ST. LOUIS — The widest drought to grip the United States in decades is getting worse, with no signs of abating, a new report warned Thursday, as state officials urged conservation.
The drought covering two-thirds of the continental U.S. had been considered relatively shallow, the product of months without rain, rather than years. But Thursday’s report showed its intensity is increasing, with 20 percent of the nation in the two worst stages — up 7 percentage points from last week.
Five states — Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska — are blanketed by a drought that is severe or worse.
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., said Thursday that the House might take up legislation next week to help farmers and ranchers hit by the drought.
The legislation is expected to focus on the livestock industry. Many corn and soybean farmers are partially shielded from drought damage by crop insurance, but fewer livestock producers have insurance, and the main federal disaster program for them expired last year.
