Scattered rain provided some relief to parts of the hot US Midwest on Wednesday, but most of the area is still facing the worst drought in 50 years. The US Agriculture Department predicts that food prices will increase more than other consumer costs through 2013 due to the drought destroying crops and reducing supplies. According to USDA economist Richard Volpe, the drought will significantly impact food prices next year, with the effects already being seen in corn and soybean prices. The USDA expects food prices to rise between 2.5 percent and 3.5 percent in 2012 and an additional 3-4 percent in 2013. The USDA predicts that food prices will increase at a faster rate than overall U.S. inflation, which is a change from the usual trend. Inflation is expected to be 2 percent this year and 1.9 percent in 2013. Food prices rose by 3.7 percent last year, but only by 0.8 percent in 2010. The USDA also announced that an additional 76 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 noted that two-thirds of the United States is currently experiencing mild or extreme drought conditions. Forecasters predict that the northern Corn Belt, spanning 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 and dry conditions. According to National Weather Service meteorologist Jim Keeney, areas from Kansas to Ohio require over 10 inches of rain to alleviate the drought, and the upcoming front is only projected to bring 1/2 to 1 inch of rain, falling short of being a drought buster. The central and southern Midwest experienced temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit on Wednesday, with St Louis reaching 101 F. According to meteorologist Andy Karst from World Weather Inc., the drought pattern remains unchanged, with thunderstorms moving around but no significant rainfall expected until August 8. As a result, grain markets at the Chicago Board of Trade saw an increase in prices after a decrease from last week's record highs. Corn for September delivery closed 4-1/2 cents higher at $7.94-1/2 a bushel, compared to the previous record of $8.28-3/4. August soybeans closed 45 cents higher at $16.94-1/4, compared to last week's record of $17.77-3/4. September wheat also saw an increase, rising 24-1/2 cents to $9.03-1/4, still below last week's 4-year high at $9.47-1/4. Market prices worldwide are causing concerns about potential increases in local food costs due to expensive imports, limited food aid for countries like China and Egypt, and potential food riots. The United States, a major exporter of corn, soybeans, and wheat, is facing significant losses in its corn crop this year, which has various uses from ethanol fuels to livestock feed. Soybeans, planted later than corn, are also at risk due to the drought, but there is hope that forecasted rain could help mitigate the situation. Recent polls suggest that US corn yields may reach a 10-year low, leading to the lowest harvest in six years. Extensive damage is evident in the declining weekly crop reports from Corn Belt states, with losses comparable to those seen during the 1988 drought, according to Bryce Knorr, a senior editor at Farm Futures Magazine. The weather has already reduced the corn crop by almost 4 billion bushels, leading to the need to ration demand. In Putnam County, Indiana, crop scouts did not even bother inspecting corn fields this week as it was clear that farmers would plow crops under rather than attempt to harvest anything. Meanwhile, scouts in central Illinois found that some corn fields were in better condition than expected, benefiting from early planting and pollination after a warm winter and spring. Tom Womack from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture mentioned that although recent rains had improved soybean prospects, the corn crop had already been irreparably damaged. Even with more rainfall, the lost corn crop cannot be recovered. Ohio Governor John Kasich authorized farmers to harvest hay for their livestock from grass along highways near their properties. Fire risks were increasing in parts of the Plains, with firefighters and the National Guard fighting wildfires in three north-central Nebraska counties that have burned over 60,000 acres in the past week. Helicopters dropped water on wildfires sparked by lightning in the Niobrara River Valley on Wednesday. Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman stated that progress is being made, but ongoing support is necessary. In Missouri, a very dry state, the highway patrol warned of dangerous driving conditions due to smoke from grass and brush fires, some of which were caused by discarded cigarettes. In the Midwest, water use restrictions were implemented in cities and towns to conserve water for gardens and lawns, while efforts were made to save stressed trees with 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 can block moisture from reaching the U.S. Midwest breadbasket. Some scientists are warning that this year's drought, the worst since 1956, may be connected to climate factors that could have even more severe consequences in the future. The Midwest has experienced more dangerously hot summer days over the past 60 years, and as the climate continues to warm, the region will face more potentially deadly weather events, according to a report from the Union of Concerned Scientists. The report examined weather patterns in several cities including Chicago, Cincinnati, Detroit, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Peoria (Illinois), and Toledo (Ohio). It noted that there has been a rise in the number of hot and humid days in the Midwest since the 1940s and 1950s, with hot and dry days becoming even hotter. It is now harder to find respite from the heat as there are fewer cool and dry days during the summer and nighttime temperatures have increased. Steve Frenkel, director of UCS's Midwest office, highlighted that high nighttime temperatures pose a greater 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 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.