Democrat Warns Of Worsening Food Crisis

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May 19, 2022

During a Wednesday interview on CBS News, Major Garrett interviewed Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT), who asserted his belief that Americans will see food prices climb even further over the summer. The interview comes as the Biden administration presides over historic Inflation, significant shortages and escalating foreign conflict that are creating concerns about the possibility of a worldwide food crisis. 

Tester’s statements add to a growing concern across the world of possible food shortages stemming from government shutdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic and the ramifications of Biden’s handling of the conflict in Ukraine, stating, “Make no mistake about it, I do think that prices are going to go up.”

Asked about warnings of food shortages and empty grocery shelves, Tester said, “We’ve got our challenges out there with the drought west of the Mississippi last year and with the situation with Ukraine, and Russia attacking that country that supplies the world, particularly the Middle East and North Africa, with a lot of food.”

-Democrat Warns Of Worsening Food Crisis-

Tester put an optimistic spin on the situation, adding, “ I think that if we can get Mother Nature to smile upon us and give us a little bit of moisture, the American farmer can do some pretty darn good things as far as production in this country.” And while that may sound heartening, Garrett pointed out that according to U.S. officials, more than half of the country was in drought conditions at the beginning of May. 

Garrett prefaced the interview by citing a recent warning by President of the National Black Farmers Association John Boyd, which sounds the alarm on serious challenges facing the nation’s food supply. The warning cited significant cost increases for fertilizer, seeds and fuel, along with the many supply chain issues being experienced in various industries.

Boyd has predicted that Americans will see 25% to 40% increases in their purchases at the grocery store.

Politicians in charge of policy have been very aware of the problem before the warnings of Tester or Boyd. But actual solutions are scarce. 

In fact, the Biden administration seems determined to exacerbate the problem as much as possible. As President Joe Biden stated to the American people, “With regard to food shortages, yes, we did talk about food shortages. And it’s gonna be real.  The price of these sanctions is not just imposed upon Russia; it’s imposed upon an awful lot of countries as well, including European countries and our country.”

Biden’s sanctions on Americans will continue to cause suffering worldwide, as he continues to shun peace and negotiations, in favor of the Pentagon’s goal of depleting Russia’s military resources in a U.S.-funded proxy war in Ukraine.

The conflict in Ukraine has generated calls from across the world to address the issue of food insecurity that experts have expressed deep concern about. But the U.S. federal government seems much more concerned with inflaming tensions in the region than addressing the coming food crisis.

The administration is in high-stakes negotiations with Russia to allow for food exports from Ukraine, as India, the second largest wheat exporter worldwide, bans exports of wheat due to a heat wave. Meanwhile, President Biden continues to provoke hostilities with the same leaders he is trying to negotiate with, calling for regime change, supplying billions in arms to kill Russian troops and leaving no off-ramp for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. Russia has already cut off energy supplies to some outside nations participating in the conflict; so, it is hard to see how an agreement will be achieved to avert a worldwide catastrophe.

-Democrat Warns Of Worsening Food Crisis-

The World Food Program has commented on how Biden’s belligerent handling of the conflict in Ukraine will cause suffering throughout the world, stating that, “The Black Sea basin is one of the world’s most important areas for grain and agricultural production, and the food security impact of the conflict will likely be felt beyond Ukraine’s border, especially on the poorest of the poor. Interruption to the flow of grain out of the Black Sea region will increase prices and add further fuel to food inflation at a time when its affordability is a concern across the globe following the economic damage caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.”

In an interview on Fox Business’ “Mornings with Maria,” patriot and Goya Foods CEO Bob Unanue explained that 50% of the world’s fertilizer, 30% of the world’s wheat and 20% of the world’s corn comes from Russia and Ukraine. Other incredibly important foods, minerals and materials also come from the region, along with Russia’s massive exports of energy that the people in that region, and beyond, desperately rely on. 

Unanue warned that we are in the planting season, but that in Ukraine, they “can’t even plant,” which is ominous for the millions who will rely on the coming harvest. Bringing the conversation back to U.S. production, he said that, “Farmers are paying double for fertilizer; they’re planting less; the yields are going to be less; the costs are going to go up.”

Also brought up during the interview was the tripling of grain prices in 2008. Unanue pointed to the cause of the increases, blaming the planting of corn for ethanol, in place of rice, grains and other foods. He also reported that due to the low amount of sugar in corn, it takes 3 gallons of fuel just to produce 5 gallons of ethanol. This is something to remember as prices spike and Democrats continue to put bandages on the energy crisis by suggesting the increased use of ethanol when food costs are already skyrocketing.

 

The Biden administration and most in Congress have continued to prioritize issues over the issue of Americans’ standard of living. As a result, we are sending billions to foreign governments as we watch a storm approach without making preparations for our own people. The consequences are already being felt by many struggling Americans. And, if Rep. Tester’s hopes for nature to “smile upon us” and give us a “little bit of moisture” don’t pan out, those consequences will become much more intense and widespread, affecting millions in the U.S. and across the world.

-Democrat Warns Of Worsening Food Crisis-

 

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