WORLD> America
Mississippi overflows levees, crops threatened
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-06-19 14:42
A flooded street is seen in Hannibal, Missouri June 18, 2008. There are hints that the wet weather pattern that has plagued the U.S. Midwest this season, resulting in the worst floods in 15 years and ruined crops, will be moving north, a forecaster on Wednesday. [Agencies]

"Some of the richest farmland is to be found between the river and the bluff and we aim to protect it," said Lippert.

Estimates are that 5 million acres across the Midwest have been ruined and will not produce a crop this year.

Iowa and Illinois usually produce one-third of all U.S. corn and soybeans. Expectations of reduced crops from the main sources of livestock feed, renewable fuels like ethanol, starch and edible oils has sent commodity prices to record highs.

"We continue to get news of more acreage losses because of the flooding and that continues to support the market," said Mario Balletto, Chicago-based grains analyst for Citigroup.

The worst flooding has struck Iowa but evacuations have also affected flooded sections of Indiana, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota. More than 2,000 National Guard troops and hundreds of prisoners from state facilities have been activated in Illinois, Iowa and Missouri for flood-fighting efforts.