Several on-line sources report U.S. water levels at all time lows. If so, why is there so little reporting in the main stream media (news paper / network TV)? Lack of rain can raise grain prices, further shrink the ground water table (which is WAY down too) - it can increase fuel prices (higher ethanol costs), it can impede oil and gas drilling activity (due to a lack of water), cause the shutdowns of some electricity plants, temporarily reduced red meat prices (but will also make them climb sharply later) as cattle are dumped on feed- and pasture-management concerns, and can block and/or reduced shipping on the Mississippi River. Continuing drought can impact next year's winter wheat harvest as well. Is the main stream media's silence a way to help elections? Or help keep markets stable? Stop panic? Seems awful quiet out there, if drought is as bad as many seem to think.
Less than 1% of our population is involved with agriculture. As individual towns run-out of water they shut-down their municipal water systems and home-owners no longer have water on tap. Those people know. But it is local 'news', not national 'news'. Last year's drought was very bad and many towns in drought-prone regions went dry. I am sure that it is done for many reasons; to 'help' elections, to keep markets stable, to stop panic. Are all good reasons for it. Also do not forget the 'news' cycle. MSM likes to control the news cycle. In so doing they likewise control what people have an awareness of. Many in Media refer to this as 'programming', they can keep the electorate programmed to be in lock-step with each other. Many 'news' stories happen each week that can never fight to the top of the news cycle, so the masses never learn about those things. As an organic farmer myself, I do not live in a drought-prone region. We moved here on purpose. We specifically wanted to get away from droughts. The news sources I watch [not MSM] focus a lot on the drought's and commonly over-dramatize them. I see stories routinely that read as if the entire nation is in a drought. Or even like the world is suffering from drought. When you are seeing a crisis, living in the center of it, balanced perspective is lost quickly. I have good crops this year Our aquifer is not effected
US drought is like this US Drought Monitor and the seasonal forecast is like this Climate Prediction Center - Expert Assessments: United States Seasonal Drought Outlook With large areas affected throughout the growing season, I have to say that the crop yield projections are not down all that much - to 1988 level is that right? The Russian wheat harvest is also quite drought affected. Seems to me this was more in the news a month or two ago. As the situation has not changed much, some outlets would not consider it still to be news I guess. If the media appeared to be concealing something we all need to know, somebody like Drudge would save the day...right? What are you growing Beekeeper?
Maple syrup, Fiddleheads, Apples, plums, elderberries, garlic, onions, horseradish, blueberries, beans, eggs, pork, ... I always forget a few things. Honey, dont want to forget that
