The end of the Big Dry

For Australian farmers who have struggled to make a living in southern Queensland as their crops died and their dams ran empty during years of drought, recent floods have helped ease the "Big Dry".But while the deluge has brought hope to some farmers, giving them guaranteed water and quality pasture for the next 12 to 18 months, the water is unlikely to make it down to southern areas still in the grip of drought."We've had the worst drought in a generation and now we're back to some of the best conditions in a generation," said cattleman John Cotter.

By James Roemer: (click to enlarge) Source: MRRCC Midwest Drought Information Center

Farmers are bringing in the last of the corn harvest after the hot summer. Yields from new drought-resistant corn hybrids may give them insight about what to plant in the future. This summer's dry weather gave a great real-world test for drought-resistant corn, which seed companies are eager to promote. But even with harvest numbers showing the seeds do out-perform other corn varieties, some Iowa farmers say they're not rushing to place orders for next year. Amy Mayer of Harvest Public Media reports.