Historic Drought Cripples Ranches And Farms In American West

EADS, CO - AUGUST 23: Rancher Gary Wollert feeds hay to his cattle on August 23, 2012 near Eads, on the plains of eastern Colorado. Like many ranchers, who's grasslands have dried up due to the drought, he has to suppliment his cattle's diet with hay, now at record prices, to keep them alive. The nation's severe drought has been especially hard on cattlemen, made worse when Congress recessed for 5 weeks withought passing disaster relief legislation. Most of the high plains areas of eastern Colorado and virtually all of Nebraska and Kansas are still in extreme or exceptional drought, despite recent lower temperatures, according to the University of Nebraska's Drought Monitor. The record-breaking drought, which has affected more than half of the continental United States, is expected to drive up food prices by 2013 due to lower crop harvests and the adverse effect on the nation's cattle industry. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)