U.S. Cattle Herd Is At A 61 Year Low And Organic Food Shortages Are Being Reported All Over America

zero hedge ^ | 1/23/14 | Tyler Durden

[Nachum]

Submitted by Michael Snyder of The Economic Collapse blog,

If the extreme drought in the western half of the country keeps going, the food supply problems that we are experiencing right now are only going to be the tip of the iceberg. As you will see below, the size of the U.S. cattle herd has dropped to a 61 year low, and organic food shortages are being reported all over the nation. Surprisingly cold weather and increasing demand for organic food have both been a factor, but the biggest threat to the U.S. food supply is the extraordinary drought which has had a relentless grip on the western half of the country. If you check out the U.S. Drought Monitor, you can see that drought conditions currently stretch from California all the way to the heart of Texas. In fact, the worst drought in the history of the state of California is happening right now. And considering the fact that the rest of the nation is extremely dependent on produce grown in California and cattle raised in the western half of the U.S., this should be of great concern to all of us.

A local Fox News report that was featured on the Drudge Report entitled "Organic food shortage hits US" has gotten quite a bit of attention. The following is an excerpt from that article...

Since Christmas, cucumbers supplies from Florida have almost ground to a halt and the Mexican supply is coming but it's just not ready yet.

And as the basic theory of economics goes, less supply drives up prices.

Take organic berries for example:

There was a strawberry shortage a couple weeks back and prices spiked.

Experts say the primary reasons for the shortages are weather and demand.

[Patriotic1]

I like the more natural methods that organic farming uses, but I rarely buy organic veggies. I spend my money on pastured meat and eggs, and pastured butter.

[Elsie]

He would have been about in the middle of this plot just below the memorial.

THIS one?

[Elsie]

I took out 4-5 jackrabbits on the road between Escalante and Bryce one night.

It was really weird; like they were WAITING for a vehicle to come along so they could commit suicide!

[Elsie]

Here in Indiana, we had a fellow that was really worried about hitting deer; so he stopped at the store and got a pair of them there deer whistles ya put on yer bumper. He put ‘em on right in the parkin’ lot!

He only lived ‘bout 2 miles from the store; but before he got home, he’d hit 3 deer!!

The sheriff investigated and found he’d installed them blamed whistle things BACKWARD!

[Elsie]

Check out Joe’s homepage...

[Yosemitest]

The USDA does NOT have approval over what the farmer and his family use for themselves, or the neighbors he decides to give food to.
And if they decide to donate some funds to him, to lessen his burdens, that is between them and the farmer, and not the USDA.

[Yosemitest]

Now that's funny.
When ALL ELSE FAILS, read the instructions.

[Yosemitest]

I've known people in the military who SWORE that:

armadillos were JUST WAITING TO KAMIKAZE car and truck radiators.
(They always jump up, just before you hit them.)

[Elsie]

http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/armadillo.html