For cattle rancher Ken Lenox, the higher price of beef at the store isn't leading to bigger profits.

Rain in Missouri means grass is growing — and that's a good thing for cattle ranchers.

The Midwest drought has withered the nation's corn crop and pushed prices up. Now, the market for alternative feed for cattle is skyrocketing — sending farmers scrambling for cheaper alternatives, like gummy worms and ice cream sprinkles.

Missouri cattle rancher Ken Lenox is happy for several inches of rain from the remnants of Hurricane Isaac.

Cattle rancher Ken Lenox says farmers in Missouri are struggling with the Midwest drought. Some have resorted to tapping wells they haven't used in decades to provide water for their herds.

Out on the plains, drought is parching everything from corn to cattle. And when the prairie grass burns up, so does a business model that depends on it: ranching.

Cattle ranchers in the Midwest face some tough decisions as their pastures bake with little to no rain.

The case of Mad Cow in California put a few South Korean retailers off of buying U.S. beef temporarily. But Canadian and Japanese importers haven't flinched.

Americans soon could be crying 'Where's the beef?' — until the cows come home. Cattle herd may be the next casualty of the struggling U.S. econ…