WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Despite springtime rains and floods, U.S. farmers will reap their second-largest corn crop ever, the government said on Tuesday, potentially relieving pressure on food prices now headed for the third year in a row of sharp increases.

Food prices are forecast to rise by 5 percent this year, the largest annual increase since 1990, and by 4.5 percent in 2009, led by higher red meat and poultry prices.

"I don't think we're going to see a lessening here over the last six months of the year," Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer told Reuters. He said "we're seeing a leveling off" of price increases.

"I think it helps ... It takes some of the pressure off food prices," said private consultant Keith Collins. Collins said a decline in oil prices, which started in mid-July, "helps as well" to temper food price increases.