[–] Shanghaibebop 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago
Well we could have another severe drought based destruction, however, the economy of today is not nearly as agrarian as it was 90 years ago. Plus, the age of globalization means that the lack of local agricultural production will simply mean more imports from other countries. (check where your grapes are from next time your in the super market)
The ratio of farmers needed to tend to fields has plummeted with automation, new agricultural technology, and GMO technology, and on top of that, much of the displaced work force are composed of temporary migrant workers, most of whom have comparatively higher labor mobility (in terms of other labor based sectors and geographically speaking). It's not the end of the world like it was in 1930s.
[–] Ziusudra 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago
Hopefully once we run out of water in the Ogallala Aquifer the climate change will have changed such that we don't need it.
[–] Ziusudra 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
Also, the current drought is in a different place.
[–] Le_Squish 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
I think the Mega Droughts refer to the catastrophic droughts that the mid-west experiences every few hundred years or so. There was one in the 13th century that caused the decline of the pueblo peoples and made many parts of the southwest uninhabitable for hundreds of years. There was also one in the 11th century that lasted 50 years. California seems to have them every 100 years or so.
Basically, with or without anthropogenic climate change, the region is fucked.
[–] daskapitalist ago
It's not. The Dust Bowl involved a combination of drought and /extremely poor tilling practices/. One of the key changes that was made in response is contour tilling (look at a field on a hill and see how it curves to follow the terrain), and wind breaks.
TLDR: Tilling in straight lines for miles and no wind breaks = dust bowl.
If you think that tiny blip in stock prices a couple years back was a depression, you need to learn about the depression.
[–] TremorAcePV ago
Well, that's sort of the thing. My understanding is that safe guards were put in place to mitigate depressions such that the Great Depression never happens again. I know that you can only do that so much, but I'm just saying. I could be wrong though.
[–] escape 0 points 5 points 5 points (+5|-0) ago
In California, probably yes. The farmland isn't going to get enough water.
[–] [deleted] ago (edited ago)
[–] piebandit 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
I don't know what I'll do without my Santa Maria strawberries :(