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Widespread rain delays end of harvest in Iowa

Ag/Outdoor

October 22nd, 2012 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa farmers are very close to wrapping up this year’s harvest, but work was delayed by some much-needed rain. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says 93 percent of the corn crop has been harvested, which is a month ahead of schedule. Ninety-six percent of the soybean crop is in, almost three weeks ahead of normal. The USDA says in Monday’s weekly report that widespread rain helped Iowa’s pasture and range land, but 73 percent is in very poor or poor condition. Hay supplies are running about 42 percent short. A slow-moving storm system brought rain to the state on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The statewide average was a-half inch, just shy of the weekly normal of 0.56 inches.