Posted on 07/18/2012 5:00:24 PM PDT by Olog-hai
Oppressive heat and a worsening drought in the U.S. Midwest pushed grain prices near or past records on Monday as crops wilted, cities baked and concerns grew about food and fuel price inflation in the world's top food exporter.
Soybean prices at the Chicago Board of Trade set a record high and corn closed near a record as millions of acres of crops seared in triple-digit heat in the Corn Belt. Corn fields have been plowed up in many locations for lack of rain. Now soybeans, which develop later than corn, are in the bull's eye.
"I get on my knees everyday and I'm saying an extra prayer right now," U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told reporters after briefing President Barack Obama. "If I had a rain prayer or a rain dance I could do, I would do it." …
Drought conditions now extend over more than 60 percent of the lower 48 states, the government said. The Department of Agriculture on Wednesday extended drought aid to an additional 39 counties designated as primary natural disaster areas, bringing such aid to a total of 1,297 counties across 29 states. …
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Great for Wisconsin! Know what you mean by the “holds up into Michigan.” Lake Michigan has a habit of eating the rain before it gets here. LOL
“So where have the hurricanes gone?”
Late July, Aug, Sept, are our worst hurricane months.
“I’m all for throwing some officials into the volcano to appease the gods.”
Instead of doing that, I’m going to speed up my canned veggie buying. I was waiting until later in the year so the cans would be as fresh as possible, but I think that’s a moot point. What was going to be canned is already in the cans for this year.
Mixing cans to make a soup is “canned fast food” - just heat and eat and based on what it is, add spices to boost flavor. I’m always thinking use as little fuel as possible.
Johnny, I don’t know if your culinary senses object to canned food but I’m using canned meat and canned veggies and canned soup as a source of food I can count on.
I guess we’ve been lucky in my niche of east central Minnesota. The feed corn behind my home is eight feet tall and loaded with ears. Have already had some great sweet corn from the local stand. It’s really early due to the warm spring.
Finally got an inch of rain today after two weeks of none with highs in the near to above 90’s. Next month’s water bill should be a whopper.
I’ll be praying for rain for you folks in the really bad drought areas. It’s like manna from heaven when it falls, and for that I am very thankful today.
Well, I also have forage stuff. Squirrel population is getting a little thin.....
I'm for eating the best I can eat with what is available.
If it is canned, I'll figure out how to use it. ;)
/johnny
We must be long lost sisters or soup sisters anyway. Ha!
I always stock up on canned veggies, soups and meats when they’re on sale. My hubby and son call me a hoarder when they look in the pantry. They’ll thank me if all heck breaks out!
I love good fresh food as much as the next person, but I also love the canned concoctions. Grew up on a lot of them. This one has me particularly interested as I like things spicy. I stocked up on canned green chiles at fifty cents a can the other day and will substitute for fresh:
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Patricias-Green-Chile-Soup/
I’ll also add some fresh jalapenos as they’re coming on big time in the garden. Yum.
On that note, one of the best meals I ever had was at 4am after a VERY long day... spaghetti MRE, cold, followed by a nap with a concrete curb for a pillow. To be awakened by the Major at 6am.
Mean old bastard let me sleep in. ;)
Situations determine appropriate food.
Downside is menu fatigue.
/johnny
I’ll be glad to give your some water. Last week was a 50 yr. flood here according to weather people.
I came downstairs last Wednesday with a film of water over my almost new Pergo floor. Something has screwed up with my chimney and 6 inches of rain in about 3-4 hours made it pile up in the box around the chimney and it came in my house.
Last year, where I am in Texas and across this state actually, there was no spring rain and no rain all summer. Everthing died. Now, at least where I am north of Houston, it is rain, rain, and more rain.
I do know how it is to have no rain, last year was terrible and I feel really bad about our states that need it now.
In all fairness, we have to blamne Obama. he pissed off 100 Billion to green enery projects. Wouldnt you have rather seen a few billion invested in Farming? and we all thought Obama was Moses. Why didnt he just travel thru the mid-west and do a few rain dances?
I just copied and saved that recipe.
My canned goods are mainly for preps but I use cans like the condensed cream of chicken soup in recipes now and canned diced tomatoes with the garlic, basil and oregano already in it is a base for almost all soups.
It’s mainly for prep food I need to get those canned veggies now before they go up higher. I’ll get some canned green chiles.
Yes, let your hubby and son call you a hoarder, then, when there is no food to buy, charge them a dime for each meal for calling you names. You’ll get rich.
Oh my! That sounds so bad on a new floor. Can’t imagine how frantic you must’ve been cleaning up that mess. NO FUN!
We actually had 100 year record rain in June...25” or so. It wasn’t pleasant at the time, but I think it gave our trees and such a good foundation for July’s lack of rain and high temps.
We’re back into the fryer for the weekend just as the pole beans are coming on. Time to make another mosquito donation. I call them 0bama’s. Wasn’t my blood, sweat and tears. It was Moochele in her $600.00 garden shoes that gave me those beans. Arghh!
Didn’t realize you were a Texan. That probably was a wimpy recipe considering the good stuff you have available there.
Good flavors are good flavors so thank you for being so generous. You’re a sweetie. I use the Rotel habanero for a lot of casseroles or hot dishes as we call them - and they are hot - hee-hee.
We have a lot of dimes left over from my last garage sale. Perhaps the boys better earn some! They can vacuum for the next month. LOL
I’m anxious to see if the fresh sweet corn goes for $2.50 a dozen like it did late in the season last year. Doubt it, but if it does I’ll be blanching and freezing like crazy.
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