We don't eat much corn directly, but it is the base of about 60 percent of all our food. Corn is processed into corn syrup and corn sugars. It is the basis of feed for cattle, pigs, and chickens. About one-third of the crop goes into fuel production. Expect fuel costs and food to rise in price over the next year as a consequence of the drought of 2012. This is not a pretty picture, to say nothing about the farmers who will go without income from their crops. Some have crop insurance, some don't.
That might be one way to salvage something, but only if one had use for silage. Few farmers have cattle to eat silage, not many dairy farms around. Silage cutting machinery disappeared from dealers some time ago. That's not a viable option for most farmers. The only hope is crop insurance.
Andy, it is amazing how unevenly the drought has hit crops. Some fields look stressed while others are like the photos shown here, dead. Rain now is too late for many fields. For those farmers it will be a year without income, and hope for better next year. Unfortunately the Agriculture Bill is hung up over Republicans demanding cuts in the food stamp program. They forget that the reason food stamps was in Ag and not Health and Welfare is that this program was to get rid of surplus agricultural commodities, not just feed hungry people.
Sad. Do you know if these are genetically modified? It's my understanding that the modification is made by shooting their patented product into the DNA but it lands in different parts of the DNA strand and can have unpredictable results. Could that account for the survival differences in various fields?.
There is no way of knowing what crops are GMO unless watching it being planted or knowing the farmer. GMO crops are more likely to be soybeans which are herbicide resistant. Corn is less likely to be a GMO crop, but it is still possible as there is GMO corn. But then corn has been genetically modified using selective corn breading for hundreds of years since Jethro Tull invented the seed drill in the late 17th Century.
Definitely want you on my Trivial Pursuit team. But here's what the BBC has to say about Jethro Tull: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/tull_jethro.shtml
Some months ago I read or saw a video about how most of the corn in the US was GMO and no labeling in required. Also heard it is outlawed in the EU. Don't know how much, if any, of that is true....
I'm not too bad at Trivial Pursuit so long as the questions are not about popular culture of the 70s and 80s. Must have missed those decades.
You may be right about GMO corn being common. And I believe it is banned in Europe. Much of U.S. exported corn goes to Asia where there is no concern about GMO crops.
It is a very sad thing to see. I am a farmer so I understand the stress of this and the long term effects not thought of later for everyone farmer and consumer alike. B
Sorry scene. 'Nuff said.
ReplyDeleteThis is so sad, and even sadder is that this is what is happening all over the midsection of our country!
ReplyDeleteWe don't eat much corn directly, but it is the base of about 60 percent of all our food. Corn is processed into corn syrup and corn sugars. It is the basis of feed for cattle, pigs, and chickens. About one-third of the crop goes into fuel production. Expect fuel costs and food to rise in price over the next year as a consequence of the drought of 2012. This is not a pretty picture, to say nothing about the farmers who will go without income from their crops. Some have crop insurance, some don't.
ReplyDeleteCut it into silage?
ReplyDeleteCut it into silage?
ReplyDeleteThat might be one way to salvage something, but only if one had use for silage. Few farmers have cattle to eat silage, not many dairy farms around. Silage cutting machinery disappeared from dealers some time ago. That's not a viable option for most farmers. The only hope is crop insurance.
DeleteThese are the first photos I've seen of the drought. It's shocking.
ReplyDeleteAndy, it is amazing how unevenly the drought has hit crops. Some fields look stressed while others are like the photos shown here, dead. Rain now is too late for many fields. For those farmers it will be a year without income, and hope for better next year. Unfortunately the Agriculture Bill is hung up over Republicans demanding cuts in the food stamp program. They forget that the reason food stamps was in Ag and not Health and Welfare is that this program was to get rid of surplus agricultural commodities, not just feed hungry people.
DeleteSad. Do you know if these are genetically modified? It's my understanding that the modification is made by shooting their patented product into the DNA but it lands in different parts of the DNA strand and can have unpredictable results. Could that account for the survival differences in various fields?.
ReplyDeleteThere is no way of knowing what crops are GMO unless watching it being planted or knowing the farmer. GMO crops are more likely to be soybeans which are herbicide resistant. Corn is less likely to be a GMO crop, but it is still possible as there is GMO corn. But then corn has been genetically modified using selective corn breading for hundreds of years since Jethro Tull invented the seed drill in the late 17th Century.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely want you on my Trivial Pursuit team. But here's what the BBC has to say about Jethro Tull: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/tull_jethro.shtml
ReplyDeleteSome months ago I read or saw a video about how most of the corn in the US was GMO and no labeling in required. Also heard it is outlawed in the EU. Don't know how much, if any, of that is true....
I'm not too bad at Trivial Pursuit so long as the questions are not about popular culture of the 70s and 80s. Must have missed those decades.
DeleteYou may be right about GMO corn being common. And I believe it is banned in Europe. Much of U.S. exported corn goes to Asia where there is no concern about GMO crops.
It is a very sad thing to see. I am a farmer so I understand the stress of this and the long term effects not thought of later for everyone farmer and consumer alike. B
ReplyDeleteHeartbreaking.
ReplyDeleteHow sad, and the vegetable prices are going to sky rocket. Poor farmers...
ReplyDelete