Last week's rains fail to fix Iowa soil moisture deficit

Four widespread rainfalls in Iowa last week weren't enough to cure serious deficits in soil moisture, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's weekly crop report.

Topsoil moisture levels across Iowa ended the week virtually unchanged, at 14 percent very short, 40 percent short, 45 percent adequate, and 1 percent surplus, the Monday report said.

East Central Iowa is the driest area, with 78 percent of the topsoil moisture rated short to very short, and 60 percent of the subsoil moisture rated short or very short.

As corn entered the silk stage, markets responded to concerns about the dry weather conditions by pushing prices higher.

Cash corn traded 16 cents to 19 3/4 cents higher Monday, at $6.48 per bushel for No. 2 yellow corn.

Soybeans traded 27 cents higher, at $14.60-3/4 per bushel in Monday cash grain trading, the AP reported.

At the end of last week, Iowa's corn crop was rated 2 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 24 percent fair, 52 percent good and 16 percent excellent.

Eight percent of Iowa's soybean crop was blooming. The crop's condition was rated 2 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 27 percent fair, 51 percent good and 12 percent excellent.

Pasture conditions remained spotty across the state, with less than half of the pasture and range land rated in good to excellent condition. The USDA said 6 percent of the pasture was very poor, 19 percent was poor, 38 percent was fair, 33 percent was good and 4 percent was excellent.