Although crop progress in Iowa remains ahead of last year, corn and beans could use a drink.

According to the latest crop progress and condition report from the Iowa Department of Agriculture, rain in the southern part of the state was reported and helped last week but dryness persisted over the rest of Iowa. Accumulation is running nearly an inch below average with west central Iowa experiencing the driest conditions and precipitation deficits continuing to accumulate.

Topsoil moisture levels rated 9 percent very short, 20 percent short, 69 percent adequate and 2 percent surplus. Subsoil m...