Drought Puts Food at Risk, U.S. Warns

Image: Rodney Byars, center, walked ahead of his brother, Rich, through a field of dead and stalled corn this week in Geff, Ill.

nytimes.com - Peter Baker - July 18th, 2012

The Obama administration warned Wednesday that food supplies were at risk from the worsening drought afflicting more than half of the country and called on Congress to revive lapsed disaster aid programs.

President Obama reviewed the situation with Tom Vilsack, the agriculture secretary, who called it “the most serious situation” in about 25 years and added that he was praying for rain.

“I get on my knees every day, and I’m saying an extra prayer now,” Mr. Vilsack told reporters at the White House after his discussions with Mr. Obama.

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