Posted on 10/23/2014 10:05:11 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
Despite all the gloom and doom from people like Paul Ehrlich and the warmers who say global warming will stunt food production, the reality is far different. It seems the increase in CO2 along with adaptive crop genetics may have combined to produce this bonanza.
Based on the latest forecasts for production and utilization, world cereal stocks at the close of crop seasons ending in 2015 would surge to 627.5 million tonnes, up 8.3 percent from an already large volume at the start of the season and its highest level in 15 years. Maize would account for the biggest increase, followed by wheat, while rice stocks are forecast to decline, albeit from a record level. The overall positive outlook, if realized, will result in the cereal stocks-to-use ratio increasing to 25.2 percent in 2014/15 from 23.5 percent in 2013/14, and the highest since 2001/02.
That’s the message on Tuesday from Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply, marking the start of the 2013-2014 harvest season. The ministry anticipates a record year for Brazilian agriculture and the agribusiness sector.
Brazil is bullish on its agriculture.
The ministry forecasts a record harvest of 90 million tons of soybeans, which could help it overtake the U.S. as the world’s top soybean producer. The 193 million tons of projected harvested grain also moves Brazil closer to the ranks of the world’s top food producers, a circle dominated by the U.S., China and India, among others.
Global wheat consumption for 2014/15 is raised 4.1 million tons to a record 714.1 million reflecting both higher food and feed use. Global wheat trade is raised with exports up 1.2 million tons to 156.0 million.
Global wheat production will be larger than previously expected amid an improving outlook for supplies from the European Union and Ukraine, the International Grains Council said.
Wheat output worldwide will rise to a record 717 million metric tons in the 2014-15 season, higher than last month’s forecast of 713 million tons and 0.6 percent bigger than the previous year, the London-based IGC said in an e-mailed report today. The agency also raised its forecast for global corn production to 974 million tons, 0.1 percent more than the August estimate while still below last season’s record harvest of 983 million tons.
“Wheat output is already seen at its highest ever level, while prospects for exceptional yields in the U.S. and EU help to boost the global maize forecast to within 1 percent of last season’s biggest-ever crop,” the IGC wrote. “Expectations for large grains, rice and oilseeds supplies continued to weigh on global export prices.”
h/t to Dennis Ambler and Patrick Moore.
“Global warming”?
I think global warming has a bad reputation. How could more rain and longer summers be all bad? Global cooling has far worse consequences such as starving and freezing to death.
Unfortunately, thanks to the idiocy of our Crony Capitalist Government, much of that increase if not all is going to the production of very expensive fuel.
Ethanol has got to be the biggest scam ever perpetrated on the US taxpayer. Perhaps the stimulus or Too Big To Fail Bail Out is bigger at the present time but Ethanol will be with us forever.
McDonald’s has a triple cheeseburger.
Yesterday I bought two but had to put one in my pocket.
Plants love CO2. Doesn’t seem to help the price of meat lately.
Bumper crops? Something bad a commin!
Have never understood why anyone would believe the spiel that higher concentrations of CO2 and warmer temperatures would somehow result in less plant growth and global starvation. I know why the cult leaders spout such nonsense, they’re ginning up a boogie man to frighten the masses into giving them money and control, and they strongly desire the bulk of humanity (excepting themselves and their Hamptons and Hollywood cocktail party buds) dead. But for anyone who had even a middle school science education to not see the illogic of the scare tactic and the zombie like behavior of the true believers is itself more troubling than any other aspect. As an observer of German crowds fawning en masse over Hitler in the early 30’s once wrote, these people are insane.
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