Iowa's corn crop progressing well

Despite wet weather, Iowa's corn crop was 75% good to excellent, the USDA said Monday (Jun 21).

The soy crop was rated 69% good to excellent.

The USDA said the warm weather last week provided ideal growing conditions, but the storms prevented farmers from spraying and cultivating. The most difficult conditions were in central, southeast and south-central Iowa.

Nitrogen loss is the biggest challenge facing corn farmers, with fertiliser lost either by leaching downward through the soil or evaporating from ponded fields.

In some low-lying fields, corn is turning yellow and varying dramatically in height; soy is having growth stunted and being completely drowned out by ponds, according to the USDA report.