CROPS

The drought and crop losses occurring in the Midwestern United States have reached the mainstream headlines.

There are feature stories running in national publications and on prime-time television with photos of devastated corn crops in Il- linois and Indiana. The dry heat of the last few weeks has cut potential corn pro- duction by at least a third overall, but radically more in some states.

As a result of this harsh weather pattern, prices for all grains have risen. Corn is up $2.12 per bushel (+41 percent), Soybeans jumped $1.60 (+11.6 percent ) and Chicago wheat has gained $2.35 per bushel...