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Timely rains benefitting southwest Iowa crops

A southwest Iowa farmer says the 2025 growing season has gotten off to a strong start.

“On the corn side, the stands are awesome,” said Lee Brooke. “Probably some of the best we’ve had in a long time.”

Lee Brooke tells Brownfield his area keeps receiving timely rains.

“We had a half inch over the weekend,” he said. “Further south of us down towards the Missouri border some guys had between and inch and two inches. We’ve had enough rain to keep things looking good.”

He says his focus this week has been post-emergence herbicide applications.

“We’ve got some waterhemp that has popped through the pre-emergence herbicide,” Brooke said. “We’re tackling it. Hopefully out post-pass will take care of that, but there’s definitely weeds out here.”

Brooke raises corn, soybeans, cattle, and hogs near Clarinda in Page County.