Tagged: drought

This year's drought has taken a toll on a crop that gets more attention this time of year: Christmas trees.  But one expert says it has not affected sales.

"There is no shortage of trees, there's plenty to be had and the price hasn't gone up. What has gone up is basically based on inflation- nothing more. At least that's been my experience with people I've talked to in the industry," said David Daniken of the Illinois Christmas Tree Association.

Daniken works on a tree farm in Pocahontas, which is 40 miles east of St. Louis.

This year’s drought caused several governor’s as well as various livestock and poultry groups to petition the Environmental Protection Agency to wave a federal rule mandating the production of a certain amount of ethanol.

This summer's drought created some unexpected problems for the Macomb Public Works Department. Operations Manager Jason Bainter said the dry conditions caused an unusually high number of water main breaks.

“The largest one we had was out on Bower Road. I believe that the ground shrinking pulled the fittings on the water main apart,” Bainter said.

The rainfall from Hurricane Isaac is both good and bad news for southeast Iowa farmers.