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Hot, dry weather putting stress on Iowa crops

Ag/Outdoor

June 11th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The continued hot and dry weather is taking a toll on Iowa’s crops. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says in Monday’s weekly report that while most of the corn and soybeans are in good shape, conditions have declined. More than half of the topsoil and subsoil is dry. Sixty-seven percent of the corn is rated good to excellent. That’s down from 75 percent a week ago. Sixty-two percent of the soybeans are in good to excellent condition, a drop from last week’s 71 percent. The USDA says 66 percent of Iowa’s topsoil and 59 percent of the subsoil is very short or short. The statewide average precipitation for the week was 0.07 inch, below the average of nearly 1.2 inches. The report doesn’t include thunderstorms that hit Sunday.