Drought withered corn stalks are seen at sunset on a farm near Oakland City, Indiana, August 15, 2012. Record heat throughout the US farm belt states have curtailed crop production and likely will send corn and soybean prices to record highs according to the US Department of Agriculture.
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Potential buyers view cattle corraled into a holding pen from above at the United Producers Inc. livestock auction in Little York, Indiana, U.S., on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2012. Feeder-cattle futures rose to a five-week high on signs of tightening supplies, after the worst U.S. drought since 1956 dried pastures and forced producers to sell animals earlier than normal.
A combine harvests corn in a field near Coy, Ark., Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012. Federal weather forecasters say drought conditions appear to be leveling off, although it is likely to continue at least through November.
Drought-damaged corn is seen in a field near Nickerson, Neb., Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012. Dry conditions have worsened in the key farming states of Kansas and Nebraska as the worst U.S. drought in decades continues, the latest national report said Thursday.
US President Barack Obama (R) inspects drought-stricken corn with farmer Roger McIntosh as he visits the McIntosh farm in Missouri Valley, Iowa, on August 13, 2012.
Water from an irrigation system sprays flowering cotton plants on the farm of Allen Entz in Hydro, Okla, Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012. Even with the irrigation system to help with the drought, the high temperatures in the area have affected the crop, as it can take 35-40 hours for the center pivot irrigation system to make it back to irrigate any particular plant. Drought conditions across Oklahoma have expanded and worsened despite recent rainfall in the state, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor report released Aug. 16, 2012.
Drought damaged corn is seen in a field on a farm near Georgetown, Indiana, August 15, 2012.