According to the USDA, the percentage of corn and soybeans located within an area experiencing a drought each increased slightly as of Aug 17^th, remaining at nine year high seasonal levels.

U.S. Drought Monitor:

The U.S. Drought Monitor showed 47% of the continental U.S. being in a moderate-to-exceptional drought state as of Aug 17^th, up slightly from the previous week and remaining at a nine year high seasonal level.

Corn:

Approximately 37% of corn production was within an area experiencing a drought as of Aug 17^th, up two percent from the previous week but remaining below the levels experienced throughout June and early July.

The percentage of U.S. corn located in a drought state remained at a nine year high seasonal level, finishing significantly above the five year average seasonal level of just 11%. U.S. corn located in a drought state remained significantly below the 2012 seasonal level of 80%.

It is estimated that 48% of state-level corn acres had short-to-very short subsoil moisture as of the week ending Aug 15^th, up slightly from the previous week and reaching a five month high level.

The percentage of U.S. corn with short-to-very short subsoil moisture reached a nine year high seasonal level as of the week ending Aug 15^th but remained significantly below the 2012 seasonal level of 90%.

Soybeans:

Approximately 31% of soybean production was within an area experiencing a drought as of Aug 17^th, up one percent from the previous week but remaining below the levels experienced throughout June and early July.

The percentage of U.S. soybeans located in a drought state remained at a nine year high seasonal level, finishing significantly above the five year average seasonal level of just 11%. U.S. soybeans located in a drought state remained significantly below the 2012 seasonal level of 79%.

It is estimated that 45% of state-level soybean acres had short-to-very short subsoil moisture as of the week ending Aug 15^th, up slightly from the previous week and reaching a five month high level.

The percentage of U.S. soybeans with short-to-very short subsoil moisture reached a nine year high seasonal level as of the week ending Aug 15^th but remained significantly below the 2012 seasonal level of 87%.