The USDA says much-needed rain helped improve crop conditions in Iowa last week.

The state’s corn crop is rated 64% good to excellent with 49% of the crop in the silking stage.

Fifty-eight percent of soybeans are in good to excellent shape with 68% of the crop blooming.

The second cutting of alfalfa hay is 74% complete, and there were some reports of farmers working on their third cutting of hay.

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