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【US Faces Worst Drought in 56 Years】
This is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.
这里是美国之音慢速英语农业报道。
The United States is suffering its worst drought in almost sixty years. Moderate to extreme dry conditions spread to fifty-five percent of the country in June. That was the most since December of nineteen fifty-six.
美国正经受近60年来最严重旱灾，六月份，全国中度到极端干旱的情况遍及55%的地区，是1956年12月以来最严重的一次。
The National Climatic Data Center also says high temperatures in June added to the warmest twelve-month period on record. Recordkeeping began in eighteen ninety-five.
美国国家气候数据中心称，六月的高温还列于有记录以来最高温的12个月之列，这个记录是从1895年开始的。
The drought map showed that conditions improved in the Southeast in June compared to May. But they intensified from the Midwest to the Great Plains and much of the West. Predictions through the end of October suggest that the drought is likely to improve in areas of the Southwest and Southeast. But the drought is expected to continue or intensify in large parts of the country.
干旱地图显示，与五月份相比，东南地区的旱情在六月份有所改善。但中西部到大平原和西部大部分地区的旱情都有所加剧，截止10月底的预测显示，西南和东南地区的旱情可能会改善，但美国大部分地区还会加剧旱情。
Last week, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack met with President Obama. Mr. Vilsack says the drought has severely affected corn and soybean crops. The United States is the world's leading producer of maze and soybeans.
上周，农业部长汤姆?维尔萨克与奥巴马总统会面，维尔萨克说，干旱已严重影响了玉米和大豆。美国全世界最大的玉米和大豆产地。
TOM VILASK: " Thirty-eight percent of our corn crop as of today is rated as poor to very poor, thirty percent of our soybeans, poor to very poor."
汤姆?维尔萨克：“现在有38%的玉米从差降低到非常差，30%的大豆从差降低到非常差。”
Most of the affected states are in the southern half of the country. But officials said farmlands in the north are now drying up as well.
受影响的州多在美国南部，但官员说，北部的农田现在也很干旱。
The drought has pushed up prices for corn and soybeans. Both are used in food production and for animal feed. Last week the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization reported a twenty percent jump in maize and wheat prices over the past three weeks.
干旱使得玉米和大豆价格上涨，这两种农产品都用在食品生产和饲养动物上。上周，美国食品和农业组织报道说，过去三周内，玉米和小麦价格上涨20%。
Wheat prices are up as hot, dry weather affects production in the Black Sea region.
黑海地区炎热和干燥天气影响产量，小麦价格也在上涨。
In the United States, ranchers may quickly reduce the size of their herds of animals rather than pay higher feed prices to keep raising them. That increased supply of meat would reduce meat prices in the short-term. But those prices could increase several months from now.
美国牧民可能很快缩减牲畜规模，而不是高价钱购买食物来饲养它们。这样增加的肉类供应会短期内使肉价下跌，但几个月后会上涨。
Mr. Vilsack said the overall effect of the drought is hard to predict. Some areas are getting rain, and drought-resistant seeds have helped crops grow well in some areas.
维尔萨克说，干旱的整体影响难以预测，有的地区下雨了，在一些地区，抗旱的种子使得作物生长良好。
President Obama has cut the interest rate on disaster loans for farmers and made it easier for affected areas to receive government financial assistance. At the same time, farmers are waiting to see what Congress does with the farm bill, a major piece of legislation renewed every five years.
奥巴马总统削减了农民抗灾贷款的利率，这样受灾地区可更容易接受政府的财政援助。同时，农场主在等待，看国会如何处理农业法案，这是一项重大法律，每五年更新一次。
The Senate has passed a version that would end direct payments to farmers but help pay for crop insurance. The plan would save money. But the House of Representative has passed different legislation, and Congress needs to reach a compromise. The current farm bill ends at the end of September.
国会通过一个版本的法案，将结束对农场主的直接补偿，但会帮助支付作物保险。这个方案可以省钱，但众议院通过了其他的法案，国会需要达成妥协。现存农业法案将于12月底失效。
