Despite some progress in putting energy facilities back on line after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the impact of these disasters continues to take a toll on the national agricultural economy, because of the strategic location of the Gulf Coast for agricultural shipping and fuel production, processing and transport. Extension Responds with an assessment of the situation.
Extension Responds - Katrina aftermathWhen Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast, flooding New Orleans and other communities in Louisiana and Mississippi and interrupting Mississippi River traffic, she added to two already troubling problems for Wisconsin farmers. One: They have too much grain and not enough storage, and the cash price is extremely low. Two, energy prices, already high, are shooting higher because of damage to refineries. Extension Responds with information about how Wisconsin farmers can cut their lossesA lot of grain from the 2004 harvest is still stored in elevators and on farms in Wisconsin. Where will this year’s harvest go? Extension specialists gather a list of resources to help farmers make decisions about temporary short term storage solutions. Grain prices are extremely low this fall; many farmers will decide it pays to store the harvest until prices improve (152K PDF). Here's the information in a PowerPoint Presentation format (120K). The price of fuel is at an all time record. Here an analysis of why the prices are so high. And some strategies for improving efficiency for drying grain for storage (125K PDF). Wisconsin Extension specialists endorse these recommendations from neighboring state Extension experts on temporary storage solutions and building or adapting existing structures to store grain.
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