California turns off the tap, forcing rice growers to fallow hundreds of thousands of the world's most productive farmland.
#Famine
(Thread)
californiaglobe.com/articles/with-…
#Famine
(Thread)
californiaglobe.com/articles/with-…
2/In a normal year:
• California is the 2nd largest rice-producing state >498,000 acres of rice planted on 1,100 farms in 2019
• Rice production contributes >$775 million to the state economy
(Source: Think Rice)
usarice.com/thinkrice/disc…
• California is the 2nd largest rice-producing state >498,000 acres of rice planted on 1,100 farms in 2019
• Rice production contributes >$775 million to the state economy
(Source: Think Rice)
usarice.com/thinkrice/disc…
3/ it's not just rice, but: "Farmers on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley who grow trees, vines and row crops are making difficult decisions on what to farm and what to fallow."
goldrushcam.com/sierrasuntimes…
goldrushcam.com/sierrasuntimes…
4/ March 29, 2022 "California would pay farmers not to plant thousands of acres of land as part of a $2.9 billion plan announced Tuesday aimed at letting more water flow through the state’s major rivers and streams"
mercurynews.com/2022/03/29/cal…
mercurynews.com/2022/03/29/cal…
5/ not only does the rice crop feed Californians and indeed people all over the world especially in Asia and the Middle East where California rice is prized, the wetlands created by flooded fields provide habitat for 200+ migratory birds & other species... 
6/ it's almost impossible to grasp this "stupidity" in light of supply-chain breakdown from pandemic responses; the sanctions, embargoes of Russian & Ukrainian grain (& oil + ferilizers) & China's stockpiling of nearly half of the world's wheat as force majeure halts commodities
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
