While much needed precipitation has fallen over the past several weeks, it has often been accompanied by damaging hail and wind which has caused some issues for farmers. 

Dallas County Extension Field Agronomist Meaghan Anderson says the recent rainfall coupled with cooler temperatures has reduced stress on corn. Anderson says this rainfall will continue to be needed.

“We’ve really been able to bank up a little bit of moisture here recently where it’ll help get us through at least in corn a really important time in the corn plants life cycle during this pollination period. So, the rainfall has been absolutely wonderful and critical to come and honestly based on our departures and precipitation that we have we are going to continue needing rainfall like this to keep us going through the rest of the season.”

Anderson tells Raccoon Valley Radio the recent severe weather has caused some damage to the crops throughout the county. 

“At least on the corn there is some really severe hail damage unfortunately and then there was a little bit of wind that some areas got as well which shouldn’t be as damaging to the crop because when it sort of blows down it was able to correct itself and sort of pull itself back up and it may slow down harvest a little bit but hopefully won’t be too damaging in the long term for that corn.”

According to the latest Iowa Crop Progress and Condition reports 65-percent of soybeans are rated good to excellent and 66-percent of corn is rated good to excellent.