This will be the third year in a row that some US states have been hit by serious drought. The coming wheat harvest is set to be around 8% smaller than last year's, the yields forcast is also set to be at its lowest level since 2007-08.
US Department of Agriculture's drought monitoring service shows that at least 54% of the national wheat crop, 30% of the national corn area, 22% of soya beans, 32%of hays crops and 48% of cattle in drought,
The 2014 Farm Bill provides compensation to eligible livestock producers who have suffered grazing losses due to drought or fire, which is often a consequence of drought. These payments offer 60% of monthly feed costs for up to five months.
The programme received more than10, 000applications for help either in a week, opening the service on the 14 April, 95% of this was farmers costs for the previous 12 months.