"It is serious," said Marlowe Schlegel, deputy director of the state agricultural statistics service. "When you get to about 40 days when you don't have any kind of rain... it gets bad."

The US Agriculture Department on Wednesday declared neighboring Illinois a disaster area, except for one county in the state's southernmost tip. Illinois farmers with crop losses are now eligible to apply for low-interest loans.

Temperatures in Missouri were in the high 90s and over 100 degrees last week. Columbia reported a high of 105 degrees on Sunday, and has had only 0.08 inch of rainfall since June 14.

Missouri agriculture officials reported this week that corn stalks were turning brown. Soybean plants could drop blooms unless it rains soon. Pasture conditions for livestock were rated 75 percent poor to very poor, and stock water supplies were rated 55 percent short to very short.

"It certainly has been dry and it is hurting farmers," said Missouri Soybean Association executive director Dale Ludwig.

Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt plans to travel the state next week to view the dried up crops, lowered lake and pond levels and withered lawns across the state.

"There are some utilities that rely on the Missouri River to supply water to communities," said Gov. Blunt's press secretary Jessica Robinson. "Even things like the hatcheries and the state parks and canoeing are affected. As water levels decrease, business decreases."