Severe drought conditions have continued throughout the Raccoon Valley Radio listening area, according to the latest report from the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Last week was the first time in a month that Dallas, Greene, and Guthrie counties escaped the extreme drought condition threshold after some much-needed rainfall. A majority of Dallas and the entirety of Greene and Guthrie counties are listed at severe drought intensity, which can bring challenges like extremely low yields with commodity shortages and stressed livestock, high fire danger, fewer mosquitoes observed, and low surface water levels with voluntary water conservation requested. The current estimated population affected by drought conditions in Iowa is 1,320,370.