The High Costs of Drought…It’s Not Just About the Dough!
A new report from the University of California, Davis reveals the impacts for California as a result of the 2014 statewide drought conditions:
· Direct costs to agriculture total $1.5 billion.
· Total statewide economic cost is $2.2 billion.
· Loss of 17,100 seasonal and part-time jobs related to agriculture represents 3.8 percent of farm unemployment.
· 428,000 acres, or 5 percent, of irrigated cropland is going out of production due to the drought.
· Dairy and livestock losses from reduced pasture and higher hay and silage costs represent $203 million in revenue losses.
As reported in the New York Times, Timothy Richards of Arizona State University projects the following increases using sales data from the Nielsen Perishables Group:
· Avocados — 17 to 35 cents to as much as $1.60 apiece.
· Berries — 21 to 43 cents to as much as $3.46 for a container.
· Broccoli — 20 to 40 cents to as much as $2.18 a pound.
· Grapes — 26 to 50 cents to as much as $2.93 a pound.
· Lettuce — 31 to 62 cents to as much as $2.44 a head.
· Packaged salad greens — 17 to 34 cents to as much as $3.03 a bag.
· Peppers — 18 to 35 cents to as much as $2.48 a pound.
· Tomatoes — 22 to 45 cents to as much as $2.84 a pound.
And on another note….
· Increase in the number of cases of Valley Fever caused by the Coccidioides immitis fungus that inhabits the soil of dry areas, including the Southwestern United States, Mexico, and Central and South America. It can produce serious infections, pneumonia, and even death.
· Large tree die-offs in coniferous forests lead to bigger and hotter wildland fires. U.S. Forest Service and Interior may need to spend $1.8 billion fighting fires in 2014. However the agencies only have $1.4 billion available for firefighting.
· Drought also has an impact on the price of feed for livestock. Ranchers have been forced to thin their herds because of the increased cost of feed. This has resulted in a shortage of supply and increased prices for the consumer.
