Drought Impacts Illinois Cornfields

Corn and soybean fields in Iowa and Ilinois show the stress of drought and record breaking heat on normally productive fields. The ears of the plants are smaller than in years past and on some stalks there is no grain at all. The field not only shows a low yield but has wind damage due to its weakened state. Illinois farmers are estimating yields of 50 bushels per acre from a normal yield of 200 plus when all the fields have been harvested. The U.S. Department of Agriculture released a forecast August 10, 2012, expecting a 13 percent decline in corn production compared to last year. It would be the smallest production since 2006. Less corn means higher prices. And higher prices mean the world’s poorest — who spend as much as 80 percent of their meager daily incomes on food — can’t afford to eat. On July 30, the World Bank issued an alert about food price volatility, noting that prices of wheat, corn and soybeans rose 30 percent to 50 percent in June. The U.S. drought is partly to blame.