The U.S. Department of Agriculture now says that 14 out of Indiana’s 92 counties are disaster areas due to the drought.

That means that some could now qualify for special loans.

The latest U.S. Drought Monitor report released Thursday showed that nearly 54 percent of Indiana is now in extreme drought.   Federal officials say 71 percent of Indiana’s corn crop is in poor to very poor condition due to drought and heat stress. Drought conditions are expected to continue as late as October.