U.S Soil Is Extremely Dry
Winter wheat under the "poor or very poor" category increased by 14% across the country compared to last year.
The United States plays an essential role in the worldwide food market- it is one of the top exporters of food crops globally. The impacts of the climate change crisis, however, are affecting several crop-producing regions nationwide.
America is witnessing a major intensification drought in the crop belts. Winter wheat is facing the highest level of moderate to severe drought in two decades. Some of the grain fields are getting so dry that plants are losing growth, and fertilizers are draining from the soil. Likewise, the nation's corn belt is in a similar state of distress.
As per USDA's fall list of winter wheat quality, only a small percentage of wheat plantations are rated as good or excellent across the states— 22% in Kansas, 4% in Texas, and 11% in Oklahoma. Overall, only 28% of the U.S. winter wheat crop is in outstanding or excellent condition, marking one of the crop's worst beginnings in years. The percentage of "poor or very poor" winter wheat in the country was assessed at 35%, a 14% increase compared to last year. While wheat plantations can thrive in versatile soil types and climates, it is most suitable in temperate locations with an average annual rainfall of 12 to 36 inches. Unfortunately, the terrible droughts are compromising nine out of every ten acres of winter wheat fields in the U.S. It has also impacted Kansas, the highest wheat-producing state in the country. According to Gary Millershaski, chairman of the Kansas Wheat Commission, the wheat belt is so dry that enhancing output with fertilizers is impossible.
The central and southern Plains in the United States are the main concentrations of winter wheat production. Sown during winter and harvested in the spring, farmers are busy wrapping up the plantation period. The increasing dryness of the soil put wheat crops at risk of not growing even until the harvest season, threatening the entire country's wheat production and supply.
Final Thoughts
The United States has not been able to relive the old glory of having 6.8 million farms (1935) since fall seasons during the 1970s. Recent surveys show there are only around 2.01 million U.S. farms at present with popular staples like corn, peaches, and apples already on risk radar. These problems are largely a result of the increasing climate change crisis. The world will have to change the unsustainable ways of farming to avert the foreseeable catastrophe. We will need to take bold measures against global warming to save both farms and global food security. This is where Regenerative Organic Farming will play a major role.
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