A researcher at the University of Idaho says farmers can benefit from droughts. Garth Taylor says droughts can be harsh on the farmers who are directly impacted, but as a whole, farmers benefit from droughts because they reduce production and drive prices higher, according to news organization The Capital Press. Taylor pointed out that during the most recent extended drought period in the United States, the value of crop production in the U.S. set records in 2012 and 2013. He made the comments during a joint meeting of the Western Snow Conference and Weather Modification Association. Taylor told The Capital Press that many farmers are initially shocked when he shares his data with them “but when you explain it to them, they understand.” Taylor adds: “You’ve heard farmers say, gee, if we could just get everybody to reduce potato production 10 percent this year or onion production 20 percent, we’d do all right with prices.” He says when you have good water years, it causes prices to go down because farmers are over-producing.
From the National Association of Farm Broadcasting news service.
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