OTTUMWA —
Iowa crops took another hit over the past week as the weather stayed dry.
The weekly crop progress report said topsoil statewide is dust. Only 8 percent of Iowa topsoil has adequate moisture. Subsoil moisture is barely better, with 11 percent adequate.
Southeast and south-central Iowa are the driest parts of the state. Eighty-one percent of south-central Iowa topsoil is rated "very short" on moisture. Southeast Iowa comes in at 64 percent in that category.
Since April 1 of this year, Ottumwa is 2.74 inches below average rainfall. But even that pales in comparison to Cedar Rapids, which is more than six inches below normal.
State Climatologist Harry Hillaker said some sites in Iowa received significant rains last week, including slightly over three inches at Perry. But it isn't enough.
"This was the ninth week among the past 10 with below normal rainfall and the 10th of the past 11 with above normal temperatures," he said.
CNHI/Southeast Iowa
Soil moisture declines again
- CNHI/Southeast Iowa
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