 Ryan Goodman is a generational rancher from Arkansas with a degree in Animal Science from Oklahoma State University in Animal Science, and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree at the University of Tennessee, studying beef cattle management. He is one of many farmers using social media to bridge the gap between farmers and urban customers. Follow his story daily at AgricultureProud.com or on Twitter and Facebook. This year’s drought has been rough across much of the country. All year, my dad has been telling me of the dry conditions in Arkansas, how the first hay crop didn’t make, and now how many farmers are selling their cattle herds because there is no hay or grass to feed the livestock. The recent heat wave only intensified the situation, drying up ponds, pastures, and leaving many trees to start shedding leaves early. I haven’t had the opportunity for a trip home, but I can only imagine how rough it is. Fires have been breaking out across Arkansas, keeping many on edge and fire fighters busy containing the flames. Over the past week, some spotty showers have popped up daily, but it isn’t enough to ease the situation. The July 10 drought monitor update shows that the area of extreme drought doubled in one week to 71 percent of the state and exceptional drought is creeping in, jumping to 3.25 percent in one week. Now over 80 percent of the lower 48 states are affected by abnormally dry or drought conditions. Like many others across the state, my family’s cattle auction in Searcy, Arkansas is seeing head counts well above norms runs for summer months. My father and I shared this story recently on DTN The Progressive Farmer. Our auction would normally run 400-500 head weekly during the summer months, but the past two auctions have been 1,400 and 1,100 head of cattle. Here’s the most recent market report. Local news stations and nationally NBC News have reported on the drought conditions in Arkansas. But what does the Arkansas drought really look like from the pasture? My parents sent me a few photos over the weekend. The best I can describe the pastures I grew up on is by comparing them to the arid regions on the Western States.
The spotty showers are nice if one pops up over your place, but what folks really need in drought stricken areas is a few weeks of slow, steady rain, followed by a return to normal patterns. Unfortunately, that’s not what the forecast predicts. Until then, just pray for rain. Follow updates for the drought across the country on Social Media through the Twitter hashtags #drought, #drought12, and see how it’s affecting farmers and ranchers on the #agchat and #ranchlife hashtags. Previously - Catch up with Ryan's previous columns and What every farmer wants to hear – 'Go USA' |
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OMG, am over whelmed of what dr okpa did for me and i thank God for the existence of the great man if not for him how would i have been able to get back my love who left me for 3years without notice,i have been contacting some fake spell casters online which they made away with my money and i saw no result,there was a day i was watching television when i saw a woman giving thanks to dr okpa and telling the world how she was helped, when i heard this i was so surprised because i never believed that there are real spell caster who can bring back lost love, so that was how i collected his email and his cell number,instantly after listening to the testimony i called him and i told him how i got his number and i told him my problem and how i have been scammed by some thiefs who claims to be spell casters online then he told me not to worry that my love will surely be back to me within the next 24hours i was surprised i said how could that be possible he told me to watch and see, that was how i decided to wait,in the next 24hours which he told me i could not believe what i was seeing i saw my boy friend who left for 3years in my house he went on knees in the presence of my 2 sisters he was pleading and begging me to forgive him, i was so surprised and i was filled up with joy in my heart, because this is what i have been looking for, that was how we started again and now we are living happily than ever before, and the most surprising thing was that he bought me a new car and he also gave me access to his bank account to let me know that he is not going to leave me again for any reason.I thank you so much sir for what you did for me i do really appreciate,incase you want to thank him for me or you need his help you can contact him through his private mail:okpatempleofsolution@gmail.com or his cell number +2348056563186.
Name:Silvia
Country:USA
There was this spell caster that i contacted last month his name is UBIATO after i had a misunderstanding with my mother in law and she want me out of my husband house and my husband was not saying anything to stop her because there was a lady they want him to get married to But one day Sandra my co-worker told me about this man UBIATO ubiatowhitemagicspell@yahoo.com so i contacted him for help and he told me all that was going on in my family and after 1day of casting the spell i was getting set for work when my mother in law call me and was asking me to forgive her for what she has done and ask me to get her something sweet to eat it was like a dream to me i really thank him for everything.
Instead of the Christians praying for rain, frankly, I'd rather have the Indians dancing. It's more colorful.
Quit planting Genetically Modified Corn and God might send rain. Its not rocket science people. The government has decieved all the farmers that Genetically Modified Corn will bring more yield and then in return more money. Instead it has brought a drought. Money the root of all evil.
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I just wanted to say thank you to Ryan for bringing awareness to the drought situation and the impact it has on our nation's farmers and not being afraid to share his faith. For all the naysayers, we are given the freedom of speech and should not be put down for sharing our faith. So many people today are afraid to share their faith, but Ryan os not one of those people. I know you make your family proud, Ryan.
Here is one of the dumbest posts I've ever seen. " And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." Matthew 21:22 "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. " Hebrews 8:13 God answers prayers!
So what about the people who pray to be saved from a burning fire, or a sinking car? What about the parents who pray for a child to not die?What about little girls who are being raped by their dads? How come it is not granted? They asked for it. How come it was not delivered? Stop believing in sky fairies.
I can't believe that in 2012 so many still believe this nonsense, in spite of all the evidence to the contrary.
Sherri, in 1912, 2012, and beyond, there is reason to believe in the higher powers, in God, and to pray. If you want to be an athiest, that is your privilege, but most of us have faith in the existance of God and that there is a reason for everything. Maybe we think your beliefs, or lack of them, are the nonsense. The "evidence" is only what we can see, or think we're seeing with the senses that we were given. Beyond a few laws of physics for this reality, there is no prooff of anything, and often our faith is all we have, and prayer to many is very important.
Ryan, I sympathize with your plight in the drought. Texas had one just like it last year. Many of our plants and trees died; we have not recovered yet. Rain will eventually come around, and I hope it will be a lot of it. But I don't believe God sends drought or rain. I think the statistics are right. Global warming is the cause, and if we don't turn it around now, we are all in for a century of suffering. But I do hope the rains come for you and yours.
Christians pray for rain. Romney prays for Bain.
"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." Matthew 21:22
"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. " Hebrews 8:13 God answers prayers!
Praying for anything is not being proactive. Maybe conservatives should start looking into the possibilty of climate change, despite what Rush, O'Reilly and Fox News tells them. Maybe tougher laws against corporations polluting our air, water and land would be a good step. I know, that's socialism though, huh Cletus?
Pray for rain. And stop being rude to others!
The first won't work; the second will never happen.
CNN cannot independently confirm reports of praying for rain will work because the government restricts access by foreign journalists.
I have always admired farmers and cattlemen. Instead of a desk job, with a guaranteed paycheck, they chose to feed this country. They do this year after year, knowing full well that they are at the mercy of the weather. I cannot begin to imagine how helpless they must feel knowing there is little they can do to fight the elements on such a vast scale. When you see your "livelihood" drying up before your eyes daily, you will seek comfort and solace any way you can to come to grips with it. If this man's belief system comforts him in this time of need and gets him through this difficult time in his life, then I have to respect that and not criticize him.
Thank you Linda. And I appreciate the words of support. Just hoped to give you a little insight with what we're dealing with.
My friend asked his priest"Did man create God out of fear of unknown phenomena or did God create man".
Son,if you don't have faith,none of my explanation will satisfy you.If you have faith,you wouldn't ask this stupid question ,his priest responded !
So,if it make you feel any better for doing something,pray but don't expect any thing from it.It will rain when all factors of rain making are present .
Is your god so stupid and incompetent that he has to be begged for something as basic and necessary as rain? That's the kind of performance that would get us mortals fired from a job.
Amen!
"Pray for rain?" Seriously? Why not sacrifice a virgin to the rain god or something along those lines as well.....Some people are still living in 5000 BC or thereabouts.....
It was a lot easier to find virgins back then.
Stay strong! We'll get through this. Ohio has gotten some much needed rain in the past few days. Youre not far behind. Well get through this. We always do. Keep the faith.
Amen!
God sent me with a message;
He said to tell you he "gets pissed when people aren't using their god-given brains to evolve intelligently, ie scientifically".
He said he "hates superstition because it clogs up the creativity I programmed into their brains so that they could be like me. The geniuses among them show them their brains' potential and, seriously, no superstitious person will ever invent a microwave oven or TV remote. I really want people to continue to progress so I can see how far they can go. I'm really getting frustrated here!"
I have a message for the superstitious/religious from God- who sent me- God is "pissed when you don't use your brain and you clog it with superstition". Stop it now or you will be "sent to the oblivion saved for those who do harm to his creation".
PS Also, God said you are "Anti- America if you are superstitious/religious"
PPS Also, God said to "quit wasting your time on me, I got it covered. Omnipotent, remember? Don't need anything. Thanks. Don't even exist if I don't want to...just get on with it like I originally intended and drop the unnecessary worship crap. Friggin waste of time..."
God is pissed. This is your warning. God sent me.
Water,The next great commodity.....something all living mammals need.It doesn't matter whether it's Arkansas or Indiana,Birds, Fish,Dogs,Cats,cows,chickens,Frogs or whatever–we All need water. Fresh water falling from the sky is a God Send, unless it interferes with our cook outs,or House Painting,or soccer practice. Drought is something that happens in cycles–not scientific or it would be predicted in printed form each year. Yep, read the Farmers Almanac and tell me how accurate the water tables are.
The drought will slowly work it's way North,into Canada and beyond,while leaving dry and parched land just like the Dust Bowl in the past. We cannot control the weather, or the Bounty of planted Crops. This is a crap shoot for our remaining Farmers,The toughest People I know of.
Take your chances Folks-–The Earth will Always WIN.
Im gonna pray that someone will eat food
( time passes )
OMG it works
Pray for rain! And meanwhile, hide your thinking talents under a bushel and deny there's a good chance we've got man-made Global Warming going on and the solutions to it mesh with conserving the earth for future generations. Even before the term "Global Warming" was commonly known, it was well known that the south and midwest were short of water. In Kansas, where wells once needed to be dug 40 ft, by the 1970's they had to be dug 440 ft. because the underground lake, the Ogallala Reservoir was being depleted. Even then, politicians and scientists considered using Gulf of Mexico water to replenish it. Today, we could be spending "Manhattan Project" type money exploring improved ways of getting more fresh water from the ground and cheap ways of desalinating. We should be linking the water systems of adjoining jurisdictions and running pipelines across the nation. We waste 50% of irrigation water to evaporation and irrigation accounts or 60% of fresh water usage. But no, let's hide our talents under a bushel and not try to solve our problems: "Pray for rain and deny Global Warming."
Bible quote, If my people will humbly (in earnest humility) pray (seek and ask God to help) then I will turn to them and heal their land. Elisha prayed and it did not rain for three years. God told him to pray again and it rained but only after the prophets of bail were destroyed. Good and bad things happen to everyone but some things are a direct result of sin. This I believe is one of those times. God will help you through and or out of every situation. He has never failed, please do yourself a favor and do some REAL seeking and studiing and you Will find this to be true. This reminds me of that Steve Martin film " Leap Of Faith"
That Story paints a pretty picture of random chance and probability. yes if you pray for rain on a planet where it rains, it will rain eventually ( weather you pray or not ) and wow someone said its because of praying it must be true right ?
same tricks physics use to make you think they know something about you.
Praying to God works,when I was in Amazon,I prayed for rain and it did every time.A year ago,I was in Sahara,I pray for no rain,it also worked,miracle does exist,praise the lord !
It is beyond my comprehension how people can continue to put faith in the "power of prayer". I seem to recall that people prayed for rain last summer and parts of TX were still dry for more than 30 days.
If people buy into the whole omnipotent power of a deity, then why can’t these same people accept that the deity created the drought? And, if the deity created the drought, then why would a prayer make it go away?
In general, how is it that believers can use logic in their daily lives but as soon as a god enters the discussion, logic can be completely ignored?
Why would a prayer make it go away? Maybe God is just waiting for us to acknowledge him and ask.
Then God is an insecure child who deserves no thanks or worship.
Seriously. Ever wonder why most of the natural disasters occur in the red states?
But without faith [it is] impossible to please [Him], for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and [that] He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hewbrews 11:6
Thanks to those who read the post.
I hope it gave some insight to how the current drought conditions are affecting farmers and ranchers across the country, not only my family in Arkansas. The impacts of this drought will affect us all in the form of a reduction in food produced during these times.
makes me very sad...
I am praying to the Lord for rain too. Like elijah....when the time is right....
God bless you and yours and the USA.
Right, one of Jesus's unicorns is named Elijiah. They're out in the backyard roughhousing with the leprechauns. No need to pray for us here in the good old USofA. We do just fine without the religious mumbo-jumbo, except for those pesky evangelicals who spend their time condeming everyone for just about everything. If they spent more time being loving than being hateful, they'd actually be tolerable–maybe.
Ascribing meteorological phenomena to divine intervention is not only incredibly stupid, but it's just downright lazy.
Want to learn about weather? Read some meteorological and atmospheric physics texts. I know that'll be a real change of pace from reading your usual biblical gibberish but hopefully you'll find the factual, logical, verifiable approach a little refreshing.
Ryan, a lot of us join your family in its prayers for rain. God bless.
I'm praying for more drought. ANd since I am more pious than you, MY prayers will be answered.
Bwah hah hah hah ah hah hah
So this is what you do with your life? Make sarcastic disparaging remarks to people of faith on an anonymous website? Sort of a pathetic existence. I hope you realize your need for God before its too late.
"...there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts..." 2 Peter 3:3
"There shall in that time be rumors of things going astray, and there shall be a great confusion as to where things really are, and nobody will really know where lieth those little things with the sort of raffia-work base, that has an attachment. At that time, a friend shall lose his friend's hammer, and the young shall not know where lieth the things possessed by their fathers that their fathers put there only just the night before, about eight o'clock. " Life of Brian
I've also really admired farmers. Something special about living directly off the land. Praying for rain. God bless.
God does send rain and God does send drought. Things will only get worse. You lukewarm Christians, repent of your lawlessness and self-righteousness. You atheists will someday bow to Him. Better now than later. The earth belongs to God because he made it. He won't put up with rebels forever. The window for forgiveness will close. I advise you to NOT pray for rain, but pray for your souls.
Plugman, I advise you not to pray for anything since it doesn't work. Instead of wasting your time praying, I suggest you get out and do something. Jesus, the Tooth Fairy, Santa, and I will be sitting in a local bar playing darts, drinking beer, and eating pretzels while we laugh at you and your foolishness.
That's why I worship the Flying Spaghetti Monster. All hail his wondrous noodleness.
"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved". Acts 4:12. "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."
Repent and believe in Jesus. There is still time for you.
I quintuple dare god to send a meteor and smite me. Come yahweh, you wussy little deity. Hit me with your best shot.
Lets see what happens, huh plow boy?
Be careful what you wish for
My god can beat up your god. I believe in a god with six lion heads and eight arms. He spake thusly to me: "go on CNN and speak of my powers." And then it rained Miller Lite.
Really. It's true. Someday you'll be punished by my six-headed lion god. You'll see! Fear him.
Paying attention to environmental issues will probably be more productive than praying for rain.
"...farmer prays for rain..
And here we see a day or tow later, the drought has ended..prayer obviously works every time..oh wait, a late bulletin has just arrived: The drought continues, no rian in sight anywhere near fervent prayer farmer. This clearly must be a mistake.
Now of course, when it does rain, even if it's six months form now, those who prayed will claim their prayer was answered.
I prefer the old joke: Pastor: "OK folks how many of you believe if we pray for rain, we will get rain?" All hands go up. "OK, no, how many of you brought umbrellas with you to this prayer service?" No hands. "When you believe enough to bring an umbrella, come back."
Everyone will be affected by this drought, some a little bit and some greatly. Probably the only way it will end is when a big hurricane develops in the Gulf and hits Texas. The people of Texas will suffer from the rain and wind and water surge but their farmers will be helped. I imagine that all of the people praying for rain do not realize that some others will pay a high price and might die for it to end the drought.
When I lived in Florida, I used to see the Everglades drying up and my Dad said only a hurricane can fill it up again. He was right of course but it meant some people would suffer greatly and maybe die. Such is way of nature.
Invest on a big hole in the ground to catch the rain when they come or hire a rain dancer quick. Prayers and seeding the clouds would also help. Of course there's $$$$$ involved, but you can just sit there, do nothing and fry.
You'd think someone else would have already prayed for an end to the drought before so many crops were lost.
The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down on the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.
Revelation 8:7
Christians are self-delusional fools. Its them that should stop breeding and maybe think about getting their noses out of other peoples bedrooms. Prayer is a total waste of time but if you are stupid enough to think it does any good go for it. The drought is caused by nature and nature will decide when to end it, not some guy in the sky.
Wow...Hate much?
Agreed.
I don't know if any of you yahoos live in Arkansas that are busting these peoples chops for praying for rain , but until you see your hard work dry up and everything work blow away with the dust you wont get it . its no different ..Sitting by the bed of a sick child or some one you love.. you pray.. beg.. barter with anyone you think might listen to you, this isn't about god or religion this about people scared to death about loosing everything they have.. AS FOR BLA BLA statement this drought will affect you the cost of food will go up.. i really cant believe the comments here,, focusing on religion and BS personal hate of who is right and who is wrong in what they believe... I'm smack dab right in the middle of it I .. I'm scared
hell I will go out and do a rain dance if I thought it would help.. we can fight over global warming all day the FACT is there is way too many people on this planet that TAKE AND NOT GIVE BACK... and there a EFFECTS that are showing from it now.. I am not from Arkansas but I love this state its beauty is breath taking.. and you Yahoos out there that don't seem to have 2 brain cells to rub together.. your comments and YOUR BACK WOODS THINKING,, clearly so that STUPID PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BREED..and for the CHRISTIAN FOLK OF ARKANSAS STAY STRONG AND KEEP PRAYING!
You've got it all wrong, its christians that should not breed and the sooner they start the better. Maybe then they will get their noses out of other peoples bedrooms. As for praying for rain – anyone who thinks prayer will make it shower has an IQ equal to their hat size. Stupid, ignorant people who cannot think for themselves.
Has anyone ever told you that you need professional help?
still missing the point– No rain means no Cattle/crops=no dairey or beef or produce= supply and demand indictats the price goes up– substitute any word you want for "pray" like "hope" or "wish" and the like and that is the point of the story. farmers will lose their livelyhood and prices will hurt all american consumers
"And the fool says in his heart, "There is no God".
Wise fool.
As I was reading the comment section I have to admit I forgot the article was about suffering farmers. May rain quench the suffering of both your fields and families.
Anyone who actually believe god brings the rain must logically accept that god brought the drought. I guess killing crops and livestock and destroying good christian families is all part of god's plan?
I'm saddened that I won't live to see the day when humankind abandon these myths but I'm certain it's coming.
I think that there will always be a segment of the population who believe in various gods and demons. Long lasting religions are quite resiliant by being able to adapt to cultural changes.
Should probably send a letter to Santa Claus too, just in case. Maybe the Easter Bunny?
If an article so much as mentions a cross, atheists will be drawn to it like flies to honey. Is that what you all do all day? Scan articles for a reference to religion so you can make some witty comment and than sit back with a smug look on your face?
The guy is just doing things his way. It's a free country.
Go check out an article about atheists some time, you'll find it packed with comments by christians condemning them. Suck it up buttercup.
I'm not a praying person so if you don't mind I will fervently hope for rain. Most of us need it. If I did pray, however, It would be that all of you LEARN ENGLISH! A larger group of ignorant, illiterate bozos must exist somewhere, but where I cannot say.
Go to a typical evangelical church You'll find plenty there
In ancient Rome they prayed to Jupiter during their drought. The only thing that changes is the gods man creates.
In Rome they prayed to one of their gods, not sure if it was Jupiter or not... but they ALSO built some pretty spiffy aqueducts given what they had to work with at the time.
So your imaginary friend in the sky creates a drought, and hits virtually all of the farming red states. Hey, maybe he is real. Nah.
you will find out about your maker - the GOD OF THE UNIVERSE - i pray its before you die
We don't need your (silly) prayers.
"The fool says in his heart, there is no God" – Psalm 14: 1-3
The fool quotes from a book the first person just said they don't believe in. That's like buying a bottle of magic elixir, then when your friend says you've been tricked, you read off the back of the bottle "guaranteed to work", as if that proves something. Your book is nonsense, quoting nonsense does not convince anyone. First grade stuff, people. Imagine if you were denying the existence of any other god in any other religion and they quoted a passage from their scripture as a retort. Would that be convincing?
The real fool, rather than thinking for himself, adopts the "wisdom" of unknown authors who lived thousands of years ago in an unenlightened time when Gods were necessary to explain things like earthquakes, floods, and comets.
That's what Satan wants you to think. I have been praying for rain as well, although I'm not a farmer and I'm sure their livelyhood is a stake, but I trust God still. He will see it through. :) Blessings.
My reply was for Larry. :)
Not sure how much prayer helps, but for Colorado Springs this summer we had a massive forest fire that burned for 2 weeks until 3 days of steady rains suddenly appeared and quenched it. This was quite unusual as a high pressure system was holding us hostage to hot & dry. Prayer may have been a factor....
Or Global Warming. It's a concept that a lot of people partial to praying don't "believe in". I know, the irony!
That said, glad you folks caught a break...
Just have to love the farmers in those areas who "always" vote Republican and yet it is the Republicans who say global warming is not real despite 98 percent of the worlds "educated" scientists saying it is. Never mind the thousands of deaths annual in the U.S. from breathing problems caused by gasoline engines and coal, never mind the fact that we can no longer see our mountains because of the "car" smog (our children have never seen them clearly). Well keep right on voting for the Republicans but quite complaining about the weather you get what you sew.........pund intended.
truth is , bob our climate has been wamer the wamest was in the 1930, fewer cars on the road still a good deal of industralization but not on the scale seen today, The 70 was the year that spawned the EPA due to unregulated pollution( nixon a repub gave us this one for better or worse) as a result air and water pollution has deminished in our more urban areas. yes there is some degedation of the views in some areas due to pollution but overall the american polution has been greatly reduced compaired to our industrial/ energy production output. is global warming happening sure is it significant maybe is it man made proboble not.
educated - i am glad - now if they will just acknowledge GOD - that is the beginning of knowledge
Oh yeah, travel the Earth and the most educated people are the ones who throw their hands in the air and say "god did it"! Grow up and lose the imaginary friend. It's a shame you've had the benefit of rational thought in your life from others. You've grabbed on to 21st century technology and benefits without having to shed your 1st century delusions. I hope you thank a really educated person some day for toting you along with them. You should be sitting in a desert, praying for water and food instead of enjoying the marvels of civilized thought and rationality.
Wow! Such "tolerance"...you are a fine representative of the far left party of hate. Such respect for others! I'm impressed!
Amen (snicker).
The beginning of knowledge is when you start thinking for yourself, something christians are incapable of. But keep spouting your stupidty, it hasn't worked in thousands of years and it won't in the future.
Gee ... God must be punishing the Bible-Bangers for their narrow-minded views.
Nothing like the mention of prayer to gt the athiests' collective panties in a twist. Christophbia is an ugly thing. Why do you all tend to fear that which you don't understand? More "tolerance" from the far left party of hate, as usual.
I'm a Believer
Excellent job streotyping, obviously 100% of athiests all behave exactly the same. Keep up the good work.
I'm guessing you have the same "tolerance" for Scientology. Oh, wait you think it's crazy to think aliens from another planet created our world etc. etc... exactly. It's all ridiculous. Now, I would be fine letting believe what they want (similar to me not telling little kids Santa is a story) if the majority of "believers" didn't influence laws and policy. Once Bible thumpers leave Gays, minorities, women Jews etc, etc, alone, that will be the day I'll be "tolerant" of their immature, and laughable magical beliefs.
The point most of you are missing is that Arkansas is not the only one facing mass cattle sell offs and that rain would help slow thase sell offs. the reason we should all hope(pray) for rain is that after this glut of beef being put on the market come the drought due to none being produced leading to higher food prices late on criticsize the use of words of his invocation of a higher power the bottom line is without relief we will all suffer.
I've always found petiionary prayer to be mildly offensive on some level. If you believe... really believe... that a God exists, and that not a sparrow falls without him noticing, then this drought is part of his plan. So content yourselves and be at peace with that. Anything else would feel like you're asking for "special treatment" and an exemption from God's plan which... just... doesn't seem to square with the ideal of "thy will be done."
OTOH, I'm an athiest and I find the entire concept of God to be mildly silly as well, so what do i know?
You are an Idiot... it's called having Faith!
Geez Rhonda. He didn't say YOU couldn't have faith. Take 2 Midol and call me in the morning.
Ah, yes, there's that christian love!
Faith? No. They bring up a major logical flaw in religion. It is either god has a plan, or prayer changes things. Which is it? If you pray and something happens, and you believe it was your prayer that did it, it stands to reason that it would not have happened if you had not prayed. This implies that the events of the future were not written and god did not have a plan. If the plan was that you were going to pray for the action, and gods plan must go as planned, then your free will has been stolen since you had to pray and could not choose to not pray. If you really think about it you would see the problems in your theology. Most people are to afraid to think about it. That is why hell was made up in the early days, to prevent people from thinking about the contradictions because they were scared. Thought crimes are punished in religion. It really is a brilliant system, used the world over by tyrants.
To be faiir, it's also possible that god exists and has multiple plans, and switches back and forth among his preplanned options based on who prays for what. Note I do not say that I believe this or that it's likely. Just that it's one more technically possible way of interpreting it.
I just figure, if you honestly believe in god, and that he's all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-good, then why would you want to make petionary prayer and ask him to switch gears based on what YOU think would be best... if you really think he's there, then let the man upstairs control it.
But I admit, most of the petitionary prayer that REALLY annoys me is when people pray for thier football team to win. What? You think he would really care? Even if he does, you think people on the other side aren't praying for their team too? You think god is using an Applause-O-Meter and will give the win to whichever side's supporters pray the most fervently?
In an effort to save all of our CNN readers some time, I have prepared a summary of all of the intelligent comments in this thread:
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You forget the middle: "Jebus, Jebus, Jebus!!!"
I grew up on a farm and it hurts to see people suffering like this. However.....it's rather bemusing that the disasters that many Christians call down on those who disagree with them, are the ones hitting the ostensibly most conservative and Christian states. Why do we not hear Pat Robertson and his ilk claiming that Christians in Arkansas are offending this god in some way to merit such unhappiness and disaster in their lives. Right here in Pennsylvania, we have Dover where the evangelical Christians were defeated when trying to force creationism on others, and the Christian pundits predicted dire consequences. Well, we have enough rain fellows, so what's the problem, your god can't aim very well?
They have not received enough love to accept they are worthy and capable of being responsible for themselves. We all have addictions we use as crutches to carry us through the difficult times when we cannot walk alone without believing in someone rescuing us. Every addiction is the same: a false promise of love that proves flawed when we're ready. We will grow and mature and one day be responsible enough to accept we can have peace on earth on our own sweat, pain and tears; and no one will allow a lie to try to take away the pain we endured and suffered.
Arkansas, I say tough $hit! You don't believe in global warming/climate change, so it must be God doing this. So pray harder! And stop asking the bogeyman (federal government) for help. You red states make me sick how much you feed at the government's teet, all the while complaining about taxes you don't pay (you actually have to have an income to pay taxes). I hope it never rains again – maybe then you'll turn off Fox News. But again, just pray, God will make it all right. LOL!!!!!!
I hope your state gets hit with Drought or plague or something equally as nasty.. and then we ARKANSANS can say to you TOUGH S**T... Jackass
The point most of you are missing is that Arkansas is not the only one facing mass cattle sell offs and that rain would help slow thase sell offs. the reason we should all hope(pray) for rain is that after this glut of beef being put on the market come the drought due to none being produced leading to higher food prices late on criticsize the use of words of his invocation of a higher power the bottom line is without relief we will all suffer.
I'm sorry, what?
if , due to the drought, no one is producing cattle, there wil not beany calle for beef or dairy so prices will go up. simple enough for you. the people on this blog are complaiing about the authors use of prayer to get the rain going and completely missed the implecations of the article
Huh?
Well i guess you nailed you personality when you made up you blog name sorry I cnat help you on that
So, to make your points, you can't manage to spell or construct a sentence that's worth a cr@p. Yet to attempt to belittle someone, you take the time and come across as an English major. Great job keeping your priorities straight.
I am sorry my typing skills are too distracting for you to understand my point. I'll just leave it at that for you Doug.
the point the author is making that unless some rain relieves the drought we can all expect beef prices to rise after this sort term glut of dumped cattle is exhausted.. and it is not just beef it is also dairey. so if you want to criticized the authors invocation of a hight power and not the depth of the report you have missed the whole point
What makes Arkansas so special that they deserve an article about their rain problems. Don't get me wrong, I'm originally from Arkansas, however they are not the only ones praying for rain. In fact I'm sitting here in Wisconsin the first T-storm in several months and I haven't been praying for rain, I've been praying for snow.
The same idiots that typically deny global warming now trying to fix it... with prayer! Only in US!
This isn't a global warming! It is a phase to punish this country, America. for their sins.
You can't possibly be Truth.
So when your god whips out a tornado, hurricane, drought or blizzard in an uninhabited area what?
It missed?
It was just practicing?
belief in gods is a disgusting perverted disease of the mind
Always good to hear from the Westboro Baptist Church. LOL!!
Usa has the best phone and internet network. Should she also has the best drainage network ? Please calculate the money spend and food gain. It is a good economic surplus, a positive equation. As a citizen, I really need to work hard.
US not longer has the best Internet network, even troubled Spain has faster fiber Internet to the home now. Phones? You really have no idea what are you talking. Phone, as power grids here, suck big time. The wireless, they cannot even cover suburbs 10 miles away from NYC properly. Roads have potholes all over. There is not modern trains, no even talk about the Subway in NYC. Can you imagine where your request is in the priority list?
Sorry but if you want cuts/cuts/cuts and no taxes, this is what you get. Nothing and a country headed to third world status.
God Hates White Trash
If you listen to the christians around here, god hates a lot of things and a lot of people.
the governor needs to call Rick Perry and have him lead a prayer for rain like he did last summer, we are over our rainfall total for the year in JUly at least here in houston area...
It only took a year for those prayers to work. MUST be God answering those prayers! Hallelujah! LOL.....
Just pray away the dry!
Doesn't it make you rethink what God can and can't do?
or what he allows and does not allow?
America is being punished!!! You fools!
So when your god whips out a tornado, hurricane, drought or blizzard in an uninhabited area what?
It missed?
It was just practicing?
belief in gods is a disgusting perverted disease of the mind
All Muslims believe that Allah(God) Most Powerful and amongst 98 other attributes. In the Qu'ran, God tells the believers to have faith in Him in times of adversity caused by the enemies of Islam. This country and other powerful countries, but most definitely this country have caused problems to the Islamic nations in terms of WAR, Economic Sanctions, and so on. Allah tells the believers to have faith in Him and that if hardship touches them by non-Muslims, be sure that a similar hardship is touching them. Ever since the war begun, the American enconomy has been on downward spiral. And all this talk of Sanctions to "Cripple" the Iranian enconomy is "crippling" the American economy as well through drought and outsourcing. Yes, GOD CONTROLS everything. Whether Ahmeddinejad is right or not, There are millions of very faithful Real Muslims in Iran. They will not suffer alone. This country will suffer along with them , but at the end Islamic Nations will be Victorious!!! Believe That!!
Have you noticed that whenever somebody puts an attribute (like Truth) as part of their name, you can be sure you will see the opposite?
That is a troll. The real Truth does not post that cr ap.
I'm a firm believer in God. i believe that (s)he created nature to work a certain way. I believe it works that way for a reason, and, we must work within the rules. Should God suspend the laws of nature for us? Why? Those laws were made for a reason. Don't ask God to change the rules for you and disrupt the balance everywhere. That's arrogant and selfish. God gave you a brain to understand how weather patterns work. Plan ahead and quit complaining. And consider the possibility that there are too many of us in North America depending on too little farm land to begin with. That's OUR fault. Not God's.
If you were a "firm" of God as you claim to be, you would know that regardless of what we do, God has mercy over his creation. If God lets us live the consequences of our acts non of us would be here in the first place. His mercy, his love is enough to respond to out prayer, if that is His will.
Praying is a waste of time. You are just talking to yourself. Caveman.
I certainly hope they get the rain they need but prayer isn't the answer. It was tried in Texas and it didn't work. We might want to think about lowering the levels of air pollution though.
Prayer and Repentance works! Your beliefs, and your religion doesn't work if is not Islam.
Yup. That was TEXAS last year.
Cracked driveway; didn't have to mow but once a month.
We are experiencing the "quickening" or the "birth pangs". These disasters will get closer together in frequency and in Epic proportion. It has nothing to do with man-made climate change, or the Mayan calender, but rather the world being shaken to the core as a warning of Christ's return. To those who don't believe; scoff, laugh, make fun and ridicule those who believe, you will be taken by surprise, but to those who are aware, know- all of this must take place. In this country, we take things for granted, fuel, water, food on grocery store shelves, etc., but if we faced one major catastrophe, our world would be turned upside down overnight. One glitch is all it would take to change everything.
Much is taken for granted for sure.
At what point does natural disaster become END OF DAYS REPENT FOR YOUR SINS? Please stop attributing every single disaster to your religious idealogy.
a lot of pastors, ministers,etc. tell their congregation that America is not prophetcized in the Bible, but in fact America is prophetcized. Just watch this video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=B6GcU6I6yZs
(copy and paste)
Where did I say anything about religious? I simply said much is taken for granted. Which is true. Very few people have stored up water, food and what they will need in case of grid failure. That is just fact. Many do not have the fuel in their vehicles *right now* to get 200 miles out of where they are...why? Because most take for granted the gas stations will be open tomorrow. Most have credit card debt because of things they think they need or because of taking for granted nothing will interrupt the income.
Others just attack anyone they think disagrees with them. Most people in the wake of a disaster admit they take things for granted. It was said after 9/11. It was said after many storms. Yet you want to criticize me for a simple comment. I hope you feel better. :-)
Barking mad
Katrina you could not be more wrong. The man you call christ has been dead for over 2000 years. I will bet you any amount of money he will never return. Dead people don't return. Never have never will. Please stop perpetuating the great lie. We must solve our own problems because no one else will, especially a dead man and his non-existent father.
riverrunnermania, you are wrong. Dead people do return. Just ask George Romero. He's a documentary film maker, and I've seen all of his films. Those poor people!
I'm a Muslim and Muslims believe in the return of Jesus and (of course we believe that Jesus didn't die in the first place, but was raised to the Heavens because the disbelievers wanted to crucify him) Crucifixation is a punishment for criminals in Jewish law. Jesus was not a criminal. This and many other differences exist between Islam and Christianity. And we, Muslims see Jesus as a prophet, servant,or a messenger of The One God. He never claimed divinity, but Christians overlook that not realizing that they are making their bed in hell.
"The fool has said in his heart there is no God" (Psa 14 & 53).
Prayer is nothing but a placebo. How could people honestly think they are telepathically communicating with some invisible sky zombie?
Dust Bowl – Bible Belt. Didn't work then, won't work now. Maybe some of the folks here need to be reminded that the Sahara was once an ocean, opps nah that's science.
YOU NEED HELP!
I know some indians that will do a rain dance for you.
Why is your God doing this to you? Will you praise Him when it rains?
The United States food supplies is in big trouble, because of this drought.
Wall Street commodity speculators continues to export American cattle, hogs and poultry, corn and alfalfa produce, to Asia because their currency is stronger.
“”Food crops are being manipulated”” less acreage being planted to increase price, Wall Street manipulation.
Feed corn being made into ethanol Congress subsidies going into fat cat pockets.
Wall Street and Washington D.C. FAT CATS they do not even know what inside of a grocery store looks like, but they do know what their high dollar restaurants look like. $$$
Wall Street and Washington DC they are clueless and completely disconnected from the real world; they just listen to clueless economy analysts and these “”analysts are clueless about grocery store FOOD inflation”” all their information comes from a computer.
Meanwhile FOOD inflation continues to go up and up here in the United States, because of Wall Street commodity speculators, doing the very same thing they do in the oil markets manipulate prices.
America do something about this corrupt Wall Street.
America as you used to or now know it is coming to an end. It is Allah avenging for the Muslims.
Why pray for rain, that's so inefficient! Everyone knows 1000 prayers = 100 sacrificed cattle =10 sacrificed humans =1 sacrificed virgin.
AMERICA!!! You are praying to the wrong god! Start praying to the one and only FSM and he will give you rain!!!
Good one! I wonder if anyone else will get your pasta humor?
Ramen!
I doubt the flying spaghetti monster can help... :P
However, I do think the drought is serious business and we should all be worried. Failed crops equal less food. Less food equals higher prices due to greater demand, higher food prices equals higher gasoline prices, higher gasoline prices equals less money in our pockets to pay for the higher food prices. And the cycle gets worse and worse and worse... We are all in trouble, not just one state or one group of people.
It's good to be worried. Worry is the mother of infection.
You would think that if we can afford all this money on wars and helping out other countries with food and aid are government would see that this drought is causing alot of problems here. Why cant are government drill some water wells for these farmers that are in need of water to feed their cattle and crops. Dont make since to me! Tell me this is not possible. Even if it only helped by 30 % it would be trying to do something instead of spending a bunch of money on a war! Lets all pray Lets pray for a government to stand up and do something for us in need!
Lets pray they put money into education...
Allah (God) is in charge. Not You. America and other countries pledge 16 billion to Afghanistan to help them. We muslims see it as God looking out for our brothers and sisters in Islam.
Guess Allah must have been on vacation during that little tsunami that flooded a whole lot of muslim countries.
AMerica sat back, and ignored it for the most part.
Having been in persistent D4 conditions last year, followed by wildfires, this is a pain I know all too well. The droughts in Texas have subsided in some parts (thankfully, mine) and intensified in others. The best advice I can give is buy as much hay as you can find and afford now. It quickly becomes too late. Also look at the depth of your well and get in the queue if you think you need to go deeper.
Unfortunately this IS the new normal. We have damaged our planet so badly that we can no longer count on things like "average temperature" or "average rainfall". Care for your soil (and I mean the general your, not yours, specifically) will become a necessity, not just the thing we fringe, sustainable farmers do. Our neighbors, who all lost pretty much all of their topsoil last year, are slowly beginning to understand what we hippies have been doing on our land and why. Building resiliency. I know that doesn't help anyone in the short term, but it is time tor more farmers to look at the big picture.
I understand something of what people are going through. My father-in-law farms in Minnesota. Right now, things are okay, but he's been going the cycles of intense heat, corn starts to curl, then some rain.
Yet just a couple of years ago he was laughing at the idea of climate change. When he heard the prediction that it was going to go up by just a couple of degrees, he said, "What difference does that make?" I tried to point out that there's only a few degrees' difference between snow that will help replenish his underground water and rain that will run off into his creek.
mankind's disbelif destroys the earth. this talk of buying hay, how long will it be before you run out? Don't think you can control your destiny, because you can't!
I m a farmer I see this all the time climate change and cost going up I would lik e to know what is going to happen in 10 yars more
maybe is the the end of the world lik e th mayan say 21 decmber 2012
the only think y know god make me a farme I will work the land drought or not is god will
If you believe in God, perhaps he wants us to solve our own problems and take care of what was provided. Maybe the final test is for us to figure that out.
It is a time of change. The world isn't ending anytime soon, but with the dramatic that is taking place right now and later, it will seem that the world has ended for lots of people, because it won't be as how they were used to remember. This is God's Wrath in place. Avenging for the Muslims.
I think it's time for our U.S. Government to turn off their HAARP system or aim it toward the enemy, like our military designed it to be use against !!!!
It's time for you to stop buying into tin foil hat nonsense.
Well, it's very obvious that you know nothing about what the HAARP system is, nor what it is capable of doing.
Do your research before spouting off about something you're oblivious to ! !
When a society believes in a tooth fairy but denies science, they deserve the quarter under their pillow.....It will help pay for the increased cost of food their ignorance and greed have caused.
Who gives a rat's sh*t what happens in Arkansas or any of the other racist white supremacist confederate states? Learn to respect all races and all demominations and all the people God created and then perhaps we can all get along. In the mean time, I pray that a tornato, hurricane or twister wipe you stinking worthless racist scumbags off the face of the mf world.
Im not a racist... I think you are an IDIOT regardless of your race, gender, gay or straight!! You are an angry person and not all people from Arkansas are White Trash.
This is true. Bill Clinton came from Arkansas.
That being said, red states do tend to be poorer and less intelligent than blue states.
On July 10, 2012, hundreds of scientists from 48 countries released their annual State of the Climate report, which, for the first time in its history, shows that 2011 weather extremes are connected to MAN-MADE global warming. The scientists state that all greenhouse gases are on the rise, at the largest and highest levels they’ve seen since they’ve been keeping records. They state that they are NOT able to detect natural rises in greenhouse gases, that evidence shows that the rises are due to MAN-MADE increases in carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. And they state that global warming is accelerating.
dont pray for rain republicans, pray for forgiveness to mother nature and those affected because of your denial of science.
I blame Obama for this too!
I blame lack of intelligence that this lame old joke is still being posted. its like a little kid saying fart 100 times and still laughing
heh heh. You said "fart".
I hope they pray harder than Governor Perry did...
Sort of like this? http://larianlequella.blogspot.com/2011/10/coincidence.html
Sure, believing in global climate change is ridiculous but believing in help from a fictional character is totally ok.
IKR, the masses are total morons
There is nothing fiction about believing in God, there will be rain in 3 Days or less mark my words. Prophet "G"
And if it doesn't will you give up this sill nonsense about god?
Ok you keep talking to your imaginary friends.