Companies report that many employees are reluctant to relocate because of the depressed housing market. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption

Kristin Kimball leads her team of horses at Essex Farm. Deborah Feingold hide caption

Larry Jacobson sold most of his corn and soybean crop before he harvested it to take advantage of higher prices. Kathleen Masterson/Harvest Public Media hide caption

This photo, provided by a resident of Ciudad Mier who did not want to be identified, shows a burned-out police station in the town. A brutal turf war between the Gulf Cartel and the Zetas drug gang has led to an evacuation of the Mexican border town. hide caption