DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture says 85 percent of Iowa’s corn crop and 40 percent of the state’s soybean crop has been planted. The estimates released Tuesday by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service show the corn crop is far behind the five-year-average of 98 percent for this time of year. The soybean crop’s five-year average is 83 percent planted by this time.

Although planting is behind the average due to a cold spring and recent persistent rain, farmers were able to make a lot of progress during a dry stretch last week. The rain also has improved pasture and range conditions, with 89 percent now seen as in fair, good or excellent conditions, though some land along streams has flooded.