THE GUIDE 7.13.2023

Fontana Park Projects Open House to be held August 2

By Dan Cohen

Come view and learn about projects completed, projects underway, and plans for future projects during two separate Fontana Park Open Houses to be held August 4 – the first at 2:30 PM and the second at 6:30 PM.

The Buchanan County Conservation Board spent years gathering input from citizens, studying data on the needs and desires of park users, and conducting strategic planning exercises. It was an effort to look at the types of changes people want in the area’s most popular park. The most recent Needs Assessment Survey of Buchanan County residents conducted by Iowa Northland Council of Governments indicated more than 70 percent of Buchanan County households go to Fontana Park annually, and these park users average about ten visits each year (2020).

With help from Shive-Hattery Engineering, years of planning coalesced into a Fontana Park Master Plan. Although considered to be a long-term plan, project implementation took off quickly, and now there are projects ready to showcase. During the August 4 Open House sessions, participants will tour sites and learn about recently completed projects, such as a new Bison and Prairie Learning Area, new park entrance road, and interpretive kiosks along a trail path. Some projects will be seen while work is underway, including a new Lakeside Campground. The campground will feature full hookups to electricity, water, and sewer at each site, concrete patios, family-style restrooms, and a playground.

All ongoing and future projects incorporate ADA accessibility, and those attending the Open House sessions can walk the path of a future Learning and Discovery Trail (LDT). The LDT will provide short-distance accessibility to and from the Lakeside Campground and Bison and Prairie Learning Area, and then loop around and make connections to the existing paved Fontana Trail and parking lot at the nature center and wildlife displays. Future education programs will be held on and along the LDT, and the LDT will be a resource for wildlife viewing and making connections to park amenities.

The Fontana Park Master Plan calls for more enhancements and new amenities in coming years and is considered a working document with projects that may be tweaked, added, or deleted by future Conservation Board actions. Some plans currently in consideration will be communicated during the Open House. Past, current, and future projects happen with assistance from many partners. Attend the Open House and learn about groups and individuals who help fund or otherwise assist with these projects that we know positively impact outdoor recreation, conservation education, public health, tourism, and economic development.

The Open House is free for anyone to attend. People should plan to show up at the nature center at either 2:30 PM (afternoon session) or 6:30 PM (evening session). In the case of heavy rain, programs will be held in the nature center. Fontana Park Nature Center is located at 1883 125th St., Hazleton, Iowa. For more information, call 319-636-2617 or email dcohen@co.buchanan.ia.us.

Pictured: Recently completed Bison and Learning Area provides educational kiosks along new pasture and prairie bison enclosures; concrete is being poured for campground patios. (Courtesy Photos)

Consumer Focus: Facebook hacks on the rise: Protect your accounts

A digital scrapbook. A place to do business. A way to connect with friends, family, and others. These are just a few of the things that Meta’s Facebook represents to its many users. But all of that can disappear in an instant if a hacker gains access to your account. Gone are the hundreds of photos you shared, the messages you received, and the business opportunities and connections you made. That’s the story for dozens of Iowans in the last year.

The Iowa Attorney General’s office has seen four times the number of consumer complaints – from 25 in 2021 to 113 through December 2022 – regarding Meta, many of which concern the hacking of personal, business, or group pages. Many of these complaints were not made by Iowans, but the AG's office referred them when appropriate.

“Our investigators work with Facebook to help Iowans and restore their accounts,” said Attorney General Tom Miller. “Meta must do much more to protect consumers and respond quickly to problems. We also encourage con-

sumers to take additional steps to secure their accounts, or perhaps face a future without their online presence.”

Genevieve Salamone Walczyk of West Des Moines used Facebook to share her work as a musician. The violinist used her personal Facebook account to manage her four business pages, for which she would run ads promoting her music and work as a producer.

In early April 2022, that ended abruptly when Genevieve’s personal account was hacked. The criminals posted explicit materials to the page and Meta disabled the account. As a result, Genevieve was locked out of managing her business accounts.

She followed Meta’s advice to reenable her accounts, which noted it would take up to 48 hours to do so. But 30 days later, she was still unable to access her accounts. She estimated that she lost thousands of dollars in revenue to her business because of the company’s inaction.

“I have been desperately trying to reach Facebook and Instagram while ads continue to run and charge to my bank account against my will,” she explained in the complaint from May 2022. “This entire situation has been incredibly debilitating to my business as I conduct the majority of my sales and bookings through my social media channels. Since I was hacked, my income was drastically impacted and has caused an enormous amount of stress on both myself and my businesses.”

After contacting the AG’s office, Genevieve was put in touch with Consumer Protection Division Investigator Al Perales, who reached out to Meta on her behalf. Working with a Community Operations member at Facebook, Perales was able to facilitate communication between the company and Genevieve.

Nearly two months after losing access to her accounts, and one month after contacting the AG’s office, Genevieve was able to reclaim her pages.

“I do want to reiterate once more how grateful I am for your help. It was thanks to you that I was able to retrieve my business accounts, which in turn led to some incredible opportunities and performances that have forever shaped my career,” Genevieve told Perales in an email after regaining access to her accounts. “THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!”

In another case, the owner of an in-home cheesecake bakery lost access to her Facebook account, bringing her bustling business to a halt right before the holiday season. The owner reached out to the Attorney General’s office and investigators were able to connect her to help at Meta and Facebook. As of Dec. 4, her account was reactivated, and she was taking new orders.

Because of complaints to the Iowa AG and other AG offices, Meta released a compromised account resource guide for users who have experienced a hacking. The resource includes steps to recover and protect accounts.

To protect your Facebook and Instagram accounts, Meta provides the following suggestions:

• Create strong, unique passwords. Do not use the same password for other accounts or apps.

• Do not share your password with anyone.

• Manage who can see your profile. Changing privacy settings, to only friends or friends of friends, limits who can interact with your account.

• Remove personal profile from search engine results.

• Enable two-factor authentication.

• Activate and manage alerts. Make sure login and approvals are activated so you are alerted when someone tries to access your account.

• Assign roles to those who manage your Page. Additionally, Facebook users concerned about losing access to their online information, including photos and other activity, can download your data. Facebook provides directions here.

If you believe your Facebook account has been hacked, the AG’s office suggests:

• Following Meta’s tips to recover your account.

• Reporting inappropriate or suspicious activity, go to Facebook’s Help Center here.

• Reporting the activity to the Federal Trade Commission.

• Filing a complaint with the Iowa Attorney General’s office Consumer Protection Division. To file a complaint, go here or call 515-281-5926 (in Des Moines area) or 888777-4590 (outside the metro area).

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Yard and Garden: Summer Perennial Garden Tasks

By Aaron J. Steil, Cynthia Haynes

Summer is a great time to enjoy the perennial garden. Summer bloomers like daylily, yarrow, butterfly weed, blanket flower and purple coneflower brighten the garden in June and July. Keeping perennials healthy and attractive all season long requires some care during the summer months. In this article, horticulturists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach answer common questions about the care and maintenance of your perennial garden in the summer.

How often and what time of the day is best to water the garden?

The watering frequency is determined by soil characteristics, weather conditions, type of plant and other factors. Generally, a deep watering once a week in dry weather should be adequate for most flower gardens. When watering gardens, water slowly and deeply.

Early morning (5-9 a.m.) is the best time to water the garden when using a sprinkler, garden hose or any other device that wets the plant foliage. When watering is completed, the plant foliage dries quickly. The rapid drying of plant foliage helps guard against the development of fungal diseases. Additionally, a morning application allows the water to soak deeply into the soil with little water lost to evaporation.

Watering at midday is less efficient because of rapid evaporation. Watering in the evening with a sprinkler or garden hose can lead to greater disease problems as the plant foliage will likely remain wet throughout the night.

Mornings and evenings are excellent times to water gardens when using a drip irrigation system or soaker hose. Watering in the evening isn’t a problem as these methods don’t wet plant foliage.

What perennials benefit from deadheading?

Deadheading is the removal of spent or faded flowers. Deadheading improves the appearance of plants, may encourage a second flush of bloom, and prevents selfseeding.

Perennials that improve appearance with deadheading include bearded iris (Iris), peony (Paeonia), lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina), perennial geranium (Geranium), daylily (Hemerocallis), hosta (Hosta), and coralbells (Heuchera).

Several perennials benefit from deadheading to prolong the bloom or promote a rebloom, including yarrow (Achillea), tickseed (Coreopsis), blanket flower (Gaillardia), daylily (Hemerocallis), garden phlox (Phlox), perennial salvia (Salvia) and spiked speedwell (Veronica).

Perennials that readily reseed benefit from deadheading to prevent seed set in other areas of the garden. These perennials include columbine (Aquilegia), blackberry lily (Iris domestica), bellflower (Campanula), purple coneflower (Echinacea), garden phlox (Phlox paniculata), campion (Lychnis) and goldenrod (Solidago).

How do I control weeds in my garden beds?

Keeping ahead of weeds and controlling them when they are small is essential for good weed management. This requires persistence throughout the entire growing season to remove weeds as they emerge. There are essentially two types of weeds

in the garden: annuals and perennials.

Annual weeds grow rapidly, flower, set seed and die in a single season. New annual weeds, such as crabgrass, purslane, knotweed, lambsquarter and foxtail, germinate from seeds each year. Perennial weeds die back to ground level in fall but send up new growth in spring. Perennial weeds, such as dandelions, quackgrass, thistle, pokeweed and plantain, reproduce by seeds and may spread by creeping above or below ground stems or spreading root systems.

Cultivation, hand pulling, mulches, and herbicides are the primary means to control weeds in the home garden. Annual weeds can be effectively controlled by cultivating, hand pulling, mulching and using pre or post-emergent herbicides. Perennial weeds are best controlled by hand pulling or spot treating with a non-selective herbicide. Which perennials can be pinched or cut back?

Some perennials benefit from pruning in early summer. Cutting back removes anywhere from 25 to 75% of the total plant. When done after flowering to spring blooming perennials, it can promote fresh regrowth that is more attractive, and potentially a rebloom later in the season. Perennials that benefit from a cutback after flowering include lady’s mantle (Alchemilla), columbine (Aquilegia), pinks (Dianthus), silvermound (Artemisia), threadleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata), perennial geranium (Geranium), catmint (Nepeta) and perennial salvia (Salvia).

Summer and fall-blooming perennials can be pinched in late spring to early summer to produce sturdy, compact growth that is less likely to become lanky or flop over. Pinching removes the stem’s upper 1 to 2 inches to promote branching. It may delay bloom by a week or two but can promote more flowers in certain species. Perennials to pinch before flowering for height control include aster (Symphyotrichum), mums (Chrysanthemum), Joe-Pye weed (Eutrochium), false sunflower (Helianthus helianthoides), bee balm (Monarda), tall sedum (Hylotelephium), and balloon flower (Playtcodon grandiflorus).

Should I stake floppy plants?

Some species of perennials, such as peony (Paeonia), delphinium (Delphinium), and dahlia (Dahlia), may require staking, especially as they begin to bloom. Staking materials include wooden, bamboo, metal, or plastic stakes or rings. A gridwork of wire, bamboo or string placed above young plants allows stems to grow up through and receive support. Similarly, twiggy branches can be set in the ground to provide a more natural-looking support material.

Ideally, support materials are placed early in the growing season, and the plant can grow through it. When sized appropriately, the staking material is masked by the plant’s foliage once it reaches its mature size. If perennials need staking after they’ve reached their mature size, then a few stakes around the perimeter of the plant surrounded by an unobtrusive twine or string at various heights can help hold stems upright and still allow movement of the plant. Individual stems can be supported with stakes carefully placed at the base of the stem. As it grows, tie the stem loosely to the stake with string every 10 to 15 inches, leaving a little slack so it can still move in the wind.

Conservation Field Day to be held August 3 at Ag Engineering Farm

Crop farmers and anyone involved with on-farm conservation practices will get an in-person demonstration of some of the latest conservation efforts happening in Iowa during a special field day Aug. 3 near Ames.

Agronomists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach are partnering with Cargill to hold a half-day event at Iowa State’s Agricultural Engineering and Agronomy Research Farm, located between Ames and Boone.

Cover crop seeder in standing corn.Presentations will focus on conservation practices Iowa farmers have already implemented and options for the future, according to Meaghan Anderson, agronomist with ISU Extension and Outreach.

“We want to show how farmers have overcome some of the challenges of implementing in-field conservation practices and perhaps dispel a few myths along the way,” said Anderson. “In addition to session speakers, we have a panel of farmers who will speak about their own experiences in various landscapes and soils across Iowa.”

The panel will follow lunch and will include a discussion of how farmers got started with conservation and what they’ve learned along the way Participants will also get an update on Cargill RegenConnectTM – the brand’s regenerative effort to promote sustainability and environmental outcomes within agriculture.

The day begins at 8:30 a.m. with registration and check-in, an official welcome

address at 9 a.m. and lunch around noon. The day will conclude around 1:30 p.m., following presentations by a panel of farmers engaged in conservation.

Modern conservation equipment and technology will be on display during the morning, including a Highboy cover crop seeder and strip-tillage equipment. Session topics will include an overview of Iowa State’s research farms, presented by Kendall Lamkey, who oversees the farm operations as an associate dean with Iowa State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Mark Licht, extension cropping systems specialist, will discuss cover crop seeding and how to achieve success. Jeremy Hollingsworth, a soil conservation technician with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, will share the “why” behind conservation practices and holding soil in place, and Ben Covington, agricultural and biosystems engineering program specialist, will provide expertise on how to be successful with strip-till.

Register online via the event registration page. Attendees should register at least a week in advance, to help with planning materials and lunch.

The Agricultural Engineering and Agronomy Research Farm is located at 1308 U Ave. Boone, Iowa. For more information about the event, contact Meaghan Anderson at 319-331-0058 or mjanders@iastate.edu.

We want to help you keep your energy bills under control and stay cool this summer with some simple tips! For the biggest savings, ensure that your air conditioning unit is well-maintained and replace its filter when it gets dirty. Also make sure to grill outdoors or prepare meals that don’t require cooking. Using your oven and stovetop creates a lot of indoor heat. With these easy actions, you can stay cool without breaking the bank on electricity costs.

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Iowa College Aid publishes 2022 Condition of Higher Education in Iowa

Iowa College Aid has published its biennial Condition of High Education that summarizes Iowa’s college attainment, readiness, and success trends. It also examines the actual price of college and how Iowans are financing their postsecondary education.

Key findings include the following:

• Iowa has a higher percentage of residents with at least an associate’s degree than the nation at 46% compared to 44% nationally.

• Iowans with a bachelor’s degree out-earned those with an associate’s degree by nearly $200,000 by age 64.

• In 2018-19, Iowa had the nation’s second-highest high school graduation rate, based on the proportion of ninth-graders who earned a high school diploma within four years.

• Between 2014 and 2021, there has been a consistent and steady decline in the percentage of Iowa high school graduates going to college. As the percentage of white students enrolled in college decreased by nine percentage points, racial/ethnic minorities experienced a decrease of 12 percentage points in the state.

• Between 2012 and 2019, the per capita college financial debt increased by $840. However, since the fourth quarter of 2019, the per capita debt has decreased slightly by $40 to $5,290 in the fourth quarter of 2020.

• While Iowa experienced lower unemployment rates than the national average in 2020, the unemployment rate for Iowans with a high school diploma or less was 5%. However, less than 2% of Iowans with a bachelor’s degree or higher experienced unemployment.

• In addition to relying less on social welfare programs, individuals with postsecondary degrees also contributed more to the tax base in Iowa. Individuals with a high school diploma contributed about $7,800 in taxes annually. Iowans with an advanced postsecondary education contributed nearly $21,000 on average to taxes, almost double that of Iowans graduating with an associate’s degree.

same time, private non-profits remained relatively stable in net price with an increase of only $64. Regents’ institutions had the highest increase o f $1,160, while the net price at a private for-profit institution increased by nearly $600.

• The number of Iowans filing FAFSAs has declined from a high point in 2011-12 of about 202,000 FAFSAs to about 145,000 in 2020-21, a decline of 28%.

• In FY21, the state spent nearly $80 million on student aid and loan forgiveness programs. The state spent almost $48 million on Iowa’s largest program, the Iowa Tuition Grant Not-for-Profit.

• While 44% of students at community colleges received Pell, only 26% of Regents students received the aid. The average community college Pell recipient received nearly $3,600, while the average Regents student received just over $4,200.

• While more than 70% of students at private institutions take on Federal student loans, around 50% of students take on Federal student loan debt at community colleges and Regents institutions.

The report further reports that more individuals earning postsecondary credentials provides benefits to the state of Iowa through an increase in the tax base, decreases in the reliance on the state’s social welfare system, and creates a workforce that attracts businesses and allows them to grow and thrive.

Iowa high school graduates are 10 percentage points less likely to pursue postsecondary education than a decade ago, and their likelihood of completing the FAFSA has also decreased.

The rate at which Iowa high school graduates complete their postsecondary education is not increasing enough to compensate for the loss of students pursuing postsecondary education.

Drainage doesn’t cost - it Pays!

Ryan Rasmussen 319.631.5827

Public Notice

Buchanan County Board of Supervisors - June 30, 2023

The Buchanan County Board of Supervisors met in special session at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, June 30, 2023. Present: Clayton Ohrt, John Kurtz and Dawn Vogel.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Motion by Kurtz second by Vogel to approve claims filed with the County Auditor for $572,132.24. All in favor motion carried.

Motion by Vogel second by Kurtz to approve liquor license for Buchanan County Fair Association. All in favor motion carried.

Motion by Kurtz second by Vogel approve compensation time carry over for Brittney Brecht of 20 hours. All in favor motion carried.

The Board and Auditor Wilgenbusch proceeded to the Treasurer’s office to count cash for fiscal year end 2023.

Motion by Vogel second by Kurtz to adjourn the meeting at 3:27 pm.

Clayton Ohrt, Chairperson

Buchanan County Board of Supervisors

Attest: Kris Wilgenbusch, Auditor & Commissioner of Elections

Public Notice

Buchanan County Board of Supervisors - June 26, 2023

The Buchanan County Board of Supervisors met in regular session at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, June 26, 2023. Present: Clayton Ohrt, John Kurtz and Dawn Vogel.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Motion by Kurtz second by Vogel to approve minutes from the June 19, 2023 regular.

All in favor motion carried.

Motion by Vogel second by Kurtz to approve employee claims filed with the County Auditor for $1,080.00. All in favor motion carried.

Motion by Vogel second by Kurtz to approve liquor license amendment for Buchanan County Fair Association. All in favor motion carried.

Motion by Vogel second by Kurtz to place on file manure management plan for Pech Home, Madison Township, Section 32. All in favor motion carried.

The Board met with members from Veteran’s Memorial Committee. The committee is requesting permission to raise funds for the placement of statues at the current memorial at the courthouse. After discussion, motion by Kurtz second by Vogel to approve

Public Notice

Regular Meeting of the Winthrop City Council, July 5, 2023

The Winthrop City Council met in regular session on Wednesday, July 05, 2023 at 6:30

P.M. Mayor Dennie presiding. Council Members present: Brian Kelchen, Jim Loughren, and Ann Myers. Council Members Melissa Hesner and Lee White were absent. Individuals Present: Jim Peterson (Library Board Representative), Jill Chemin/Buchanan Co.

Tourism Director, Public Work’s Director-Nick Krum, and City Clerk Mary Ryan. M/S/C=

Motion, Second and Carried.

M/S/C Myers, Loughren to approve the Consent Agenda: prior meeting minutes (June 07, 2023), current bills, and current financial report. All ayes.

Jim Peterson presented Library’s monthly activity report. Jill Chemin, Buchanan Co.

Tourism Director introduced herself and presented a summary of tourism activities in Buchanan County.

M/S/C Kelchen, Myers to approve C & C Club hosting Andrew Reed’s album re-release concert, Saturday, July 29th, from 5:00-11:00 p.m., in the park. All ayes.

Generator vs. IA Rural Water, for water plant emergencies tabled until August meeting.

M/S/C Myers, Loughren to set public hearing on Ordinance #210 ($50 monthly administrative fee for manual read water meters) and Ordinance #211 (four-way stop at Third and Washington), for Wednesday, August 2nd, 2023, 6:30 p.m., City Hall building. All ayes. Discussion held on the hundreds of dollars saved for five water customers, due to leaks identified on the new remote read water meter system.

M/S/C Kelchen, Loughren to adjourn. All ayes. Meeting adjourned at 6:40 p.m.

• The net price of attending a community college in Iowa dropped by nearly $1,200 since 2013-14. At the

With the recent trend of low unemployment and strong demand for labor, it is challenging to increase postsecondary enrollment and completion without significant intervention.

the committee to proceed with fund raising and placement of the statues. All in favor motion carried.

The Board discussed researching a cleaning service to service for Department of Human Services, Senior Center and Conservation. The county currently uses CC Floors & More LLC, however as of June 30 they will no longer be providing cleaning services. After discussion, Vogel will proceed with researching possible cleaning services and report back to the Board.

The Board met with Ryan Bervan from Assured Partners regarding health insurance update. The report presented was for approximately five months. Currently, the health fund is financially stable. Bervan also stated that he will plan on presenting the renewal either the end of September or early October.

During public comment, Bob Cue asked the Board of Supervisors if a July 17, 2023 public meeting for the Julibee Wind project to be held in Jesup would work for the Board of Supervisors. The Board stated that date would work. Cue will report back next week to confirm.

Mr. Cue also presented a petition to the Board signed by approximately 517 citizens of

Buchanan County requesting the Board of Supervisor to amendment to the Buchanan County WECS regulations.

Motion by Vogel second by Kurtz to recess until 11:15 am to meet with Skyline Construction, Inc. All in favor motion carried.

At 11:22 am motion by Kurtz second by Vogel to reconvene.

The Board met in the courthouse parking lot with representatives from Skyline Construction and River City Paving regarding few low spots in the parking lot that does not drain properly. Supervisor Ohrt shared photos of standing water in areas. After discussion on a way to repair the areas Supervisor Vogel asked what the cost of this would be? Jarrod from River City Paving stated that it would be at no charge it would be considered “warranty.” River City Paving will put together a lease to present to the Board on what they will do to the parking lot to minimize the drainage issues.

Motion by Vogel second by Kurtz to adjourn the meeting at 11:43 pm.

Clayton Ohrt, Chairperson

Buchanan County Board of Supervisors

Attest: Kris Wilgenbusch, Auditor & Commissioner of Elections

Guest Editorial: Let’s put an end to human trafficking

By Paul Pate, Iowa Secretary of State

There is a form of slavery taking place in Iowa right now. It’s called human trafficking, and it occurs when men, women, or children are forced to perform labor services or sexual acts. This horrific crime affects thousands of people across the U.S., and it can happen to anyone. The State of Iowa is taking steps to raise awareness about human trafficking and put an end to this danger, but we need your help.

Human trafficking is a crime that can occur behind closed doors, in plain sight, at a workplace, and in any area of our country. Last year, I announced the launch of a new initiative to bring Iowa’s business community together to fight back. It’s called Iowa Businesses Against Trafficking (IBAT), and our goal is to build a statewide army in Iowa. Since its launch, more than 600 businesses and organizations have taken up the

cause.

The genesis of IBAT came in April of 2021, while I was attending a lunchand-learn in my hometown of Cedar Rapids. Participants at the event detailed some of the horrors victims endure. There was also discussion about a human trafficking attempt that was thwarted by an alert employee at the Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids. The employee had undergone a human trafficking awareness training and recognized the signs. I quickly realized there was an opportunity to bring this kind of awareness statewide to address this form of modernday slavery.

If Iowa’s business community comes together, we can accomplish the goal of ending human trafficking in our state. Whether it’s a large corporation or a mom-and-pop store on main street with one employee, every business can join, and every business can make a difference. Something as

simple as handing out a brochure or making a social media post can make a difference. It can create a ripple effect across the state.

My office, the Iowa Legislature, the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s Office to Combat Human Trafficking, and the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Motor Vehicle Enforcement are all working toward the same goal – to make Iowa a trafficking-free state. But we need your help. There are several ways Iowans can make a difference. If you’re a business owner or manager, join IBAT.

If you want to learn more on how to recognize the signs of trafficking, you can view free online training at STOPHTIowa.org

We can all make a difference. Every added voice helps. Learn something, do something. Together, let’s put an end to human trafficking.

Crop soil moisture regresses with uneven rains

By Jared Strong, Iowa Capital Digest

Some areas of the state had considerable rainfall last week, but overall soil moisture diminished because much of central and north-central Iowa had little or no precipitation, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The department’s weekly report on Monday said 61% of the state’s corn crop is rated good or excellent, which is unchanged from last week. Soybeans are rated 52% good or excellent, down 1 percentage point from last week.

Much of the crops are in reproductive development stages that require the most water.

The statewide average rainfall last week was 0.64 inches, a little more than half of what is normally expected. Rainfall totals ranged from zero in north-central Iowa to about 3 inches in southeast Iowa.

About 43% of the state’s farm fields has adequate or surplus topsoil moisture for crops, a slight decline from a week ago, according to the USDA. About 36% of subsoil has adequate or better moisture, down about 3 percentage points.

Silk is protruding from the developing ears of corn in about 22% of the state’s crop, which is two days ahead of the five-year average. Soybeans are about three days ahead of average, with 46% of the crop blooming.

Livestock pastures are still struggling from widespread drought conditions. About 24% of pastures are rated good or excellent.

“Livestock producers continued to supplement with hay as pasture conditions remained below average,” the USDA said.