Flooding across the midwest last month has taken a large toll on the agricultural community. In fact, some say much worse than the current U.S. - China trade war which is concurrently happening. According to one report, the flooding has caused significant delays in barges carrying goods down the Mississippi River:
CHICAGO, April 25 (Reuters) - Farm supplier CHS Inc has dozens of loaded barges trapped on the flood-swollen Mississippi River near St. Louis - about 500 miles from the company's two Minnesota distribution hubs.The barges can't move - or get crucial nutrients to corn farmers for the spring planting season - because river locks on the main U.S. artery for grain and fertilizer have been shuttered for weeks. High water presents a hazard for boats, barges and lock equipment.Railroads have also been plagued by delays from winter weather and flooding in the western Midwest, further disrupting agricultural supply chains in the nation's bread basket.The transportation woes are the latest headache for a U.S. agricultural sector reeling from years of slumping profits and the U.S.-China trade war, and they threaten to cut the number of acres of corn and wheat that can be planted this year.
The shipments impact the quality of the fertilizer among other parameters needed to ensure a healthy season of crops. Agricultural companies are taking a massive hit on their bottom line. Flooding across the Midwest has caused major concern for investors who try to determine the value of the company based on agricultural output.
As if that were not enough of a blow to the farming sector, many wells across the midwest were flooded during the massive storms which have now resulted in groundwater contamination by runoff from nearby farmland:
S.T. LOUIS (AP) — More than 1 million private wells that supply drinking water in mostly rural parts of the Midwest could face the risk of contamination from floodwater, posing a health concern that could linger long after the flooding subsides.
Major flooding along the Missouri and Mississippi rivers and several smaller waterways has inundated states in the middle of America, from the Canadian border south to Kentucky. The National Weather Service has warned that with snowmelt in northern states only beginning, the threat of additional flooding persists well into spring.
The high water and swift current carries raw sewage from overburdened treatment plants, animal waste and pesticides from farm fields, and spilled fuel.
“Whatever was on the land is in the water now,” said Steve May, assistant chief of the Missouri Bureau of Environmental Epidemiology.
Contaminated water can carry bacteria such as E. coli that can cause gastrointestinal illness, reproductive problems and neurological disorders, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Infants, young children, pregnant women, elderly people, and people with compromised immune systems are particularly vulnerable.
The National Ground Water Association, a trade group for the industry that includes well systems, said there are 1.1 million private wells in 300 flooded counties in 10 states: Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota and Kentucky.
The process of recovery starts with input (financial aid) from the federal government. Over the past month, the recovery has started to begin with public education to farmers and farming corporation. Events like the webinar I hyperlinked.
The potential damage from flooding like that seen across the Midwest over the last few months is incomprehensible. Obviously, the immediate threat is to the drinking water for millions of people. Where are they supposed to get water from? Why are we not hearing about the crisis out in the west? The contaminated wells are not easily cleaned and need to be brought to the attention of other Americans. These problems should be an opportunity to highlight the need for proper infrastructure spending and government support. Instead, the story of flooding has taken a back seat to news about other significant problems which remain unchanged.
Related Blog Posts:
Soybean Farmers Are Storing Too Much Soybean, Although Chemical Industry Is Greenlighting Trade Deals?
How many cows are needed to generate 50,000 tons of beef exports?
Trade War Hurts Farmers -- From The Farmer's Mouth Directly
"Trade Not Aid" -- The Answer For Trade War!
Parameters: Tariffs Affect Trade In Both Directions -- In And Out Of The USA
Parameters: Steel And Aluminum Tariffs Are Not Isolated - They Are Tied To Trading Of Other Vital Goods
No comments:
Post a Comment