Corn prices set record high - WXOW News 19 La Crosse, WI – News, Weather and Sports |

LA CROSSE, WI (WXOW)-- Corn prices surged to a new record high Monday, as the worst drought in more than 50 years continues to plague more than half the country.

Almost 90-percent of the United States' corn crops are in drought ravaged areas; and nearly 40% are situated in the hardest hit spots.

Corn prices rose 50-percent over the past six weeks as the crops continue to shrivel in the Midwest.

Monday, they jumped another 3-percent to a record high of $8.17 per bushel on the Chicago Board of Trade.

Steve Huntzicker, UW Extension Agriculture Agent said in La Crosse County we have a mixed bag of crops.

"We're seeing drought type conditions on some of our sandy soil that have really left corn stunted very little pollination, very little tasseling that's gone on in some of those fields," Huntzicker said.

Other crops on lower areas with higher moisture in the soil are doing better and some ears of corn are starting to form.