As dry conditions continue to worsen in the western half of Iowa, haying and grazing provision of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) have taken effect in the seven Iowa counties experiencing the worst of this year’s drought.

As of July 30, Cherokee, Crawford, Ida, O’Brien, Plymouth, Pot­­tawattamie and Woodbury counties are all at D2 drought stage, according to the national drought monitor. More than 60% of Iowa is considered “abnormally dry,” and nearly 33% of the state is in moderate to severe drought.

Haying and...