Drought

It is unusable to see this much news on one topic, drought, in one day, so I thought I would make my readers aware of it, too.

Drought reform compounded by horror year

THE National Farmers Federation are concerned that the drought reform measures being tested in WA this year, are being complicated by the State having one of its worst seasons on record.-NFF CEO Ben Fargher said while there was concern about the complications of testing the reforms in a tough drought year, the timing had also created a positive effect because Centrelink support serves were “on the ground ready to go” for many WA farmers suffering through the worst drought and poorest grain return in 20 years

http://fw.farmonline.com.au/news/state/agribusiness-and-general/general/drought-reform-compounded-by-horror-year/2018896.aspx

Drought plagues China's major wheat regions

A two-month drought is plaguing China's major wheat production areas, according to local agricultural and drought relief authorities. The four drought-hit provinces of Henan, Anhui, Shandong and Hebei produce over half of the country's summer grain, 90 percent of which is wheat, and account for 22 percent of China's arable land.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-12/06/content_11660501.htm

"Alarming" Amazon Drought—

River Hits New Low Hard-hit by a months-long drought, a waterway within the Amazon Basin trickles to a halt in Manaus, Brazil, on November 19. The Negro River, a major tributary of the of the Amazon River, dropped to a depth of about 46 feet (14 meters)—the lowest point since record-keeping began in 1902.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/12/photogalleries/101206-freshwater-amazon-drought-pictures/

New Zealand declares drought zone

The New Zealand government has declared part of North Island a medium level drought zone this week and agriculture minister David Carter said more regions were likely to join it following the driest spring over the whole country since records began.

http://www.agra-net.com/portal2/home.jsp?template=newsarticle&artid=20017832246&pubid=ag004

Drought's grip threatens state with arid 2011

The great drought of 2011 may have started two months ago. Since Tropical Storm Hermine drenched central Texas in September, the state has been very dry, with large swaths receiving less than 10 percent of normal rainfall levels. Locally, nearly all but the southeastern corner of Harris County has received less than 50 percent of normal rain. According to the National Climatic Data Center, the two-month period of October and November was the state's eighth driest on record, and second driest in 44 years.

http://www.agra-net.com/portal2/home.jsp?template=newsarticle&artid=20017832246&pubid=ag004