Report on Iowa’s Water and Agricultural Conditions in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

Alleviation of Drought and Progress Towards SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 13 (Climate Action)

Significant rainfall in July has led to a substantial reduction in drought conditions across Iowa, marking progress in combating desertification and managing water resources as outlined in SDG 6 and adapting to climate-related hazards under SDG 13. Recent data from the U.S. Drought Monitor illustrates a dramatic improvement in the state’s water security.

• Nearly 96 percent of the state is now reported to be without any drought or abnormally dry conditions.
• Less than 1 percent of Iowa is experiencing “moderate drought.”
• Only 4 percent of the state is considered “abnormally dry.”

This represents a significant positive shift from three months prior, in April, when only 28 percent of the state was free from drought conditions. The above-normal rainfall addresses critical water shortages, contributing directly to the sustainable management of water ecosystems.

Impact on Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security (SDG 2: Zero Hunger)

The improved moisture levels have had a beneficial impact on Iowa’s agricultural sector, supporting the goals of SDG 2, which aims to end hunger, achieve food security, and promote sustainable agriculture.

1. Enhanced Crop Progress: Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig confirmed that the wetter conditions have benefited the state’s overall crop progress.
2. Accelerated Corn Development: Corn production is ahead of schedule, with a reported 18 percent of acres reaching the dough stage, a key indicator of a healthy yield.
3. Positive Regional Outlook: An Iowa State University Extension agronomist noted that crops in east-central and south-central Iowa are on track and “looking good,” reinforcing the positive outlook for regional food production.

Emerging Challenges and Sustainable Management Practices (SDG 13 & SDG 15)

While beneficial, the increased precipitation also presents challenges that require adaptive management strategies, reflecting the complexities of climate action (SDG 13) and protecting life on land (SDG 15). Excessive moisture can be as detrimental as drought, threatening agricultural sustainability.

• Soil Oversaturation: Agronomist Rebecca Vittetoe explained that waterlogged soil lacks oxygen, which is essential for crop root health. This can cause plants to decline and “go backward,” particularly in areas that have experienced flash flooding.
• Increased Disease Risk: The humid conditions create a favorable environment for crop diseases. Southern Rust, a fungus that can damage corn production, has already been observed at low levels across the state.

To mitigate these risks and ensure the sustainable management of agricultural land, experts recommend proactive measures. Producers are advised to regularly “scout” their fields to monitor for signs of stress from oversaturation and to detect and manage diseases early. This practice is crucial for adapting to variable weather patterns and protecting agricultural ecosystems, thereby supporting the long-term objectives of both SDG 13 and SDG 15.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger – The article discusses agricultural productivity, crop progress, and threats to crops like disease and soil oversaturation.
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation – The core topic is water availability, focusing on the shift from drought conditions to significant rainfall and its effects.
• SDG 13: Climate Action – The article describes extreme weather phenomena such as drought and excessive rainfall (leading to flash flooding), and the need to adapt to changing weather patterns.
• SDG 15: Life on Land – The article addresses the condition of the land, specifically drought, soil quality (oversaturation), and the health of terrestrial ecosystems (croplands).

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger

  • Target 2.4: “By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality.”
    
    Explanation: The article directly addresses this target by discussing how Iowa’s agriculture is affected by extreme weather like drought and excessive rainfall. It highlights the benefits of rain for crop progress (“Iowa’s overall crop progress has benefited from the wetter conditions”) and the risks of flooding and disease (“over saturation also can cause disease in crops”). The recommendation for producers to “scout” their fields is a resilient agricultural practice to manage what “Mother Nature throws at us.”

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  • Target 6.4: “By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity.”
    
    Explanation: The article focuses on the issue of water scarcity by reporting on the significant depletion of drought conditions in Iowa. The statement that “nearly 96 percent of the state is without any drought or abnormally dry conditions,” compared to just 28 percent three months prior, directly relates to addressing water scarcity through increased freshwater supply from rainfall.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  • Target 13.1: “Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.”
    
    Explanation: The article discusses climate-related hazards like drought and flash floods. The monitoring of these conditions by the U.S. Drought Monitor and the advice from agronomists on managing crop health during these events (e.g., scouting for Southern Rust fungus) are examples of strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity to these natural disasters.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  • Target 15.3: “By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.”
    
    Explanation: The article’s main theme is the recovery from drought, which is a form of land degradation. The data showing a dramatic decrease in drought-affected areas (“Less than 1 percent of the state still is experiencing ‘moderate drought'”) indicates progress in combating and restoring land affected by drought. It also touches on the negative effects of floods (oversaturation) on soil quality.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicators for Target 2.4 (Resilient Agriculture)

  • Crop Progress Report: The article mentions that “18 percent of Iowa corn acres reaching the dough stage,” which serves as a direct indicator of agricultural productivity.
  • Crop Health Status: The mention of “low levels of the disease [Southern Rust]” and the need to scout for it acts as an indicator for monitoring crop resilience and the impact of weather on plant health.

• Indicators for Target 6.4 (Water Scarcity)

  • Percentage of land under drought: The article provides specific data from the U.S. Drought Monitor: “nearly 96 percent of the state is without any drought,” “Less than 1 percent…is experiencing ‘moderate drought,'” and “Only 4 percent…is considered ‘abnormally dry.'” These percentages are direct indicators of the level of water stress or scarcity.
  • Rainfall Measurement: The statement that “Eastern Iowa has had about 5.5 inches of rainfall” and that the “monthly statewide average rainfall is above normal” are quantitative indicators of freshwater availability.

• Indicators for Target 13.1 (Resilience to Hazards)

  • Monitoring of Climate Hazards: The use of the “U.S. Drought Monitor” report itself is an indicator of a system in place to monitor and report on climate-related hazards, which is a key part of building resilience.

• Indicators for Target 15.3 (Land Degradation)

  • Proportion of land that is degraded: The statistics on the percentage of the state experiencing drought conditions (“Less than 1 percent… ‘moderate drought'”) directly measure the proportion of land degraded by drought. The change over three months from 72% affected to less than 5% affected shows progress in restoring this land.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: thegazette.com