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CHICAGO, Aug 15 (Reuters) - The worst U.S. drought in five decades has parched the land and decimated crops. It now threatens to deal a second blow to farmers, who may have to throw out tonnes of toxic feed. Growers are rushing to check the nitrate levels of that silage, the stalks and leaves that corn farmers often harvest to feed to locally raised cattle or hogs. Agriculture groups are warning farmers that drought-hit plants may have failed to process nitrogen fertilizer due to stunted growth, making them poisonous to livestock.
As many as 9 million acres -- or 9 percent of the corn crop -- may not be harvested for grain this year, according to USDA data released last week. That would be the most abandoned acres in a decade. Much of that will be used instead as silage.
A recent ethanol study by the University of Minnesota suggests that corn-based ethanol maybe more harmful (climate change, greenhouse gases, health effects) and costly to the environment than gasoline itself. With this said, it is important to note that quite a bit of the US production of ethanol is currently reliant on first generation biofuels, such as corn.
New tests confirm that damage last year to some corn fields in western Illinois was caused by rootworms that have developed resistance to a Monsanto Co. (MON) genetically modified trait, a University of Illinois researcher said.
I do believe we should actually stop subsidizing our Fuel, with Corn based Ethanol, and actually use the Corn, for feeding the World. Just My humble Opinion.
Originally posted by neo96
Toxins not only in feedstock, but the run off from fields that most have poor drainage, and it can take some time before a field will be able to produce again.
Originally posted by sonnny1
Originally posted by neo96
Toxins not only in feedstock, but the run off from fields that most have poor drainage, and it can take some time before a field will be able to produce again.
That is the scariest part of it all, MHO.
I wonder how this is going to effect prices, in the near future ?
Food, Gas, Etc.........
This cant be good, Im afraid.
Originally posted by Wrabbit2000
If these might be of help, here is the latest U.S. Drought Conditions map..
..and the Drought Impact Reporter from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. This one has a state by state map that clicks into the individual reports for each, sorted and tagged by area of effect. Tourism...Agriculture...Wildlife..Etc. Your toxin warnings form a couple of the bulletins, at least.
Drought Impact Reports and Status Details
We got a little rain here yesterday but after the weeks of parched nothingness....well, it's like handing a dixie cup of water to a man in the desert... We need a week or more of just non-stop, steady rain...and I'm not sure how that would do for farmers and ranchers. Scary times.
Record-high corn prices should be sending a clear message to policy makers in Washington: Requiring people to put corn-based fuel in their gas tanks is a bad idea.
The impact of the drought will take several months to reach supermarket shelves, but food prices could rise an average of 3 to 4 percent next year, according to the USDA. Average food prices in July, both nationally and in Boston, were 2 percent higher than a year ago, after jumping 4 percent in 2011, according to the US Labor Department.
Originally posted by SLAYER69
reply to post by sonnny1
I've been watching the price of Beef slowly rise.
I love Rib-eye
An opinion many others including myself share never saw the "logic" of burning food for fuel thank lobbyist's for that "genius idea".
Originally posted by sonnny1
reply to post by Stormdancer777
Yeah, Im concerned about the prices, of feed, meat, etc.....
We are already in a Depression. I don't think this country can take more of this.edit on 18-8-2012 by sonnny1 because: (no reason given)