ok, one more time, for those of you who missed it.
1) australia has been in el nina for 2 years (flooding, etc)
2) this summer in the next few months, they have el nino coming at them.
[
link to www.theaustralian.com.au]
Fears of drought as El Nino raises its head
by: Jamie Walker
From: The Australian
July 04, 2012
An increase of 0.5 to 1C in ocean-surface temperatures in Pacific waters around the equator and changes in air surface pressure fanning towards Australia are telltale signs of an emerging El Nino pattern.
The measure, known as the southern oscillation index, was strongly negative at -11.8 yesterday, pointing to a departure from the wet weather.
Dr Watkins said farmers in southern NSW and northern Victoria were already reporting dried-out topsoil after rainfall last month was 60-80 per cent below average.
USA:
[
link to www.circleofblue.org]
A drought in the Midwest United States threatens what could be a record corn crop. U.S. farmers planted 39 million hectares (96.4 million acres) of corn this year, the most since 1937.
By Codi Yeager
Circle of Blue
Wheat, soybean, and corn crops have been damaged by dry weather across three continents. Official production estimates have remained largely unchanged, but the dry weather has worried investors and threatens to create food shortages in North Korea.
The droughts come at the tail end of a La Niña weather pattern — declared neutral in late April — and ahead of tentative forecasts for a developing El Niño that could further roil agricultural markets.
This is important. We take great pride in our food production, while failing to mention the vast quantities of products that are imported.
Our situation is dire and the doom does march on. Other countries are having some weather/crop related doom of their own. That will affect our imports.
Brazil is the world's largest producer of sugar. Rains are hampering harvests and hindering loading at docks. There are concerns about yields and output.
Rains are expected to damage the quality of Brazilian coffee.
The Ivory Coast needs more sun for it's cocoa crop. There are concerns that wet weather will increase the risk of crop diseases.
Sterling Smith, a commodity analyst at Citigroup Inc. said that "The heavy rains are making people nervous about supplies."
This is only the beginning. Back in our country, we are able to go to the store and get what we need. We haven't felt the worst implications of a shortage of corn, wheat, or imported products. People who say don't eat corn or wheat evidently don't know the amount of products that contain those products because there are so many products that use corn or wheat.
They are used as a filler in grocery products you wouldn't suspect. Many, if not most, dog foods contain either one or both.
The corn or wheat that some say to not eat, are fed to animals that produce meat or a product. Eggs, for example. The more the grain prices rise, the higher the costs to produce them and the higher your cost at the store. If the grain prices go too high, it won't be profitable to produce eggs.
The more it cost to raise beef, the less farmers will be inclined to raise them. If prices come down when farmers sell them off for lack of grain or hay or prices that would eat into their profit margin, you better buy if you're a meat eater. When the glut is gone, prices will skyrocket.
This won't be just beef cattle. It will affect the milk cows and dairy's too. Milk, butter, cheese, cottage cheese, etc. will rise along with it.
Every country, every food product, every living creature is a strand in the web of our lives. How many strands can be damaged before the web collapses?
Apologies for the length of this.
To shorten, along with raising food, grab the sales. If you aren't picky about not having organic, butter is occasionally selling below 2.00 a lb. Stock up. Score some powdered milk. Some cooking oil.
Add some sugar, cocoa, coffee, and spices that are often imported. If things turn out to be not as dire as many think and are predicting, then you've at least saved some money. Prices will continue to rise.
