Scattered rainfall over the past week helped alleviate drought conditions in some of the state’s hardest-hit areas, leading to limited changes to corn and soybean conditions, according to the latest Iowa Crop Progress and Condition report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Producers had, on average, 5.2 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending Aug. 21 as most producers were harvesting corn for silage, cutting hay, and applying pesticides. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says, “Iowa experienced cooler temperatures and much-needed rainfall over the final week of the state fair. While showers and thunderstorms brought heavier totals across the drought region, we need several months of above-average precipitation to relieve the most intense drought conditions. The rain received last week was welcomed as stressed soybeans continue to set and fill pods.” Topsoil moisture conditions rated 48 percent short to very short, while subsoil conditions stood at 54 percent short to very short. Corn crop condition ratings were unchanged from last week’s 66 percent good to excellent. Nearly all the corn crop was silking, and 84 percent had reached the dough stage or beyond, five days behind last year but two days ahead of average. Nearly a third of corn had reached the dent stage, five days behind last year but only a day behind the five-year average. As for soybeans, 97 percent of plants were blooming, and 88 percent were setting pods, eight days behind last year and two days behind average. Soybean conditions dropped one point to 62 percent good to excellent. The complete Iowa Crop Progress and Condition report is available online at nass.usda.gov.