Commodity Online
DES MOINES : U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said heavy rainfalls in Iowa hit soybean and corn crops badly and slowed hay harvest and weed control efforts.
Severe thunderstorm brought crop-damaging winds and hail in some isolated cases. Flood concerns continued in southeast Iowa, the report said.
Farmers had only 2.2 days suitable for field work during the week ending Sunday, compared with an average of 4.9 days for the same week in previous years.
The rains of recent weeks have left about 35 percent of the state's crop land with surplus moisture.
Nearly all of the state's corn acres emerged in the past week. Crop conditions were rated 23 percent excellent, 58 percent good, 16 percent fair, 2 percent poor, and 1 percent very poor.
The height of corn stands across Iowa averaged 23 inches, with the tallest stands averaging 33 inches.
Planting of soybeans was 98 percent complete, two days behind the fiveyear average. The condition of soybeans was rated 18 percent excellent, 60 percent good, 18 percent fair, 3 percent poor and 1 percent very poor.
