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2006-07-30 Home Front Economy

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Posted by Steve White 2006-07-30 00:00|| || Front Page|| [3 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 We are in the 5th years of the cold cycle of the North Pacific Oscillation...which appears to have a ~25 year period. Look back at the 50s and early 60s for an analog.

Posted by anymouse">anymouse 2006-07-30 00:28|| 2006-07-30 00:28|| Front Page Top

#2 A Montana cousin has been having water hauled in to her ranch for quite a few years now. The nearby Musselshell river has been dry for years.

Posted by 3dc 2006-07-30 00:35|| 2006-07-30 00:35|| Front Page Top

#3 Wait a sec El nino was gonna flood us all to death what, 2 years ago now?

Posted by Oldcat 2006-07-30 02:59|| 2006-07-30 02:59|| Front Page Top

#4 ^^^ I heard it's a La Niña year.

Posted by Jake-the-peg">Jake-the-peg 2006-07-30 04:58|| 2006-07-30 04:58|| Front Page Top

#5 Setting aside the whole 'climate change' thing, this is a serious economic issue for many in the heartland.

Their economics gets bad, you think they'll vote to have their tax monies keep up the fight in Iraq and eleswhere?

It's a concern, over and beyond the concern for decent farmers losing their livelihoods.

Posted by lotp 2006-07-30 07:19|| 2006-07-30 07:19|| Front Page Top

#6 Up till this last month, New Mexico had been in a multi-year drought. Then for the first time since 1999, the regular monsoons have returned. Weve had rain, lots and soaking, and the temps have dropped down to the 80s. While the rest of the country has roasted this week, its been rather comfortable in this area. I expect the next update of the drought listings to have our area fade from extreme to moderate or abnormally dry. You can keep track of the drought conditions here.

http://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html

Last year, eastern Oregon and Northern Illinois were in particular extreme drought. This year the problem is elsewhere. Its like that with the weather, over time.

Posted by Flaving Omuger5227 2006-07-30 08:54|| 2006-07-30 08:54|| Front Page Top

#7 You should thank Bill Richardson.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2006-07-30 09:08|| 2006-07-30 09:08|| Front Page Top

#8 You mean you don't blame Bush???

Yeah, weather cycles occur and this isn't the first serious drought in the midwest. But it DOES affect our economy when it hits the wheat producing areas, or the corn stock that feeds pigs etc.

Posted by lotp 2006-07-30 09:44|| 2006-07-30 09:44|| Front Page Top

#9 ...when it hits the wheat producing areas, or the corn stock that feeds pigs etc.

Or environmentalists who want to substitute 'renewable' energy which is based upon grain stock that is subject to such irregularities. Their big sale doesnt include problems like this when touting their program. What happens when its bad enough that you have to make a decision whether we gas up our cars or gas up our diets?

Posted by Flaving Omuger5227 2006-07-30 10:32|| 2006-07-30 10:32|| Front Page Top

#10 #9: "What happens when its bad enough that you have to make a decision whether we gas up our cars or gas up our diets?"

I don't think they plan on making bio-gasoline out of beans, FO. ;-p

Posted by Barbara Skolaut">Barbara Skolaut 2006-07-30 11:04|| http://ariellestjohndesigns.com]">[http://ariellestjohndesigns.com] 2006-07-30 11:04|| Front Page Top

#11 They do, Barb. Or at least the farmer will have to decide which kind of crop to plant.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2006-07-30 11:07|| 2006-07-30 11:07|| Front Page Top

#12 Didn't I tell you folks its all gas..

~~STOP~~ Tax CARBON NOW!

Posted by Al Gore 2006-07-30 11:54|| 2006-07-30 11:54|| Front Page Top

#13 Ummmmm, #11 NS - I think you missed the joke....

Posted by Barbara Skolaut">Barbara Skolaut 2006-07-30 12:51|| http://ariellestjohndesigns.com]">[http://ariellestjohndesigns.com] 2006-07-30 12:51|| Front Page Top

#14 Yup.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2006-07-30 13:06|| 2006-07-30 13:06|| Front Page Top

#15 I heard it's a La Niña year.

Baby it's always some kinda La Year, my grants depend on it.

/Jim O'Brien Commander of the Anchovy Fleet of Doom

Posted by 6 2006-07-30 13:15|| 2006-07-30 13:15|| Front Page Top

#16 Seriously...ENSO (La Nina/El Nino) is a higher frequency cycle (21/2- 4 years) that only modulates lower frequency, and more significant cycles like the NPO.

The multi-year Arctic Ice Pack is further south in the Bering Sea and Chukchi Sea are significantly further south at this point than at anytime in the past 30 years (i.e., 1975-1976). That will have profound effects on the strength of the polar jetstream this fall and winter...and the type of winder North America experiences.

Posted by anymouse">anymouse 2006-07-30 13:57|| 2006-07-30 13:57|| Front Page Top

#17 In addition to the drought problems, the huge Ogallala aquifer previously used to irrigat crops during dry times is being depleted. The fast-growing western cities such as Phoenix also draw on the rivers, diverting valuable midwestern water. Water wars in Nebraska and Colorado have nice neighbors suing one another. The new nanotech that would make large scale desalination feasable should be seriously looked into for drinking water so the farmland can be preserved as this is a serious economic issue that Washington ignores.

Posted by Danielle 2006-07-30 15:03|| 2006-07-30 15:03|| Front Page Top

#18 er...Phoenix diverting Midwest water? not likely. Different watersheds....remember the Rockies?

Desal is definitely the way to go on the coasts, but inland, the purification process can help with graywater reuse, but that's about it...recharge of aquifers is a good idea when there's spare water. The tough part is in getting people to use less than 100% of what's available. Alaska Paul is more of a water guy than I....he can give you more info

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2006-07-30 15:31|| 2006-07-30 15:31|| Front Page Top

#19 Diverting the Peace river will solve all our problems.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2006-07-30 15:37|| 2006-07-30 15:37|| Front Page Top

#20 The latest weather report shows that this heat wave is moving northeast. I feel sorry for youze Yankees. Time to open up the hydrant's in the Bronx for that neighborhood get together. We're freezing here in the South, it's only 92^oF.

Posted by Poison Reverse 2006-07-30 21:35|| 2006-07-30 21:35|| Front Page Top

#21 Less beer? Steve, it's not just women and minorities affected here, dont forget us beer drinkers! And I do think it is a bushs fault (see tamarisk)

Posted by Elmohunter Cratchit 2006-07-30 23:06|| 2006-07-30 23:06|| Front Page Top

23:57 CrazyFool
23:55 Al Aska Paul, Resident Imam
23:47 Alaska Paul
23:42 Zhang Fei
23:39 newc
23:30 Alaska Paul
23:23 borgboy
23:22 Mike oilman
23:20 Zhang Fei
23:16 Zhang Fei
23:15 Rex Mundi
23:09 Barbara Skolaut
23:06 Elmohunter Cratchit
23:02 SLO Jim
23:00 Zhang Fei
22:58 Poison Reverse
22:57 Robert Crawford
22:51 Zhang Fei
22:51 Mike oilman
22:48 gromgoru
22:38 CrazyFool
22:35 CrazyFool
22:35 gromgoru
22:32 SR-71