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Key Points

• Cold temperatures may pose issues for perennials or crops ahead of schedule in terms of phenology.
• Quickly transitioning out of El Niño to La Niña conditions, which may increase risks for heat.

Past Weather

Key Points

• El Nino transitioning to La Nina during this summer; increased risk of heat
• Still need more moisture for streamflow recovery in many areas of the state, particularly southern and eastern parts of the state

With recent reports of mandatory

The use of lead shot for waterfowl hunting was banned in Iowa in 1987 in an attempt to spare birds the agonizing effects of lead poisoning resulting from their incidental consumption of spent shot.

Woodland owners who want to know the value of their forest or how their forest can be improved oftentimes just need to know where to begin.

That’s the goal behind two new forest resources from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

While our growing degree days are now firmly in the rear-view mirror and many of our most lauded phenological events – the serenade of the dawn chorus of birds, the stunning blooms of trees in spring, and the tapestry of prairie wildflowers of summer – have come and gone too, we head now into one

Picture a weed. Or better yet, a mess of them.

Now, what if I told you to turn to a stranger contemplating the same question and share your imaginings: do you think you’d have pictured the same place or plants?

My guess is no.

If you’re considering establishing a new tree planting in spring 2024, late summer 2023 is the ideal time to start planning.

In a world where the delicate balance of nature is increasingly threatened, each one of us has the power to be a hero. We often think of heroes as those with superhuman abilities, but sometimes, the simplest actions can have a profound impact.

Flowers are starting to bloom, trees are leafing out, and the grass is greening up again; Spring has sprung! Many folks like to celebrate the beginning of Spring by spending time in the garden and working to beautify their lawns.

No Mow May is a conservation initiative started by the UK-based organization, Plantlife. Over the last couple of years, this effort has gained a lot of attention in the United States.

The last year was a difficult one for the eastern monarch butterfly, according to a report just released that indicates monarchs occupying forest canopy in their wintering grounds in Mexico decreased by 22%, down from approximately 7 acres in 2021 to a little under 5 ½ acres during the winter of