Climate Adaptation

Derecho Damage, Heat and Drought Threaten Iowa Bumper Corn Crop

Crop ratings fall most since 2012 after derecho, heat wave
Conditions worsened in 16 of 18 states monitored by USDA

Corn plants are shown pushed over in a storm-damaged field in Tama, Iowa on Aug. 11.Photographer: Daniel Acker/Getty Images

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By Michael Hirtzer, Dominic Carey, and Kim Chipman

August 24, 2020 at 9:35 PM UTC

Updated on

August 25, 2020 at 10:00 AM UTC

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The corn crop in the U.S. Midwest deteriorated the most in 8 years with hot weather adding to woes from drought and the Aug. 10 derecho windstorm that swept through the top-growing state of Iowa.

Crop ratings of “good” or “excellent” fell by 5 percentage points to 64%, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Monday. Ratings fell in 16 of the 18 states monitored by the agency.