North Iowa Outdoors: There’s an Abundance of Acorns

Many Iowa oak trees are producing a bumper crop of acorns this year. Aaron Steil, a horticulture specialist with Iowa State University Extension, says it’s a “mast year” for oaks. https://kiow.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/09/Acorn-1.wav

Steil went on to say. https://kiow.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/09/Acorn-2.wav

The mast cycle is not unique to oak trees. https://kiow.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/09/Acorn-3.wav

Steil says there is a theory of why trees do this and it’s related to the survival of the species. https://kiow.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/09/Acorn-4.wav

In years when there’s an abundance of acorns, it’s also easier for humans to find viable seeds to replant. https://kiow.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2025/09/Acorn-5.wav

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