A state “drought task force” will meet June 1st in the Governor’s office. Governor Tom Vilsack wants the group to provide advice on a wide range of subjects — for instance, identifying how many Iowa communities are having water woes. Vilsack says he’s hearing “deep concern” about the situation. He says northeast Iowa is in good shape, but the rest of the state is three to four inches below what it needs in moisture.Vilsack has tapped 13 Iowans to serve on the task force. The Task Force has the following members: Ron Litterer, Iowa Corn Growers; David Petty, Iowa Cattlemen’s Association; L.D. McMullen, Des Moines Water Works; Patty Judge, Iowa Ag Secretary; Rodney Dykstra, Iowa Pork Producers; Ed Wiederstein, Iowa Farm Bureau; Mark Dickey, Iowa Rural Water Association; Harry Hillaker, state climatologist; Ellen Gordon, Emergency Management division administrator; Monica Fischer, Governor’s office; Dusky Terry, Governor’s office; Bob Soukup, Farm Service Agency executive director.
