The latest U-S-D-A crop report shows increasing drought concerns across Iowa. Only 30 percent of the subsoil moisture was rated adequate and there is zero soil with a surplus. The percentage of topsoil moisture considered short to very short has gone from 25 percent 70 percent in the last month. Iowa State Extension crop systems specialist, Mark Licht (licked), says weekend storms provided a small help to some areas.

Licht says southeast and northwest Iowa are the driest areas and he saw issues in northeast Iowa Tuesday.

Licht says it’s not a time for major concern just yet, as the impacts in the spring from drought stress are minimal compared to later in the growing season.

He says the later stress can lead to a three to five percent per day yield loss. There are predictions June’s weather pattern will turn and we’ll get more rain. Licht says that would turn things around as long as they are not dumping huge amounts of rain all at once.

Licht says the one concern is corn or bean plants that haven’t fully established themselves yet.

The U-S-D-A found the corn condition continued to decline — with 59 percent rated good to excellent — down from 70 percent last week. The soybean condition dropped to 56 percent in good to excellent shape — compared to 66 percent last week.