Drought and the Nation's Food Supply HOW many counties in the United States have been designated disaster areas because of drought this summer? WHAT crops have been affected, possibly raising food prices into 2013? WHY may the cost of beef, poultry and pork go down in the short term? WHO is the agriculture secretary? WHO has lowered the interest rate for emergency loans and worked to streamline aid programs in response to the drought? WHO, according to the agriculture secretary, could help by restoring disaster programs that expired last year or by providing other assistance through the Food, Farm and Jobs Act? WHEN was the last drought in the United States that was this serious? WHERE in your area has there been extreme weather of some kind this summer? Related: Our collection, Teaching "The Grapes of Wrath" With The New York Times, has both lesson plans and articles on drought.