Idaho Researcher: Farmers Benefit from Drought

A researcher at the University of Idaho says farmers can benefit from droughts.   Garth Taylor said droughts can be harsh on the farmers who are directly impacted, but as a whole, farmers benefit from droughts because they reduce production and drive prices higher.

Taylor told the Capital Press that during the most recent extended drought period in the United States, the value of crop production in the U.S. set records in 2012 and 2013.  He made the comments during a joint meeting of the Western Snow Conference and Weather Modification Association.

Taylor added that many farmers are initially shocked when he shares his data with them “but when you explain it to them, they understand.”

He said “You’ve heard farmers say, gee, if we could just get everybody to reduce potato production 10% this year or onion production 20%, we’d do all right with prices.”

He says when you have good water years, it causes prices to go down because farmers are over-producing.

If you have a story idea for the Washington Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail gvaagen@cherrycreekradio.com