Iowa State Office

Ask the Expert: Understanding the U.S. Drought Monitor; a Q&A with Brian Fuchs

In this Ask the Expert, climatologist Brian Fuchs answers questions about the U.S. Drought Monitor and how it relates to USDA and supports agricultural producers. Brian is part of the team at the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln that manages the drought map. The drought monitor is an online, weekly map showing the extent and severity of drought across the United States.

Learn more about the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Iowa USDA Customers Encouraged to Call Ahead to Confirm Local Service Center Status

USDA Service Centers in Iowa are beginning to reopen to limited visitors by appointment only. Contact your Service Center to find out if it is open to limited visitors and to schedule an appointment. You can find contact information at farmers.gov/service-locator. Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) staff also continue to work with agricultural producers via phone, email, and other digital tools. Producers can learn more about how to leverage these digital offerings by visiting https://www.farmers.gov/mydocs.

Welcome to the Iowa Farm Service Agency!

We are here to serve you - our customers - so please use us as a resource and information source!

The dedicated men and women of our agency strive to equitably serve all farmers, ranchers, landowners and agricultural partners through the delivery of effective, efficient agricultural programs, achieving the mission of FSA in our great state. Iowa agriculture is diverse and we at FSA offer you programs and services to meet those diverse needs.

We are proud to foster relationships with our sister agencies and industry partners in supporting and promoting rural communities across Iowa. Whether that comes in the form of land and water conservation efforts, access to credit for beginning farmers, financial assistance in times of natural disaster or a microloan for a new tractor, FSA has a program for that!

Please take a moment to visit the useful topics throughout our website. We are here to serve so please feel free to contact your local county office (USDA service center locator) or our state office in Des Moines.

Iowa Drought Information

U.S. Drought Monitor

Iowa Concerns Hotline

ISU Ag Decision

FSA Disaster and Drought Assistance

Purdue Extension Drought Info

Illinois Extension Drought Resources

Ongoing

• Did you notify FSA prior to conducting land clearing or drainage projects to ensure compliance?
• Reports of Failed Acreage must be filed with the County Office before disposition of the crop.
• Reports of Prevented Planting Acreage must be filed within the County Office no later than 15 calendar days after the final planting date for that county.
• Report of Notice of Loss for crops covered under the NAP program.
• Notification of Livestock Loss for Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) - 30 calendar days of when the loss became apparent.
• Notification of Loss for Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm Raised Fish Program (ELAP) - 30 calendar days of when the loss became apparent.
• Notification of Noninsured Crop Disaster Program loss - 15 calendar days of when the loss became apparent (72 hours if the crop is hand harvested).
• Tree Assistance Program application deadline - 90 calendar days after the disaster event of when the loss first became apparent to the producer.

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