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Additional rain needed to relieve crop stressIowa Although Iowa saw precipitation early and again late in the week ending July 1, the bulk of the week was sunny and hot with record high temperatures experienced in many areas, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Iowa Field Office, July 2. Additional rain is needed to relieve stress on crops and improve conditions. There were 6.0 days suitable for fieldwork statewide during the past week. Topsoil moisture levels declined to 28 percent very short, 45 percent short, 27 percent adequate, and 0 percent surplus. South Central Iowa is the driest with 91 percent of the topsoil moisture rated short to very short. Subsoil moisture dropped to 24 percent very short, 49 percent short, 27 percent adequate, and 0 percent surplus. Crop conditions declined for all crops this week. Sixteen percent of the corn crop is silking, nearly two weeks ahead of normal. Corn condition is reported at 2 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 28 percent fair, 49 percent good, and 13 percent excellent. Twenty-six percent of the soybean crop is blooming, ahead of last year's 10 percent and the five-year average of 15 percent. Soybean condition is rated 3 percent very poor, 9 percent poor, 29 percent fair, 49 percent good, and 10 percent excellent. Sixty-eight percent of the oat crop has turned color, well ahead of last year's 15 percent and the five-year average of 24 percent. Twenty percent of the oat crop has been harvested, two weeks ahead of normal. Oat condition is rated 2 percent very poor, 13 percent poor, 32 percent fair, 47 percent good, and 6 percent excellent. The second cutting of alfalfa hay, at 76 percent complete, is almost three weeks ahead of normal. Hay condition is rated 5 percent very poor, 13 percent poor, 39 percent fair, 38 percent good, and 5 percent excellent. Just over one quarter of Iowa's pasture and range land is rated in good to excellent condition, the lowest since the week ending August 13, 2006. Pasture and range condition rated 9 percent very poor, 25 percent poor, 39 percent fair, 24 percent good, and 3 percent excellent. Hot and humid conditions during the week were uncomfortable for livestock Date: 7/9/2012
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