DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s corn and soybean harvests have passed the halfway point as farmers move quickly to get the drought-damaged crops out of the fields. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says 56 percent of the corn and 54 percent of the soybeans have been harvested. That’s a week or two ahead of normal. The USDA says in Monday’s weekly report that the condition of the corn improved slightly, with 47 percent rated poor or very poor, 33 percent fair and 20 percent in good or excellent shape. Soybeans are rated 31 percent poor or very poor, 37 percent fair and 32 percent in good or excellent condition. Iowa continues to be dry. The state saw just .17 inches of rain in the past week, below the normal of .77 inches.
332 AM CDT TUE OCT 2 2012
TODAY…SUNNY. HIGH IN THE MID 70S. NORTHWEST WIND NEAR 5 MPH.
TONIGHT…CLEAR. LOW IN THE LOWER 40S. SOUTH WIND NEAR 5 MPH.
WEDNESDAY…SUNNY…BREEZY…WARMER. HIGH IN THE MID 80S. SOUTH WIND 5 TO 10 MPH INCREASING TO 15 TO 20 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR THROUGH MIDNIGHT…THEN MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS AFTER MIDNIGHT. LOW IN THE UPPER 40S. SOUTH WIND 5 TO 10 MPH SHIFTING TO THE WEST 10 TO 15 MPH AFTER MIDNIGHT. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 30 PERCENT.
THURSDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS IN THE MORNING. BREEZY. MUCH COOLER. HIGH IN THE UPPER 50S. NORTHWEST WIND 10 TO 20 MPH. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 50 PERCENT.
THURSDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. COLDER. LOW IN THE MID 30S.
FRIDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE MID 50S.