DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa has received some much-needed rain but the state is still dry.    The U.S. Department of Agriculture says in Monday’s weekly report that Iowa received an average of 1.5 inches of rain last week. That’s above the normal of about 1.2 inches. Even so, more than half the topsoil and subsoil remains dry.  The USDA says 67 percent of the corn crop, which is beginning to silk, is in good or excellent condition. That’s the same as last week. 

Soybeans, which are starting to bloom, are rated 61 percent good to excellent. That’s down from 62 percent a week ago.  More than half the state’s pastures and range land are in poor or fair condition. However, stress on livestock is minimal with no issues reported.