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【US Faces Worst Drought in 56 Years】
This is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.
這里是美國之音慢速英語農業報道。
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.
美國正經受近60年來最嚴重旱災，六月份，全國中度到極端干旱的情況遍及55%的地區，是1956年12月以來最嚴重的一次。
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.
美國國家氣候數據中心稱，六月的高溫還列于有記錄以來最高溫的12個月之列，這個記錄是從1895年開始的。
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.
干旱地圖顯示，與五月份相比，東南地區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區的旱情都有所加劇，截止10月底的預測顯示，西南和東南地區的旱情可能會改善，但美國大部分地區還會加劇旱情。
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，農業部長湯姆?維爾薩克與奧巴馬總統會面，維爾薩克說，干旱已嚴重影響了玉米和大豆。美國全世界最大的玉米和大豆產地。
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."
湯姆?維爾薩克：“現在有38%的玉米從差降低到非常差，30%的大豆從差降低到非常差。”
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.
受影響的州多在美國南部，但官員說，北部的農田現在也很干旱。
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價格上漲，這兩種農產品都用在食品生產和飼養動物上。上周，美國食品和農業組織報道說，過去三周內，玉米和小麥價格上漲20%。
Wheat prices are up as hot, dry weather affects production in the Black Sea region.
黑海地區炎熱和干燥天氣影響產量，小麥價格也在上漲。
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.
美國牧民可能很快縮減牲畜規模，而不是高價錢購買食物來飼養它們。這樣增加的肉類供應會短期內使肉價下跌，但幾個月后會上漲。
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.
維爾薩克說，干旱的整體影響難以預測，有的地區下雨了，在一些地區，抗旱的種子使得作物生長良好。
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.
奧巴馬總統削減了農民抗災貸款的利率，這樣受災地區可更容易接受政府的財政援助。同時，農場主在等待，看國會如何處理農業法案，這是一項重大法律，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.
國會通過一個版本的法案，將結束對農場主的直接補償，但會幫助支付作物保險。這個方案可以省錢，但眾議院通過了其他的法案，國會需要達成妥協。現存農業法案將于12月底失效。
