Drought conditions now exist in 60 percent of the 48 contiguous states.In the past week, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri and Arkansas have witnessed dry conditions become even drier, and crop conditions worsen.  Those states make up the most prolific grain producing areas of the country under normal conditions, but this summer has seen grain crop predictions reduced by as much as twenty percent.  The Weather Service Climate Prediction Center says drought conditions will persist in the central plains area, including the Black Hills, at least until November.Even the island of Hawaii is experiencing serious drought conditions.

Al Van Zee