The planting pace in Iowa remains about two weeks ahead of normal.

In its latest weekly crop progress report, the USDA says 97 percent of the state’s intended corn acres are planted, compared to the five-year average of 90 percent.

Corn emergence, at 75 percent, is five days ahead of normal.

The first corn condition rating of the season puts 78 percent in the good to excellent category.

Southeast Iowa farmer Ross Paustian tells Brownfield he planted into a rye cover crop that was about a foot tall.

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