Rain needed as crops begin to mature

Although cooler temperatures boosted the progress of Iowa crops and livestock last week, more rainfall is needed in most parts of the state, the USDA's weekly crop report says.

Only a few scattered areas in northeast, east central and far southwest Iowa received more than one inch of rainfall last week.. Statewide precipitation was 0.43 inches, well below the 0.97 average for the week in years past, the report said.

Topsoil moisture levels statewide were 12 percent very short, 34 percent short, 52 percent adequate, and 2 percent surplus.

 “Now that the heat has broken, farmers are now looking for some precipitation," said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey in prepared remarks.

"Much of the state is dry, and crop and pastures could use some rain,” Northey said.  “August is a critical time for soybean development and timely rains would be very beneficial.”

The condition of the state's corn crop declined slightly. Sixty-seven percent of the crop was rated good to excellent, just 1 percentage point below average for previous years. Twenty-five percent of the crop was rated fair, 6 percent was rated poor and 2 percent was rated very poor.

The soybean crop was rated 70 percent good or excellent, 22 percent fair, 6 percent poor and 2 percent very poor.

Temperatures for the week averaged 2.8 degrees below normal. The largest rainfalls were reported in Nashua and Maquoketa, each of which received 2.15 inches.

The condition of the corn crop declined slightly in the week ending Sunday to 67percent good to excellent, 1 percentage point below average.