Tag: drought

• Tuesday, February 15th 2011 - 11:35 UTC

  Extreme weather and panic buying send wheat soaring to new highs

  

  Countries anxious to avoid a repeat of the 2007-2008 global food crisis when they were caught short of grain supplies, have stepped up their buying programs and are driving prices to new highs.

• Friday, February 11th 2011 - 20:16 UTC

  Fruit and vegetables in Chile forecasted to soar 20% because of the drought

  

  Chilean farmers and produce distributors estimate that prices will increase for some fruits and vegetables by as much as 10 to 20% within the next 60 days, due to water shortages in northern and central Chile.

• Sunday, February 6th 2011 - 20:43 UTC

  Droughts could turn Amazon basin from greenhouse gas eater to source of gases

  

  A long-lasting drought that affected the Amazon Rain Forest last year was worse than the once-in-a-lifetime drought that the region suffered in 2005, and a team of British and Brazilian scientists say it may have a bigger impact on global warming than the US does in a year.

• Thursday, January 6th 2011 - 20:09 UTC

  Scarce rainfall forces Uruguay to buy power from Argentina

  

  Uruguay facing a severe drought and insufficient rainfall began this week to receive electricity from the Argentine power grid. Uruguay’s electricity is mainly hydroelectric and in the country’s main dams the water level has been falling dramatically.

• Monday, December 27th 2010 - 09:07 UTC

  Drought stricken-Uruguay praises Argentina’s “formidable gesture”

  

  President Jose Mujica described as a “formidable gesture” the Argentine government’s decision to facilitate the export of grains and fodder to Uruguay which in under an “agriculture emergency” because of a severe drought that threatens much of the cattle to the north of the country.

• Monday, October 25th 2010 - 21:19 UTC

  Severe drought leaves major tributary of the Amazon almost dry

  

  A severe drought has dropped water levels on a major Amazon tributary to their lowest point since Brazilian officials began keeping records more than a century ago, the government reported Monday, cutting off dozens of communities who depend on the river for work and transportation.

• Thursday, August 12th 2010 - 20:31 UTC

  Russian drought and fires catches the US with record crops of corn and soybeans

  

  Russian President Dmitri Medvedev says a full one-quarter of Russia's grain crops have been destroyed by weeks of drought and wildfires, leaving many Russian farmers close to bankruptcy.

• Friday, August 6th 2010 - 03:01 UTC

  Wheat futures soar as drought-stricken Russia halts grain exports

  

  Wheat futures soared on Thursday after the world’s number three exporter the Russian Federation said it would temporarily halt grain shipments. The worst drought on record have devastated crops in parts of Russia and caused international grain prices to spike as markets anticipate a drop in global supplies.

• Tuesday, August 3rd 2010 - 15:04 UTC

  Wheat prices at 22 month high; fears about drought and fires in Russia

  

  International wheat prices hit a 22-month high Monday after a severe drought and ensuing wildfires in Russia devastated crops. Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) wheat for September delivery broke through the $7-a-bushel level in US trade for the first time since September 2008 but have since falling back.

• Tuesday, July 20th 2010 - 04:12 UTC

  Russians exposed to the worst heat wave in 130 years

  

  Russia is going through its worst drought in more than a century. In Moscow, it’s hotter than in European and African resorts. The heat has caused asphalt to melt, boosted sales of air conditioners, ventilators, ice cream and beverages, and pushed grain prices up. Environmentalists are blaming the abnormally dry spell on climate change.