The Midwest region of the United States continues to face escalating drought conditions, with the latest update from the National Drought Mitigation Center revealing that over 70% of the country's corn crop and 63% of soybeans are now affected. Despite recent rainfall in the Northern Corn Belt, drought expansion persists, particularly in key agricultural states like Illinois and Missouri.
Illinois has witnessed a significant surge in severe drought coverage, with almost 59% of the state now impacted. In Missouri, exceptional drought now encompasses nearly 20% of the area, accompanied by severe drought affecting more than half of the state. Throughout the Midwest, the Drought Monitor indicates that around 64.71% of the region is facing abnormally dry conditions, while severe drought affects 24.65% of the area.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that the corn crop has achieved historically low ratings, indicating that these dry conditions have had a negative impact on crop conditions. Only 50% of the corn crop is currently classified as good to excellent, a decline of five percentage points within a week. Soybean crop conditions have also deteriorated, marking the second-worst ratings on record, with 51% rated as good to excellent, reflecting a three-point drop.
Farmers are growing increasingly concerned about the potential impact on overall crop production and yields. A recent survey conducted by AgWeb revealed that 61% of respondents are becoming increasingly worried about corn yields. The upcoming USDA World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report on July 12th will provide an opportunity to update yield forecasts.