Drought updates

While  California has had some decent rains recently, there is still a very good chance that most of the state will see water rationing this summer.  Recently, the federal Bureau of Reclamation told their agricultural customers that they should expect a zero allocation this year, which has never previously occurred.  In 1977 and 1992, March rains allowed the allocation of 25% of normal amounts, after announcements of zero allocation.  Water for municipal and ecological uses is expected to be made available at 50-75% of contracted levels.  This will end up hurting most of the farmland in the Central Valley.  Almond orchards are in serious trouble, as the trees need water to survive, even if they are not harvested.  Hopefully some water intensive crops that are grown in the valley, like rice and cotton, will be preferentially reduced.

Australia is still suffering through a severe drought (in parts of the country, other parts were flooded badly recently).  Argentina is also suffering this summer:

Cows are dying by the thousands in the baking sun, and crops are being lost before their seeds even break the soil.

Argentina’s worst drought in more than 50 years is magnifying the country’s chances of suffering another economic crisis, and the lost farming revenue will complicate the government’s efforts to meet more than $18 billion in debt obligations this year, economists said.