AN EL NINO WEATHER PATTERN. WELL, THE RAIN LAST WEEK HELPED IOWA’S DROUGHT CONDITIONS, BUT ONLY SLIGHTLY. OVERALL, THE STATE IS STILL MODERATELY OR SEVERELY DRY. OBVIOUSLY THE RED WORSE, THE YELLOW, THE BETTER ON THIS MAP. SOUTHEAST IOWA, FAR WESTERN EDGE OF THE STATE, THE DRIEST AREAS. YOU SEE THE TWO REDS ON THE MAP OF IOWA. THOSE CONDITIONS ARE IMPACTING FARMERS ACROSS OUR STATE. OUR NICOLE TAM VISITED A FARM IN STORY COUNTY TO SEE HOW THEY’RE CHANGING THINGS UP TO KEEP A FAMILY BUSINESS. NOREEN BLACK HAS BEEN FARMING HERE IN AMES FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS. AND AS YOU SEE HERE, THE STOCKS DID GROW THIS SEASON, BUT SHE SAYS OVERALL IT’S BEEN A CHALLENGE. THE CORN ADDS UP TO 25 ACRES OF LAND. AS YOU WALK AROUND, THE SOIL IS DRY. THAT’S WHY SHE HAS TO SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO IRRIGATE. THE GOAL IS TO REACH AN INCH OF WATER ON EVERY CROP A WEEK. THAT’S HOW YOU KNOW WHEN TO PICK IT. WHEN THE TOP OF IT GETS WIDER. NOREEN AND HER HUSBAND, DUANE, LIVE THROUGH A LOT OF CHALLENGES FROM MOTHER NATURE OVER THE YEARS, INCLUDING A DERECHO. BESIDES THE DRY WEATHER THIS YEAR, THE FARMER ALSO HAD TO DEAL WITH HIGHER DIESEL PRICES, FORCING THEM TO INCREASE HOW MUCH THEY CHARGE CUSTOMERS AS WELL. YOU ROLL THE DICE AND YOU SAY YOUR PRAYERS AND DO YOUR RAIN DANCE AND HERE WE GO. WE SPENT QUITE A BIT OF MONEY ON OUR IRRIGATION REEL, SO THAT WE COULD AT LEAST GUARANTEE THAT WE WOULD BRING WATER TO THE CROPS AT AND THAT, OF COURSE, IN TAKES MORE COST DESPITE THE UNKNOWN, BLACK LOVES WHAT SHE DOES. AT 70 YEARS OLD, SHE SAYS THAT FARMING IS WHAT KEEPS HER YOUNG. IN AMES NICOLE T