Us Farmers Kill Their Own Crops And Sell Cows Due To Extreme Drought

July was the third-hottest on record for the U.S. and ranked in the top 10 for every state in the West except Montana, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s weekly weather and crop bulletin ending the week of Aug. 6 said “rapidly intensifying drought has hit the central and southern Plains and mid-South, depleting topsoil moisture and stressing important grasslands, pastures and various summer crops”. AFBF estimates that nearly 60% of the western, southern and central plains are experiencing severe drought or worse this year. “The effects of this drought will be felt for years to come, not only by farmers and ranchers, but also by consumers. Many farmers have had to make the devastating decision to sell their livestock that they spent years raising or destroy orchards that have been developed for decades,” said Zippy Duvall, AFBF president. The AFBF survey was conducted in 15 states from June 8 to July 20 in areas of extreme drought from Texas to North Dakota to California, which accounts for nearly half the value of the nation’s agricultural production. In California — a state with high fruit and nut production — 50 percent of farmers in the state said they had to remove trees and perennial crops due to drought, the survey found, which will affect future income. And 33% of all US farmers said they had to do the same, nearly double the number from last year.

Selling herds

Farmers in Texas are being forced to sell their cattle herds earlier than normal due to extreme drought – as water sources dry up and grass burns. Farmers in the Lone Star State reported the largest decline in herd size, below 50 percent, followed by New Mexico and Oregon at 43 percent and 41 percent, respectively. “We haven’t had this kind of movement of cows to market in a decade, since 2011, which was our last really big drought,” David Anderson, a professor of agricultural economics at Texas A&M, told CNN last month. Access to water for livestock was a key issue for farmers and ranchers this year, with 57% citing local restrictions on water use, compared to 50% of farmers last year. Key water sources in places like Lake Mead and Lake Powell — which are running below 30 percent of their full capacity — typically provide water to 5.5 million acres of land in seven western states according to the AFBF. On Tuesday, the federal government announced that the Colorado River will operate under Tier 2 shortage conditions for the first time since January. This means that Arizona, Nevada and Mexico will have to further reduce their use of water from the Colorado River. High inflation makes it harder for ranchers to save their land. The cost of diesel is decreasing but still high, making it significantly more expensive to truck with extra water than in previous years. The price of fertilizers for grass and crops and animal feed also remains expensive.

Impact on the consumer

US consumers can expect to spend more on some foods because of the drought, according to the report. “For cattle and beef, once the market has processed the excess animals sent to slaughter and has a smaller breeding herd to work with [price increases] it can be six months to well over a year. For specialty crops it could be right after harvest,” said Daniel Munch, an economist at the American Farm Bureau Federation.
The vast majority of fruits, nuts and vegetables come from states with high levels of drought. But farmers were forced to abandon planting or destroy orchards. This “will likely result in American consumers paying more for these goods and either relying in part on foreign supplies or shrinking the variety of items they buy at the store,” the report said. For example, California grows 80% of the world’s supply of almonds — limiting other places US consumers can buy the popular nut. And shifting where almonds can be grown isn’t easy — as the crop needs a specific climate and soil. “Overall, the outlook for crop volume in 2022 is more pessimistic than it was a month ago and much more pessimistic than it was two months ago,” notes a July report from The Almond Board of California. The main culprits were drought, low water supply and removal of orchards. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ August inflation report shows US consumers spending 9.3% more on fruits and vegetables than a year ago.

title: “Us Farmers Kill Their Own Crops And Sell Cows Due To Extreme Drought Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-10-25” author: “Regina Figueroa”

July was the third-hottest on record for the U.S. and ranked in the top 10 for every state in the West except Montana, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s weekly weather and crop bulletin ending the week of Aug. 6 said “rapidly intensifying drought has hit the central and southern Plains and mid-South, depleting topsoil moisture and stressing important grasslands, pastures and various summer crops”. AFBF estimates that nearly 60% of the western, southern and central plains are experiencing severe drought or worse this year. “The effects of this drought will be felt for years to come, not only by farmers and ranchers, but also by consumers. Many farmers have had to make the devastating decision to sell their livestock that they spent years raising or destroy orchards that have been developed for decades,” said Zippy Duvall, AFBF president. The AFBF survey was conducted in 15 states from June 8 to July 20 in areas of extreme drought from Texas to North Dakota to California, which accounts for nearly half the value of the nation’s agricultural production. In California — a state with high fruit and nut production — 50 percent of farmers in the state said they had to remove trees and perennial crops due to drought, the survey found, which will affect future income. And 33% of all US farmers said they had to do the same, nearly double the number from last year.

Selling herds

Farmers in Texas are being forced to sell their cattle herds earlier than normal due to extreme drought – as water sources dry up and grass burns. Farmers in the Lone Star State reported the largest decline in herd size, below 50 percent, followed by New Mexico and Oregon at 43 percent and 41 percent, respectively. “We haven’t had this kind of movement of cows to market in a decade, since 2011, which was our last really big drought,” David Anderson, a professor of agricultural economics at Texas A&M, told CNN last month. Access to water for livestock was a key issue for farmers and ranchers this year, with 57% citing local restrictions on water use, compared to 50% of farmers last year. Key water sources in places like Lake Mead and Lake Powell — which are running below 30 percent of their full capacity — typically provide water to 5.5 million acres of land in seven western states according to the AFBF. On Tuesday, the federal government announced that the Colorado River will operate under Tier 2 shortage conditions for the first time since January. This means that Arizona, Nevada and Mexico will have to further reduce their use of water from the Colorado River. High inflation makes it harder for ranchers to save their land. The cost of diesel is decreasing but still high, making it significantly more expensive to truck with extra water than in previous years. The price of fertilizers for grass and crops and animal feed also remains expensive.

Impact on the consumer

US consumers can expect to spend more on some foods because of the drought, according to the report. “For cattle and beef, once the market has processed the excess animals sent to slaughter and has a smaller breeding herd to work with [price increases] it can be six months to well over a year. For specialty crops it could be right after harvest,” said Daniel Munch, an economist at the American Farm Bureau Federation.
The vast majority of fruits, nuts and vegetables come from states with high levels of drought. But farmers were forced to abandon planting or destroy orchards. This “will likely result in American consumers paying more for these goods and either relying in part on foreign supplies or shrinking the variety of items they buy at the store,” the report said. For example, California grows 80% of the world’s supply of almonds — limiting other places US consumers can buy the popular nut. And shifting where almonds can be grown isn’t easy — as the crop needs a specific climate and soil. “Overall, the outlook for crop volume in 2022 is more pessimistic than it was a month ago and much more pessimistic than it was two months ago,” notes a July report from The Almond Board of California. The main culprits were drought, low water supply and removal of orchards. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ August inflation report shows US consumers spending 9.3% more on fruits and vegetables than a year ago.

title: “Us Farmers Kill Their Own Crops And Sell Cows Due To Extreme Drought Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-16” author: “Lori Longley”

July was the third-hottest on record for the U.S. and ranked in the top 10 for every state in the West except Montana, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s weekly weather and crop bulletin ending the week of Aug. 6 said “rapidly intensifying drought has hit the central and southern Plains and mid-South, depleting topsoil moisture and stressing important grasslands, pastures and various summer crops”. AFBF estimates that nearly 60% of the western, southern and central plains are experiencing severe drought or worse this year. “The effects of this drought will be felt for years to come, not only by farmers and ranchers, but also by consumers. Many farmers have had to make the devastating decision to sell their livestock that they spent years raising or destroy orchards that have been developed for decades,” said Zippy Duvall, AFBF president. The AFBF survey was conducted in 15 states from June 8 to July 20 in areas of extreme drought from Texas to North Dakota to California, which accounts for nearly half the value of the nation’s agricultural production. In California — a state with high fruit and nut production — 50 percent of farmers in the state said they had to remove trees and perennial crops due to drought, the survey found, which will affect future income. And 33% of all US farmers said they had to do the same, nearly double the number from last year.

Selling herds

Farmers in Texas are being forced to sell their cattle herds earlier than normal due to extreme drought – as water sources dry up and grass burns. Farmers in the Lone Star State reported the largest decline in herd size, below 50 percent, followed by New Mexico and Oregon at 43 percent and 41 percent, respectively. “We haven’t had this kind of movement of cows to market in a decade, since 2011, which was our last really big drought,” David Anderson, a professor of agricultural economics at Texas A&M, told CNN last month. Access to water for livestock was a key issue for farmers and ranchers this year, with 57% citing local restrictions on water use, compared to 50% of farmers last year. Key water sources in places like Lake Mead and Lake Powell — which are running below 30 percent of their full capacity — typically provide water to 5.5 million acres of land in seven western states according to the AFBF. On Tuesday, the federal government announced that the Colorado River will operate under Tier 2 shortage conditions for the first time since January. This means that Arizona, Nevada and Mexico will have to further reduce their use of water from the Colorado River. High inflation makes it harder for ranchers to save their land. The cost of diesel is decreasing but still high, making it significantly more expensive to truck with extra water than in previous years. The price of fertilizers for grass and crops and animal feed also remains expensive.

Impact on the consumer

US consumers can expect to spend more on some foods because of the drought, according to the report. “For cattle and beef, once the market has processed the excess animals sent to slaughter and has a smaller breeding herd to work with [price increases] it can be six months to well over a year. For specialty crops it could be right after harvest,” said Daniel Munch, an economist at the American Farm Bureau Federation.
The vast majority of fruits, nuts and vegetables come from states with high levels of drought. But farmers were forced to abandon planting or destroy orchards. This “will likely result in American consumers paying more for these goods and either relying in part on foreign supplies or shrinking the variety of items they buy at the store,” the report said. For example, California grows 80% of the world’s supply of almonds — limiting other places US consumers can buy the popular nut. And shifting where almonds can be grown isn’t easy — as the crop needs a specific climate and soil. “Overall, the outlook for crop volume in 2022 is more pessimistic than it was a month ago and much more pessimistic than it was two months ago,” notes a July report from The Almond Board of California. The main culprits were drought, low water supply and removal of orchards. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ August inflation report shows US consumers spending 9.3% more on fruits and vegetables than a year ago.

title: “Us Farmers Kill Their Own Crops And Sell Cows Due To Extreme Drought Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-04” author: “Charlotte Splatt”

July was the third-hottest on record for the U.S. and ranked in the top 10 for every state in the West except Montana, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s weekly weather and crop bulletin ending the week of Aug. 6 said “rapidly intensifying drought has hit the central and southern Plains and mid-South, depleting topsoil moisture and stressing important grasslands, pastures and various summer crops”. AFBF estimates that nearly 60% of the western, southern and central plains are experiencing severe drought or worse this year. “The effects of this drought will be felt for years to come, not only by farmers and ranchers, but also by consumers. Many farmers have had to make the devastating decision to sell their livestock that they spent years raising or destroy orchards that have been developed for decades,” said Zippy Duvall, AFBF president. The AFBF survey was conducted in 15 states from June 8 to July 20 in areas of extreme drought from Texas to North Dakota to California, which accounts for nearly half the value of the nation’s agricultural production. In California — a state with high fruit and nut production — 50 percent of farmers in the state said they had to remove trees and perennial crops due to drought, the survey found, which will affect future income. And 33% of all US farmers said they had to do the same, nearly double the number from last year.

Selling herds

Farmers in Texas are being forced to sell their cattle herds earlier than normal due to extreme drought – as water sources dry up and grass burns. Farmers in the Lone Star State reported the largest decline in herd size, below 50 percent, followed by New Mexico and Oregon at 43 percent and 41 percent, respectively. “We haven’t had this kind of movement of cows to market in a decade, since 2011, which was our last really big drought,” David Anderson, a professor of agricultural economics at Texas A&M, told CNN last month. Access to water for livestock was a key issue for farmers and ranchers this year, with 57% citing local restrictions on water use, compared to 50% of farmers last year. Key water sources in places like Lake Mead and Lake Powell — which are running below 30 percent of their full capacity — typically provide water to 5.5 million acres of land in seven western states according to the AFBF. On Tuesday, the federal government announced that the Colorado River will operate under Tier 2 shortage conditions for the first time since January. This means that Arizona, Nevada and Mexico will have to further reduce their use of water from the Colorado River. High inflation makes it harder for ranchers to save their land. The cost of diesel is decreasing but still high, making it significantly more expensive to truck with extra water than in previous years. The price of fertilizers for grass and crops and animal feed also remains expensive.

Impact on the consumer

US consumers can expect to spend more on some foods because of the drought, according to the report. “For cattle and beef, once the market has processed the excess animals sent to slaughter and has a smaller breeding herd to work with [price increases] it can be six months to well over a year. For specialty crops it could be right after harvest,” said Daniel Munch, an economist at the American Farm Bureau Federation.
The vast majority of fruits, nuts and vegetables come from states with high levels of drought. But farmers were forced to abandon planting or destroy orchards. This “will likely result in American consumers paying more for these goods and either relying in part on foreign supplies or shrinking the variety of items they buy at the store,” the report said. For example, California grows 80% of the world’s supply of almonds — limiting other places US consumers can buy the popular nut. And shifting where almonds can be grown isn’t easy — as the crop needs a specific climate and soil. “Overall, the outlook for crop volume in 2022 is more pessimistic than it was a month ago and much more pessimistic than it was two months ago,” notes a July report from The Almond Board of California. The main culprits were drought, low water supply and removal of orchards. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ August inflation report shows US consumers spending 9.3% more on fruits and vegetables than a year ago.

title: “Us Farmers Kill Their Own Crops And Sell Cows Due To Extreme Drought Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-06” author: “Eric Baker”

July was the third-hottest on record for the U.S. and ranked in the top 10 for every state in the West except Montana, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s weekly weather and crop bulletin ending the week of Aug. 6 said “rapidly intensifying drought has hit the central and southern Plains and mid-South, depleting topsoil moisture and stressing important grasslands, pastures and various summer crops”. AFBF estimates that nearly 60% of the western, southern and central plains are experiencing severe drought or worse this year. “The effects of this drought will be felt for years to come, not only by farmers and ranchers, but also by consumers. Many farmers have had to make the devastating decision to sell their livestock that they spent years raising or destroy orchards that have been developed for decades,” said Zippy Duvall, AFBF president. The AFBF survey was conducted in 15 states from June 8 to July 20 in areas of extreme drought from Texas to North Dakota to California, which accounts for nearly half the value of the nation’s agricultural production. In California — a state with high fruit and nut production — 50 percent of farmers in the state said they had to remove trees and perennial crops due to drought, the survey found, which will affect future income. And 33% of all US farmers said they had to do the same, nearly double the number from last year.

Selling herds

Farmers in Texas are being forced to sell their cattle herds earlier than normal due to extreme drought – as water sources dry up and grass burns. Farmers in the Lone Star State reported the largest decline in herd size, below 50 percent, followed by New Mexico and Oregon at 43 percent and 41 percent, respectively. “We haven’t had this kind of movement of cows to market in a decade, since 2011, which was our last really big drought,” David Anderson, a professor of agricultural economics at Texas A&M, told CNN last month. Access to water for livestock was a key issue for farmers and ranchers this year, with 57% citing local restrictions on water use, compared to 50% of farmers last year. Key water sources in places like Lake Mead and Lake Powell — which are running below 30 percent of their full capacity — typically provide water to 5.5 million acres of land in seven western states according to the AFBF. On Tuesday, the federal government announced that the Colorado River will operate under Tier 2 shortage conditions for the first time since January. This means that Arizona, Nevada and Mexico will have to further reduce their use of water from the Colorado River. High inflation makes it harder for ranchers to save their land. The cost of diesel is decreasing but still high, making it significantly more expensive to truck with extra water than in previous years. The price of fertilizers for grass and crops and animal feed also remains expensive.

Impact on the consumer

US consumers can expect to spend more on some foods because of the drought, according to the report. “For cattle and beef, once the market has processed the excess animals sent to slaughter and has a smaller breeding herd to work with [price increases] it can be six months to well over a year. For specialty crops it could be right after harvest,” said Daniel Munch, an economist at the American Farm Bureau Federation.
The vast majority of fruits, nuts and vegetables come from states with high levels of drought. But farmers were forced to abandon planting or destroy orchards. This “will likely result in American consumers paying more for these goods and either relying in part on foreign supplies or shrinking the variety of items they buy at the store,” the report said. For example, California grows 80% of the world’s supply of almonds — limiting other places US consumers can buy the popular nut. And shifting where almonds can be grown isn’t easy — as the crop needs a specific climate and soil. “Overall, the outlook for crop volume in 2022 is more pessimistic than it was a month ago and much more pessimistic than it was two months ago,” notes a July report from The Almond Board of California. The main culprits were drought, low water supply and removal of orchards. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ August inflation report shows US consumers spending 9.3% more on fruits and vegetables than a year ago.