drought

Food or Gas? The Fight over Corn

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With the the country in the throes of a drought hard decisions will have to made, fuel for the bellies or fuel for the cars.

US farmers urge Obama administration to suspend ethanol quota amid drought


The Obama administration was urged on Monday to stop diverting grain to gas amid warnings of an "imminent food crisis" caused by America's drought.



It seems the dilemma is now do we combat the inevitable rise in food prices by "earmarking" for food or industry? It's a bit of a Catch-22 actually but do we feed the people with actual food or do we feed those that work in the ethanol industry with money so they can afford the food? Well considering the deal being negotiated for the farm bill from both parties involves cuts to the food stamp program, does it really matter?

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"Corn sex is complicated"

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crossposted at Stars Hollow Gazette

Elizabeth Kolbert addresses the effect the current drought is having on crops in The Big Heat.

It is now corn-sex season across the Midwest, and everything is not going well. High commodity prices spurred farmers to sow more acres this year, and unseasonable warmth in March prompted many to plant corn early. Just a few months ago, the United States Department of Agriculture was projecting a record corn crop of 14.79 billion bushels. But then, in June and July, came broilingly high temperatures, combined with a persistent drought across much of the midsection of the country.

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About that Hoax

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crossposted at Stars Hollow Gazette

U.S. drought biggest since 1956, climate agency says

The National Climatic Data Center is reporting that over 70% of the country are experiencing "abnormally dry or worse conditions".

That's double one year ago, according to agency statistics.

The hot, dry weather has taken its toll on agriculture, with 30% of the corn planted in the leading 18-corn producing states reported in poor or very poor conditions as of last week, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Even while flat earthers scream foul, statistics and evidence continue to mount that we are experiencing a warming pattern and extreme weather conditions that can't be explained away by wishful thinking.

More below.

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