The US Drought Monitor shows the worse drought since the Dust Bowl affecting
over half of the nation, and a record for the twelve year old map. Forecasts indicate conditions are likely to persist with further intensification this Fall. Although there has been some improvement in Texas, the drought is spreading to more areas like eastern Iowa. This is not good news for the nation's corn crop:
Corn is used in an amazing array of consumer products and foodstuffs. It is also used to feed livestock in the US. Because of the lack of good pasture, the US beef herd is down to the smallest since 1956. That may be a good thing since the US accounts for 1 of every 3 tons of
grain traded in the world. World food prices are only 6% below their historic high set in February 2011:
