Rain across the state slowed harvest operations down last week. According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Iowa’s farmers had an average of 3.3 days suitable for fieldwork last week. Statewide harvest of the corn for grain crop hit the 95 percent mark which is four days ahead of last year’s harvest and 12 days ahead of the five-year average. In southeast Iowa, 95 percent of corn for grain is out of the fields.

In southeast Iowa, topsoil moisture is rated at 33 percent short to very short, 63 percent adequate, and four percent surplus. Subsoil moisture in the district has improved over the last week and it is now rated at 50 percent adequate, 30 percent short, and 20 percent very short.