Temperatures were below normal most of this week until yesterday and today. High temperatures reached 99 degrees here yesterday and 101 degrees today. I received 0.17 inches of rain this week. The soil is drying out from hot temperatures and sunshine. The soil is dry at the surface and to a depth of 6 inches. The trees and grass are turning brown and showing stress. Conditions are mildly dry. Precipitation for July to date is 2.37 inches, 0.69 inch below normal (77 percent of normal). Precipitation here for the year is now 18.72 inches, which is 0.98 inch below normal (95 percent of normal). Precipitation for the water year is 2.48 inches below normal (90 percent of normal). Plants and wildlife. Bird visits to the bird bath are about the same as last week. Approximately 20 species of birds (about 100 to 120 birds visit each day). Most plants are wilting during the day.  Water Supply Water level in Standing Bear Lake (approximately 0.2 mile to the east of here) is slightly below normal. Area creeks and ponds are also below normal. Nearby corn and soybean fields look slightly dry but are growing well.