A worsening drought and strong winds across São Paulo are straining the country’s power supply, blacking out hundreds of thousands of Brazilian households and slowing commerce in South America’s largest economy https://t.co/W3wAwWwtQv ...

“The landscapes as we know them are being transformed,” says a wine-industry boss. Farmers blame drought, lack of access to reservoir water and higher energy and other costs since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine https://t.co/Fx3HpmJcKP ...

Health Hazards - Climate change brings new health hazards beyond extreme drought and downpours becoming more common [1]

Beef Market & Trade - The administration plans to lower consumer beef prices through increased beef imports [1] - The US imports about 12% of its beef, mainly hamburger, and exports 12% of high-value beef products [4][13] - Argentina's beef contribution is minimal, accounting for only one-tenth of 1% of the market [4] - Reduced cattle imports from Mexico (typically 120 万 cattle) due to screw worm and decreased imports from Brazil due to tariffs impact beef supply [5] Factors Affecting Beef Prices - Drought conditions have led to the smallest cattle herd in over 70 years, impacting beef supply [6] - It takes approximately 3 years to rebuild the cattle herd [7] - Packing plants, controlling about 90% of the industry, may be influencing beef prices [8] - Farmers receive $2 per pound for beef, while it sells for $15, indicating a significant margin for intermediaries [9] Geopolitics & Trade - The president considers a potential $20 billion or more bailout of Argentina, viewing it as a strategic move against China's influence in South America [11][12] - Allowing Argentina to sell beef in the US could replace some imports from Brazil and strengthen ties in South America [13] - Securing the border and lowering gas prices are seen as successes of the administration [16]

Industry Impact - Severe drought conditions are causing Corpus Christi, Texas, to struggle with meeting increasing demand from companies such as Exxon and Tesla [1]

Weather Impact - Two tropical storms are causing heavy rainfall in the drought-stricken US Southwest [1] - The heavy rain is expected to continue through the weekend [1] Geographical Focus - The affected area is the US Southwest [1]

A weather-changing La Niña has emerged in the Pacific Ocean, raising the risk of drought in California and crop-growing regions in Brazil and Argentina while also bringing cold to the US Midwest and a milder winter to New York and the US East Coast. https://t.co/WgzQTgeTOK ...

Core Insights - Beef prices have reached record highs due to a combination of drought conditions leading to the lowest cattle inventory in 70 years and strong consumer demand [1][4] Price Increases - The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported significant year-over-year increases in beef prices for August, with ground beef up 12.8%, beef roasts up 13.6%, and steak prices rising 16.6%, all exceeding the overall food inflation rate of 3.2% [2] Cattle Inventory Decline - Cattle inventories have been declining due to droughts affecting key ranching areas, resulting in the lowest cow inventory since 1951 [3][4] Rising Overhead Costs - Cattle ranchers are facing increased overhead costs, including higher expenses for feed, labor, fuel, and equipment [5] Import Constraints - Import restrictions due to cattle illnesses, such as the New World screwworm, have impacted live cattle shipments from Mexico, contributing to higher beef prices [6] Tariff Impact - Tariffs on imported beef, particularly a 76% tariff on Brazilian beef, have further exacerbated price increases for consumers [6][8]

In communities across Vermont and New York, the leaves are already starting to change. And the fall foliage season brings people from all over the world to our region to see all the colors. But recent drought conditions mean many trees are changing faster than normal.The Department of Forests says this is happening because the lack of water is putting stress on trees. >> Leaves could change uh earlier and more rapidly, go from that green to whatever their fall color typically is. Um the other thing with a d ...

The Panama Canal is one of the world's most vital shipping routes. About 14,000 vessels transit the waterway annually, including about 40% of all US container traffic. But recent droughts have plagued the artery.A drought in 2023 and 2024 forced the canal's operator, the Panama Canal Authority, to enact weight restrictions and limit vessel transits to 18 ships per day. About 36 ships cross the canal daily. The drought was Panama's worst in over 70 years.But how does a 50-mi long waterway connected by two oc ...