Drought to affect food prices next year - FOX 25/48 - WLAX/WEUX La Crosse & Eau Claire News

Drought to affect food prices next year

You can expect the drought to have an impact on your pocketbook in the near future.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the record drought will push food prices up by 3% to 4% in the next year. Ag experts say the drought first kills off crops, then it takes a toll on livestock. While the cattle don't have much to eat because of the crop-loss, the animals become too hot to eat, making for unhealthy animals that can't be used for food.

The USDA says this translates to big price spikes for milk, eggs, beef, poultry and pork.

Experts say a rebound depends on if we get more rain. Randy Knapp, Agricultural Agent with the UW Extension in Chippewa County, says "As you look across our nation, some of the crops are already gone. Even if they got rain they're not going to salvage the crop. Some of the other crops, if they get enough rain might be able to plant a second crop."

Knapp says meat prices should go down a bit before they go up again in 2013.