The condition of the Iowa corn and soybean crops declined slightly last week, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service Iowa Field Office. Farmers did welcome widespread rainfall for the second straight week with the heaviest precipitation in the East central and South Central regions.
There was a slight improvement in the topsoil moisture levels to 93 percent very short to short and 7 percent adequate. Subsoil moisture is now rated 96 percent very short to short.
The corn crop continues to mature about two weeks ahead of normal with 27 percent reaching the dough stage. 49 percent of the crop is in very poor to poor condition, 50 percent fair to good and 1 percent excellent.
Pods are being set on 77 percent of the soybean crop, ahead of last year and the average. 37 percent of the crop is rated very poor to poor, 62 percent fair to good and 1 percent excellent.
Harvest of the third cutting of alfalfa at 80 percent complete is just a month ahead of normal.
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