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Drought conditions spreading throughout Michigan

THE U.S. DROUGHT MONITOR IS JOINTLY PRODUCED BY THE NATIONAL DROUGHT MITIGATION CENTER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN, THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, AND THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION. MAP COURTESY OF NDMC-UNL.
Data valid: July 24, 2018 at 8 a.m. EDT

Drought conditions in Michigan are worsening, and if farmers weren't feeling the pressure before they certainly are now. 

The abnormally dry zone has spread to most of the lower peninsula and parts of the upper peninsula as well.

With the exeption of a few counties including Leelanau, Benzie, and Gladwin, almost the entire lower penisula is feeling the heat. 

Field crop officials with the MSU extension service said the state has gotten less than an inch of rain over the last week, which hasn't been enough to put crops back on track. They said there isn't much precipitation forecasted over the next month, and above normal temperatures are on the horizon. 

Wheat numbers are coming in fairly low so far, and corn isn't looking good either with many ears showing missing kernels.

Soybeans still have potential to return decent yields, however they are beginning to enter critical reproductive stages when water is crucial. 

Officials said even if the state got a decent drink, it would likely be too late in the crops life cycles to make much of a difference. 

Officials said farmers may just stop hoping for rain and start to harvest before yield loss is too great. If drought conditions continue to worsen they said, the hope is for a disaster designation which would provide some relief for farmers.