ST. LOUIS (AP) – The worst drought in the United States in decades may already have done its damage to the nation’s corn crop now being harvested. But growers say their soybeans may turn out far better. Near Coulterville in southwestern Illinois, Dean Campbell concedes that Tropical Storm Isaac’s remnants “blessed us with some water.” But that won’t save his 900-acre corn crop that’s averaging just about one-tenth of his normal yield with harvesting less than halfway done.  But he says he expects “a reasonable crop” from his still-maturing 1,100 acres of soybeans.

Near Corning, Iowa, Ray Gaesser got nothing from Isaac for his 3,000 acres of corn, which he foresees producing about 60 to 70 percent of normal. But he believes his soybeans could yield some 90 percent of what he’s typically get.