Parts of Iowa are seeing some welcome rains today after a dry stretch that has lawns turning brown. Iowa Agriculture Secretary, Bill Northey, says the moisture is welcome on the farm too as the growing season moves toward an end. “We have lots of the state that could use some with small areas out there with too much water earlier in the year, other kinds of storms,” Northey says. “For the most part, I think we are looking at a really good corn crop here in Iowa, and the makings of a good soybean crop if we can get some moisture here in August.”
He says the bean crop is the biggest concern if things stay too dry. “Soybeans need a rain in August or need at least moisture in August to be able to finish filling. Our corn is pretty well set…but our soybeans are more vulnerable to being short of water in August,” according to Northey. While some areas of the state have gotten some heavy rain, others have had little rainfall in the last several weeks.