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Post by curiousgeorge on Sept 15, 2009 12:38:39 GMT
Here's a little practical info on what effect climate/weather has on agriculture. Important if you happen to be in agriculture or trade commodities, and eventually important to the general public in several ways. This year we have a record wheat crop nationally; however, the tested protein levels are down significantly from the average. What does that mean and why are those levels lower? Well, it means farmers get paid less per bushel, among other things; including the downstream effects resulting from that. Why lower levels? - Partly cooler weather, partly fertilizer per plant due to high yield. Complicated isn't it. "What caused these low protein levels? Producers haven't really switched varieties. "The big culprit was the cool summer, not enough stress. The crop doesn't want to quit growing," Peterson said. At Wilton Farmers Union Elevator, manager Brian Guderjahn said he believes the problem is when yields are this big -- 55 or 60 bushels per acre instead of 40 -- there is less fertilizer per plant. " Ref: www.dtnprogressivefarmer.com/dtnag/common/link.do?symbolicName=/free/news/template1&paneContentId=5&paneParentId=70104&product=/ag/news/topstories&vendorReference=81adb8a8-9bec-43c0-ac3c-07dea59a884d
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Post by sigurdur on Sept 15, 2009 17:26:53 GMT
The cool summer has caused crop maturity to be quit delayed. There is the hint of frost in the next 10 days and the grain markets are responding to that hint.
Now, for all you AGW folks, do you really think we have to worry about warmth? OR is the HUGE threat cooling.
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Post by curiousgeorge on Sept 15, 2009 18:15:49 GMT
The cool summer has caused crop maturity to be quit delayed. There is the hint of frost in the next 10 days and the grain markets are responding to that hint. Now, for all you AGW folks, do you really think we have to worry about warmth? OR is the HUGE threat cooling. I would hope that folks read the link I gave, and also generally pay more attention to real world impacts instead of hyperventilating over obsure modeling and assorted studies. But, I realize it's a lot more fun to argue over ppm, ice cubes, and political leanings than it is to argue over bushels, bales and pork bellies . Just to drive your point home here's a different source that gives details - www.agriculture.com/ag/weather/index.jhtml?pagenav=marketPartial quote: At various times during this growing season, I have chronicled the fact that this year's U.S. corn crop was one of the slowest maturing crops ever recorded, but was generally a bit faster than years like 1993 and 1996. Data released this week though shows the crop has fallen further off the pace, to the point where I would now score it as THE slowest maturing crop in at least the past two decades (and very likely a lot longer than that). Just twelve percent of the Nation's corn crop was rated as mature (and thus safe from frost) as of September 13, which was five percentage points behind last year's slow crop and an amazing 25 percentage points behind the five-year average. " endquote. Have a nice day & keep your pantry stocked. ;D
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