Corn and soybean planting in Iowa progressed faster than normal in most Mid­­western states. However,  cool periods and increased rainfall during May slowed crop emergence and the completion of planting in parts of Iowa.

Sea surface temperatures in the Nino 3.4 region of the Tropical Pacific had been above normal since fall 2019, in the positive neutral range and at times in the weak El Nino range.  Recent cooling occurred in this region, and by the middle of May,...