There is rarely crop rotation and soils are depleted after years of grain crops.
If you are following the markets and the news, you know that with the shortage of grain crops, which plump up our animals, feed prices are on the rise as is the frenzy over the possible decrease in bacon on home tables.
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Local economies also suffer when villagers can't sell their grain or eat the crops planted along the river because the water is so polluted.
It starts with the plant breeders who develop new crop varieties and extends through seed production, farmers who cultivate the crops, grain handlers, transporters and processors, and finally to marketers and retailers.
Many food executives had hoped that southern hemisphere farmers would try to cash in on high grain prices by growing bigger crops over the next several months, but weather problems are plaguing growers in several countries.
Crops in the northern grain belt, notably wheat, are near their maximum tolerance to heat, and so are vulnerable to short-term blasts of higher temperatures.
Anti-GMO campaigners are clearly positioning themselves for another offensive against a new wave of GM crops and foods, with new pesticide tolerant grain varieties and a host of nutritionally enhanced grains, such as Golden Rice and drought resistant wheat, in their crosshairs.
"The crops are hurting, " said Chad Hart, a grain market specialist at Iowa State University.
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EU. But separating contraband corn from acceptable varieties is no easy task, despite education campaigns for farmers and attempts by the country's big grain handlers, such as Archer Daniels Midland, to divert unapproved crops away from export channels.
He suggests that farmers trying to grow thirsty grain in dry northern and western parts of China should be persuaded to change their crops.
Wheat prices rose 25% last week to hit two-year highs as drought and fires have devastated crops in parts of Russia, and led to the government banning the export of grain including wheat, barley, rye and maize.
The country should import more grain in order to raise more livestock, and devote its own land to the more profitable business of growing cash crops for export.
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