American Farmers Face a “Perfect Storm” – Get Ready
(WatchDogReport.org) – Once a farmer sows the seeds used to grow crops, they need two things: water and fertilizer. Experts believe there could be a shortage of both for the 2022 growing season, which could lead to shortfalls in supply and increased prices on store shelves.
Due to soaring #Fertilizer costs and chemical shortages, and protracted drought conditions, #Farmers are now planting different and smaller quantities of certain crops.
Some experts believe forecasts for the 2022 growing season may be overly ambitious. https://t.co/W4jhX0LYwB
— The Epoch Times (@EpochTimes) May 5, 2022
When Russian President Vladimir Putin began his war with Ukraine, it resulted in international sanctions against the country (and its ally Belarus), including many of its exports. His country is the largest exporter of fertilizer in the world — plant food, that is.
Potassium, also known as potash, is important for growing healthy, high-quality plants, and 21% of the world’s supply comes from Russia, which could be disrupted this year. US farmers rely on other nations for 93% of what they use, the vast majority of that is from Canada, but the two nations under sanctions account for 12% of it.
According to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as of May 3, 2022, almost all of the western half of the country is still suffering from moderate to severe drought conditions. In total, approximately 56.6% of the population of the 50 states plus Puerto Rico are living in areas experiencing “abnormal dryness.”
Between the droughts and potential potassium supply issues, it’s likely farmers will experience hardships this year, which will, in turn, affect customer prices.
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