Combines are already carving through a few Iowa corn fields with many more to come soon as harvest season begins. Angie Rieck-Hinz, an agronomist with the Iowa State University Extension, monitors crop conditions in north-central Iowa where she says some of the corn is maturing ahead of schedule.

While rain is one of the vital ingredients for crop development, Rieck-Hinz says too much rain can create a problem — or at least a delay.

Weather conditions across much of Iowa should be rain-free for the next week or so.