Weekend rains are helping NE Iowa crops

This past week was Iowa's wettest week in the last ten weeks.  Decorah received just under an inch and a half of rain on Friday and Saturday.  That has improved crop conditions in Northeast Iowa and throughout the state.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture says 96 percent of the corn crop has reached dough stage, slightly behind last year's 97 percent but ahead of the five-year average 90 percent.  Corn condition stands at 6 percent very poor, 11 percent poor, 28 percent fair, 44 percent good, and 11 percent excellent.

Soybean condition is reported at 4 percent very poor, 9 percent poor, 25 percent fair, 48 percent good and 14 percent excellent.

Third cutting alfalfa hay harvest advanced to 85 percent complete, ahead of last year's 79 percent and the normal 74 percent.