US: Rain, Cooler Weather Helping Crops; Drought Not Over

 U.S. officials say cooler weather and recent rain showers in the drought-stricken Midwest have largely stabilized¹ crop conditions, but add that the drought is not over.

The U.S. Agriculture Department said in a statement Tuesday that rainfall has been heaviest in the eastern Corn Belt, including Michigan and Ohio, and that nearly all of the Midwest has received some precipitation.  The USDA's weekly crop progress report, released Monday, showed crop conditions improved slightly, but that crop ratings remain at their lowest levels since the last serious drought in 1988.

Officials say complete recovery from a drought not only requires the change of seasons, but significant rainfall.  The USDA says 59 percent of U.S. rangeland and pastures are rated in very poor to poor condition.

Authorities say two cold fronts combined are expected to bring 5 centimeters of rain across sections of the South, East, and lower Midwest this week.  Lighter amounts of rainfall are forecast for the northern and central Plains and the Upper Midwest.  Cooler temperatures are also forecast for east of the Rockies in the coming days.

On Monday, U.S. President Barack Obama toured an Iowa family farm which has been affected² by the drought. 

The Obama administration announced that the federal government will purchase up to $170 million worth of meat and fish, the second initiative this month aimed at helping³ farmers and ranchers affected by the drought in the Midwest. The food purchases will go toward food banks and other nutrition assistance programs.

Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it will provide millions of dollars in assistance to restore livestock⁴ lands affected by the drought.  Obama has urged Congress to pass a bill to help the farmers and ranchers respond to natural disasters.

1 stabilized   

v.（使）稳定， （使）稳固( stabilize的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The patient's condition stabilized. 患者的病情稳定下来。
• His blood pressure has stabilized. 他的血压已经稳定下来了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

2 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

3 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

4 livestock   

n.家畜，牲畜

参考例句：

• Both men and livestock are flourishing.人畜两旺。
• The heavy rains and flooding killed scores of livestock.暴雨和大水淹死了许多牲口。