test

We Are Being Warned That A “Godzilla El Niño” Could Absolutely Devastate Global Food Production

Authored by Michael Snyder via The End of The American Dream blog,
The waters of the Pacific Ocean are getting extremely warm, and that could provide fuel for an immensely destructive climate event that is unlike anything we have ever seen before. Even the United Nations has issued an ominous warning about the El Niño event that is in the long-term forecast, because it will have a dramatic impact on every man, woman, and child on the entire planet.
We are being told that there is more than an 80 percent chance that El Niño conditions will arrive by the end of next month due to ridly warming equatorial waters in the Pacific. Meanwhile, an unprecedented “9,000-mile marine heatwave” has developed in the North Pacific. Many experts are concerned that the confluence of those two factors could produce a “Godzilla El Niño”…
The chance of an El Niño event emerging by July is now over 80 percent, which will likely make 2026 one of the hottest years on record. At the same time, an exceptionally large 9,000-mile marine heatwave has been forming in the North Pacific since the end of 2025. These extreme warming events are now evolving together across the Pacific. Scientists are increasingly concerned that the warm water will fuel a “super” or “Godzilla” El Niño, potentially prolonging marine heatwaves, disrupting fisheries and ecosystems, and intensifying global climate impacts well into 2027.
The “9,000-mile marine heatwave” in the North Pacific is absolutely astounding climate scientists.
At the same time, the warming in the equatorial waters where El Niño events normally develop is at a level that we haven’t seen since at least 1877…
The temperature of the ocean in the equatorial waters where these El Niños form was predicted to be 3 degrees Celsius above average. Experts are saying that this is a level of heat in the Pacific Ocean that hasn’t been recorded since 1877.
I have written about the “Super El Niño” that started in 1877 before.
That “Super El Niño” was one of the primary reasons why 50 million people starved during the Great Famine that stretched from 1876 to 1878…
This El Niño, they say, could rival the intense event of the late 19th century that triggered “the Great Famine” on a global scale, killing millions of people. And its scythe sliced through southern Africa.
“The 1876-78 Great Famine impacted multiple regions across the globe, including parts of Asia, Nordeste [Northeast] Brazil, and northern and southern Africa, with total human fatalities exceeding 50 million people, arguably the worst environmental disaster to befall humanity,” a team of scientists said a decade ago in a ground-breaking per presented at a meeting of the American Geophysical Union.
3 percent of the entire population of the world starved to death during those years.
Today, 3 percent of the entire population of the world would be 240,000,000 people.
In 1982 and 1983, we experienced the most severe “Super El Niño” of the 20th century…
In 1982-83, the most intense El Niño of the 20th century caused extreme weather events throughout the world, including floods in the American Pacific and in the southern United States, and droughts in north-eastern Brazil and Indonesia. It also caused a very mild winter in the mid-latitudes of Europe, Asia and North America.
That “Super El Niño” sparked a horrific famine in eastern Africa that wiped out a very large proportion of the population…
A widespread famine affected Ethiopia from 1983 to 1985. The worst famine to hit the country in a century, it affected 7.75 million people out of Ethiopia’s 38-40 million and left proximately 300,000 to 1.2 million dead. 2.5 million people were internally displaced whereas 400,000 refugees left Ethiopia. Almost 200,000 children were orphaned.
Now we are being warned that the most powerful “Super El Niño” of all time could potentially be ahead of us.
We could see insanely hot temperatures all over the world this summer, and we are being told that we are likely to see severe drought conditions “in southern Africa, Australia, India, the Indochina Peninsula and Oceania”…
Easterly trade winds across the equator, meanwhile, are replaced by bursts of westerly surface winds. Those pile warm waters against the western shores of South America. That suppresses cool ocean upwelling from below, which is needed to bring nutrient-rich waters closer to the surface. That starves baitfish and means poor fish harvests for dependent countries in Central America and the Pacific coast of South America.
Drought, meanwhile, is likely in southern Africa, Australia, India, the Indochina Peninsula and Oceania. Southeast Asia, meanwhile, could see above-average rainfall and more flooding.
Here in the United States, we could see a lot less rain than normal in the Midwest, and temperatures in the heartland could be 3 to 6 degrees above normal.
In other words, it would be horrible growing weather.
Our farmers are already facing much higher diesel prices, much higher fertilizer prices, and a multi-year drought that never seems to end. Now a “Godzilla El Niño” could be on the way, and the World Meteorological Organization is telling us to brace for the worst…
The World Meteorological Organization is warning that this summer’s El Nino event could be the worst yet. Compounded by fertiliser shortages, inflation and rising oil prices, these shocks threaten to push an already fragile food industry to the brink, and the impact will land squarely in consumers’ shopping baskets.
Coming into this year, the number of people around the world experiencing acute food insecurity was already at the highest level ever recorded.
And now a “Godzilla El Niño” could absolutely devastate food production in many of the areas around the world that grow the four crops that account for 60 percent of all global calories…
Global food security relies heavily on a highly concentrated supply chain. Just four crops, wheat, rice, maize and soybeans, account for over 60% of global calories. While localised regional shortages are typically balanced by other markets, a global El Nino triggers teleconnections: simultaneous weather anomalies across different continents that cause correlated crop failures. And this systemic drop in supply leads to direct price increases at supermarket tills.
In this country, where do we grow most of our wheat, rice, corn, and soybeans?
Everyone knows that it is in the heartland, and the heartland of this country is about to get hit by a climate sledgehammer.
Of course, we all still have to eat, and so demand for food is not going to go down.
Since there won’t be as much food produced, that means that prices are likely to spike…
Because demand for basic stles is inelastic – consumers must eat regardless of cost – even small supply deficits cause disproportionate price surges. Scenarios for this El Nino indicate price shocks of 10% to 50% across core commodities, with highly exposed crops, including rice, palm oil, sugarcane and coffee, potentially experiencing surges of 50% to 100%, or more.
In the past, price shocks struck one commodity at a time. A simultaneous, cross-category surge means consumers will be hit harder and broader than ever before.
If you think that food prices at your local supermarket are high now, just wait until you see what they are like in the future.
What will struggling American families do if basic stles that they purchase on a regular basis suddenly go up by 50 percent or more?
Of course, conditions will be much worse in many impoverished nations around the globe.
In some cases, there simply won’t be nearly enough food to feed everyone.
We really are facing a nightmare scenario, and the vast majority of the global population is completely and utterly unprepared for it.

test

New World Screwworm in Texas: What ‘Escalated Response’ Means for US Food Distribution

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered an escalated response to the reemergence of the New World screwworm, activating the State Emergency Operations Center at Level II and mobilizing all available state resources as officials race to contain the parasitic pest now detected inside the state.
The move directs the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to coordinate a multi-agency response, bringing together animal health, agriculture and public health officials to prevent further spread.
The stakes stretch far beyond Texas. The New World screwworm poses a direct threat to livestock production—particularly cattle—and could disrupt supply chains if infestations spread, forcing quarantines or limiting animal movement. Because Texas is the nation’s top cattle-producing state, officials have warned that an outbreak could tighten already strained supply, drive up beef prices and ripple through broader food distribution systems nationwide.
Read More on U.S.
A widening screwworm outbreak could also intersect with broader global supply risks, including volatility tied to key shipping routes like the Strait of Hormuz. While the parasite itself threatens domestic livestock production, any concurrent disruption in global energy flows through the Strait, which handles a significant share of the world’s oil shipments, can drive up transportation and fuel costs.
Those increases typically cascade through agricultural supply chains, raising costs for feed, processing and distribution. In a worst-case scenario, overlping pressures from a livestock pest outbreak and higher shipping or fuel costs could compound price spikes and logistical strain across the United States’ food system, particularly for beef and other protein products already sensitive to supply shocks.
Screwworm Symptoms in Humans: What We Know
Although the parasite primarily affects animals, human cases can occur in areas where the flies are present.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the New World screwworm infection begins when a female fly lays eggs in an open wound or body opening, such as the nose, ears or mouth.
Symptoms can include:
Painful wounds that worsen quickly
A foul-smelling site of infection
Visible larvae (maggots) in or around the wound
Sensation of movement under the skin
The larvae feed on living tissue, which can lead to severe damage if not treated promptly.
Health officials emphasize that while human risk in the U.S. remains low, exposure is possible in areas where the flies are circulating, particularly for individuals with untreated wounds.
Why Is Screwworm Back in the US?
The current threat is tied to a broader outbreak that has steadily advanced north through the Americas over the past several years.
The parasite is endemic in parts of South America and the Caribbean.
Since 2023, it has spread across Central America and into Mexico.
Recent detections in northern Mexico brought the pest within miles of the U.S. border before it was confirmed in Texas in June 2026.
Experts say the spread has been fueled by both the migration of flies and the movement of infected animals, allowing the parasite to le long distances.
The detection in Texas marks the parasite’s return after decades of eradication in the United States, prompting renewed emergency measures and containment strategies similar to those used in the mid-20th century.
Florida has also moved to tighten biosecurity, enacting emergency rules that bar the import of any warm‑blooded animals from screwworm-infested zones until June 10, according to state agriculture officials, underscoring growing concern about cross-state spread.
How Screwworms and Botflies Differ
While both screwworms and botflies are parasites that can infest animals—and in rare cases humans—they behave in significantly different ways.
New World screwworm:
Targets open wounds on living animals
Larvae aggressively burrow into and consume healthy tissue
Infestations can ridly worsen and become fatal if untreated
Botflies (general comparison):
Typically deposit larvae on intact skin or through insect vectors
Often create localized infestations rather than ridly expanding wounds
Usually less destructive to surrounding tissue
A key distinction highlighted by experts is that screwworm larvae feed on living tissue, whereas many other fly larvae, including common species, feed only on dead or decaying material.
What Does the Emergency Response Do?
Abbott said the state is deploying the full use of all state resources to stop the pest.
With the emergency response now fully activated, officials say early detection and rid containment will be critical to preventing wider spread and minimizing potential disruptions to livestock production and the U.S. food supply.
“The protection of our ranchers, livestock producers, deer breeders, and the Texas economy from this pest is a top priority,” Abbott said in a press release issued Monday. “We have eradicated this pest before, and we will do it again in close cooperation with our federal partners.”
“Texans should stay alert, check animals daily for wounds, and report any suspected cases immediately,” he urged.
Activation of the State Emergency Operations Center at Level II centralizes Texas’ response, allowing officials to ridly deploy resources, coordinate across agencies and streamline decision-making as new cases emerge.
The move brings together key partners to manage surveillance, containment and public guidance, including the Texas Animal Health Commission, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, Texas Department of Agriculture and the Texas Department of State Health Services.

test

Dorchester County woman accused of $76K food stamp fraud

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) — A Summerville woman was arrested after authorities say she fraudulently obtained more than $75,000 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SN, benefits.
Timesha Fleming, 34, was charged with fraudulent acquisition or use of food stamps valued at $10,000 or more, according to the South Carolina Department of Social Services.
The alleged crimes occurred between August 2020 and November, according to an arrest warrant.
Documents claim she failed to report her husband’s income while they were living together, acquiring $76,502 in benefits she would not have qualified for if she accurately reported her household’s income.
Fleming was booked into the L.C. Knight Detention Center on Friday and released the same day, according to jail records.

test

Emma’s Torch Helps Refugees Build New Futures Through Food

Emma’s Torch is opening its new café and culinary training center in Downtown Silver Spring on June 12, combining delicious food with a powerful mission.
The nonprofit provides refugees, asylum seekers, and survivors of human trafficking with hands-on culinary training, career support, and real-world restaurant experience to help them build sustainable careers in the hospitality industry. Guests can enjoy fresh café offerings while supporting students as they put their skills into practice in a working kitchen.
Kerry Brodie, the founder and Executive Director of Emma’s Torch, and Briana White, the Senior Culinary Instructor shared with Brian what visitors can enjoy at the cafe, including brunch to a fresh salad.

test

Summer EBT food benefits are here, redemption rate was 80% last year

Nevada families will once again receive a one-time payment of $120 per child this summer to help buy groceries during months when free or reduced school meals are not available.
The federal nutrition assistance program, known as Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (S-EBT), will benefit more than 300,000 school-aged children in Nevada, according to Nevada Current.
The Nevada Division of Social Services, which administers the food assistance program, said more than $36 million in benefits will be sent out this summer as part of an effort to combat childhood hunger.
Last year, the Nevada Division of Social Services issued more than $37,000 in S-EBT benefits, but only about $30,0000 was used by eligible families, meaning about 20% of food benefits were lost.
Under the program, benefits expire after 122 days after they are issued.
The Nevada Division of Social Services said some families may have been unaware last year that S-EBT benefits were loaded onto existing cards they had received in the program’s inaugural year, which could have lowered the redemption rate.
This year, state agencies notified families by email and text messages that benefits were issued to their existing EBT cards. The Division of Social Services also promoted the program on social media pages and held a Facebook live event with the Clark County School District in hopes of increasing S-EBT benefit use.
Kelly Cantrelle, the deputy administrator of the Nevada Division of Social Services, said they worked closely with the Nevada Department of Education to ensure all eligible students were automatically sent summer food benefits.
Their partnership allows DSS to distribute these benefits quickly to families that need additional support during the summer months, Cantrelle said in a statement.
Overall, Nevada has strong distribution rates with about 80% of eligible families utilizing their full benefits.
How benefits will be distributed
More than half of eligible families were issued summer food benefits on May 23, which were delivered on existing EBT cards that work like a debit card and can be used at grocery stores and proved online retailers.
Families that do not have existing EBT cards will be sent new summer EBT cards by mail through mid-July. Those families will be notified through email and text as their benefits are issued.
Families who did not receive a card or lost their existing summer EBT card can call or write the Nevada Division of Social Services for a new card, which will take about 2-3 weeks to arrive.
Not all families are automatically eligible for the summer nutrition program, and the agency is encouraging families to ply for benefits on the Access Nevada Summer EBT portal through Aug. 9. Once proved, the family will be notified and mailed a summer EBT card.
The Nevada Division of Social Services has received about 1,400 plications for the summer EBT program this year, and about 1,000 of those plications have been proved.
Families can check to see if their child is automatically enrolled into the program through an online portal at Access Nevada.
Children are automatically eligible for the S-EBT program if they attend a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program .
If a child receives Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SN), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or Medicaid they are automatically eligible regardless of what school they attend.
Children participating in the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) are also automatically eligible.
SN plications are down
About half of children eligible for the summer EBT program are also participating in SN or TANF, meaning they are automatically issued the summer food benefits on cards their family already uses on a regular basis.
David Rubel, a New York City-based education consultant who tracks S-EBT redemption rates nationally, said families are less likely to lose track of SN or TANF cards compared to S-EBT cards which are loaded once a year.
In a nutshell, the good news is that Nevada Summer EBT program is reaching most families, but with 20% expungement, Nevada can still do better with more publicity, Rubel said. If a family had been made aware of the Summer EBT payment, they could still have plied for a new card.
But in Nevada, both SN participation and new SN plications have decreased. From January to March, there was an 18% decrease in the number of households receiving SN benefits compared to the same time last year.
The trend is not unique to Nevada. The SN Program is down over 4 million individuals nationwide. This indicates broader federal and economic factors are contributing to this reduction, said Kristle Muessle, a spokesperson for DSS.
The drop in SN recipients follows federal work requirements that went into effect May 1, implemented under President Donald Trump’s signature One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Under the bill, able-bodied adults aged 18-64 without dependents under 14 must prove they work or participate in proved training or community service activities at least 20 hours per week, or their SN benefits could be limited to 3 months in a three-year period.
It also removed work exemptions for the unhoused, veterans, and former foster youth.
The new work requirements fundamentally alter the landsce of food assistance in Nevada. Nevada has been exempt from SN work requirements since 2008, due to the state’s higher-than-average unemployment rate.
Before the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was signed into law, state and county governments could request to waive work requirements if they had persistently high unemployment rates.
However, under the new rules waivers will only be granted to jurisdictions with annual unemployment rates above 10%.
High unemployment remains an issue in Nevada, although not as high as during the pandemic when unemployment rates reached 30%.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics, Nevada currently has the second highest unemployment rate in the U.S., tied with Delaware and California at 5.3%.

test

USDA confirms two more cases of flesh

June 8 (UPI) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the United States’ food supply is not at risk after confirming two more cases of the New World screwworm in Texas.
New cases were confirmed in La Salle County and Andrews County, Texas. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the federal government has officials in Texas helping to contain the Cochliomyia hominivorax.
“This is not a virus, it’s not a disease, it’s just a little pest, a larva that lands in a calf’s wound, for example, and it can be treated,” Rollins said in an interview on CNBC.
Rollins added that the United States is investing more than $1 billion to stop the spread of the screwworm. The parasite was eradicated in the United States in the 1960s and had not peared again until last week.
The USDA confirmed that a second screwworm case had been discovered on Friday in Zavala County, Texas. It was about 5.6 miles from the first case in La Pryor, Texas.
The New World screwworm is a fly that burrows into open areas of warm-blooded mammals, including its eyes, ears, genitals or open wounds. Once inside, it lays eggs that hatch maggots that feed on flesh.
The first case in the United States in 60 years was detected in a calf.
The parasite poses a risk to livestock while U.S. cattle numbers are currently at their lowest count in 75 years.