The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), reported that half of the United States was impacted by drought or extremely dry weather during the past year. While the statistics and impacts of drought can fluctuate from week to week, one thing remains constant: weather has a significant impact on farmers and influences the price of food.

As soil moisture dwindles, crops productivity falls. Droughts can also disrupt the planting and harvesting schedules of plants, resulting in lower yields and making plants more vulnerable to pests and diseases.

Dr. Dennis Todey is a climatologist with the USDA Midwest Climate Hub in Ames, Iowa, and said the full impact of this year’s drought is not yet known.

“There are places that will see significantly reduced yields.  But at this point supply does not seem to be a major problem.  The drought developed later in the season and may hit soybeans more.  Earlier in the season conditions were manageable for crops overall,” he said.

Where irrigation is available, growers were able to irrigate their food crops, so the yields were not affected as much, Dr. Todey said. Row crops such as grains and soybeans are irrigated less often.

However, the drought could cause the prices of meat and dairy products to increase because the cost of animal feed will be higher, reported Clevland.com, a news and information site based in Ohio.

But drought is not the only issue. USDA’s climate tracking is witnessing storm events with greater impacts – more damaging wind or hail events and heavier precipitation, Dr. Todey said. This weather impacts food supplies and prices at the store. For instance, the prices of vegetables, nuts, and berries are higher this year because of flooding in California, according to USA Today.  A combination of factors including drought, labor costs, war in Ukraine and trade disruptions led to record-high food prices in 2022, NPR reported.

Managing extreme events is challenging climatologists, researchers and agricultural producers. Farmers are proactively researching and implementing a range of practices including diversifying cropping systems, selecting crops better suited to drought conditions, and adopting soil management practices such as incorporating cover crops into rotation, in defense of conditions mother nature throws their way.

“Soils are our first line of defense against changing climate conditions,” Dr. Todey said. “Improving soil management has to be part of every operation. Changing rainfall with larger events and more rain when we have no crop canopy are also making soil loss worse. Improving soil management including reducing tillage and cover cropping can help mitigate soil loss issues.”

Weather has a direct impact on how food is grown and can affect the price of food. Farmers and scientists continue to develop methods to lessen the impact of weather and climate change.

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The month of May was the second wettest on record for the United States, so it is difficult for farmers to till the fields and plant seeds. Farmers have coined the phrase #noplant19 to describe this year. A small town in Illinois had a prevent plant party. 

The USDA Crop Progress report showed that each state was significantly behind on their planting percentage as of June 10. Farmers are usually done planting all corn by now, but only 83 percent has been planted this year. And it is too late in the season in most states to plant any more.  Corn is used as feed for beef and dairy cattle, pigs and chickens. It is also an ingredient in many foods.  

“The farm-gate price of corn, beans, wheat is such a small percentage of our food cost. Processing, packaging, transportation and handling is the highest percentage. Yes, it will have some impact on the price but for the most part, I don’t think the consumer is going to see any impact,” said Dr. Kim Anderson, a professor and extension specialist at Oklahoma State University with a focus on wheat and export markets. 

Only 60 percent of the U.S. soybean crop was planted compared to the five-year average of 92 percent. Soybeans are used in animal feed, cooking oils and ingredients in many foods. Other crops such as cotton and sorghum are also behind schedule.  

Dr. Anderson explained that not only are the prolonged rains causing problems to be able to plant fields, the humidity that accompanies these storms is also hurting the wheat crop that is growing and needs to be harvested at this time of year. Because of this, there will be about a 15% reduction in wheat production in Oklahoma for farmers.  

Wheat typical to this region is used in baking yeasts and all-purpose flour to make bread. 

“With the high humidity, even if it’s dry enough to get in the field, the wheat is not drying out so that we can harvest it,” he said. The quality of the wheat crop in some areas is so poor, some farmers have basically said they are waiting for the fields to dry out just so they can take a match to their crop.  

The USDA raised its price forecast for corn by 50 cents per bushel to $3.80 and raised the soybean price by 15 cents per bushel to $8.25, according to a Meatingplace article. Smithfield Foods Inc., a U.S. global packaged foods and meat company, imported corn from Brazil because they expect a shortage of corn in the U.S., according to a Rueters report. Livestock producers are going to feel the increased costs more directly than consumers, Anderson said.  

“If we get poor quality wheat — in other words we get sprouting — then that could limit the price increase in corn because they could substitute wheat for corn and we’re going to need to get rid of that feed wheat,” Anderson said in regards to feeding cattle wheat instead of corn.  

Stormy weather and mass flooding have made this year difficult for farmers and ranchers. Some crops will not be planted because of the weather. Consumers may see a slight increase in food prices as a result. 

The post Could Heavy Rains Affect Food Prices? appeared first on Best Food Facts.

1. Should I Wash Fresh Fruit in Vinegar? – Fruits and vegetables are important components to any diet, so we’re glad to know that you’re concerned with how to clean your apple before taking a bite.
2. Consumer Question – Is It OK to Use Leftover Onions? – We first received questions about this topic back in 2011…and four years later it still seems to be a concern for some of you. Luckily, we were able to chat with Dr. Ruth MacDonald from Iowa State University to get some advice on what to do with that half of an onion you have in your fridge.
3. What’s Healthier? Pork Bacon or Turkey Bacon? – Trying to be health-conscious when it comes to your morning protein? We spoke with a meat science expert to find out about all things bacon – including whether turkey bacon is actually healthier.
4. Egg Prices on the Rise – Earlier this year several cases of avian influenza broke out across the United States affecting millions of hens. Not only were poultry farmers affected, but everyday consumers such as yourselves. We sought out some answers in regards to fluctuating egg prices.
5. The Beef with Hormones – and 8 Other Foods You Might Find Them In – We’ve noticed that consumers are increasingly curious about what goes into producing their food, with hormones in meat being a top concern. We reached out to an expert to learn more about hormones in beef and a few other foods we don’t usually think of as containing hormones.
6. What Foods are Genetically Modified? – When it comes to the food we’re eating, many consumers are curious about genetically modified foods and where they are found. We put together an easy-to-understand infographic explaining which foods are actually genetically modified and commercially available in the United States.
7. Is Apple Cider Vinegar a Health Cure-All? – Miracle health cures are all over the web these days and one that we saw frequently this year was apple cider vinegar, which has been said to aid with diabetes, high cholesterol and even cancer as well as other diseases. We reached out to a registered dietitian and nutrition expert to get the facts on the nutritional benefits of regular apple cider vinegar consumption.
8. Spittin’ Seeds? Not with Seedless Watermelons – Contrary to popular belief, seedless watermelons are not the product of genetic modification. We checked in with Dr. Kevin Folta to learn more about the process behind seedless watermelons.
9. Understanding Processed Foods – Are processed foods really bad for us or just misunderstood? To better understand processed foods, we spoke with nutrition scientist Connie Weaver, PhD, from Purdue University.
10. Why is the United States the Only Country to Allow Hormones in Food Animal Production? – Spoiler alert: It’s not.

The post 2015: The Year in Review appeared first on Best Food Facts.

What affects world food prices?

Dr. Bellemare:

Episodes of extreme temperature drive increases in food prices. There’s a clear causal relationship between climate and food prices and crop yields. Drought and temperature are correlated. However, more than drought, it’s actually episodes of extreme temperature which result in higher food prices.

Drought is a really poor predictor of crop losses. What’s a very good predictor of crop losses is temperature patterns. The more days you have temperatures above 28 degrees C (82 degrees F), the worse you can expect crops to fare, which increases food prices. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences actually show when temperatures rise above about 28 degrees C, you see a sharp drop in crop yields for about every major commodity, be it maize (corn), soybeans, wheat or rice.

Does the price of oil affect food prices?

Dr. Bellemare:

Yes, the price of oil also affects food prices. When we buy food, we’re not just buying the commodity – we’re paying for transportation and labor costs. We have to pay people to grow it and harvest it, along with transportation and processing. The price of oil affects transportation costs, which then affects the price of food.

Does the price of land affect food prices?

Dr. Bellemare:

The price of land does affect food prices. Land is one of the core inputs in the production of food. However, I don’t think land is as much of an important driver of food prices lately. Really, it’s transportation costs, labor costs, and a little bit of scarcity.

If food prices are high in other parts of the world, will that affect food prices in the United States?

Dr. Bellemare:

The two are correlated; there’s no denying that if the price of food rises in the rest of the world, it will also affect prices in the United States. However, the causal direction of what’s going on is the opposite. When we have poor crops here in the United States, we can expect prices to go up in the rest of the world. As a reaction to those higher food prices in the United States, what happens in foreign countries, where food security is not what it could be, food prices tend to increase. When those countries impose export bans or restrictions on free trade to make sure they have enough food for their own citizens, the unintended consequence is that they tend to drive food prices up even more. It can become a spiraling bubble. In that sense, food prices elsewhere might affect what’s going on here in the United States, but it would be a far-reaching consequence.

Is there a solution to increasing food prices?

Dr. Bellemare:

We need to come up with drought- and extreme temperature-resilient grains and feeds with better technologies. These technologies are genetically modified (GMO) crops, and unfortunately, many people have a knee-jerk reaction when they hear that term. But, perhaps the solution to hunger is through biotechnology and GMO crops.

Here are some tips on how to handle rising food prices from Dr. Helen Jensen, an economics professor at Iowa State University: How are American Consumers Handling Rising Food Costs?

_{“110303_CNPP_LSC_0161” by USDA is licensed under CC BY.}

The post What Causes the Price of Food to Rise? appeared first on Best Food Facts.

Just how extensive is this drought?

Dr. Hurt:

“About 64 percent of the continental United States is experiencing drought which surpasses the 1956 drought. We have to look back to the 1930s to find something that equals this one. I think it’s safe to say that over 100 years, this would be a top-5 drought.”

How has the drought affected prices for crops (commodities) so far?

Dr. Hurt:

“There are increases across the board:

• Corn prices are up about 60 percent
• Oat prices are up about 35-to-40 percent
• Soybeans are trading about 25 percent higher
• Wheat is up about 40 percent

“The wheat crop wasn’t highly impacted by the drought, but it is used, for example, as a substitute for corn in feeding farm animals so the price will go up as corn and soybeans come into shorter supply.”

What will the impact on food prices be and how quickly will consumers see it?

Dr. Hurt:

“Consumers will see higher prices for some foods more quickly than others. Foods that contain corn, soybeans, wheat and oats, for example, will rise in price relatively quickly. Meat price hikes will also occur but it will take a year or two for them to reach the consumer.

“When people hear that the price of corn has risen 60 percent they naturally assume there will be a similar increase in the price of a box of cornflakes. That’s not the case. The corn in a box of cornflakes represents only about 5 percent of its retail value. So, if corn prices go up 60 percent, the price of a box of cornflakes will go up about 3 percent.

“Foods such as bread, oatmeal, cooking oils, margarine and salad dressings will experience similar price increases because of shorter supplies of wheat, oats, and soybeans.

“As for meat prices, corn and soybeans are the primary ingredients farmers feed cows, pigs and chickens. Higher corn and soybean prices make it more expensive for farmers to feed these animals and will ultimately mean higher grocery store prices for ground beef, bacon and chicken breasts.  As the cost of feeding the animals, rises the profit realized by farmers decreases which results in fewer animals being raised. As the overall number of animals being raised decreases over time, the price of the products that come from them increases. In the case of this drought, that means we’ll see higher meat prices in 2013 and 2014.”

How will lower corn yields effect ethanol production and what will the impact be on fuel prices?

Dr. Hurt:

“In the six weeks starting in mid-June, the price of ethanol went up about 60-cents per gallon. When we consumers buy gasoline for our cars, about 10 percent of it is ethanol. So, that 60-cent increase in a gallon of ethanol results in about a 6-cent per gallon increase in the price of a gallon of gasoline. On an annualized basis that means we’ll be spending about $8 billion more for gasoline in the United States.”

_{Image: “Corn in drought, Western Kentucky, August, 2012” by CraneStation is licensed under CC BY 2.0.}

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