OSKALOOSA —
This weekend's rain came far too late to make a difference with this year's crops, but that doesn't mean farmers saw no benefit.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's weekly crop condition report says the rain helped settle dust on farms. That's good news for farmers who otherwise would see topsoil blow off .
The harvest is nearing completion, with 87 percent of the corn crop already out of the fields. Soybeans are ahead of that number, with 93 percent harvested. Both are well ahead of normal. Soybeans are running three weeks ahead. And at this time last year only 40 percent of the state's corn crop had been harvested.
State Climatologist Harry Hillaker said the southeast two-thirds of Iowa saw an inch of rain or more. That's great news for the region, but the worst of the drought is in the northwestern corner of Iowa, which saw virtually no rain.
Bloomfield was among the wettest locations with an official total of 4.15 inches of rain. Hillaker said the weekend made this the "wettest week in 24 weeks."
CNHI/Southeast Iowa
Rain helps settle dusty fields
- CNHI/Southeast Iowa
-
-
VIDEO: NSA director says 50 plots foiled
General Keith Alexander says two recently disclosed surveillance programs on international communications are critical in the terrorism fight.
-
Facilities open for use at Rathbun despite high water
With high water levels at Rathbun Lake this spring, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake has crested and is lowering and that park facilities are open and ready for use.
-
Called 'Next Stephen Hawking,' teen is perfect on math exam
There's a wall on the third floor of Lewiston-Porter High School dedicated to celebrating perfect scores on state mathematics exams. A new name joined the growing list Tuesday, which brought a smile to the face of everyone involved.
-
Bakery mix-up goes viral after cat drawn on girl's head
A photo of one graduate's cake has gone viral on Reddit due to a bakery mix-up that left a cat, instead of a cap, drawn on her head.
-
Life and Times
-
T-15 may close for three months
The construction of the hydroelectric plant near the Red Rock Dam is expected to include road closures, including the possibility of T-15 being closed for 12 weeks.
-
VIDEO: Rapper steps on American flag
Lil Wayne sparked a controversy when he stepped on an American flag during the filming of his new music video, but the rapper later said it was a mistake and unintentional.
-
Facebook's organ donor status sends registrations soaring
Facebook's addition of a way for its users to tell people their organ-donor status helped boost the number of people who registered as donors 21-fold in one day.
-
VIDEO: Britney Spears' sons to make acting debut
Britney Spears recorded a new song for the "The Smurfs 2," and her sons Sean Preston and Jayden will make a cameo in the music video.
-
NWS: Rainfall tops 2013 totals in many areas
The 2012 drought was so severe, and 2013 so wet, that many parts of Iowa have received more precipitation in the first six months of this year than in all of 2012.
- More CNHI/Southeast Iowa Headlines
-
