Consumers could see prices rise as Western droughts worsen
By Kathi on Aug 11, 2021 | 04:31 AM IST
LODI, Calif. — As Curtis Thomas stepped out of his truck
and planted his boots on the dried yellow grass in California, he was reminded
of how hard his job of raising cattle is.
Thomas, who has been in the business for more than a
decade, said he’s always forced to adapt to the constantly changing weather
situations.
"If you don’t have water, you don’t have
anything," Thomas said as he opened a gate to let the cows roam free on
his land. "I think this is the worst so far, it’s gotten progressively
worse."
Thomas is one of the many ranchers dealing with the drought
conditions. However, he said, other farmers have it much worse.
"I can’t afford to be hauling water to those animals
every day, so I had to make some arrangements and change my game plan," he
said.
Thomas said he was forced to move his cattle because his
well dried up on another plot of land. Though Thomas leased the land he had his
cattle on, he said he’s now out the money he spent because the cattle can’t
survive there.
Other ranchers, Thomas said, have been forced to sell off
their cows for major losses, creating a surplus of beef.
California leads the United States in agriculture
production; however, the industry continues to be impacted by the weather
conditions.
Nine Western states are dealing with exceptional drought
conditions, according to the Department of Agriculture.
Thomas said the drought conditions and wildfires are making
things more difficult this year.
"You reach a point where you’re just flat out, you
have no more native pasture," Thomas said.
California Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross said it’s
possible food prices could rise due to the worsening conditions. However, since
the growing season is far from over, she said it could be too early to tell how
much prices could rise and how much of the supply could be impacted.
"I think it’s too early to say this could be lasting.
It could be a surge and then we’ll taper off," Ross said.
Hundreds of thousands of acres have also been burned by the
wildfires in the West.
Ross said the current drought conditions are similar to
ones in 2015, where the state lost billions of dollars in potential profit.
"Over a three-year period of time, over $5 billion in
losses of crops that weren't being produced, marketed and harvested," she
said.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that beef
prices could rise by another 4% by the end of the year and fresh fruit prices
could rise by another 6%.