VOA慢速英語: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(yè)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.

美國正遭受近60年來最嚴重的干旱。六月份，中等到極度干旱蔓延到了美國境內55%的地區(qū)。這是自1956年12月以來最為嚴重的情況。

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還表示，六月的高溫名列有史以來最熱的12個月之列。記錄保存始于1895年。

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，與五月相比，東南部六月份的形勢已經有所改善。但從中西部到大平原和美國西部多數地區(qū)，形勢有所加劇。截至10月底的預測表明，西南和東南地區(qū)旱情可能會改善。但美國

大部分地區(qū)旱情預計會持續(xù)或加大。

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(yè)部長湯姆·維爾薩克(Tom Vilsack)與奧巴馬總統(tǒng)會晤。維爾薩克先生說，干旱已經嚴重影響到了玉米和大豆產量。美國是世界領先的玉米和大豆生產商。

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."

維爾薩克：“自今日起，我們38%的玉米產量被評級為差到極差，30%的大豆被評級為差到極差。”

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.

受影響的大多數州位于美國的南部。但有關官員表示，北部農田現在也日益干涸。

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.

干旱推高了玉米和大豆價格。這兩樣都用于糧食生產和動物飼料。上周聯合國糧農組織報告稱，過去3周，玉米和小麥價格漲了20%。

Wheat prices are up as hot, dry weather affects production in the Black Sea region.

由于黑海地區(qū)的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.

在美國，農場主可能迅速減少其牲畜群的規(guī)模，而不是支付更高的飼料價格繼續(xù)喂養(yǎng)它們。這些增加的肉類供應可能會短期降低肉類價格。但數月后這類價格可能會上漲。

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.

維爾薩克先生表示，旱災的總體影響難以預料。一些地區(qū)正在下雨，還有一些地區(qū)抗旱種子也有助于作物生長良好。

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(tǒng)已經降低了農民災害貸款的利率，并使得受影響地區(qū)獲得政府財政援助更為容易。與此同時，農民們正等著看國會如何處理每5年更新的農業(yè)法案。

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.

參議院已經通過了一個農業(yè)法案的版本，該版本會停止對農民的直接補償，但會幫助農民支付農作物保險。該計劃將可以省錢。但眾議院通過了不同的法案，國會必須達成妥協。當前的農業(yè)法案將于九月份終止。