OTTUMWA —
This week's crop condition report voices a rare sentiment for Iowa this summer: Hope.
Rains have returned to Iowa in the past couple weeks, though not in the amount seen in average years. But the widespread rain in the past week has farmers hoping soybeans may be more productive than had been feared.
Thirty-nine percent of the state's soybeans are rated as fair, with another 23 percent considered to be in good condition. Leaves have begun dropping from the plants, with 19 percent of the crop already turning color.
Less than half the topsoil in Iowa is now rated as very short of moisture. The 49 percent ratied very short is an improvement, though an additional 30 percent is short of moisture. Subsoil moisture levels improved as well.
Not all of the farmers out in their cornfields are chopping corn. Some have begun to harvest. Corn was severely impacted by the drought this summer, though, and the state's crop is expected to be well below spring predictions.
State Climatologist Harry Hillaker said last week was the wettest week out of the past 10 in Iowa, "and only the second week of the past 15 weeks to average greater than normal rainfall."
CNHI/Southeast Iowa
Rain improves Iowa soybean outlook
- CNHI/Southeast Iowa
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