Scattered rain provided some relief to certain areas of the drought-stricken US Midwest on Wednesday, but the majority of the region continues to suffer from the most severe drought in fifty years. The US Agriculture Department predicts that food prices will increase more rapidly than other consumer costs until 2013 due to the destruction of crops and dwindling supplies. USDA economist Richard Volpe warned that the drought will have a significant impact on food prices in the coming year, affecting everything from corn and soybean prices to feed prices, animal prices, wholesale prices, and ultimately retail prices. The USDA anticipates food prices to rise between 2.5 percent and 3.5 percent in 2012, followed by another 3-4 percent increase in 2013. The USDA predicts that food prices will increase faster than overall U.S. inflation, which is a change from previous trends. U.S. inflation is expected to be 2 percent this year and 1.9 percent in 2013. Food prices rose 3.7 percent last year but only 0.8 percent in 2010. The USDA also expanded its disaster aid designation to include 76 more counties, bringing the total to 1,369 counties in 31 states. The agency reported that two-thirds of the United States is currently experiencing mild or extreme drought conditions. Forecasters predict that the northern Corn Belt, stretching from eastern Nebraska to northern Illinois, will experience a second day of scattered rain following weeks of hot, dry weather. However, the southern Midwest, including Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, is expected to continue facing hot, dry conditions. Jim Keeney, a National Weather Service meteorologist, noted that these areas require over 10 inches of rain to alleviate the drought from Kansas to Ohio. The approaching front is anticipated to bring only 1/2 to 1 inch of rain, falling short of being a drought buster. The central and southern Midwest experienced temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit on Wednesday, with St. Louis reaching 101 F. Andy Karst, a meteorologist for World Weather Inc., noted that there has been no change in the drought pattern, just a shifting of thunderstorms. He predicted that there would be no significant rainfall until August 8. Following this outlook, the Chicago Board of Trade grain markets saw an increase in prices after a decrease from last week's highs. Chicago Board of Trade corn for September delivery closed 4-1/2 cents higher at $7.94-1/2 a bushel, compared to the previous week's high of $8.28-3/4. August soybeans ended 45 cents higher at $16.94-1/4, compared to last week's high of $17.77-3/4. September wheat also saw an increase, rising 24-1/2 cents at $9.03-1/4, compared to last week's high of $9.47-1/4. Markets worldwide are worried about the impact of rising prices on local food costs due to expensive imports, potential lack of food aid for countries like China and Egypt, and the possibility of food riots. The United States, a major exporter of corn, soybeans, and wheat, is facing significant losses in its corn crop this year, which is crucial for various products. Soybeans, planted after corn, are also at risk but could potentially be saved by forecasted rain. A recent Reuters poll suggests that US corn yields may hit a 10-year low, leading to the lowest harvest in six years. Extensive damage has already been seen in declining weekly crop reports from Corn Belt states. According to Bryce Knorr, senior editor for Farm Futures Magazine, the losses in Monday's crop ratings could be on par with the damage seen during the 1988 drought if these conditions continue. Weather conditions have already resulted in almost 4 billion bushels being taken off the corn crop, indicating a need for demand to be rationed. In Putnam County, Indiana, crop scouts didn't even bother inspecting corn fields this week as they believed farmers would plow the crops under instead of attempting to harvest anything. However, scouts in central Illinois reported on Wednesday that some corn fields were doing better than expected, likely due to early planting and pollination after a warm winter and spring. Tom Womack from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture mentioned that while recent rains have improved the outlook for soybeans, the corn crop has already suffered irreversible damage. Ohio Governor John Kasich approved an order on Wednesday allowing farmers to harvest hay from grass along highways near their land for their livestock. Fire risks were increasing in some areas of the Plains, with firefighters and the National Guard working to contain wildfires that have burned over 60,000 acres in three north-central Nebraska counties in the past week. Helicopters dropped water on wildfires in the Niobrara River Valley that were started by lightning over the weekend. Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman stated that progress is being made, but ongoing support is necessary. In Missouri, a state experiencing extreme drought, the highway patrol warned of hazardous driving conditions due to smoke from grass and brush fires, some of which were caused by discarded cigarettes. Throughout the Midwest, communities implemented water restrictions for landscaping and took measures to preserve trees suffering from stress, such as using drip bags. Reservoir and river levels are currently low and are being closely monitored, leading to restrictions on barge movements along the Mississippi River and recreational boating. The U.S. drought is believed to be caused by the El Nino phenomenon in the western Pacific Ocean, which warms sea temperatures and impacts global weather patterns, potentially preventing moisture from reaching the U.S. Midwest breadbasket. Scientists warn that this year's drought, the worst since 1956, may be tied 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 extreme 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, with hot, dry days becoming even hotter. The study also showed that finding relief from the heat has become more challenging, as all cities now experience fewer cool, dry days in the summer and higher nighttime temperatures. Steve Frenkel, director of UCS's Midwest office, noted that high nighttime temperatures increase the risk of heat-related illnesses and deaths, especially for those without air conditioning. The report stated that in July 1995, over 700 deaths in Chicago were linked to a heat wave. It also projected that with increasingly hot summers, the number of annual deaths in Chicago is expected to increase from 143 in the years 2020-2029 to 300 in the years 2090-2099.