OTTUMWA —
The rains Iowa has needed for months are finally starting to make a difference in the soil conditions.
The weekly crop condition report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture said 60 percent of topsoil in Iowa is "very short" of moisture. That actually represents an improvement.
How dry has it been? Seventy percent of subsoil in the state is still considered "very short" of moisture.
It's all too late for the state's corn crop, though. Fifty-one percent of the crop rates as poor or very poor, a slight decline since last week's report. Soybeans benefitted, though, with the first statewide improvement in seven weeks.
But even the rain has been short of what would be considered normal, according to State Climatologist Harry Hillaker.
"The statewide average precipitation was 0.44 inches or a little less than one-half of the weekly normal of 0.96 inches. This was the eighth consecutive drier than normal week for Iowa," he wrote.
The rain has returned to Iowa in sufficient amounts to reverse one trend. When July arrived, none of the state's counties were under burn bans. Well over half were under bans by the end of the month.
Now, some of those bans are being rescinded. Marion County residents saw their ban dropped on Monday, following a damp weekend.
CNHI/Southeast Iowa
Rains boost soybeans statewide
- CNHI/Southeast Iowa
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Photos: Aftermath of massive tornado in Moore
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Barber shows no signs of cutting career short
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Okla. front pages capture tornado aftermath
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Corn planting soars on break in the weather
The percentage of corn planted in Iowa grew by more than 50 percentage points last week with what experts called the first really good week of weather for farmers.
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VIDEO: Pres. Obama's remarks on the Okla. tornado
President Obama speaks on Monday's deadly Okla. tornado.
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LIVE BLOG: Massive tornado hits south of OKC
A massive tornado touched down Monday afternoon in Moore, Okla., just south of Oklahoma City. Follow live coverage of the aftermath of the storm.
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VIDEO: Tumblr sold to Yahoo! for $1.1 billion
Yahoo! has purchased Tumblr for $1.1 billion, hoping to compete more effectively with sites like Google and Facebook.
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What you need to know about preparing for tornadoes
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VIDEO: How technology helps predict tornadoes
At the National Storm Prediction Center in Oklahoma, the team charged with predicting tornadoes relies on ever-changing technology to determine when and where storms may strike.
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SLIDESHOW: Tornado passes through Oklahoma
A fast-moving storm brought rain, hail and tornadoes to Oklahoma late Sunday afternoon and evening.
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