Reuters: Russia's worst drought for decades is set to drag on for at least the next 7 days in some areas but further serious damage to grain crops is not expected, a senior government weather forecaster said on Thursday. Drought in some regions of Russia, one of the world's biggest wheat exporters, has sent global prices soaring to year highs in July, putting U.S. wheat futures on track for their biggest monthly gain since 1973. Grain traders say the rally shows signs of continuing, ...

National Public Radio: Federal officials say a pipeline that spewed up to 1 million gallons of crude oil into a river in southern Michigan earlier this week must remain closed, for now. Enbridge Energy Partners had hoped to fix the leak and restart the pipeline in a few days. But Transportation Department officials say that can't happen until it is thoroughly inspected and tested. That pleases Rep. Mark Schauer, a Democrat from Michigan whose district includes much of the affected area. "The company ...

Reuters: Three months into the worst oil spill in U.S. history, most Californians oppose offshore drilling, marking a strong shift in opinion on the issue, a poll has found. Some 59 percent of residents say they are against drilling for oil off the state's coastline while 36 percent are in favor, according to the Public Policy Institute of California survey released on Wednesday. Last year the same poll showed 43 percent were opposed to offshore drilling and 51 percent ...

The Government says it took about six months to do follow-up tests after a water contamination scare at Kogan on Qld's Darling Downs.

The New South Wales Nationals are supporting multi-million dollar plans to drought-proof the central west if they win the next state election.

There will be more tests on Qld's Darling Downs today where fresh claims have surfaced about water contamination.