Rain across most of Iowa last week improved soil conditions for farmers, but cooler temperatures have slowed crop development according to the latest Iowa Crop Progress and Conditions Report.

Producers had five days suitable for fieldwork, which included spraying fungicides and insecticides on late planted crops and harvesting hay. Menlo farmer and Iowa Corn Promotion Board District #7 Director Ralph Lents shares how the growing season has been, “We could sure use a lot more heat, we’re behind on our heat units. From what I’ve been watching and noticing we’re probably running a couple weeks behind. So you know (for) a lot of us our corn crop got planted pretty much on normal time around here, but I look for harvest to be delayed about 10 days or so because of the lack of heat. And then these later planted crops that were in June, they need a lot of heat to make it to the finish line.”

This week’s crop report shows corn development is two weeks behind last year and nine days behind average, and rated 65% good to excellent. Soybeans are 17 days behind last year and 12 days behind average, rated 62% good to excellent.