The most recent Drought Monitor shows areas of moderate to severe drought in portions of the Dakotas. Iowa State University Extension Climatologist Dr. Ellwyn Taylor says those areas could expand even further if the current U.S. weather pattern persists.

Even with rains the last few days Taylor says the crop damage done planting in muddy conditions followed by hot dry weather will likely result in some yield loss. However, he is still projecting national corn yields slightly above trend line.

At the same time, Taylor says El Nino is also trying to make a comeback and if the condition strengthens it could hit the corn belt by August. He says there is evidence of El Nino in the southern hemisphere with flooding in Ecuador and Peru, but El Nino is usually favorable for the Midwest.