At this stage, Miller needs 2 inches of rain right away to carry his corn crop as well as his soybeans, which will start aborting pods without adequate moisture.

It will be challenging for many farmers, who often pay $800 to $1,000 per acre to plant a crop.

Consumers will be hurting as well down the line when they feel the drought in their pocketbooks, says Miller, who is also the director of research and commodity services at the Iowa Farm Bureau.

Corn prices have climbed 45% already, Miller says; soybeans, 22%.

"In the short run, that doesn't show up in the grocery store," he said, since most of this corn is used as livestock feed.

In fact, he said, meat prices could fall at first if farmers slaughter more animals to decrease the cost of buying feed.

But eventually, Americans will pay more at the checkout counter.

"It's likely that in three to six months from now, you will start seeing an increase in prices in the meat case," Miller said. "There will be a quicker impact on eggs and poultry because the production cycle is shorter."

And even milk could see 4% to 6% price hikes if there are reductions in dairy herds.

Villwock, the Indiana farmer, says he must wait now until the fall of 2013 before he can hope for a full harvest.

Harsh weather affects everyone, but farmers are especially at the whim of Mother Nature, he says.

Meanwhile in Iowa, the forecast Friday included a 30% chance of rain, filling many hearts with hope.

But last time Miller checked his radar, not one drop had fallen on his 350 acres.