High Food Prices Due to Drought And Fuel Cost
Higher food prices are coming according to farm experts. The higher cost of fuel, fertilizer and other nutrients due to the Middle East Conflict and the worsening drought across Alabama and other southeastern states are the main culprits.
The U.S. war with Iran has reduced the supply and raised the cost of nutrients needed for staple crops like corn, wheat and rice. Combine that with row after row of dusty fields due to a second year of significant drought and it sparks concern for the availability and cost of a variety of food items.
Small farmers especially are facing difficulties not only in growing crops but in providing food and basic nutrients for their animals.
The drought is the most worrisome issue according to farm experts. The current drought situation has been worsened by a shortfall of moisture during the winter months. Areas across Alabama were anywhere from 4 to 8 inches behind what they normally receive according to the Alabama Office of Water Resources.
The National Drought Integrated Information System's Drought.gov website indicates just above 77% of the state is at some level of drought. More than 25% is classified as severe or worse.
An Alabama Drought Declaration from ADECA states: "Water managers and public water system customers are encouraged to follow their local water system’s recommendations regarding water use. All water users should make prudent decisions on their water use to protect available resources."
Weeks without significant rain have left ponds and low fields dry during what should be the growing season, with fire danger climbing across the region. The Alabama Extension Service also points out, extended hot and dry conditions increase pest pressure in vegetable and fruit systems.
A Fire Alert is in effect for the entire state due to the spreading and worsening drought. Most of West Alabama now is in Moderate Drought and six of the states near 50 current wildfires are in West Alabama. The largest being over 16-hundred acres in East Perry County.
“With no measurable rain in sight, the continued extremely dry conditions create dangerous wildfire behavior,” said State Forester Rick Oates in a press release. “These conditions create the potential for fires to escape easily and spread rapidly, taking longer and more of the agency’s firefighting resources to contain. Fast-moving wildfires not only destroy property and forests but also threaten the lives of citizens and endanger firefighters.”
Alabama Weather Network Meteorologist James Spann is not offering much hope of significant rainfall for the near future. "Rain amounts in the forecast for this weekend should be light. For the next seven days, from now until Tuesday morning of next week, maybe a tenth of an inch for Birmingham and Tuscaloosa."
The situation has become so dire that the USDA recently designated 30 Alabama counties as primary disaster areas, opening access to loans that can help farmers replace lost livestock or equipment. Among the designated counties are Bibb, Geene, Hale, Marengo, Perry, Pickens, Sumter, and Tuscaloosa.
The National Climate Center sees little significant relief in sight in either the near or distant future with drought conditions forecasted to worsen heading into the summer months.
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