This year’s summer in Britain isn’t going to be memorable. But, in America, it’s an altogether different story. Drought and record temperatures are causing serious problems.
The New York Times reports the drought is ‘over more than half of the continental United States’ and is the ‘most widespread in more than half a century’. Plus, it’s the ‘hottest year ever recorded,’ since records began in 1895. Of course, this is making many people’s lives miserable. There’s also an increase in wildfires to contend with as well as the threat of rail tracks buckling in the heat.
It’s even worse for farmed animals in cages and crates. They can’t escape the heat and humidity. They’re lucky if they feel a warm breeze when the doors to the sheds housing them are opened.
The weather is making a difference to farming in other ways. The production of corn, soya and other crops grown for animal feed is severely affected. The lack of water directly impacts plant growth. Yields are down, forcing prices up, which, in turn, increases costs to the consumer to buy meat, eggs and dairy, and bread and other staples.
