Drought leads to fears over food prices

[one...two...tree 2,762]

(Reuters) - Broiling heat blanketed much of the Midwest on Tuesday, exacerbating the region's worst drought in more than 50 years and devastating corn, soy and other vital crops.

From Chicago to St. Louis to Omaha, Nebraska, temperatures eclipsed 100 degrees Fahrenheit and the National Weather Service (NWS) issued heat advisories across Midwest and mid-Atlantic states.

Many of the NWS heat advisories don't expire until next week. Temperatures in Kansas City, Kansas for instance, are expected to hit 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius) on Wednesday.

The current drought is the worst since 1956, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said in a report posted on its website.

In Iowa, Gov. Terry Branstad convened a hearing to discuss the drought and its effect on the state's pork industry, which relies heavily on corn feed.

"It's important that we do all we can to help people through this difficult time," Branstad told local radio station KILJ. "And obviously more rain would help."

About 55 percent of the contiguous United States is in a drought, just as corn plants should be pollinating, a period when adequate moisture is crucial. The United States ships more than half of all world exports of corn, which is made into dozens of products, from starch and ethanol to livestock feed.

"We're moving from a crisis to a horror story," said Purdue University agronomist Tony Vyn. "I see an increasing number of fields that will produce zero grain."

http://news.yahoo.co...-001346529.html

[X Factor 1,112]

Time to get more desalination plants going - and water won't be a problem.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Food prices have been going up even without a drought. Just what we need in this poor economy. Maybe we could cut back a bit on exports to help things out here at home?

[MyLittlePony 340]

I buy no extras except when they are on sale i still have a huge food bill.

[Ban Hammer 13,645]

drought = higher food prices = less fat food one can purchase = reduction in obesity.

it's a win win!

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Time to get more desalination plants going - and water won't be a problem.

Sounds great but it's not w/o challenges.

Desalination Creates More Problems than Solutions in Tampa

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Don't eat bread, so not worried.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

If corn and other grains didn't have their own little stock market that they were traded on.......

Either way though, while corn might be in the toilet (where it belongs really) - wheat and other grains are OK.

Actually if we'd ban HFCS, Ethanol, and other byproducts, corn would be OK too!

[kytwell 179]

http://news.yahoo.co...-001346529.html

Plant a garden, hunt, fish, join a co-op or CSA, have backyard chickens, have an herb garden in basement/root cellar, if space allows do some beekeeping, can and store surplus fruits and veggies, compost, rain collection barrels, buy milk from a local farmer, etc, etc. There's all kinds of ways to be more or less self sufficient and self sustainable that wouldn't allow the weather and market prices to have a huge impact on your wallet. With the exception of beekeeping and the additions on being in a partnership with some family members on a cow and a pig for additional meat, I do all of the above. It's easy, healthier(grass fed, free range) and in the end is actually cheaper overall than the supermarket.

Actually if we'd ban HFCS, corn would be OK too!

This!

[Captain Oates 911]

We in Milwaukee are known for our cannibalism - Jeffrey Dahmer is one of our own - and we have lake michigan to drink - so no problema

However we do need electricity to keep our deep freezes working

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

... in the end is actually cheaper overall than the supermarket.

I don't know...at $35/mo per animal for goat feed and forage, I don't see how anybody makes any money at this.

[kytwell 179]

I don't know...at $35/mo per animal for goat feed and forage, I don't see how anybody makes any money at this.

I don't have a goat so not sure about that. But the cow is a Highland breed that eats grass.

[X Factor 1,112]

Sounds great but it's not w/o challenges.

Desalination Creates More Problems than Solutions in Tampa

Interesting but they need to lean from Saudi Arabia. When I was in the military I saw these huge pipelines running from the Persian Gulf to desalination plants. Then these huge waterlines will run to cities giving people potable water.

In fact the Saudis are so good at this the can pick a spot in the desert and almost overnight transform it to a city with golf course -- they have the conversion of sea water to potable water down to a science. It accounts for 70% of the country's water supply

http://www.greenprophet.com/2009/05/saudi-arabia-desalination/

Edited July 18, 2012 by kennard

[Captain Oates 911]

Interesting but they need to lean from Saudi Arabia. When I was in the military I saw these huge pipelines running from the Persian Gulf to desalination plants. Then these huge waterlines will run to cities giving people potable water.

In fact the Saudis are so good at this the can pick a spot in the desert and almost overnight transform it to a city with golf course -- they have the conversion of sea water to potable water down to a science. It accounts for 70% of the country's water supply

http://www.greenprophet.com/2009/05/saudi-arabia-desalination/

But the power to do it is from oil = global warming

So the more they make fresh water, the more the planet warms and so the more water they will need

and with oil at say $100. the cost is enormous - so to grow enough grass for a goat will probably cost em thousands in lost oil revenue

Of course its the US oil consumer who is paying for the Saudi golf courses

Edited July 18, 2012 by Ashud Cocoa

[X Factor 1,112]

But the power to do it is from oil = global warming

So the more they make fresh water, the more the planet warms and so the more water they will need

and with oil at say $100. the cost is enormous - so to grow enough grass for a goat will probably cost em thousands in lost oil revenue

Of course its the US oil consumer who is paying for the Saudi golf courses

Yes high energy use and consequent high greenhouse gas emissions are the major issue with desalination that need to be addressed. It is a vicious cycle.