Farmers in the Southeast celebrated rain and high prices because of the Midwest’s problems, a new heat wave spread water restrictions and brushfires into the Northeast.

A dispute over diversion of Lake Michigan water continues to cause friction between Great Lakes and Mississippi Valley states as one of th Mississippi River’s shipping channels shrank to a depth of only seven feet.

Iowa Gov. Terry Brandstad said he may issue an emergency declaration unless rainfall is widespread this week, even though federal officials say it’s too early to assess drought damage.

“It’s early enough to know it’s a real disaster,” said Branstad, who is carrying his case for emergency aid to Washington this week. “We don’t want to see a lot of farm families forced back into bankruptcy.”