Gov. Terry Branstad called a meeting Tuesday at Mount Pleasant High School. Branstad said he would ask for federal disaster declarations for affected Iowa counties “as soon as possible.”

Tim Hall of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources explained that two-thirds of the state is being affected by dry conditions.

Corn prices have been skyrocketing because of the drought. The prices have increased by 2-dollars-75 cents a bushel since June.

The President of the Iowa Farm Bureau Craig Hill said Iowa livestock producers would be hit the hardest.

Bill Tentinger, President of the Iowa Pork Producers, is predicting some hog producers will liquidate.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey said “Corn and soybeans are both being stressed by the dry weather and high temperature and the condition both crops continue to deteriorate. Now only 36 percent of the corn and 38 percent of the soybeans are in good to excellent condition statewide,” Northey said.