Louisiana spillway opened to relieve Mississippi River, spare cities from flooding [protect Orleans]

The Army Corps of Engineers begins diverting water to a flood plain, a move that will slowly swamp farmland and small towns to relieve pressure on levees protecting New Orleans and Baton Rouge.

Reporting from New Orleans— In a last-ditch move to relieve stress on levees burdened by Mississippi River floodwaters, the Army Corps of Engineers on Saturday opened a spillway to gradually inundate a major floodplain for only the second time in nearly 40 years, funneling water over farmland and small communities to save New Orleans and Baton Rouge, La., from inundations.

At 3 p.m. CDT, a large crane lifted the metal teeth on one of the Morganza Spillway's 125 gates, marking the first time in the nation's history that three of the Mississippi River spillways were opened at the same time. The New Madrid floodway in Missouri and the Bonnet Carre spillway in Louisiana were opened earlier this month as the river reached record or near-record levels in several states.

Yes, all the good stuff. The confluence of the rivers is where it's at ~ I think it has something to do with the regularity of the flow of water (like a tropical rain forest), the amount of Sunlight expected in the growing season, the length of the growing season, nutrients, soil conditions, etc.

It does extend North South East and West from there ~ but not so far you couldn't drive across the territory in a few hours.

Pinto beans, and those fake beans which are actually peas we call Soy Beans, are much more resilient and can be grown in many places ~ however, when it comes to taste and texture, the "fancy beans" are the premiere product! I'm a little concerned with the bean fields in Mississippi County Arkansas though. They have several superior varieties.

Lentils are peas ~ they come in different colors. I can't tell the difference between Canadian lentils and Indian lentils, but some Indians tell me you can always tell ~ because Canadian lentils are superior.

Big difference ~ all peas (lentils) and beans are legumes, but so is a catalpa tree. They end up having different ranges and are subject to predation by different bugs.

North America is prime bean country, in general, since we have only the Colorado bean beatle to worry about (in theory). Northern locations have fewer of those than Southern locations, so it's not the crisp nights that gives the beans their snap, but the absence of Colorado bean beatles.

The best green beans come from Southern Indiana and are packed by Morgan packing company under a variety of private brands.

The "fancy beans" ~ the varietals that have nutty flavors, and meat like textures, have a far more limited growing range. It's down there in the Delta ~ about 6 states have the perfect conditions they demand ~ cool nights are not among them.

Remember, beans originated in the tropics and subtropics. They were domesticated by Meso American and Midwestern Indians over thousands of years. Modern science has improved a couple of varieties to grow in more rigorous climates (like the Dakotas and Minnesota). But hundreds of other types are found in commercial quantities only in the Delta.

Notice the focus on "dry beans" ~ then there are "the others" and USDA doesn't even bother counting.

There are reasons for that.

Notice, though, they count "dry bean farms" ~ that right there tells you that even with the most common species (pinto) it's a very specialized business requiring special knowledge and having special skills.

I like to raise beans that you never see in the market. Sometimes they don't grow. Sometimes they over produce. I've grown GIANT butterbeans. If you have an allergy to some bean protein, these suckers will draw it out Fur Shur, but they taste great. Last time we grew them we ate them like cookies.

You do known your beans...... So do I because I like to eat them and over the years have tried to learn how and where they are grown. Yes they are originally from the tropics. Same as corn they have taken to being bred to produce in colder climates too

I like dried beans....made some dried lima beans today
But my favorite is fresh pole beans steamed then slathered with butter or olive oil plus some salt and pepper

Agreed.

N.O. is below sea level on the coast.

It’s protection, the wetlands cannot be replenished because of the dyke system used to protect the city.

N.O. will cease to exist no matter what we do.

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Beans, Beans, and more Beans