Yesterday's U.S. Drought Monitor map showed minor improvement in the Midwest over the past week,but there is still a long way to go yet for any significant changes. Over 93% of the region is still in a drought category despite pockets of heavy rainfall last week in IA where some locations received 3-6 inches. Rainfall will move into the Midwest this weekend from west to east, but this will not be a big rainmaker for much of the region with general .25-1.00 inch amounts, lighter north and heaviest south portion. Another system will bring more rainfall about the middle of next week therefore both systems combined should bring more small improvements from the dryness of the late summer and early fall. The 6-10 day period looks wetter than normal for the western Cornbelt, but drier east with near to below normal precipitation. The 11-15 day period looks more promising for moisture with above normal precipitation across the Midwest.