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Iowa crops hold strong after timely rains, but hotter weather looms

DES MOINES — Iowa farmers got some late-week rain relief as corn and soybean development continued to move along at a strong pace, according to the latest Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report for June 1-7, 2026.

The weekly report, released June 8 by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, showed Iowa had 4.9 days suitable for fieldwork during the week. That is slightly above the 4.7 days reported during the same week last year.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said showers and thunderstorms late last week helped drier parts of the state, especially across southern and eastern Iowa.

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Treasury warns banks: illegal labor schemes are draining taxpayers, fueling fraud and exploiting U.S. businesses

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Treasury Department is warning banks and other financial institutions to watch for suspicious money trails tied to illegal workers, shady labor brokers and employers accused of using unlawful labor schemes to dodge taxes, steal identities and undercut legitimate American businesses.

The Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, known as FinCEN, issued a joint advisory on June 5, 2026, urging financial institutions to detect and report illicit activity connected to the unlawful employment of people not authorized to work in the United States.

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