Spring Planting Lags Amid Drought and Climate Concerns
As of this week, only 49 percent of corn acres have been planted – trailing last year by more than 35 percent.
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Planters have started rolling at a faster pace than most of this wet spring season has allowed, but overall field efforts are still behind. As of this week, only 49 percent of corn acres have been planted – trailing last year by more than 35 percent.
Soybean planting is lagging behind 2021 by nearly the same amount, with around 30 percent of the crop committed to the soil.
Rain soaked many of the same locations across the U.S. again this week, hampering farmers eager to get started. Even Kansas rains couldn’t hold off worsening drought conditions which sank by nearly two points nationwide.
New Mexico’s Calf Canyon fire blazed across the 298,000 acre mark - making it the largest wildfire in state history. Lightning sparked additional blazes, which consumed more homes and vegetation. One hundred percent of the Land of Enchantment has been in some form of drought for the entirety of 2022.
Stuart Morris/Public Information Officer – Texas A&M Forest Service: “We are going to be on this for a while, unfortunately, and so the main thing is we are going to pace ourselves and get through this the best we can.”
The Lone Star State is suffering under the same excessive heat and tinder-dry conditions. Officials in Texas report efforts to contain a blaze near Abilene forced mandatory evacuations in and around the city of 125.000. Authorities across the country are expected to burn through all of their emergency funds before the year is over.
Adam Smith, Applied Climatologist/NOAA: “Some of these extremes lead to billion dollar disasters.”
E2 or Environmental Entrepreneurs launched an ad campaign this week aimed at raising awareness of the cost of climate change. The nonpartisan group of business leaders advocate for what they call good policy for both the economy and the environment.
2021 packed a wallop with wildfires, floods and tornadoes – adding to over four decades of grim climate disaster analysis unveiled at a virtual press event.
Adam Smith, Applied Climatologist/NOAA: (9:22 on clip) “You can see the bars are going up. That's a combination of increased exposure, more people more assets living in harm's way, increased vulnerability where we live, excuse me, where we build and how we build. And of course, climate change is certainly amplifying and supercharging.”
For Market to Market, I’m Josh Buettner.