Weather
Pasta prices rise after heavy rains, flooding prevents 1 million acres of durum wheat planting in North Dakota; state produces 75 percent of nation's finest pasta ingredient
The Associated Press; The Washington Post 2011-09-02
With states, towns short on cash and unemployment still high, 14-state drought now shrinking cattle herds, canceling fishing tourneys, triggering surges that cause blackouts
By Kim Severson and Kirk Johnson
The New York Times 2011-07-11
Year-in, year-out price tag of our increasingly volatile weather is $485 billion per year in the U.S. alone, up to 3.4 percent of our GDP
By Tara Thean
Time magazine 2011-06-27
Some 25 percent of Alabama poultry houses destroyed or damaged by tornadoes, likely killing millions of birds; state is No.3 chicken-producing state behind Arkansas, Georgia
By Scott Kilman
The Wall Street Journal. (may require subscription) 2011-04-28
Ponds are drying up and wildfires are burning grass as drought - the worst since 1967 in Texas region - stresses farmers already paying higher prices for fuel, fertilizer and feed
By Ana Campoy
The Wall Street Journal. (may require subscription) 2011-04-12
Food, water in short supply two days after 8.9-magnitude earthquake, resulting tsunami turned a strip of Japan into wreckage; PM calls it biggest crisis since WWII
By Chico Harlan and Rick Maese
The Washington Post 2011-03-13
With new varieties, researchers, agricultural agents hope to snatch portion of West Coast's $1 billion broccoli business; shoppers on East Coast would get fresher, cheaper vegetable
By Steve Szkotak
The Associated Press; Bloomberg 2011-02-21
China's severe drought causes drinking water shortage for people, livestock and threatens wheat crop; imports to replace shortfall in self-sufficient crop could drive prices higher
By Keith Bradsher
The New York Times 2011-02-08
In shift of focus, group launches WeatherBill, an insurance service for farmers; company already sells insurance against nasty weather to clients such as U.S. Open tennis tournament
By Tim Lloyd
Harvest Public Media; The Kansas City Star 2010-12-16
Hunger, disease plague Pakistan's flood survivors; disaster has killed at least 1,643, displaced 6 million, done billions of damage to agriculture, infrastructure
By Zeeshan Haider
Reuters 2010-08-29
Opinion: Beyond Blanche Lincoln's back-door plan to nearly double Arkansas agriculture subsidies is funding source: raiding Section 32, used for feeding needy children
The editors
The Washington Post 2010-08-25
Political instability from lack of clean water, cholera threat, looming food shortages, price spikes, missed planting season among concerns over Pakistan's flooding disaster
By Adam B. Ellick
The New York Times 2010-08-16
Floods, wildfires, landslides, drought, extreme heat cause human catastrophes, plague agricultural sectors in globally diverse spots
By Madelene Pearson
Bloomberg.com 2010-08-10
Heat wave in Russia wilts 24 million acres of crops - and agricultural revival just reaching its stride after years of efforts
By Andrew E. Kramer
The New York Times 2010-07-19
European Commission asks how ash from volcano could affect food safety and animal health
By Guy Montague-Jones
nutraingredients.com/Decision News Media 2010-04-22
Supply of winter tomatoes drops, prices rise after "crippling" loss of Florida tomato crop to cold snap
By Keith Morelli
The Tampa Tribune 2010-02-25
Tomatoes, peppers hardest hit in Southern cold snap; effect on citrus unknown
By Damien Cave
The New York Times 2010-01-14
UK food supply worries grow as grocers report shortages and cold continues
By Jamie Doward
The Guardian (UK) 2010-01-09
Florida orange crop so far escapes major damage despite record cold
By Rudy Ruitenberg and Elizabeth Campbell
Bloomberg.com 2010-01-06
USDA eyes hoop houses as key to longer produce availability, nationwide
By Charles Abbott
Reuters 2009-12-16
Diminished water supply could limit growth of some states
Utah, Arizona, Texas among nation's fastest-growing states, but looming question of water source will affect populations of some states. Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico have seen drops in water supply; sustainable lifestyle will be main concern for those residents, says population expert.
By Lauren Sherman
Forbes.com 2008-12-22
Tough times for farmers in Argentina's breadbasket
Global economic crisis causes steep drop in commodity prices, tough times for formerly prosperous Argentinian farmers. Dry weather, high supply costs, internal protests over proposed hike in export taxes cut into earnings. Argentinian government will provide loans to farmers, reduce export taxes on wheat and corn, but experts predict recession regardless.
By Juan Forero
The Washington Post 2008-12-15
Feeding refugees between storms in Haiti
In Haiti, UN begins distributing high-energy biscuits, water to 40,000 in shelters after three storms in less than three weeks. Thousands still isolated as Hurricane Ike approaches. Country was already reeling from rising prices and government disorder after food riots in April unseated prime minister. And: In Haiti's slums, sun-baked pies made with butter, salt, water and dirt (click 'See also').
By Jonathan M. Katz
The Associated Press; The Globe and Mail (Canada) 2008-09-06
In Haiti, storms erase efforts to reduce food dependence
Storm damage 'washes away' efforts to restore agricultural production in Haiti and to break its dependence on imported food, UN official says. And: As soil goes, so goes the nation (click 'See also'). To boost Haitian food production, ecologist founds nonprofit that builds composting toilets in rural communities to add organic matter and fertility to fields.
By John Heilprin
The Associated Press; The Press (Atlantic City, NJ) 2008-09-05
Moist summer days forecast - over Midwest corn fields
In Midwest, vast fields of crops release moisture into the air, causing pockets of humidity. Dew points, a measure of moisture, may soon reach near 80 in sections of Missouri and Iowa--a level most often associated with tropical rain forests.
By Tom Skilling
Chicago Tribune 2008-07-25
Winds of change
Sudden collapse of West Coast salmon population likely linked to 2005 shift in jet stream that delayed water-stirring winds that stimulate fish food growth. Fisheries group predicts closures; sport and commercial salmon fishing off California and most of Oregon dropped to $61 million a year from 2001 through 2005, after an average of $103 million a year from 1979 through 2000.
By Jeff Barnard
The Associated Press; The Seattle Times 2008-03-03
Food shortages
As residents abandon their homes for shelters, some begin fighting over fresh water and food in flood-devastated Tabasco region in the south of Mexico; rescuers focus on delivering supplies to communities still isolated by water.
The Associated Press; USA Today 2007-11-04
Flooding damages:
As deaths mount from India's monsoons, agricultural damage increases as well; vast cornfields, mostly in eastern area, were deluged; officials say it's too early to tell extent of loss; rice crop less affected.
By Mayank Bhardwaj
Reuters 0000-00-00
Seed-poor:
Oklahoma wheat seed crop damaged by untimely rains, which likely will force farmers to pay premium for next season's planting, but even distant sources are running low on supply and quality because of increased demand.
By Veronica Scoggin
The Enid News (OK) 2007-08-20
Parched fields:
After scramble to plant more acreage in corn and cash in on ethanol craze, deepening drought and scorching temperatures shrivel farmers' dreams of record corn harvest in South and Southeastern states.
By Jim Nesbitt
The Sun-News (SC); McClatchy Newspapers 0000-00-00
Review: No time
Judging from plastic bottles clogging the landfills and SUVs clogging the highways, the news that we're killing ourselves and our world hasn't kicked in, so that makes "The 11th Hour," an unnerving, surprisingly affecting documentary, essential viewing.
By Manohla Dargis
The New York Times 2007-08-17
Wheat increase:
With ethanol craze and escalating corn prices taking all the attention, worldwide drought has gone almost unnoticed, but it is driving wheat prices up; breadmakers are paying more for flour and weak dollar makes U.S. wheat attractive.
By Jeff Cox
CNNMoney.com
Hard harvest:
In northeastern Brazil, farmers use simple technologies and great persistence to harvest, pick, raise and slaughter, despite high temperatures, little rain and unfertile soil; they begin with a mud-patch, to hold rainwater to create oases of production.
By Isaura Daniel; translated by Mark Ament
Brazil-Arab News Agency