Much Of US South Experiencing Extreme Drought

Lake Travis (Austin, Texas), July 2009.  

Image credit:University of Nebraska at Lincoln, National Drought Center; Photo courtesy of Bridget Cameron, Texas Water Development Board.

Large swaths of US southern states are experiencing severe drought impacts, concentrated in the Lower Mississippi River watershed, and extending east through parts of Florida. Portions of Texas, as pictured, also continue to be adversely impacted. Production of tobacco, peanuts, soy, and wheat have fallen in roughly a dozen states; and, cattle producers are being forced to purchase hay instead of letting animals graze freely. If this keeps up, as it is predicted to by NOAA, cattle may be sold off. The typical pattern would be meat prices will go down, then rebound to higher levels than before and stay that way.
Secondary drought impacts on the US Congress of 2011 will be interesting to watch, given the emerging consensus view that Congress should reduce, not expand, the Federal deficit.

Article continues: Much Of US South Experiencing Extreme Drought - Let The Water Wars Begin