I live in what has for decades been proudly referred to as "Cotton Country". Bumper stickers, billboards and signs abound proclaiming "Cotton Country" and "Cotton is King". Indeed, for the duration of my near half a century existence, cotton has been the primary crop. I don't know anyone my age who has not worked in cotton in some manner at some point in their life.
But I noticed about 5 years ago that corn fields were popping up here and there. Last year, roughly half of all crops were corn. And suddenly, grain storage became a major issue and new grain silo's began sprouting up everywhere. I heard that grain elevators were turning people away! And they paid much less for "harvest time" corn than if the farmers were able to store the grain for a few months. The difference in price was enough to pay for the new storage silo's that the farmers were building everywhere.
And while here in the Heartland farmers struggled to find facilities to store their grain, the headlines scream "World Food Crisis". When you ask the farmers where their grain will eventually end up, the answer is invariably bio-fuel.
And while the economy crashes and food prices soar, our peerless leaders continue to try to find new ways to burn food for energy. And this as we begin to ponder the coming crisis of a world wide water shortage!
One must pump water onto corn fields from the time the plants are 6-12 inches high through to maturity (2-3 months!) in order to have a profitable crop. So, we waste water on grain that will be burned for fuel. While burning anything at all brings us ever so much closer to a year round summer for all!
This year, cotton is being pushed even farther off the map. Ever more farmers are converting their cotton production facilities to corn production and storage.
Oh, there is PLENTY of food! It is just that we now call it fuel. Instead of feeding the hungry people, we are feeding our hungry cars. AND depleting our water supply for the effort.
"Silly rabbit, tricks are for kids". And that is all that any of this is: a trick. Capitalism refuses to invest in any renewable energy that will not harm our environment because once they pollute and contaminate our planet, they plan to sell air and water to those of us who are left alive.
Just think, you may get to pay for the privilege of breathing some day. Nice, huh?
But I noticed about 5 years ago that corn fields were popping up here and there. Last year, roughly half of all crops were corn. And suddenly, grain storage became a major issue and new grain silo's began sprouting up everywhere. I heard that grain elevators were turning people away! And they paid much less for "harvest time" corn than if the farmers were able to store the grain for a few months. The difference in price was enough to pay for the new storage silo's that the farmers were building everywhere.
And while here in the Heartland farmers struggled to find facilities to store their grain, the headlines scream "World Food Crisis". When you ask the farmers where their grain will eventually end up, the answer is invariably bio-fuel.
And while the economy crashes and food prices soar, our peerless leaders continue to try to find new ways to burn food for energy. And this as we begin to ponder the coming crisis of a world wide water shortage!
One must pump water onto corn fields from the time the plants are 6-12 inches high through to maturity (2-3 months!) in order to have a profitable crop. So, we waste water on grain that will be burned for fuel. While burning anything at all brings us ever so much closer to a year round summer for all!
This year, cotton is being pushed even farther off the map. Ever more farmers are converting their cotton production facilities to corn production and storage.
Oh, there is PLENTY of food! It is just that we now call it fuel. Instead of feeding the hungry people, we are feeding our hungry cars. AND depleting our water supply for the effort.
"Silly rabbit, tricks are for kids". And that is all that any of this is: a trick. Capitalism refuses to invest in any renewable energy that will not harm our environment because once they pollute and contaminate our planet, they plan to sell air and water to those of us who are left alive.
Just think, you may get to pay for the privilege of breathing some day. Nice, huh?
