Most States Suffering From Worst Drought in Half a Century

The U.S. Drought Monitor reported Tuesday that drought conditions are now afflicting almost two thirds of the contiguous United States. The report said that drought conditions have spread for the 10th week in a row, and that the drought now covers the widest area of any since 1956.

In the last six weeks, the drought has driven the price of corn at the Chicago Board of Trade up nearly 50 percent. As of Thursday, corn is at an all-time high of $8.085 per bushel. Soybean prices also set a record high on Thursday, peaking at $17.23 per bushel.

On Thursday, analysts were slashing corn yield estimates by the hour, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture said only 31 percent of the corn crop was in good to excellent shape. That is down from 40 percent a week ago, and many farmers are now cutting down withered crops to feed to cattle.

Officials are expecting total losses in some regions.

Farms Secretary Michael Scuse said, “It’s bad, it’s as bad as what the reports have been indicating. There are areas out here where there will be near 100 percent loss.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has declared disasters in 26 drought-stricken states, marking the largest national disaster area ever declared in America’s history.

One reporter asked Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack about the role of prayer in addressing the drought. Vilsack replied saying, “I get on my knees every day, and I’m saying an extra prayer now. If I had a rain prayer or a rain dance I could do, I would do it.”

Secretary Vilsack is probably like most Americans. They believe in the idea of a god and will even mention Him when they are suffering, but they do not believe that He actually controls the weather. But nothing could be more biblical—or more increasingly evident—than the fact that God controls the weather.

God promises blessings in weather and agriculture for obedience, and He promises curses for disobedience. The Bible says that God causes it “to rain upon one city” and “not to rain upon another city. … [A]nd the piece whereupon it rain[s] not wither[s].”

Our problematic weather and our suffering agriculture is no coincidence. And we are about to experience even worse conditions. Relief from adverse weather will come only when we acknowledge that God has power over it—and when we repent toward Him.

For more information about why we experience weather problems, read “Why Natural Disasters.”