The latest U.S. Drought Monitor, released July 22, 2025, paints a cautiously optimistic picture for the American heartland. Thanks to widespread storms, key areas of the Corn Belt and High Plains have seen major drought relief-especially in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Kansas, where rainfall totals ranged from 3 to over 10 inches.

In the Midwest, conditions improved notably across Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. According to Phil Krieg, agronomy service representative at Syngenta Crop Protection, heavy rains swept across the region, particularly in Illinois, where some areas saw rainfall at rates of 2 inches per hour.

"Flooding of fields in low-lying areas along the Kaskaskia River and creeks has become a concern," Krieg said. "Even outside of bottomlands, some crops may not survive due to standing water."

Kentucky and Missouri also saw isolated rainfall events delivering between 1-6 inches, improving soil moisture but also increasing disease risk due to persistent humidity. In Minnesota, agronomist Tim Dahl noted the importance of calm days ahead to complete fungicide applications critical for protecting late-season yields.

Meanwhile, in Wisconsin, agronomist Nick Groth reported severe weather early in the week, including several tornadoes and hailstorms, particularly in areas east of Wausau. "Some regions suffered devastating crop damage," Groth said, underscoring the mixed impact of recent weather patterns.

In the High Plains, the story was similar. North-central Kansas, southeastern Nebraska, and parts of South Dakota saw significant improvements thanks to above-normal precipitation. Northern Kansas, in particular, recorded some of the heaviest rainfall this week.

However, conditions worsened in central South Dakota and northern North Dakota, where dry weather has persisted for the past 30-60 days. Though rainfall amounts ranged from 1 to 10 inches, not all areas benefited equally.

Looking ahead, forecasts predict continued heat and humidity across the Midwest, with an active storm track likely to persist. While the recent moisture is welcome news for many growers, the delicate balance between too little and too much rain remains a top concern.

As harvest approaches, the industry will be watching closely to assess the longer-term impact of this summer's volatile weather on commodity prices, input costs, and overall yields.