Midwest's Drought-Busting Rains Shift Farm-Economy Prospects
Torrential downpours across a broad swath of the Midwest this week are easing the worst drought in more than 50 years, changing the outlook for the American farm economy.
drought
Eat and Grow Rich: How you Can Become a Vegillionaire!
There are roughly 3 million millionaires in the U.S., and nearly everyone else has a plan to become the next one. But there are about 3% of Americans who may not even realize that they're already on the path to prosperity. What's giving their savings scenarios a leg up? They're vegetarians.
Cash-Strapped Farmers Feed Candy to Cows
Cattle farmers struggling with record corn prices are feeding their cows chocolate bars, gummy worms, ice cream sprinkles, marshmallows, bits of hard candy and even powdered hot chocolate mix.
Why Our Catastrophic Drought Won't Bankrupt U.S. Farmers
If you've been worried that this year's drought will put farmers out of business and leave Americans short of the staple crops they need to survive, relax. In its latest farm income forecast, the Department of Agriculture is reporting that U.S. farmers will make more money in 2012 than ever before, even as the country is facing its worst drought in 50 years. Here's how:
Record Drought May Be a Good Time to Stop Using Corn for Fuel
Newsflash: The United Nations and The Wall Street Journal just agreed on something: With this summer's brutal drought, America needs to stop using so much corn to produce ethanol for fuel, and start using it in the food chain.
Prepare to Pay an Extra $875 for Food in 2013 (Unless You Use These 4 Tips)
This hot, sunny summer has been great for recreation, and awful for crops and farmers. Drought-blighted crops today will mean higher food costs next year, to the tune of $875 for an average family. But you can dodge some of those higher bills with these four smart shopping strategies.
Your Summer Forecast: High Temperatures, Higher Food Prices
That unrelenting sun that's been scorching your lawn and straining your air conditioner? It's about to send your grocery bill soaring too. Record-breaking heat and reduced rainfall are wreaking havoc on the corn crop -- and corn goes into practically everything we eat.
Why Beef Is So Pricey -- and How to Pay Less
Beef prices have bulked up so much that thieves are starting to steal it. Consumers might feel like they're getting robbed, too, at the checkout stands. Several factors -- including high cattle feed prices -- mean the prices could continue to climb. Here's how to spend less cash on cows.
Why Beer Costs More: A Sudsy Economics Lesson
It feels like the price of a case of beer is higher than it has been since the Babylonians first started fermenting barley 6,000 years ago. But what's behind the rising prices? Turns out, the explanation requires a tour across the economic landscape -- and around the world.
Food, Clothing Prices Should Fall As Commodities Tumble
Over the past year, the prices of many commodities have risen at record paces to record highs. But recently, those prices have begun to plunge, and consumers should begin to see the effects of those declines fairly soon, in the form of less-expensive groceries and clothing.
Wheat Prices Spike After UN Warns of China Drought
Wheat prices reached their highest prices in more than two years after a United Nations agency warned that China may face a wheat-supply shortage because of a recent drought, The Wall Street Journal reported.
