Widespread Record US Drought Threatens Rural Livelihoods and Food Affordability

[denisegutzmer@mindly.social]

Widespread Record US Drought Threatens Rural Livelihoods and Food Affordability

About 61 percent of the continental United States is in some stage of drought as of May 5, especially concentrated in the Southeast, High Plains and Western regions. The 2026 drought has already contributed to an intense early wildfire season and very low surface and shallow groundwater levels in many parts of the country. Now it threatens to collide with the ongoing impacts of the Trump administration’s misguided tariffs and dangerous, illegal war against Iran (which has driven up the costs of fertilizers and energy), to further increase food prices and hurt people’s livelihoods and pocketbooks.

#drought #FoodPrices #fire #water

Widespread Record US Drought Threatens Rural Livelihoods and Food Affordability

Congress must address risks to agriculture, water supplies and prepare for fire risk now.

The Equation (blog.ucs.org)