Many Iowa farmers are looking to the skies and praying for rain as parts of the nation’s Corn Belt were officially declared to be in a “moderate drought” status, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor map.

The map, which tracks and synthesizes water indices nationwide, is a project of the University of Nebraksa and the USDA.

With lower than average rainfall in recent months, many Iowa  farmers’ crops are in danger, according to the Monitor’s report.

Unfortunately, this region needs timely rains and seasonable temperatures very soon in order to ensure that emerging corn and soybean develop properly and halt further declines in their condition.

Poor crop production due to a lack of rainfall is, obviously, a very real concern. Rainfall, or lack thereof, during the coming months will have a lot of say in farmers’ bottom lines, according to the Des Moines Register.

Agronomists and farmers have said that Iowa will need about one inch of rainfall per week through the July pollination period for corn and early August blooming times for soybeans to avoid damage to crops.

It’s not just Iowa that is struggling for rain. To be sure, local conditions vary (and parts of Iowa are doing fine rainfall wise), but farmers in other Corn Belt states should be worried, too, according to the Register.

Iowa is not alone. The so-called “I-states” of Iowa, Illinois and Indiana which are the backbone of the corn belt, all are afflicted with abnormally dry and some moderate drought conditions.

Without cooperation from the weather, farmers may be up a (dry) creek without a paddle.