While for many farmers, drought causes severe economic hardship, a new study of California farmers shows that some of them are doing very well economically in spite of over four years of drought, according to an article in AgWeb yesterday.  Some of the profits come from the surging value of crops like almonds, while others come from tapping into sinking groundwater levels.

In the Southeast, drought is a boon for construction workers and outdoor recreation due to the absence of rainy days, and for agricultural producers who irrigate, the lower humidity values can reduce disease and pest issues, leading to lower costs of inputs like pesticides.

Source: https://www.ars.usda.gov/is/graphics/photos/apr13/d186-2.htm
Source: https://www.ars.usda.gov/is/graphics/photos/apr13/d186-2.htm