The hot temperatures along with dry conditions are placing some stress on area crops.  The recent drought monitor shows an area beginning in south central South Dakota and northern Nebraska and stretching east into northwest Iowa that is listed as severe to extreme drought conditions.  Although the region received some needed rain within the past few weeks, the hot temperatures have now dried up that moisture.  Joel DeJong serves as the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Crops Specialist for Northwest Iowa.  He says the area he serves has witnessed some crop stress at the critical time of pollination.  DeJong says some areas were fortunate to have up to four inches of rain and those crops are not showing the signs of stress.  However, he says much of the region received around an inch of rain.  DeJong says corn will utilize nearly a third of an inch of moisture each day, and with the extreme temperatures it doesn’t take long to absorb all the available moisture.  The weather forecast is calling for a continuation of the hot temperatures.