In Pictures

Gallery

Drought continues across the US Midwest

The weather in the US threatens to have an impact on food prices throughout the globe.

Drought still grips much of the US Midwest
The drought is the most extensive the U.S. has seen in more than 50 years.

By Steff Gaulter

Published On 23 Jul 2012

Save

The drought is the worst for over half a century.

Forecasters are hoping that the slow development of El Nino in the Pacific Ocean will bring a change in the weather across the US for 2013.

In the short term, although significant rain is expected across the Midwest this week, for many farmers it will be too late.

Corn stalks are dry and stunted
The US is the world(***)s largest exporter of corn, soy beans and wheat, so production is crucial to global food markets. The impact of the drought will be felt across the globe.
Advertisement
An ear of corn hangs from a broken stalk
The prices have already shot up since June. Corn prices leaped by 40%, soy bean by 30% and wheat has jumped by a huge 50%.
Grass has started to grow at the bottom of Morse Reservoir
Corn and soy beans are also used to feed livestock, so the rising prices will ultimately cause the price of meat to rise. However, in the short-term the price of meat is likely to fall.
The fewest cattle in over four decades
A large number of livestock are being rushed to the market because there is not enough to feed them. Therefore for the moment, meat prices should fall.
No way to save the crop
Analysis say that there is also a likelihood that gas prices will rise, because corn is used to produce ethanol, an ingredient in gas production.
The wetlands are dry
The bottom of Celery Bog is exposed to the sun as water levels in the wetlands plummet in the US state of Indiana. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the current drought is the most extensive to afflict the US in more than 50 years, and will drive up food prices in the coming year.
Advertisement
Jetties are dry
As the boat docks dry up, the situation is being compared to 2008 when high food prices sparked a wave of riots in 30 countries across the world, from Haiti to Bangladesh.