Corn and soybean fields with­ered last week as blazing temperatures and intensifying drought conditions across Iowa accelerated crop maturity. 

“It’s drier than dry here,” said Monona County farmer Sharyl Bruning.

“This week, the 90 degree days have really taken it out of the crops. You just see the change.”

Some farmers are starting to chop corn for silage and baling up Conservation Reserve Program acres, Bruning said. “Everybody is trying to get every bit of forage they can.”

Drought (D0-D3) conditions expanded into all 99 Iowa counties covering 96.3% of the...