>>> as we mentioned, a lot of rain across the country tonight but not in the right places for folks caught in the grip of this year's history making drought. it's now covering officially more than half of the united states and latest figures from the u.s. drought monitor show that it's getting worse. it's intensifying and it's leaving a whole lot of american family businesses in some dire straits . from just outside memphis, tennessee tonight we get our report from nbc news correspondent tom trump.
>> reporter: in brighton, tennessee david mcdaniels' corn crops are dying.
>> this is going to be at least a 50% loss, maybe more.
>> reporter: his twin sons are facing the same losses -- a family suffering through a drought that's deepening. in the last week, the regions of the country in extreme to exceptional drought conditions has jumped from just 13.5% to more than 20%, an area slightly larger than california and new york combined.
>> in the next ten days if we don't get major rain here they're bordering on disaster, complete disaster.
>> reporter: but the drought's impact goes beyond the field. lisa mcdaniels worries about the mounting stress on her husband and sons.
>> i know what david and i have been through but i just don't want that on them at all.
>> reporter: there's also worry in town at the chevy dealership.
>> truck sales are about 50% of our business and i would say right now the way things are going we're probably looking at a 20% decrease in sales.
>> reporter: at a local farm supply tractor sales are anticipated to drop 30% to 40%. just ten miles up the road from here at the old town hall gift shop they're taking a hit as well. charlene has been here 14 years. she says sales are flat right now and doesn't have high hopes for the rest of the summer.
>> you don't have to be a farmer to have the drought affect you. if it affects the farmer it affects everyone.
>> it stacks up and affects everybody.
>> reporter: as the drought drags on the misery widens. nbc news, brighton, tennessee .
Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/48345952/
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