California's farmer woes

[ray245]

The more shocking thing is, they exports almost half of the rice production to the rest of the world, including places like Japan.

Actually that is incorrect, Australia was only ranked tenth in world rice exporters in 2004, and that has probably decreased since then: Source. Though news reports were talking about the drought in Australia contributing to the spike in rice prices, Australian rice production is not that great compared to the rest of the world, and had only minimal impact on the price of rice.

This doesn't change that it is insanity to be growing rice and cotton in the Murray-Darling Basin. What annoys me the most is the farmers that go on news reports saying "Oh no the drought has ruined our crops, you should support us, or food prices will go up!" as they are kicking over their dead cotton plants. Maybe they could grow something that can be eaten, and is less water intensive, but that isn't as profitable (since they don't pay the economic cost of their water using), so they don't.

Crap, got mixed up between Australia and California. My bad.

[LaCroix]

The best thing is that cotton isn't that profitable if you don't count the massive subventions. The cheap (debt forced) production in Africa has brought cotton prices to it's knees. Basically, they are living off state support already, and now want more.