Seca nos EUA infla preços de alimentos

The US is bracing itself for higher food prices next year as a record drought continues to plague farmers in many parts of the country. The US Department of Agriculture says the cost of beef and dairy products are likely to rise 1% higher than the normal rate of inflation.

The drought affecting large parts of the Midwest haswithered corn and soybeans in the fields. Those are thestaple crops most commonly used to feed animals. As a result, beef, pork and dairy prices are expected to jump next year - but fruit and vegetables will not be affected because those crops are usually irrigated. The department of Agriculture had been predicting a bumper year for corn, but didn't realise how bad the drought would get when it made its food price projections last month. Other countries will also be affected, because US food exports have jumpeddramatically in the past few years.

The drought affecting large parts of the Midwest haswithered corn and soybeans in the fields. Those are thestaple crops most commonly used to feed animals. As a result, beef, pork and dairy prices are expected to jump next year - but fruit and vegetables will not be affected because those crops are usually irrigated. The department of Agriculture had been predicting a bumper year for corn, but didn't realise how bad the drought would get when it made its food price projections last month. Other countries will also be affected, because US food exports have jumpeddramatically in the past few years.

drought (seca) long period of dry weather leading to water shortages

withered (secou) dried out and shrivelled

staple crops (cultivos principais) most important foods

irrigated (irrigado) watered by using pipes, ditches and streams

a bumper year (ano de abundância) a larger than usual period of growing

projections (projeções) estimates or forecasts

exports (exportações) sent to other countries

dramatically (dramaticamente) in a big way

Fonte: BBC