Vigo County farmer Phil Carter displays an ear of corn on the edge of one of his fields Wednesday, July 25, 2012 in Terre Haute, Ind. Lt. Governor Becky Skillman wants the U.S. Department of Agriculture to declare a natural disaster in all 92 of Indiana's counties (AP Photo/Tribune-Star, Jim Avelis)
July 26, 2012 - 11:52 AM
ST. LOUIS - A new report shows the drought in the U.S. heartland is rapidly intensifying and shows no signs of abating.
The U.S. Drought Monitor report released Thursday shows that the amount of land classified in extreme or exceptional drought jumped to more than 20 per cent, up 7 per cent from last week.
More than 63 per cent of the continental U.S. is in some stage of drought, a portion unseen since the Drought Monitor started in 1999.
The drought has sent corn, soybean and other commodity prices soaring in recent weeks.
The Department of Agriculture said Wednesday the drought will help push food prices up by 3 per cent to 4 per cent next year.
News from © The Associated Press, 2012