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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, SEPTEMBER 2, 1983
PAGE 10
data are "probably approaching the 1930s in some ways, depending
on how you juggle the figures." With the moisture index, zero
signifies normal soil moisture.
By mid-August, Georgia was at
minus 4.5, east central Kansas and northeast Oklahoma were minus
4, southeastern Iowa was minus 3.4 and southwestern Illinois was
minus 3.5. But no areas rate as low in soil moisture as the minus
5 and 6 levels at the end of the 1931-1936 Great Depression
drought, Strommen said in an interview.
This year's drought began in early July with the most favorable
soil moisture conditions in 50 years, an<ithe�nter wheat crop
developed record yields before the drought began. In addition,
Strommen said, the nation had record supplies of grain left over
from past bountiful crops, and crops and grasses covering farm
land prevented the dust clouds that characterized the Depres
sion's drought.
Drought is not the only factor reducing the harvest of corn, a
key livestock feed.
This year, in response to depressed farm
prices and large supplies, the Reagan administration launched the
largest acreage cutback in history. [The "PIK" (Payment-in-Kind)
program has been somewhat of a blessing in that considerable
acreage has been allowed to lie fallow reducing the likelihood of
a Dust Bowl, at least up unti1 now.]
An August 11 crop report
pegged the corn harvest at 38 percent smaller than last year.
But it will be even smaller because bad weather has persisted.
The soybean crop, which is not part of the acreage cutback, is
off at least 19 percent.
The LOS ANGELES TIMES of August 30, 1983, in an article date!ined from
Chicago, also examined the drought's expanding impact--� afflicting 28
U.S. states:
...Across the United States, farmers and ranchers are suffering
heavy losses from the heat wave and drought of 1983, losses so
great that agricultural economists are predicting that consumer
food prices will rise between 5% and 8% in the next year....
Across the Texas rangeland ranchers are fighting to save their
cattle by mounting "pear-burning" posses--using torches to burn
the spines off cactus plants so cattle can eat them for mois
ture.
In Illinois, Gov. James R. Thompson Monday called this a "disas
trous growing season" and "one of the worst years in memory" as
he appealed for federal assistance in a letter to U.S. Agricul
ture Secretary John R. Block, an Illinois farmer himself. Block
was scheduled to meet here Friday with governors and agriculture
officials from 28 severely drought-stricken states.
In Indiana, Gov. Robert D. Orr called the drought a "devastating
economic blow" when he declared an agricultural emergency last
week and predicted that farmers in his state alone will suffer
losses exceeding $1 billion •.•.
According to the Agriculture Department, formal requests for
disaster assistance have been filed by Ohio, North Carolina and