Of Iowa’s nine regions, southeast Iowa remains the furthest behind in crop progress.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey said, “Most of the state has seen some needed rain in the past week, but unfortunately it may be too little and too late for parts of south central and southeast Iowa that have already seen significant crop damage due to drought.”

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 71% of soybeans in southeast Iowa are setting pods while the state rate is currently 88%, the same as the five-year average. In terms of corn, 64% in southeast Iowa is in the dough stage and 21% has dented. The five-year average is 75% in dough stage and 32% dented. Overall, Iowa’s corn is rated at 10% excellent, 51% good, 27% fair, and 12% poor to very poor. Soybeans are rated at 19% very poor, 24% poor, 31% fair, 23% good, and three percent excellent.