USMEF Executive Committee Member Offers First-hand Drought Update

The drought of 2012 is getting worldwide attention for the impact it will have on food prices as well as the cost of raising livestock. One of the farmers operating on the front lines is Iowa corngrower Jay Lynch, who also serves as a member of the USMEF executive committee.

Lynch was interviewed by the Des Moines Register this week, reporting from the cab of his combine in the accompanying news article and video (click on picture below).

While some of the sandy soil of Humboldt County yielded "virtually no crop," Lynch was pleased to report that other plots produced close to the 180 to 200 bushels per acre that have become the norm in north-central Iowa. While it's still early in the harvest, Lynch is hopeful that he will average 165 bushels per acre - which is considerably higher than the 141 bushels per acre forecast for Iowa by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Some private forecasts are even more pessimistic, projecting corn yields below 125 bushels per acre.

"It's just a start and we have a long way to go," said Lynch, "but I'm happy and relieved that we will at least have a decent crop."