Crops
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Warmer temperatures in coffee-growing regions are expected to reduce the area that is suitable for growing coffee, according to an article published at Inc.com here. In addition to the decrease in cultivated area, pests and diseases are also expected to increase in a warmer climate. Grass food crops like wheat, sorghum, rice and corn are…
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The Georgia Farm Bureau has a nice video on the current status of the peanut harvest in Georgia. You can see it here at a link from Growing Georgia. As you’ll hear, the peanut yields this year have been OK but not great due to the hot and dry conditions that hit parts of the peanut-growing…
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According to a story posted this week in The Packer, “Drought, rain and hail in different parts of the country may take their toll on pumpkin supplies as Halloween nears.” The Northeast is the most likely to see shortages with a drought that has blanketed the region for most of the summer, reducing yields by…
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You may not know it, but Mars Chocolate, the maker of candy brands like M&M, Snickers, and Dove, employs a small team of meteorologists who are dedicated to analyzing the impacts of the weather on the chocolate business. Many other commodity-based companies as well as financial firms do the same thing to keep abreast of weather and…
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AgWeb reported this week that the costs of orange juice and coffee are both climbing due to extreme weather in Brazil. Drought conditions are driving up the costs of coffee beans in the coffee production areas while heavy rains in the citrus belt are hampering production of orange juice. Even the cost of sugar is…
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As I’ve posted in previous entries, parts of the Southeast have been suffering from a shortage of hay as drought stopped the growth of pasture and forage plants, especially in northwest Georgia and northeast Alabama. Armyworms have taken advantage of the weakened plants and have attacked in larger than usual numbers, further reducing the amount…
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Growing Georgia posted a story today on the state of Georgia’s upcoming pecan harvest. After Hurricane Hermine tracked through the southeastern part of the state, producers found many damaged trees and reductions in the number of nuts on the trees due to the winds from the storm. But University of Georgia Cooperative Extension pecan specialist Lenny…