Nearly 5 inches of rain fell across portions of Iowa during May, easing drought conditions just as planting finished and crops began emerging.

Moisture was very timely as most of Iowa began to experience the effects of limited rain through the first half of the month. 

Much of the state saw 1 to 2 inches of rain May 19-20, with 3 to 5 inches reported across a swath of central Iowa. Light...