Floods consequences by Zuzana Fabcinova

Approximately two weeks after a destructive tornado has roared through the states of Midwest and subsequent flooding on the Mississippi river has hit the region, other unpredicted effects of the catastrophe continue to appear.
Killing tornado hasn't brought only primary effects like physical damages and casualties, which are always the most obvious and first to be noticed, but also so called secondary effects like water contamination, diseases and basic crops and food shortage. Although these damages seem to be less important right after disaster, because people mourn deaths of their relatives and friends and try to master loss of their fortune, in fact they are even more harmful and destructive, as they have impact on thousands and thousands of people. These results doesn't show up immediately but after some time, hard to say whether short or long. Loss of harvest seems like virtually nothing in comparison with loss of lives. It seems like nothing to worry about when you have nowhere to shelter. Actually, it is something to worry about.
After levees along the Mississippi river had failed, numerous corn and soybean fields have been stricken. Destruction of whole this year's harvest in some areas will lead to groceries prices increase. Farmers whose harvest has been struck have nothing to sell. And farmers who breed livestock have nothing to buy and to feed it. There are several possibilities for them.
Feeding the cattle with some alternative food. Although it might be cheaper, it is also less productive, so conclusively, whole thing can be even more expensive.
Then, having nothing to feed the animals, another solution is to slaughter more of them. It means offering meat at the markets, where they are not sure about demand after it. Arising of loss may ruin these farmers who even now struggle with problems.
Or, to cover the import of crops for livestock, they might increase prices of meat. Again, not knowing whether consumers accept it.
Well, it is up to the farmers, which solution is the best to choose, or better say the least evil.


related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080622/ap_on_bi_ge/midwest_flooding_food_prices;_ylt=AjRz_0X0Am3B.j7tU_1cPPGs0NUE

by Zuzana Fabcinova for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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posted by Lucia Adamova