Branstad to hold public meeting on drought

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad will hold a public meeting next week on the drought conditions plaguing Iowa this summer.

Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds will be joined by other state officials and representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture as well as ag and environmental experts in Mount Pleasant on Tuesday.

Branstad’s office says the meeting will focus on coordination between the state and federal levels and potential action to ensure that Iowa’s needs are meet.

The meeting is set for 9 a.m. at Mount Pleasant High School.

The USDA is already streamlining the process for farmers to apply for government disaster help as crops burn up in many states in the widest drought in nearly 25 years.