Corn is a water-intensive crop covering 14 million acres in Missouri and Illinois. The University of Missouri says the corn plants need 1 1/4 inches of rain in July and August to maintain rapid growth and maximize yields.

When subject to drought conditions, corn continues to “sweat,” absorbing from the soil and releasing it as water vapor through evapotranspiration. This can worsen both humidity and drought conditions. The “sweating” process contributes to the humidity agricultural communities sometimes experience during the summer. It also contributes to “flash droughts,” where the soil moisture is rapidly depleted. This can cause vegetation to deteriorate quickly.

Missouri State Climatologist Zack Leasor explains that corn sweat has a localized effect. It peaks from late June to early August. That is when corn matures and moves significant amounts of water from the soil to the atmosphere. With Missouri experiencing one of the hottest years on record, there were concerns about whether the rainfall would be sufficient to counterbalance the drying effects of corn sweat on the environment.

Read more about corn sweat here.