Rainfall provided some relief to a few areas in the hot US Midwest on Wednesday, however, the majority of the region is still suffering from the worst drought in fifty years. This is having a negative impact on world food supplies and prices, as stated by the US Agriculture Department. Food prices are expected to rise faster than other consumer costs through 2013 due to the drought destroying crops and reducing supplies. USDA economist Richard Volpe warned that the drought will significantly impact food prices in the coming year, as it is already affecting corn and soybean prices. The USDA predicts food prices will increase by 2.5-3.5 percent in 2012 and a further 3-4 percent in 2013. According to the USDA, food prices are expected to increase at a faster rate than overall U.S. inflation, marking a change from the usual trend. Inflation in the U.S. is projected to be 2 percent this year and 1.9 percent in 2013. While food inflation was 3.7 percent last year, it was 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 predict that the northern Corn Belt, stretching from eastern Nebraska to northern Illinois, may experience a second day of scattered rain after a period of hot, dry weather. However, the southern Midwest, including Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, is expected to continue facing hot, dry conditions. According to National Weather Service meteorologist Jim Keeney, areas from Kansas to Ohio are in need of at least 10 inches of rain to alleviate the drought, but the upcoming front is not likely to bring more than 1/2 to 1 inch of precipitation. Keeney emphasized that this rain will not be enough to significantly impact the drought conditions in these regions. The Midwest experienced high temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit on Wednesday, particularly in the central and southern regions, with St. Louis reaching 101 F. Meteorologist Andy Karst from World Weather Inc. noted that the drought pattern remains unchanged, with thunderstorms moving around but no significant rainfall expected until August 8. Following a decrease from last week's record highs, grain markets at the Chicago Board of Trade saw an increase in prices. As of Wednesday, September delivery corn closed at $7.94-1/2 a bushel, up 4-1/2 cents from the previous week's high of $8.28-3/4. Meanwhile, August soybeans closed at $16.94-1/4, up 45 cents from the record high of $17.77-3/4, and September wheat closed at $9.03-1/4, up 24-1/2 cents from last week's 4-year high of $9.47-1/4. Markets worldwide are worried about the impact of high prices on local food costs, potential scarcity 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 due to the drought. Soybeans, which were planted later, are also at risk but may be saved by forecasted rain. A recent Reuters poll suggests that US corn yields could hit a 10-year low, leading to the lowest harvest in six years. Extensive damage in Corn Belt states has been evident in the declining weekly crop reports. Senior editor Bryce Knorr from Farm Futures Magazine noted that if current conditions persist, the losses seen in Monday's crop ratings could rival those of the 1988 drought. Weather has already reduced the corn crop by nearly 4 billion bushels, necessitating further demand rationing. In Putnam County, Indiana, crop scouts didn't bother inspecting corn fields this week as it was apparent that farmers would opt to plow their crops under rather than attempt to harvest anything. Meanwhile, scouts in central Illinois reported on Wednesday that some corn fields were actually better than expected due to early planting and pollination following a warm winter and spring. Tom Womack from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture mentioned that recent rains had improved soybean prospects, but he emphasized that the damage to the corn crop was irreversible. Ohio Governor John Kasich issued an order permitting farmers to harvest hay for their livestock from grass along highways near their land. Fire risks were increasing in some parts 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 over the past week. Helicopters dropped water on wildfires caused by lightning in the Niobrara River Valley on Wednesday. Governor Dave Heineman of Nebraska stated that progress is being made but continued support is necessary. In Missouri, one of the driest states in the nation, smoke from fires was creating hazardous driving conditions. Discarded cigarettes were blamed for some of the fires. Throughout the Midwest, water use for gardens and lawns was restricted, and efforts were made to save 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 attributed to the El Nino phenomenon in the western Pacific Ocean, which warms sea temperatures and disrupts global atmosphere, preventing moisture from reaching the U.S. Midwest breadbasket. Some scientists are warning that this year's drought, considered the worst since 1956, is linked to climate factors that could have 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 can expect more extreme weather as the climate continues to warm, according to a report from the Union of Concerned Scientists (USC). The report examined weather patterns in several cities including Chicago, Cincinnati, Detroit, Minneapolis, and St. Louis, as well as smaller cities like Peoria, Illinois, and Toledo, Ohio. It discovered that the frequency of hot, humid days has risen on average in the Midwest since the 1940s and 1950s, with hot, dry days becoming even hotter. Cooling off 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 risks of heat-related illnesses and deaths, especially for those without air conditioning who rely on cooler nights for relief. The report stated that in July 1995, over 700 deaths in Chicago were linked to a heat wave. It also projected that with increasingly severe summer heat, the number of annual deaths in Chicago is expected to increase from 143 between 2020-2029 to 300 between 2090-2099.