US Drought Threatens Mississippi River
B. McPherson
A small increase in atmospheric temperature leads to big weather changes.
The continuing drought in the US has the Mississippi River
drying up. The Army Corps of Engineers is busy dredging the river in an attempt
to keep the commercial traffic going. They are removing rocks from the river
bed in an attempt to gain two feet of clearance for freight barges. If they are
successful, traffic may continue this month but if rain is not forthcoming,
February could see a shut down of fully loaded barge traffic that can now
navigate the river as far as Illinois.
The engineers have already released water from a lake to
bolster the river levels. While the Missouri River is a tributary and a source
of water, it too is facing low levels. Various laws protect the Missouri Basin
from “pirating” water from there.
The drought which devastated much of the American mid-west
agriculture last summer and the summer before looks as if it will continue.
Much of the winter wheat grown as late fodder for cattle has failed due to lack
of rain. Snow has fallen in the area, but not enough to make up for the bone
dry condition of the soil.
The continuing drought will have impact on those across the
world as corn and soybean crops were greatly reduced last summer. While both
crops are used in processed food for humans, much of the harvest goes for animal
feed and in the case of corn, to produce ethanol. Prices for many foods have
been inching up as the increased price of these commodities makes its way
through the supply pipeline.
Those agencies which buy food to help prevent famine are
finding increasing difficulty in being able to purchase sufficient supplies.
Protein sources are expected to increase dramatically in the
next few months as cattle, pigs and chickens feed on the more expensive grains.
Soy, also a good source of protein has had major crop failures in both the US
and Brazil.
Small changes in global temperatures can lead to big changes
in the weather. Last year, the US recorded its hottest year since records were
kept – over 100 years.
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