attend the in-person meetings. Do not attend in person if you are sick or have been exposed to anyone in the past 14 days who has tested positive for COVID-19. Meetings will be held at indoor venues, and social distancing requirements will apply. Seating will be limited, and preregistration for these seats is required.

Preregistration is requested at least one day prior to the meeting by contacting the county Extension office preferred above, to allow staff to prepare the venue. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis, and walk-ins may not be accepted. Attendees are strongly encouraged to wear a face covering when in the presence of others if unable to maintain a 6-foot physical distance.

For questions about the meetings, contact Mike Witt at 641-430-2600 or [email protected], or Tim Christensen at 515-493-8232 or [email protected].

Source: ISU, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.