OTTUMWA —
Corn and soybean harvests passed the halfway mark last week, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
THe weekly crops and weather report says the soybean crop alone progressed by 31 percentage points last week as weather remained dry. Fifty-four percent of the crop has been brought in, along with 56 percent of the corn crop.
The corn crop is racing ahead of last year's rate. Iowa farmers have brought in 46 percentage points more than at the same time in 2010, largely a result of the year's drought.
Despite the continuing lack of rain, both corn and soybeans saw a slight increase in conditions over the past week.
State Climatologist Harry Hillaker said last week's weather was unseasonably cold, with freezes reported over most of the state. But the lack of rain made it the 18th week out of the past 20 that saw less than average precipitation.
Southeast Iowa
Harvests pass the halfway mark
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