The Rubber is Meeting The Road

By Ray Gano

The demand is growing. Bad weather has taken its effect. NOAA has stated that due to the massive amounts of winter snow that has fallen this year, there is a very high probability of record floods in the central heartland of the US.

Last Thursday the UDSA came out and stated that even if the US has  great bumper crops, it still will not be enough to " refill razor-thin stocks" and in fact it could take several years to restore inventories to comfortable levels.

Even former U.S. President Bill Clinton struck a more cautionary tone on ethanol, which is created by using corn. He stated "We have to become energy independent but we don't want to do it at the expense of food riots,"

We as a nation are literally burning our food supplies up so that we can get from one point to another.

Pete Nessler, president of the brokerage FCStone LLC said "There are speculators involved... but we've had the perfect storm over the last two years, and if we don't have a great crop this year in the United States, we are going to have an even bigger storm."

The global food supply chain is stretched to the limit. Two weeks ago Mexico suffered one of the worst freezes in many years. The result was the destruction of 80% - 90% of the food crops. Many of these crops were destined to come to the US. sending prices soaring and sparking concerns about a repeat of food riots last seen three years ago.

In fact, Sysco, one of the major food distribution companies stated the following…

ALL OF OUR GROWERS HAVE INVOKED THE ACT OF GOD CLAUSE ON OUR CONTRACTS DUE TO THE FOLLOWING RELEASE. WE WILL BE CONTACTING YOU PERSONALLY TO REVIEW HOW THIS WILL AFFECT OUR CONTRACTED ITEMS WITH YOU GOING FORWARD.

THE DEVASTATING FREEZE IN MEXICO IS WORST FREEZE IN OVER 50 YEARS…

THE EXTREME FREEZING TEMPERATURES HIT A VERY BROAD SECTION OF MAJOR GROWING REGIONS IN MEXICO, FROM HERMOSILLO IN THE  NORTH ALL THE WAY SOUTH TO LOS MOCHIS AND EVEN SOUTH OF CULIACAN. THE EARLY REPORTS ARE STILL COMING IN BUT MOST ARE SHOWING LOSSES OF CROPS IN THE RANGE OF 80 TO 100%.

EVEN SHADE HOUSE PRODUCT WAS HIT BY THE EXTREMELY COLD TEMPS. IT WILL TAKE 7-10 DAYS TO HAVE A CLEARER PICTURE FROM GROWERS AND FIELD SUPERVISORS, BUT THESE GROWING REGIONS HAVEN’T HAD COLD LIKE THIS IN OVER A HALF CENTURY. THIS TIME OF YEAR, MEXICO SUPPLIES A SIGNIFICANT PERCENT OF NORTH AMERICA’S ROW CROP VEGETABLES SUCH AS: GREEN BEANS, EGGPLANT, CUCUMBERS, SQUASH, PEPPERS, ASPARAGUS, AND ROUND AND ROMA TOMATOES.

FLORIDA NORMALLY IS A MAJOR SUPPLIER FOR THESE ITEMS AS WELL BUT THEY HAVE ALREADY BEEN STRUCK WITH SEVERE FREEZE DAMAGE IN DECEMBER AND JANUARY AND UP UNTIL NOW HAVE HAD TO PURCHASE PRODUCT OUT OF MEXICO TO FILL THEIR COMMITMENTS, THAT IS NO LONGER AND OPTION.

WITH THE SERIES OF WEATHER DISASTERS THAT HAS OCCURRED IN BOTH OF THESE MAJOR GROWING AREAS WE WILL EXPERIENCE IMMEDIATE VOLATILE PRICES, EXPECTED LIMITED AVAILABILITY, AND MEDIOCRE QUALITY AT BEST. THIS WILL NOT ONLY HAVE AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT ON SUPPLIES, BUT BECAUSE OF VERY STRONG BLOSSOM DROPS, THIS WILL ALSO IMPACT SUPPLIES 30 – 60 DAYS FROM NOW.

SOME GROWERS ARE MEETING WITH THEIR BOARDS RIGHT NOW TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY SHOULD IMMEDIATELY RE-PLANT, HOPING FOR A HARVEST BY LATE-MARCH-TOEARLY-APRIL, OR WHETHER THEY SHOULD DISC THE FIELDS UNDER AND WAIT FOR ANOTHER SEASON.

Source: Sysco Release/Memo: Mexico Freeze [PDF]

For almost two years I have been trying to sound the alarm. Well, we are now coming to the point where the rubber is meeting the road. In the near future, the effects of all of these "perfect storms" will begin to play out. Now the good news is that the effects will not be as bad as in some other countries, but I do believe that we will suffer our own hard times. Thing is, this isn't a US problem, signs of the strain can be found from Australia to Argentina, Canada to Russia.

Scripture says…

Revelation 6:5-6  And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.

6  And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

Are we living in the last days? Yes we are. Are we in the times spoken about by the John? No, but I do believe that we are close.

Needless to say, we are facing times and events that this generation has not seen before. History is repeating itself like it did 75 years ago.

What people do not realize is that historically our nation goes into what I call a  time of chaos approximately every 75 years or so. So this is not the first time, nor is it out of the ordinary. But because our generation has not studied our past, we may relive the cycle of approximately 25 years of chaos.

We had the revolutionary war, which had its own issues and saw trials and tribulations. We often believe that when July 4th 1776 rolled around life was good and we were a great nation. Well we were and we did win our independence from England, but at a great cost. We suffered hyperinflation as well as food shortages due to the revolutionary war, French and Indian war, etc. The FIAT currency called a  "continental" was introduced and hyper inflated.

Fast forward 75 years and this nation goes down one of our histories darkest path, that of the civil war where brother turned against brother. One of the primary issues in this war was not slavery, the issue was the 10th amendment where government was dictating and regulating the states and her people into poverty. I am not talking plantation owners either even though the main focus from history is on this group. I am talking average middle class hard working people of that day, people like you and me.

Once again due to the war, food production was greatly reduced so shortages came about. Lincoln introduced the "green back" and hyperinflation ensued causing goods, services and food to be outside the reach of many people.

Forms of debtor prison,  were enacted due to so many people who were in debt and borrowed above their means.

Fast forward another 75 years and we see FDR enacting the "New Deal." It was prior president Hoover who destroyed the nation with the big banks and FDR took it even further. We did not see hyperinflation in this cycle, but we saw depression. The results though were the same.  Millions suffered, and many more even died due to the hardship. Unemployment numbers were through the roof.  Instead of too much money in the system, there wasn't enough. American families monthly average pay was reduced by 40%, from  the average approximate being $2,300 to $1,500.

Instead of advancement, survival became the keyword. Every family maintained a "Victory Garden" and living a frugal life became the norm.

Scripture says…

Ecclesiastes 1:9  The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

I am saying all of this because I believe around 2005 - 2006 we as a nation entered into the age of chaos that this nation has seen in the past.

I do believe we are living in the last days of the last days. But I do not believe that just because our nation is going through our standard cycles of historical hardship, brought about by our own bad decisions, that God is going to come down and rescue all the Christians and rapture them out.

So many people like to point to Noah and the ark as a rapture model. Noah never left the earth nor was he taken out of the storm. He  lived through the storm. He and his family were spared because he prepared, built his ark and was obedient to God.

Many point to Lot escaping the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah as a rapture model. Again, it was Lot's faithfulness to God that allowed him and his family to be spared from judgment. The judgment still effected him through the loss of his wife, who was turned into a pillar of salt for looking back. But, he and his daughters were spared. Lot continued to serve God as a righteous man and is named 1 Peter 2:7-8.

God was there and delivered these men, but Noah still had to build an ark and Lot still had to use his own two feet to get out of town.

Now please know, I stand on the imminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ. I fully believe that we will soon see the return of our King in the clouds. I just don't know when, and to put a timeframe on that event is extremely foolish.

So those many Christians today who believe that God is going to come rescue them via the rapture, well I hate to say it, but that frame of thought is not biblical and in fact creates a dangerous attitude of complacency . Christ told us to occupy till He returns and to always be ready to share the gospel.

Folks, we are coming to a time in history where we as a nation will go through hard times. I say this not because I think I am some prophet or son of a prophet. I say this because three times before this nation has gone through hardship. History proves this as a fact. I do believe that much of what is going on can be pointed to as prophetic for the mere fact that Israel is now in existence and so much is going on in the middle east today. Where in the past that was not the case.

But I cannot say that we are where we are today is solely prophetic. We are operating with in the normal cyclical parameters this nation takes every 75 years or so.

Let me remind you what King Solomon said.. "there is nothing new under the sun."  Man will continue to repeat history till the end of time. It is the sin nature that drives man and man will always seek out lust, greed, and self pleasure. It is these three things that always brings us to where we are today. With sin one always pays the consequences. It is the same with nations as well.

Spring is on the doorstep, I encourage all of you to plant a garden. I will be posting articles in the PZ Preparedness area on this. Prepare your cupboards now, food prices will continue to rise.

If you do not have my Preparedness DVD, TEOTWAWKI, TEOTWAWKI -City Version and How to buy Silver, get them now. I have many files that will help you with food storage, gardening, raising small livestock, plus much more. It does not matter where you live, city or country, house or apartment, you can do something to better your situation. Our DVD package is $60.00 for all  three. Right now is the time to get them before spring sets in.

To order use the following URL - http://tinyurl.com/PZ-Prepper-Package

Finally Tracye and I have taken the steps to help in providing a food solution. We have become independent reps of a company that we have been a customer of for over three years, that being Shelf Reliance. This past Saturday they opened up the opportunity for people to not only secure their own home food store, but they have allowed those same people to then become independent reps of the company and try to help others prepare their food pantry.

If we can help you at all, do not hesitate to ask. The program they have is very affordable and the food is delivered right to your doorstep.

If you are interested in the ability to have a home based business, please contact me as well and I can fill you in on the details.

You can check out our Shelf Reliance Store at http://gano.shelfreliance.com

Are You Ready?

Have You Built Your Ark?