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Heat wave takes toll on Iowa crops, livestock

Ag/Outdoor, News

August 2nd, 2011 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The heat wave continues to take a toll on Iowa’s crops and livestock.

In the weekly crop report on Monday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture says 75 percent of the corn crop is in good to excellent shape, a decrease from 80 percent the week before. Seventy-three percent of the soybean crop is in good to excellent condition, a slide from 79 percent.

The report says along with livestock losses, the hot and humid weather is slowing weight gain and lowering milk production.

Reports of over 14 inches of rain in the Dubuque area last Wednesday and Thursday caused flash flooding that damaged property and crops.

State climatologist Harry Hillaker says preliminary data shows that July was Iowa’s warmest month since August 1983 and the warmest July since 1955.