August 2006 began where the rest of the season left off, warm and fairly dry. Sporadic thundershowers were the rule, with considerable local variation in rainfall. A storm system rolled through northwest and north-central Iowa, dropping 4 to 5 inches of rain in some areas. However, straight-line winds leveled corn and some soybeans in a narrow band from Plymouth to Dickinson County. Rain concerns continue in nearly all parts of Iowa. Aphid populations can be found in nearly all counties, but to date the only populations nearing threshold are located along the border with Minnesota.