California Drought: What's the Latest?

A spate of December storms brought much-needed moisture to California, where 80 per cent of the state has been battling extreme or exceptional drought.

A high-pressure ridge off the West Coast (typical of historic droughts) prevailed for three winters, blocking important wet season storms, with ocean surface temperature patterns making such a ridge much more likely.

Richard Seager, professor with Columbia University's Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory said: "It's important to note that California's drought, while extreme, is not an uncommon occurrence for the state.

"In fact, multi-year droughts appear regularly in the state's climate record, and it's a safe bet that a similar event will happen again." - read more.

Also this week...

The EU became the world’s top wheat export market this year and will be the cornerstone of trade in the future.

However, research by Rabobank and Copa-Cogeca shows investment must be stepped up to improve infrastructures and storage capacity in the EU grain and oilseeds sector.

The report suggests storage capacity is currently not sufficient and will not be in 2024 unless action is taken.

A drop in EU rapeseed production in 2015 is forecast as first results of the neonicotinoid seed treatment ban start to emerge.

Newly elected Chairman of the Copa-Cogeca working party Arnaud Rousseau warned: “The situation is problematic and it is expected to get worse, causing job losses especially in rural areas.

"In Finland, a big fall in the rapeseed area has been reported, forcing some farmers to stop producing and causing rapeseed crushing plants to shut down."

~ Gemma

We would like to wish our readers a Merry Christmas and all the best for 2015. TheCropSite newsletter will return on Tuesday 6th January.