Wild weather hits United States crops

[magical thyme]

http://www.weatherzone.com.au/news/wild-weather-hits-united-states-crops/49701

Brett Worthington, Thursday May 1, 2014 - 12:29 EST

Wild weather throughout the United States' grain belt appears to have slashed crop yields, while tensions in the Ukraine are also worrying growers.

An Arctic cold snap earlier this year has combined with a lingering drought, tornados and a looming El Nino to conspire against grain growers.

"The Kansas wheat crop tour is underway, there's several groups taking a drive all through the state looking at the crops and they are finding that in many areas the yields, for now, appear to be somewhat behind last year, said Chicago grain broker Jack Scoville.

He says trade sanctions on Russia or exporting restrictions from Ukraine will have an impact on global supply and prices.

"If Russia decides they want to take the eastern part of Ukraine, then we'll probably have to retaliate, and that won't be good for anybody and I don't think anybody is too happy about that."

[onethatcares]

1. grow what you can,

wherever you can. give up the gluten as much as possible and you might be ok.

I'm waiting to see the produce prices this summer into fall due to the drought in California

[magical thyme]

2. I've already laid in a supply of frozen broccoli, cauliflower, and walnuts

and am expanding my garden again this summer, and trying double-digging for the first time. 3 different kinds of potatoes (red, blue and purple Peruvian, all high in phytochemicals), lots of eggplants and beets, broccoli, purple and orange cauliflower, along with heirloom tomatoes, micro mix for salad, sugar snap peas and snow peas.

Plus once the garden is well started, I'm going to experiment with making my own buckwheat flatbread. I already get locally grown buckwheat for pancakes.

After being spoiled for years with bountiful raspberries, last year was pathetic. However, the patch put out a bunch of new canes, so hopefully this year will be better. I put in 12 strawberry plants last year...hopefully they will come in big this year as well. I had several unbelievable peach years, but so far spring is too late and cold to be promising for this year.

[onethatcares]

3. I'm in a zone 9/10 area

and water is a problem because I don't want to use city water nor reclaimed for my garden.

I'm working on yellow squash, okra, sweet potatos, sweet and hot peppers and tomatos, red cabbage and brocolli at this point.

I started a small aquaculture experiment and have three different types of lettuce, eggplant and some tomatos in those grow beds.

I'm hoping for some rain to refill my water storage, here in west central coastal florida we haven't had what our usual rain is for a few years.

You're doing great on your agra

[magical thyme]

4. I forgot I'm trying sweet potatoes this year too

I'm zone 4-5, but there are a couple varieties that grow up here. We'll see...haven't grown them before. Any tips you can offer are welcome!

[onethatcares]

5. buy them at your grocer

cut them into pieces,plant pieces in garden, pick 4-5 months later.

That's all I know

[magical thyme]

6. that's how I do regular potatoes

except with a 3 month growing season.

The sweet potatoes I think come as roots. They're a faster maturing variety.