For Guthrie County farmers the crops they have recently planted are in need of precipitation. 

ISU Extension and Outreach Field Agronomist Mike Witt says for farmers who received some of the rain that came through the area last week that’s a good thing because areas are lacking in subsurface moisture and drought conditions could have an impact later in the season.

“We are going to need some more moisture and we are going to see some of that stress coming forth later on in the season when it comes to yield. So, there is some yield detriment that is occurring here fairly shortly if we don’t get some more rain moving forward.”

Witt tells Raccoon Valley Radio parts of Guthrie County are behind in precipitation compared to last year. Witt says if the drought conditions continue throughout the season farmers could see shorter plants, soybeans could flower earlier or be a smaller size.

“We are in very desperate need of rain and not just one or two showers we need significant rain moving forward even though it doesn’t look like that could be the case in the forecast at least (in) the short term.”

According to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor all of the Raccoon Valley Radio-listening area is in a moderate drought.