After significant progress in corn and soybean planting last week, Iowa farmers are in need of precipitation as drought conditions continue to spread across the state.

This week’s Iowa Crop Progress and Condition report from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service shows topsoil moisture levels rated 17% very short, 38% short, 45% adequate, and 0% surplus. Subsoil moisture levels rated 14% very short, 44% short, 42% adequate, and 0% surplus. Drought conditions are also continuing to worsen in the northern and central parts of the state, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, ranging from abnormally dry to severe drought. State Climatologist Justin Glisan noted in the weekly crop report unseasonably dry conditions persisted across the state last week with only extreme southeast Iowa reporting above average rainfall. The statewide average temperature last week was eight degrees above normal at 62 degrees.