The ongoing drought in large parts of the United States is forcing wheat farmers to abandon a portion of their crop at rates not seen in over a century.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), producers, especially in the U.S. Plains region, are expected to harvest only about 67 percent of their planted acres, the lowest harvest ratio since 1917. (Related: Food collapse incoming: Globalist war on nitrogen emissions putting entire global food supply at risk.)
The high rate of abandonment stemmed from years of freak weather patterns in the Great Plains that took their toll on American grainfields. Many wheat plants planted this winter were stunted by a lack of moisture, making many unable to produce the heads of grain that are harvested for their nutrients.
Farmers who are leaving many of their acres unharvested are filing crop insurance claims for failed acres or abandoning wheat altogether to plant something else.
Justin Gilpin, chief executive officer of the trade group Kansas Wheat, announced that his organization is about to take a tour of Kansas, the country’s top wheat-growing state, to allow analysts to take surveys of fields and make production estimates.
“We’ll see short wheat, thin strands, some wheat that looks really good and a lot of fields that aren’t going to be harvested,” he said.
Kansas, Texas wheat suffering greatly
All told, some 37.5 million acres were planted last fall, either with soft red or hard red winter wheat. The Agriculture Department’s estimate suggests that just 25.3 million of those planted acres of wheat have grown anything worth harvesting.
Of the 67 percent of wheat that can be harvested, the USDA noted that just 28 percent of that crop has been rated to be in good-to-excellent condition.
The soft red winter wheat crop is used mainly as animal feed and for processed foods, while hard red winter wheat is used in baked goods. Hard red wheat also represents about 40 percent of total U.S. wheat production and can be grown either as a cash crop or a cover crop.
In Kansas, the top producer of hard red winter wheat, around 10 percent of the crop was abandoned. Meanwhile, in Texas, a whopping 65 percent of hard red wheat acres were abandoned.
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Both abandonment rates are well above the historical averages of six percent for Kansas and 55 percent in Texas over the past 10 years. They are also well above the rate of abandonment predicted by agriculture analytics firm Gro Intelligence of eight percent in Kansas and 60 percent in Texas.
The punishing conditions the country’s hard red winter wheat have been in are underlined by the USDA’s crop conditions report. In Kansas, only 11 percent of the crop is in good-to-excellent condition, far below the 38 percent five-year average. Hard red winter wheat in Texas, Nebraska and Oklahoma aren’t much better at 20 percent, 12 percent and seven percent, respectively.
Wheat futures rising as analysts predict more trouble for crops
The USDA warned that the high rate of abandonment will drag American wheat supplies to levels lower than analysts were expecting. Levels are expected to fall to their lowest in 16 years.
This will keep domestic prices elevated and lead to more wheat imports from rival producers in countries like Canada and Argentina.
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Concerns about tight U.S. wheat supplies and ongoing troubles in the Black Sea caused by the Russian special military operation in Ukraine are causing wheat futures to rise.
Futures for hard red winter wheat, the staple variety grown in drought-stricken states like Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas, surged by nearly seven percent following the release of the USDA’s data. This is the biggest intraday gain for the most-active contract since October 2022.
Learn more about the threats to America’s food supply at FoodSupply.news.
Watch this episode of “Brighteon Broadcast News” as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, interviews Jim Gale as to how growing food can protect families against food collapse.
This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.
More related stories:
- EPA approves chlormequat chloride pesticide for wheat, barley and oat crops, putting human and mammalian reproduction at risk.
- Food insecurity a growing problem in US – America turning into a third-world country.
- According to the globalists, we are one crop failure away from “food system meltdown” – new consumables added to the shortage and/or inflation list.
- Alarming new numbers show why countless Americans will starve to death in the years ahead with one retailer who “can’t afford” to sell eggs anymore.
- David DuByne warns: Forced rationing of food and fuel already happening via “excess consumption” programs – Brighteon.TV.
Sources include:
- Finance.Yahoo.com
- WSJ.com
- FarmPolicyNews.Illinois.edu
- FoodBusinessNews.net
- Brighteon.com
- NATURAL NEWS
Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.
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Drought? Bullshit.
less bread, more bacon! Mmmmmm good!
This is good news. The Western diet of nutrient-deficient, inflammatory, chemical-ridden grain and soybeans and animals fed these grains and soybeans is the reason it is the least healthy diet in the world. In addition, the industrial agricultural practices that produce these crops is destroying the living soil that was generated over centuries of migrating herds of ruminants grazing the fertile grasslands of our Great Plains. All that rich black dirt has washed down the Mississippi to cause red tide in the Gulf of Mexico. Our “No Longer Great Plains” will be a desert within the lifetime of our grandchildren.
Wait…the lowest harvest ratio since 1917? What about the Dust Bowl of the 1930’s? What was the harvest ratio then? This would have been good to include in the article. I can’t be the only one who had this question.