Weather Concerns

Everyone knows that we in Middle Georgia ended 2011 with a shortfall of over 12 inches of rain.  Additionally, everyone knows that we in Middle Georgia are currently experiencing a very mild Winter 2011-2012.  Today I will focus on my concerns regarding these two situations as we look forward to the Crop Production in Georgia in 2012 and how it will possibly have a dynamic impact on our individual lives.

The above picture shows peach trees in full bloom in the Spring of 2010 near Fort Valley, Georgia.  It is my understanding that in order to have a productive peach harvest that peach trees must have a certain number of chill hours each Winter so that they can produce a bountiful crop.  I suspect that we are currently short of the number of hours to have a successful peach crop in 2012.  That will mean higher prices for the fewer amount of peaches that may have to be shipped into Georgia so that we can all enjoy our Summer time dessert of delicous Peach Ice Cream.

The above picture shows a cotton field near Cordele, Georgia in the Fall of 2011.  With the shortfall of rain in 2011 and the decrease of ground water available for 2012 it is questionable that the Cotton Farmers can provide an adequate cotton supply after the 2012 harvest.  That potential plus the short supply of cotton from Texas in 2011 because of the drought situation there will surely impact the price of cotton garments in the future.  Certainly a challenging situation for everyone who appreciates wearing clothes manufactured from Cotton fiber.  I noted in the recent mail order cataloges that I receive that the prices of cotton shirts and trousers has increased about 25 percent over the 2010 prices. 

This is a picture of a truck farm crop of cabbage near Montezuma, Georgia in the Spring of 2010.  With the short fall of rains and the potential of lower levels of available ground water it is quite possible that truck farmers will not be able to irrigate as much as in former years.  This will most certainly have an impact on the price of food stuffs that we all enjoy to sustain our respective lives.

The potential of having to spend more funds for food and clothing will be a challenge for everyone.  This is made even more critical in view of the fact that at the current time the price of fuel to go to work or deliver these vital supplies to our local markets is also on a dramatic increase.  I suspect that 2012 will be a year of challenges and will see everyone having to set priorities in their respective lives.  In the end, I suspect that we will have to learn to live with less and appreciate the fact that not everything we have enjoyed in the past will be possible.