DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The condition of the corn crop in Iowa and nationally has declined slightly as a late summer dry hot spell settles in over Iowa and other Midwest states renewing fears of a crop damaging drought. The Department of Agriculture says in Monday’s weekly report that corn is about two weeks behind schedule in Iowa as 21 percent is now rated poor or very poor up from 18 percent the previous week and 44 percent is good or excellent, down from 48 percent previously. The remaining portion is fair.

Nationally a larger portion of the crop similarly slipped into poor or very poor category. Iowa soybeans are now 20 percent poor or very poor, up from 18 percent the week before. A similar decline is reported nationally.