Little relief came this week for our drought stricken region.

Chief State Crop Statistician Brad Schwab explains corn is now almost 60% in the dough stage and almost 20% in the dent stage. Schwab notes corn harvest in the southwest region could begin any day now. The state's corn crop was rated at 38% very poor, 33% poor, 24% fair and only 5% good.

[audio:crop1.mp3] [/audio]

Soybeans aren't fairing much better. Blooming advanced to 95%. Schwab says 61% of the crop is setting pods. 27% of the crop is rated very poor and only 9% as good.

[audio:crop2.mp3] [/audio]

The third cutting of alfafa is at 33%, 51% of the sorghum crop has headed and 88% of oats have been harvested. Topsoil moistures declined to 85% very short, 15% short.