Eng-114 D1
Mrs. Lofton
Severe Drought
10 Oct 2012
In “Severe Drought Seen as Driving Cost of Food Up” (The New York Times, 25 July 2012), Annie Lowrey and Ron Nixon explain that due to the drought which is caused by the amount of heat the U.S. experienced this year; the prices of food will increase based on the lack of crops being produced.
The drought will cause an increase in groceries because the heat causes the production of crops to falter, leaving farmers with no way to make up for the lack of goods produced. The year 2012 has been the hottest since 1895, so that amplified amount of heat prevents rain and crops are lost due to lack thereof. A bill that could help make up for some of the losses by farmers has been presented to Congress, but hasn’t been passed due to its hefty price tag of 1 trillion. The sudden increase in food prices will be felt more so by families with lower or no income than anyone else. The drought is also bad for America’s business with other countries because enough goods aren’t being produced for our country, let alone to share and trade with others. Of the products ranging from dairy, beef, pork, and eggs they may all increase in the price range of 1 percent of this year’s price. The decrease in product may cause farmers to have to downgrade their stock because of the price it may cost to keep them fed.
Due to 2012 being an extremely hot year for the U.S. it is causing negative effects in the agriculture business. As long as there is a drought people can expect to pay more for the goods that are becoming hard to come by. Mother Nature is fighting against a very productive business for our country and without the power to control weather people have to pay or due