Drought Depression

It's more than just that.

"Drought overtakes more than half of country" by Jim Suhr  |  Associated Press, July 17, 2012

WALTONVILLE, Ill. — It is all a huge comedown for farmers who had expected a record year when they sowed 96.4 million acres in corn, the most since 1937. The Department of Agriculture initially predicted national average corn yields of 166 bushels per acre this year.

The agency has revised that projection down to 146, and more reductions are possible if conditions don’t improve.

The lower projection is still an improvement over the average yields of around 129 bushels a decade ago. But already tight supplies and fears that the drought will get worse before it gets better have been pushing up grain prices, which are likely to translate into higher food prices for consumers, particularly for meat and poultry....

--more--"  

"USDA says drought will push up food prices in 2013" by Steve Karnowski  |  Associated Press, July 26, 2012

MINNEAPOLIS — The drought gripping more than half the country is a major reason why consumers can expect to pay 3 to 4 percent more for groceries next year, the US Department of Agriculture said Wednesday.

Milk, eggs, beef, poultry, and pork prices will all be affected because the drought has pushed up prices for feed, and that will eventually translate into higher prices for steaks, hamburger, pork chops, and chicken.

The good news for cost-conscious consumers is that prices for fruits and vegetables, as well as processed foods, are not affected as much by the drought.

Exactly how much more people might pay for a pound of hamburger, for example, is not known because those prices are affected by lots of factors....   

Related: Alphabet Agency: USDA Dinner

Really makes you want to chow down, doesn't it?

--more--"


Related: ‘Flash drought’ expected to linger

Drought’s bite goes deeper by the day 

Btw, what is the carbon footprint on all that god-damn campaigning?

Update: Drought intensifies in already parched areas of US