LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — This year’s warm, dry weather has experts worried that crops in Nebraska and other Plains states could be hurt by drought this summer unless the area receives more rain.

Conditions in some areas of the region already resemble late summer conditions, and that could hurt the corn crop, which is just about ready for pollination.

The western two-thirds of Nebraska are already experiencing moderate drought conditions.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln climatologist Al Dutcher says things are going to get ugly unless more rain falls.

Eastern Nebraska has received enough rain so far to limit the stress on crops and stay out of drought, but that could change if conditions are dry over the next few weeks.