DES MOINES, Iowa -- The USDA's Weekly Crop Report shows Iowa's corn crop is withering under an ongoing drought.
"In the last two weeks we've dropped 20 points in terms of corn that's in good to excellent condition. The other one I watch is "poor" and "very poor" condition categories. In the last two weeks we've increased that one--up now to 15 percent" says Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig.
Naig says it has been a long time since Iowa was this dry.
"I haven't seen this kind of dryness since 2013. Eighty-eight percent of the state is now classified in some level of drought" he says
Naig says the Weekly Crop Report is also starting to show the effects of the August 10th derecho, which hit millions of acres of corn and other crop land.
"You're starting to get that picture of what the drought impact is. I think you're also seeing some of that storm damage filter into this as well" he says.
The National Drought Monitor Map shows all or parts of 11 counties in West Central and Southwest Iowa in extreme drought.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says rainfall in that area is eight to 10 inches behind normal for this time of year.