The latest US Department of Agriculture crop report shows progress despite lack of recent rainfall.

According to the report, 96-percent of corn has silked, which is ten days ahead of last year and two weeks ahead of the five-year average. As for soybeans, the report shows 90-percent of the crop was blooming with 63-percent at the podding stage, which was six days ahead of last year and eight days ahead of the five-year average. There hasn’t been as much rainfall in July as there was in June. Greene County farmer Pete Bardole says the crop is starting to show signs of stress.

“We’re still seeing some of the effects of the early wet weather early on corn and (soy)beans in (that) the wetter ground doesn’t seem to have the root system. And the hot weather, I think, is affecting it a little more than what you would normally expect from the areas where that crop is. But I think for what crop is left and didn’t drown out, there’s a good crop out there.”

With some unseasonably cooler temperatures in July, Rippey-area farmer John Muir agrees that it’s helped to carry corn and soybeans along as the heat of August is predicted to climb back into the upper 80s and 90s by this weekend.

“It’s buffered it a little bit and help things to hang on and giving those nights of reprieve when it kind of cooled off. From here on, if we get a few showers, it just adds to the weight. Every shower will benefit us a little bit.”

The USDA report also shows that 78-percent of corn across Iowa was rated good to excellent, while 77-percent of soybeans were rated good to excellent condition.