ROELAND PARK, KS (KCTV) -
The Midwest is so dry, local officials are calling it a disaster.
Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback declared 82 counties out of 105 as disaster areas Wednesday. This affects Miami, Linn and Anderson counties.
In Missouri, Gov. Jay Nixon requested all 114 counties get that same declaration.
If approved, farmers would be eligible for special emergency loans from the federal government.
While the heat is uncomfortable for people, it is affecting the livelihood of local farmers, and that could eventually affect what ends up on the dinner table.
It was another busy night Wednesday at the weekly farmer's market in Westport.
Vendors like Alice Huenefeld rely heavily on venues like farmer's markets to sell their produce. And while business has been good on Wednesday, she is worried about the future.
"[It's been] terrible, specially with the extreme heat last week," said Huenefeld.
Huenefeld runs a farm in Wellington, MO, and hasn't seen any substantial rain in more than a month. She says even her well is running low.
"Our blackberries dried on the vines and our water bill is horrible," said Marie Kamphefner, a Trenton, MO, farmer.
Conditions are just as challenging for Kamphefner. Her water bills are through the roof as she tries to offset the lack of rain. But already her income is down 50 percent from this time last year.
Tough times for local farmers mean higher prices for consumers. Food giant General Mills is forecasting a spike in prices of two to three percent across the board.
In addition, with no substantial rain in the forecast for the next week, it looks like things will get worse before they get better.
Also Wednesday, the USDA dropped its projections for this year's crop, by 12 percent. That will also likely boost food prices, particularly meat, since corn is used in cattle feed.
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