More than half of the U.S. is suffering from drought n. long time with no rain. Experts say it is covering more land than it has in 55 years. The spread even equals some years during the Dust Bowl n. period of drought when dirt blew away in huge dust storms in the 1930s era of the 1930s.

The Agriculture Department says more than 1,000 counties in 26 states are disaster areas.

So far, there is little risk of another Dust Bowl. Farming methods have improved.