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US Experiencing a Drought of a Century
US farmers are experiencing major financial loss due to a recent drought, one not seen since 1956. The center said about 55% of the country was in at least moderate short-term drought in June.
Devastating drought has kept the weather map red the entire season, dry and hot weathers occur throughout the country. Particular worry is the lack of US cornucopia, including corn, soybeans, and sorghum that hit the stores soon. US corn and soybeans are crucial to global food supply because they are used for food, feed, cooking oil, and even motor fuel.
Wisconsin, the milk state, farmers have to let go of their crop to limit losses on higher crop feed, Pleasant View Dairy Farmi co-owner Allen Schlenvogt explained. According to him, farmers in Wisconsin got together and formed an online community to inform each other of available hay, corn or some other feed.
Cattle ponds are drying up in Arkansas. Illinois is in danger of losing its corn crop.
Although government at one point supported corn growing, there are no subsidies anymore. Some farmers purchase crop insurance, but most farmers are hoping though that government will help keep the farmers in business in these tough times.
Few professionals benefit from the drought
Pest controller Bill O’Reilly from Wisconsin explained that drought has increased the amount of pests on the fields, he has his work cut out for him for the entire season: “something can be saved from these fields here, but it will be expensive to the buyer,” he said.
The farmers who have lost their corn crops might use the money they didn’t spend to buy a new tractor to hire a person to drill irrigation wells. The well-drilling business would make more money, so for them the drought might actually have a “positive” or good impact.
Increase in prices
Many Americans have stocked up on long term storable food in anticipation of droughts, food supply disruptions and just plain hard times. As farmers put it: “if you eat, this drought will affect you.” The Agriculture Department forecast price increase of nutrients for the upcoming year to around 3-4 percent.
