DES MOINES, Iowa – Crop loss estimates from a rare wind storm that slammed Iowa in August have increased by more than 50%, a new report shows.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Friday that the number of crop acres that Iowa farmers are unable to harvest has grown to 850,000 (343,983 hectares) from estimates last month that 550,000 acres (222,577 hectares) were lost, The Des Moines Register reported.The storm, known as a derecho, generated winds of up to 140 mph (225 kph) that flattened crops.