The Iowa weekly weather and crop report pretty much confirms what Iowa farmers already knew; warm dry conditions are beginning to stress row crops. Although both corn and soybeans continue to be rated mostly good to excellent, crop conditions declined slightly for the third straight week.
          The National Agricultural Statistics Service reports topsoil moisture dropped, with South Central Iowa is the driest. In northwest Iowa, moisture levels are higher than the rest of the state… with topsoil moisture rated eight percent very short, 28-percent short, and 64-percent adequate.
          There are reports of corn silking, primarily in Eastern Iowa. The condition of the corn crop is rated 67 percent good to excellent.  Statewide, 94-percent of the soybean crop has emerged, with 99-percent in northwest Iowa… ahead of last year and the average with the crop rated 62 percent good to excellent.
          The first cutting of alfalfa is now nearly complete, well ahead of last year and the five-year average. The second cutting of hay is underway in each district of the state. 60 percent of the hay crop is rated good to excellent. The oat crop is almost three weeks ahead of normal with 86 percent of the crop headed. 62 percent of the Iowa oat crop is rated in good to excellent condition.