Global Impact of Iowa Floods

[earthymom]

As a result of this soggy situation, corn yields will plummet, the USDA reports. And that's bad news for the billions of people who rely on the global food system for sustenance.

http://grist.org/comments/food/2008/06/13/index.html

Some excerpts:
"Think food prices are high? Fasten your seatbelt -- and prepare to tighten it. The bad weather combined with dubious federal policies means we're ... well, shucked."

"In the past, societies stored grain precisely because agriculture has always been such a fickle food provider. A few decades ago, the U.S. began testing a new theory: sell off grain reserves and let "market forces" ensure there's enough food for everyone. Our policymakers have become so enamored of the idea that they've managed to convince many countries in the global south to do the same -- often with the help of the International Monetary Fund and its famed "structural adjustment" packages."
Gives new meaning to the phrase "saving for a rainy day" doesn't it.

"More recently, our leaders have combined the no-grain-storage decree with another, deeply contradictory experiment: using heavy-handed subsidies and mandates (what happened to "market forces"?) to ensure that a large and growing chunk of our farm bounty be turned into car fuel."

[Luv2BeFrugal]

Wow...that's scary. Great...looks like we're in for another food price hike!

[janelane]

I was also reading today that this will cause yet another rise in gas prices here. I read that we've lost a full 1/3 of the corn yeild. So the price of ethanol is going up, kicking up the price of gas. The article I read predicted a 15% jump in fuel prices -- that's a nice 61 fat cents per gallon. Something about how we restrict ethanol imports here, but have those new requirements about ethanol.

So, of course, gas prices up, will come back around and effect those food prices. Vicious circle that terrifies me to no end.

My heart goes out to the flooded and devestated people especially. But it seems this will be another tragedy that effects us all

Another news clip I saw the other day featured someone who owned hundreds of acres of soybeans and all but THREE acres had been drowned out.

This is feels so foreboding, and something we could've prevented and better planned for (even with the presence of natural disasters.) I didn't even realize the US stopped stockpiling corn. The current economic situation and now the weather, we learned nothing from the Depression and that's what it's starting to feel like. The stock market crash vs the current housing market crash, both brough about by irresponsible investing. And then it was the dustbowl, now it's the punchbowl! All of it could've been planned for if we'd learned at all from even recent history

[earthymom]

My heart goes out to the flooded and devestated people especially. But it seems this will be another tragedy that effects us all

The current economic situation and now the weather, we learned nothing from the Depression and that's what it's starting to feel like. The stock market crash vs the current housing market crash, both brough about by irresponsible investing. And then it was the dustbowl, now it's the punchbowl! All of it could've been planned for if we'd learned at all from even recent history

My heart also goes out to all those hurt by these floods. And you are so right about it feeling like we learned nothing from the Depression.

We've got to do something different than what we're doing now. Frugal ways, including stockpiling, need to be how our government operates. No more federal "credit card" debt.

[earthymom]

It's gonna come down hard.

Unfortunately I think you are right, it will come down hard. Too many people will have to learn the hard way what their grandparents and great grandparents learned during the Depression. My grandmother always said "cash on the barrel" and never ever take a second mortgage (unless maybe to save a life and then be prepared to sell . . .).

Frugal ways will help many -- but we're all in for a potentially rough ride. I don't think its a coincidence that some compare Geo. Bush to Hoover when they say they may be tied for "worst president ever".

Do you think its too late to turn things around? I so hope we can.

[earthymom]

This country has a great opportunity right now to get out from under this need for oil and develop whole new means and markets for alternative everything from fuel to housing to the way food is grown. People increasingly want organic food and a holistic means to live. Green investments are the future. Global warming is here and changing the weather world wide. Nevermind the old way of thinking. It hasn't got us anything, but in dutch.



"The United States Supreme Court yesterday rendered a decision which I think is one of the worst decisions in the history of this country."

What???
Yesterday's powerful decision by the Court (a decision Americans should be proud of) affirmed a fundamental constitutional right!

. . . I think a brilliant young man with a constitutional law background, and who really understands the complex national and global issues that need to be negotiated now at this time of our history is needed.

You are right that everything is tied together. Our Constitution and the "rule of law" must be protected and defended. I could get really long winded on that -- but I think most Americans agree so I won't. Somebody said (don't know who) that every adversity is an opportunity.

We do need a great leader (several perhaps) to help get us back on track. But I think one of the biggest lessons for me is that we, the people, must take back our government. We have to get involved at the local, state, and federal level. We have to pay attention -- keep tabs on what our elected "representatives" are doing. And we have to call them on it -- hold them accountable. We need our representatives to listen to us and not just lobbyists who don't even have to disclose who's paying them. The internet makes this much, much easier than in the past. This election cycle has taught many old timer politicians that we the people are a strong and undervalued resource -- look at how much campaign money has been raised $10, $20, $100 at a time And they are beginning to realise that it really is the voters who decide, not the money.

Katrina was a tragic eye-opener for me and many other Americans. I sincerely hope Iowa turns out better.

[Frugal Nurse]

gg, earthymom and janelane- you've given me some food for thought here.

I too am a bit scared about what will come in the future.
My heart goes out to the farmers who have lost thier crops- I hate to loose one tomato plant. So I could imagine the impact.

I don't know why corn and gas are linked in price. Is corn used to produce gasoline?
Or are we talking about the veggie cars.

I'm gonna do some reading up on that.

All I can sayis ... I'm gonna increase my garden size this fall and get ready for bigger planting.

Scared outta my mind.

[Russ]

gg, earthymom and janelane- you've given me some food for thought here.

I too am a bit scared about what will come in the future.
My heart goes out to the farmers who have lost thier crops- I hate to loose one tomato plant. So I could imagine the impact.

I don't know why corn and gas are linked in price. Is corn used to produce gasoline?
Or are we talking about the veggie cars.

I'm gonna do some reading up on that.

All I can sayis ... I'm gonna increase my garden size this fall and get ready for bigger planting.

Scared outta my mind.

Yes, they produce ethanol with corn.
Yes, it keeps farmers working and gives them a nice cash crop. However, if you use E85 (ethanol) you have to use more of it to produce the same BTU's as gasoline. So, the price has to be considerably lower to make it cost effective, BUT it does reduce our dependency on oil.

E85 is an alcohol fuel mixture that typically contains a mixture of up to 85% denatured fuel ethanol and gasoline or other hydrocarbon by volume. On an undenatured basis, the ethanol component ranges from 70% to 83%. E85 as a fuel is widely used in Brazil and Sweden and is becoming increasingly common in the United States, mainly in the Midwest where corn is a major crop and is the primary source material for ethanol fuel production; however as yet, there are about 1500[1] filling stations selling E85 to the public in the US, and, until recently, only three in Canada.[

[MVS0122]

This has been on my mind a lot. I'm in Iowa right in the middle of the two bad floods - one just crested and one is expected to early next week. I've been sandbagging for four days now and the destruction is heartbreaking and scary. Early reports for Cedar Rapids alone are over $736 million and they still have a lot more to figure in.

My BIL is a farmer and he just told me a few minutes ago he's giving up on corn this year - his whole crop he planted is gone and it's too late to replant. He said he can still get something else in the ground as long as it stays dry here.

Our power is expected to go out and our water supply may or may not be OK - it really made me think about how lucky I am to have pre-planned even a little bit of stockpiling etc thanks to you ladies (and men!) and for those of you who have mentioned spouses not being on board with that plan, here is a great example for them!

[Frugal Nurse]

gg,
Good point - I nearly missed that too.
Here it is from the link

In response to the rains, investors have driven up corn prices to levels never seen before. By Wednesday afternoon, corn was trading above $7 per bushel -- an astonishing 75 percent rise since last June. Just three years ago, a bushel of corn fetched less than $2. The same factors have ramped up soy prices as well.

I was strolling along that article and clicked on the link for you tube The World According to Monsanto http://youtube.com/watch?v=CMleWZXhi6s

Shocking to say the least. But getting into that topic will highjack this thread. don't want to do that.

Russ... thank you! I thought the corn was related to the veggie car thing.
Still learning

[Lady_V]

food goes up... gas goes up... oil goes up...

but -- you know what they say about things that go up? they always come down... always, in one way or another, maybe just not for the reasons or ways people expect...

the gas prices keep going up... people will figure out ways to reduce their use of it... the prices will still go up because the gas man is trying to compensate for lost income... and in that vicious circle, it will get to the point where people just -can't- afford it anymore and the gas man has priced himself out of income all together... then he will have 2 choices; keep things the way they are and hope that eventually we will get tired of pedaling our not-so-large-butts around... or he will lower the price, either way, what people pay for gas will go down..

same with houses, they were so over-priced because builders had huge sell-price dreams... they sat empty for how long? ...houses are now less than they were.

food...well food can be touchy, the cost of growing the food won't change, it will still cost the same to drop a seed in the dirt and wait for it to grow... what increases is the labor, packaging, and transportation... so, people will learn to grow food at home and not pay for the hefty airfare for bananas from Ecuador or pears from China We'll see more local markets, people will buy locally, and the prices they pay will go down because the only mode of transportation the produce had was from the farmers backyard to the front yard...

before we throw in the towel, think inside the box, think outside the box, flip the box, stand on it... whatever! let no corner of the box go unseen... there is always something

[earthymom]

This has been on my mind a lot. I'm in Iowa right in the middle of the two bad floods - one just crested and one is expected to early next week. I've been sandbagging for four days now and the destruction is heartbreaking and scary. Early reports for Cedar Rapids alone are over $736 million and they still have a lot more to figure in.

My BIL is a farmer and he just told me a few minutes ago he's giving up on corn this year - his whole crop he planted is gone and it's too late to replant. He said he can still get something else in the ground as long as it stays dry here.

Our power is expected to go out and our water supply may or may not be OK - it really made me think about how lucky I am to have pre-planned even a little bit of stockpiling etc thanks to you ladies (and men!) and for those of you who have mentioned spouses not being on board with that plan, here is a great example for them!

Do keep us posted on how its going. I hope your power isn't out. Stay safe and know you're in our hearts, minds, and prayers.

[earthymom]

gg,
Good point - I nearly missed that too.
Here it is from the link



I was strolling along that article and clicked on the link for you tube The World According to Monsanto http://youtube.com/watch?v=CMleWZXhi6s

Shocking to say the least. But getting into that topic will highjack this thread. don't want to do that.

Russ... thank you! I thought the corn was related to the veggie car thing.
Still learning

Thanks for this link. Rather scary.