Scattered rain provided some relief to parts of the hot US Midwest on Wednesday, but the majority of the region continued to suffer from the worst drought in fifty years, leading to a bleak outlook for global food supplies and prices. The US Agriculture Department predicted that food prices would rise faster than other consumer costs until 2013 due to the drought damaging crops and reducing supplies. USDA economist Richard Volpe warned that the impact of the drought on food prices would become more severe next year, affecting various stages of the supply chain from crop prices to retail prices. The USDA expects food prices to increase by 2.5-3.5 percent in 2012 and another 3-4 percent in 2013. The USDA stated that food prices will increase at a faster rate than overall U.S. inflation, which is a change from the usual trend. Inflation in the U.S. is expected to be 2 percent this year and 1.9 percent in 2013. Food inflation was 3.7 percent last year but only 0.8 percent in 2010. Additionally, the USDA announced on Wednesday that 76 more counties have been added to the list of areas eligible for disaster aid, bringing the total to 1,369 counties in 31 states. The agency also reported that two-thirds of the United States is currently experiencing mild or extreme drought conditions. Forecasters predicted that the northern Corn Belt from eastern Nebraska through northern Illinois would experience a second day of scattered rain after weeks of hot, dry weather. However, the southern Midwest, including Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, was expected to continue facing hot and dry conditions. National Weather Service meteorologist Jim Keeney stated that most of these areas would need over 10 inches of rain to alleviate the drought from Kansas to Ohio. The front moving through was not anticipated to bring more than 1/2 to 1 inch of rain to any specific area and would not be enough to end the drought. The central and southern Midwest experienced temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit on Wednesday, with St. Louis reaching 101 F. Meteorologist Andy Karst from World Weather Inc. stated that there is no change in the drought pattern, just thunderstorms moving around. There is no expectation of significant rainfall until August 8. As a result, Chicago Board of Trade grain markets rose after prices had dropped from last week's peak. For example, Chicago Board of Trade corn for September delivery closed higher at $7.94-1/2 a bushel, compared to last week's record high of $8.28-3/4. Similarly, August soybeans closed higher at $16.94-1/4, compared to last week's record of $17.77-3/4. September wheat also saw an increase, closing at $9.03-1/4 compared to last week's 4-year high at $9.47-1/4. Markets worldwide are worried about the impact of rising prices on local food costs due to expensive imports, potential scarcity of food aid for countries like China and Egypt, and the possibility of food riots. The United States, being the largest exporter of corn, soybeans, and wheat, is facing significant losses in its corn crop, which is vital for various products. Recent field tours have reported major damage in the corn crop, while soybeans are also struggling due to the drought. However, if the forecasted rain arrives, it may help mitigate the effects of the drought on soybeans. A recent Reuters poll indicated that US corn yields could hit a 10-year low, leading to the lowest harvest in six years. Extensive damage has been seen in the weekly crop reports from Corn Belt states, with losses comparable to those seen during the 1988 drought. Bryce Knorr, senior editor for Farm Futures Magazine, stated that almost 4 billion bushels have been taken off the corn crop due to the weather. In Putnam County, Indiana, crop scouts did not bother to inspect corn fields as they could see that farmers would likely plow the crops under. Scouts in central Illinois reported on Wednesday that some corn fields were in better condition than expected, with early planting and pollination benefiting from a warm winter and spring. Tom Womack from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture mentioned that while recent rains have improved soybean prospects, the damage to the corn crop cannot be reversed. Ohio Governor John Kasich issued an order allowing farmers to harvest hay from grass along highways near their land for their livestock. Fire risks were increasing in parts of the Plains, with firefighters and the National Guard trying to contain wildfires that have burned over 60,000 acres in three north-central Nebraska counties in the past week. On Wednesday, helicopters dropped water on wildfires sparked by lightning in the Niobrara River Valley, which have been burning since the weekend. Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman stated that progress is being made, but ongoing support is necessary. In Missouri, one of the driest states in the country, the highway patrol warned of hazardous driving conditions due to smoke from grass and brush fires, with discarded cigarettes identified as a contributing factor. Throughout the Midwest, communities implemented water use restrictions for gardens and lawns and utilized drip bags to help save distressed trees. Reservoir and river levels are low and being closely monitored, leading to restrictions on barge movements along the Mississippi River and recreational boating. The U.S. drought is attributed to the El Nino phenomenon in the western Pacific Ocean, which affects global atmosphere and hinders moisture from reaching the U.S. Midwest. Some scientists warn that this year's drought, considered the worst since 1956, may be connected to climate factors that could have even more severe consequences in the future. The Midwest has experienced an increase in dangerously hot summer days over the past 60 years, and the region is expected to face more potentially deadly weather as the climate continues to warm, according to a report from the Union of Concerned Scientists. The report examined weather patterns in various cities including Chicago, Cincinnati, Detroit, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Peoria, Illinois, and Toledo, Ohio. It revealed that hot, humid days have increased in the Midwest since the 1940s and 1950s, while hot, dry days have also become more intense. Finding relief from the heat has become harder as there are fewer cool, dry days in summer and nighttime temperatures have risen. Steve Frenkel, UCS's Midwest office director, highlighted that high nighttime temperatures increase the risks of heat-related illness and death, especially for those without air conditioning. In July 1995, over 700 deaths in Chicago were linked to a heat wave. The report predicts that as summer temperatures become more extreme, the number of annual deaths in Chicago will increase from 143 in the years 2020-2029 to 300 in the years 2090-2099.