The Russian invasion of Ukraine six months ago led to worries that people worldwide would go hungry.
6个月前,俄罗斯入侵乌克兰,这使人们担忧世界各地的人民将会挨饿。
Crops like wheat remained stuck in blockaded ports.
小麦等农作物仍然滞留在被封锁的港口。
With only so much farmland in the United States, farmers could not do much to meet the new demand.
美国只有这么多农田,农民无法种植太多的粮食来满足新的需求。
But that may be changing.
但这种情况可能正在改变。
Earlier this summer, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA, started new policies to urge American farmers to grow two crops, one after another, on one piece of land.
今年夏天早些时候,美国农业部启动了新政策,敦促美国农民在一块土地上连续种植两种作物。
The practice is known as double cropping.
这种做法被称为一年两熟种植模式。
The USDA changed insurance rules to lessen the risk of growing two crops.
美国农业部修改了保险规定,以降低种植两种作物的风险。
By doing this, the USDA hopes to greatly increase the amount of wheat that U.S. farmers can grow every year.
通过这样做,美国农业部希望大幅增加美国农民每年可以种植的小麦数量。
That will reduce dependence on big wheat producers like Ukraine and Russia and increase supplies.
这将减少对乌克兰和俄罗斯等大型小麦生产国的依赖,并增加粮食供应。
The idea has not received widespread attention.
这个想法并没有得到广泛的关注。
As autumn arrives, it is unclear how many farmers plan to try double cropping.
随着秋天的到来,目前还不清楚有多少农民计划尝试一年两熟种植模式。
But some farmers who already grow two crops say it is something others should consider.
但一些已经种植了两种作物的农民表示,这是其他人应该考虑的事情。
“I think it’s a great idea,” said Illinois farmer Jeff O’Connor.
伊利诺伊州的农民杰夫·奥康纳说:“我认为这是一个好主意。”
He has double cropped for years and recently appeared with U.S. President Joe Biden to support efforts to increase food production.
多年来,他一直是一年种植两种作物,最近他与美国总统乔·拜登一起露面支持增加粮食产量的行动。
“How successful it will be, I don’t know,” he added.
他还说:“我不知道它会有多成功”。
In 2020, the U.S. exported wheat valued at $6.3 billion.
2020年,美国小麦出口额为63亿美元。
The U.S., Russia, Australia and Canada lead the world in wheat exports.
美国、俄罗斯、澳大利亚和加拿大在小麦出口量上位居世界前列。
In past years, Ukraine has usually come in fifth place.
在过去几年里,乌克兰通常排在第五位。
Ukraine is a leading supplier of wheat to people in Africa and the Middle East.
乌克兰是非洲和中东地区小麦的主要供应国。
After Russia’s invasion, wheat prices nearly doubled to over $12 a bushel.
在俄罗斯入侵乌克兰后,小麦价格几乎翻了一番,达到每蒲式耳12美元以上。
Since then, prices have dropped following agreements that have permitted the export of some Ukrainian wheat.
自那以后,在达成允许乌克兰出口部分小麦的协议后,价格有所下降。
Double cropping is not a new idea in the southern parts of the United States.
一年两熟种植模式在美国南部并不新鲜。
The warmer temperatures there let farmers plant winter wheat that can be harvested in late spring while adding a second crop of soybeans.
那里比较温暖的气候条件让农民种植的冬小麦可以在春末收割,同时种植第二季农作物——大豆。
The problem comes when cool weather delays the spring harvest of wheat, which in turn delays the planting of soybeans.
当寒冷的天气推迟了春季小麦收割,进而推迟了大豆的种植时,问题就来了。
With the new rules, the USDA could ease the risk of a costly planting backup.
有了新规定,美国农业部可以减轻第二季农作物导致的成本风险。
The agency would simplify crop insurance approvals for farmers planting a second crop in areas where double cropping is possible.
对于可能实现农作物一年两熟的地区,该机构将会为种植第二季作物的农民简化作物保险审批流程。
It also would work with crop insurers and farm groups to support coverage in other areas.
它还将与作物保险公司和农场组织合作,支持其他地区的保险。
In announcing its effort, the USDA said it was aiming to “stabilize food prices and feed Americans and the world amidst continuing challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain disruptions, and the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.”
在宣布这一举措时,美国农业部表示,其目标是“在新冠疫情、供应链中断和俄罗斯入侵乌克兰等持续挑战中,稳定食品价格,养活美国人乃至全世界人民。”
The USDA did not note climate change in its announcement.
美国农业部在其声明中没有提到气候变化。
But the agency and other experts have long said warming temperatures will make farmers rethink what they grow and how.
但该机构和其他专家长期以来一直表示,气温上升将会使农民重新考虑他们种植的作物以及种植方式。
Mark Lehenbauer raises livestock and grows crops near Palmyra, Missouri.
马克·莱亨鲍尔在密苏里州帕尔米拉附近饲养牲畜和种植农作物。
He said he has double cropped for years.
他说,他多年来一直在种植两种作物。
For him, it has been a good move financially.
对他来说,这在经济上是一个不错的选择。
Still, he warns that farmers must learn how to plant one crop just as they need to harvest another.
不过,他警告说,农民必须学会如何在需要收获另一种作物时种植一种作物。
Lehenbauer added that many farmers may not be willing to take on the added risks or the extra work.
莱亨鲍尔还说,许多农民可能不愿意承担额外的风险或做额外的工作。
“There are a lot of extra steps in there,” he said.
他说:“这里面有很多额外的步骤”。
“It adds some complexity.”
“这增加了一些复杂性。”
I'm Ashley Thompson.
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