drought

Farmer Albert Walsh walks through a drought damaged corn field in Carmi, Illinois, U.S., on Wednesday, July 11, 2012. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg *** Local Caption *** Albert Walsh

Stunted soybean plants stand in a field in Idaville, Indiana, U.S., on Friday, July 6, 2012. Wheat, corn and soybeans headed for the first losses in a week. Grains had surged as a heat wave in the U.S. Midwest eroded prospects for crops. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg

Farmer Albert Walsh walks through a drought damaged corn field in Carmi, Illinois, U.S., on Wednesday, July 11, 2012. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg *** Local Caption *** Albert Walsh

Stunted soybean plants stand in a field in Idaville, Indiana, U.S., on Friday, July 6, 2012. Wheat, corn and soybeans headed for the first losses in a week. Grains had surged as a heat wave in the U.S. Midwest eroded prospects for crops. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg

Farmer Albert Walsh holds an underdeveloped ear of field corn as he walks through a drought damaged field in Carmi, Illinois, U.S., on Wednesday, July 11, 2012. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg *** Local Caption *** Albert Walsh

Stunted soybean plants stand in a field in Idaville, Indiana, U.S., on Friday, July 6, 2012. Wheat, corn and soybeans headed for the first losses in a week. Grains had surged as a heat wave in the U.S. Midwest eroded prospects for crops. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg

Farmer Albert Walsh walks through a drought damaged corn field in Carmi, Illinois, U.S., on Wednesday, July 11, 2012. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg *** Local Caption *** Albert Walsh

Farmer Brian Pilotte holds an ear of immature corn as he looks over a drought stricken field in Idaville, Indiana, U.S., on Friday, July 6, 2012. The ear, one of the best he could find in the field, is representative of an approximately 80-90 bussel per acre yield, about half of what he would expect under normal conditions, Pilotte said. Wheat, corn and soybeans headed for the first losses in a week. Grains had surged as a heat wave in the U.S. Midwest eroded prospects for crops. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg *** Local Caption *** Brian Pilotte

Farmer Albert Walsh walks through a drought damaged corn field in Carmi, Illinois, U.S., on Wednesday, July 11, 2012. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg *** Local Caption *** Albert Walsh

The sun shines on the a field corn plant with curled leaves due to a lack of moisture in Idaville, Indiana, U.S., on Friday, July 6, 2012. Corn prices jumped to a nine-month high of $7.13 a bushel on the Chicago Board of Trade yesterday and have surged more than 37 percent since June 15 as a crop-damaging drought in the U.S. Midwest shows no signs of abating. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg

Farmer Albert Walsh walks through a drought damaged corn field in Carmi, Illinois, U.S., on Wednesday, July 11, 2012. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg *** Local Caption *** Albert Walsh

The sun shines on the a field corn plant with curled leaves due to a lack of moisture in Idaville, Indiana, U.S., on Friday, July 6, 2012. Corn prices jumped to a nine-month high of $7.13 a bushel on the Chicago Board of Trade yesterday and have surged more than 37 percent since June 15 as a crop-damaging drought in the U.S. Midwest shows no signs of abating. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg

Farmer Albert Walsh holds an underdeveloped ear of field corn as he walks through a drought damaged field in Carmi, Illinois, U.S., on Wednesday, July 11, 2012. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg *** Local Caption *** Albert Walsh

The sun shines on the dried leaves of a corn plant suffering from a lack of moisture in Idaville, Indiana, U.S., on Friday, July 6, 2012. Corn prices jumped to a nine-month high of $7.13 a bushel on the Chicago Board of Trade yesterday and have surged more than 37 percent since June 15 as a crop-damaging drought in the U.S. Midwest shows no signs of abating. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg

Farmer Albert Walsh pulls an ear from a corn plant as he inspects one of his unirrigated fields in Carmi, Illinois, U.S., on Wednesday, July 11, 2012. This was one of the few fields he planted which appeared to be doing ok despite the drought conditions in the area. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg *** Local Caption *** Albert Walsh

The sun shines on the dried leaves of corn plants suffering from a lack of moisture in Idaville, Indiana, U.S., on Friday, July 6, 2012. Corn prices jumped to a nine-month high of $7.13 a bushel on the Chicago Board of Trade yesterday and have surged more than 37 percent since June 15 as a crop-damaging drought in the U.S. Midwest shows no signs of abating. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg

Farmer Albert Walsh walks over corn plants which were blown over, weakened due to a lack of moisture, as he inspects one of his fields in Carmi, Illinois, U.S., on Wednesday, July 11, 2012. He anticipated the yields from this particular field would be lower than normal, but not as significantly as others suffering in the regions drought conditions. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg *** Local Caption *** Albert Walsh

The sun shines on the dried leaves of corn plants suffering from a lack of moisture in Idaville, Indiana, U.S., on Friday, July 6, 2012. Corn prices jumped to a nine-month high of $7.13 a bushel on the Chicago Board of Trade yesterday and have surged more than 37 percent since June 15 as a crop-damaging drought in the U.S. Midwest shows no signs of abating. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg

Farmer Albert Walsh pulls an ear from a corn plant as he inspects one of his unirrigated fields in Carmi, Illinois, U.S., on Wednesday, July 11, 2012. This was one of the few fields he planted which appeared to be doing ok despite the drought conditions in the area. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg *** Local Caption *** Albert Walsh

A corn plant with wilted and tangled leaves which would normally stand over 6-feet tall at this point in the growing season, stands in a dry field in Idaville, Indiana, U.S., on Friday, July 6, 2012. Corn prices jumped to a nine-month high of $7.13 a bushel on the Chicago Board of Trade yesterday and have surged more than 37 percent since June 15 as a crop-damaging drought in the U.S. Midwest shows no signs of abating. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg

Farmer Albert Walsh holds an ear of corn as he inspects a field in Carmi, Illinois, U.S., on Wednesday, July 11, 2012. This was one of the few fields he planted which appeared to be doing ok despite the drought conditions in the area. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg *** Local Caption *** Albert Walsh

Field corn plants with wilted and dying leaves, plants which would normally stand over 6-feet tall at this point in the growing season, stand in a dry field in Idaville, Indiana, U.S., on Friday, July 6, 2012. Corn prices jumped to a nine-month high of $7.13 a bushel on the Chicago Board of Trade yesterday and have surged more than 37 percent since June 15 as a crop-damaging drought in the U.S. Midwest shows no signs of abating. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg

Two corn plants stand in an otherwise empty field, cleared after drought conditions and extreme heat during pollination irreversibly damaged the crop, in Clay City, Illinois, U.S., on Wednesday, July 11, 2012. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg

Field corn plants with wilted and dying leaves, plants which would normally stand over 6-feet tall at this point in the growing season, stand in a dry field in Idaville, Indiana, U.S., on Friday, July 6, 2012. Corn prices jumped to a nine-month high of $7.13 a bushel on the Chicago Board of Trade yesterday and have surged more than 37 percent since June 15 as a crop-damaging drought in the U.S. Midwest shows no signs of abating. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg

Test rows stand in an otherwise empty field which cleared after drought conditions and extreme heat during pollination irreversibly damaged the crop in Clay City, Illinois, U.S., on Wednesday, July 11, 2012. The rows were left in the field so insurance adjusters can determine the extent of the crop loss at the plant's maturity. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg

Field corn plants with wilted and dying leaves, plants which would normally stand over 6-feet tall at this point in the growing season, stand in a dry field in Idaville, Indiana, U.S., on Friday, July 6, 2012. Corn prices jumped to a nine-month high of $7.13 a bushel on the Chicago Board of Trade yesterday and have surged more than 37 percent since June 15 as a crop-damaging drought in the U.S. Midwest shows no signs of abating. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg

Test rows stand in an otherwise empty field which cleared after drought conditions and extreme heat during pollination irreversibly damaged the crop in Carmi, Illinois, U.S., on Wednesday, July 11, 2012. The rows were left in the field so insurance adjusters can determine the extent of the crop loss at the plant's maturity. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg

Field corn plants with wilted and dying leaves, plants which would normally stand over 6-feet tall at this point in the growing season, stand in a dry field in Idaville, Indiana, U.S., on Friday, July 6, 2012. Corn prices jumped to a nine-month high of $7.13 a bushel on the Chicago Board of Trade yesterday and have surged more than 37 percent since June 15 as a crop-damaging drought in the U.S. Midwest shows no signs of abating. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg

Test rows stand in an otherwise empty field which cleared after drought conditions and extreme heat during pollination irreversibly damaged the crop in Carmi, Illinois, U.S., on Wednesday, July 11, 2012. The rows were left in the field so insurance adjusters can determine the extent of the crop loss at the plant's maturity. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg

Field corn plants with wilted and dying leaves, plants which would normally stand over 6-feet tall at this point in the growing season, stand in a dry field in Idaville, Indiana, U.S., on Friday, July 6, 2012. Corn prices jumped to a nine-month high of $7.13 a bushel on the Chicago Board of Trade yesterday and have surged more than 37 percent since June 15 as a crop-damaging drought in the U.S. Midwest shows no signs of abating. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg

The cut off stalks of corn plants in a field cleared after drought conditions and extreme heat during pollination irreversibly damaged the crop in Carmi, Illinois, U.S., on Wednesday, July 11, 2012. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg

Field corn plants with wilted and dying leaves, plants which would normally stand over 6-feet tall at this point in the growing season, stand in a dry field in Idaville, Indiana, U.S., on Friday, July 6, 2012. Corn prices jumped to a nine-month high of $7.13 a bushel on the Chicago Board of Trade yesterday and have surged more than 37 percent since June 15 as a crop-damaging drought in the U.S. Midwest shows no signs of abating. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg

A tire track is seen in the dirt of a corn field cleared after drought conditions and extreme heat during pollination irreversibly damaged the crop in Carmi, Illinois, U.S., on Wednesday, July 11, 2012. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg

Jon Tebo, crop insurance manager for Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, surveys a drought damaged corn field in Idaville, Indiana, U.S., on Friday, July 6, 2012. Corn prices jumped to a nine-month high of $7.13 a bushel on the Chicago Board of Trade yesterday and have surged more than 37 percent since June 15 as a crop-damaging drought in the U.S. Midwest shows no signs of abating. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg *** Local Caption *** Jon Tebo

The cut off stalks of corn plants stand in a field cleared after drought conditions and extreme heat during pollination irreversibly damaged the crop in Carmi, Illinois, U.S., on Wednesday, July 11, 2012. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg

Farmer Andy Stoll walks near one of his drought damaged fields of corn in Idaville, Indiana, U.S., on Friday, July 6, 2012. Corn prices jumped to a nine-month high of $7.13 a bushel on the Chicago Board of Trade yesterday and have surged more than 37 percent since June 15 as a crop-damaging drought in the U.S. Midwest shows no signs of abating. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg *** Local Caption *** Andy Stoll

Corn plants damaged by extreme heat and drought conditions stand in a field in Carmi, Illinois, U.S., on Wednesday, July 11, 2012. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg

Farmer Andy Stoll looks over drought damaged field corn near his home in Idaville, Indiana, U.S., on Friday, July 6, 2012. Corn prices jumped to a nine-month high of $7.13 a bushel on the Chicago Board of Trade yesterday and have surged more than 37 percent since June 15 as a crop-damaging drought in the U.S. Midwest shows no signs of abating. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg *** Local Caption *** Andy Stoll

Corn plants damaged by extreme heat and drought conditions stand in a field in Carmi, Illinois, U.S., on Wednesday, July 11, 2012. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg

Farmer Andy Stoll looks over drought damaged field corn near his home in Idaville, Indiana, U.S., on Friday, July 6, 2012. Corn prices jumped to a nine-month high of $7.13 a bushel on the Chicago Board of Trade yesterday and have surged more than 37 percent since June 15 as a crop-damaging drought in the U.S. Midwest shows no signs of abating. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg *** Local Caption *** Andy Stoll

Corn plants damaged by extreme heat and drought conditions stand in a field in Carmi, Illinois, U.S., on Wednesday, July 11, 2012. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg

Farmer Andy Stoll looks over drought damaged field corn near his home in Idaville, Indiana, U.S., on Friday, July 6, 2012. Corn prices jumped to a nine-month high of $7.13 a bushel on the Chicago Board of Trade yesterday and have surged more than 37 percent since June 15 as a crop-damaging drought in the U.S. Midwest shows no signs of abating. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg *** Local Caption *** Andy Stoll

Corn plants stand in dry, cracked earth in a field damaged by extreme heat and drought conditions in Carmi, Illinois, U.S., on Wednesday, July 11, 2012. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg

Farmer Andy Stoll looks over drought damaged field corn near his home in Idaville, Indiana, U.S., on Friday, July 6, 2012. Corn prices jumped to a nine-month high of $7.13 a bushel on the Chicago Board of Trade yesterday and have surged more than 37 percent since June 15 as a crop-damaging drought in the U.S. Midwest shows no signs of abating. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg *** Local Caption *** Andy Stoll

The withered leaves of corn plants lay in the dirt in a field damaged by extreme heat and drought conditions in Carmi, Illinois, U.S., on Wednesday, July 11, 2012. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg

Farmer Brian Pilotte looks over drought damaged field corn as he drives near his home in Monticello, Indiana, U.S., on Friday, July 6, 2012. Corn prices jumped to a nine-month high of $7.13 a bushel on the Chicago Board of Trade yesterday and have surged more than 37 percent since June 15 as a crop-damaging drought in the U.S. Midwest shows no signs of abating. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg *** Local Caption *** Brian Pilotte