Opinion: Double whammy on the horizon?

Is California ready for an economic double whammy? Experts in both agriculture and economics warn that drought and tariffs could cripple the Golden State. At this point, their analyses are mostly speculation, but they caution that we may not be adequately prepared for the consequences of either another prolonged dry spell or a significant spike in the cost of energy, durable goods, and food.

Agriculture

Timothy McGill, writing for The Cool Down, pointed out that the continuing drought in our state “deepened and expanded” by the end of 2024. At that time, much of California was in a moderate drought. But the state’s breadbasket is in particular danger. He claims that nearly 40 percent of the area is in “severe” drought, and almost 12 percent is in “extreme” drought.

McGill’s research shows that drought levels increased during the month of January, a month when there was very little precipitation in the northern valley and almost no rain in the southern valley. He pointed out that “the portion of the state experiencing an extreme drought… jumped from a little over one percent by the second week of the month to nearly 12 percent by the third week of January.”