By the time Qi Zheng arrived in the United States, the war of words between Jiagu American Branch and "selling water in disguise" had escalated.

Especially in California, where the U.S. branch of Jiagu is located, it is difficult not to vent people's grievances on Jiagu because the media portrays that "Jiagu sells tens of billions of tons of water every year by exporting pasture" and on the other hand, the disastrous impact of drought on agricultural production and livelihood.

"This is simply nonsense, unless the United States prohibits the export of any agricultural products, otherwise, that kind of agricultural products do not need water?" As the head of Jiagu's American branch, Lu Zhiwei has been anxious during this time.

To be honest, although the company is one of the largest agricultural producers in California, the company produces mostly organic food for the U.S. domestic market, and most of the pasture farms are not based in California. So the California media's exaggeration is actually very unreasonable.

In the face of Qi Zheng, who made a special trip to the United States, Lu Zhiwei couldn't help but complain shamelessly about the American media: "Even if there is a drought, there is no reasonable use of water resources. Is it a kind of agricultural export that gives economic impetus to the United States, or is it more critical to water the golf courses that movie stars go to play?"

When the media predetermined their position, all the reports about Jiagu wore tinted glasses.

For example, the branch has filed a lawsuit against the Green Harmony Organization for its defamation of "pesticide residues" in Jiagu's organic products, seeking compensation for the losses caused by defamation, intimidation of customers and related threats.

But in media reports, they either lightly brushed it off, or they used the Spring and Autumn brushwork to define the Jiagu branch's lawsuit as "aimed at suppressing civil society" and "intimidating critics......

Qi Zheng flipped through the media reports and snorted: "At this time, they probably only need one target." ”

After arriving in the United States, it is easy to see that the role of the Jiagu branch is now a "target" to calm the grievances caused by the severe drought.

The transfer of contradictions is commonplace in the capitalist world. It is difficult for a capitalist world that does not divert contradictions to maintain stability for a long time, and the United States is the leader among them.

Throughout the short history of the United States, whether the country is facing a major natural disaster, or the country has large-scale violence or security incidents, it likes to divert domestic contradictions and attention through capital markets or military force.

Since the beginning of the 21 st century, China has become the most important "target" for the United States to divert its domestic contradictions and attention -- the unemployment rate has risen, the other side of the Pacific has taken away jobs, the trade deficit has increased, and the other side of the Pacific has adopted unfair trade methods......

Fortunately or unfortunately, Kaya already has the qualifications to be "put in the eyes" of the Americans. Some time ago, Kagaku, which was portrayed by the media as "developing the desert regardless of the ecological environment", is now portrayed as "harming the water resources of the United States".

After briefly browsing the media's "fanning the flames", Qi Zheng frowned and asked: "Now, how is the production situation on farms in the United States?"

"It's not good!" Lu Zhiwei gave an expected answer, "We can't even guarantee water for the farm." ”

He said solemnly: "Some of our farms are close to rivers and have the right to use water on the shore, and the irrigation water is guaranteed, so they can maintain normal growth. But those farms that don't have water rights certificates are not a problem of not being able to export their products, but that it is difficult to ensure normal production......

The United States is a highly market-oriented country, and the formation of water prices, the allocation of water resources, and the supply and demand are all regulated and controlled through market mechanisms. In other words, access to water is paid.

Under normal circumstances, in the 10 states of the United States, especially in the arid and water-scarce Midwest, there is a complete water-saving irrigation system, and the price of irrigation water is much lower than the price of other water. The cheap right to draw water and the trade deficit between China and the United States make agricultural trade not only feasible but also beneficial.

But it's a different story in times of drought.

In California this year, for example, the price of water is 10 times higher than in previous years, and cattle owners pay $1,300 per foot of water per acre, compared to $100 in a normal year, Lu said.

Of course, if you own the right to water in a certain section of the river, that's a different story.

For the Jiagu branch, the more serious problem is that those farms that lack water can't buy water at a high price.

"Under the active lobbying of the American Cattle Association, in many Midwestern states, the federal Bureau of Reclamation is unwilling to provide irrigation water to our farms, and even pumping groundwater for irrigation is not allowed...... Lu Zhiwei said with a wry smile.

One of the main means of water allocation management in the United States is to rely on high technology for automated management. Each river and channel has automatic monitoring points, and the monitoring points can measure and provide the water supply in each region at any time. When Jiagu Farm is excluded, it is really cut off from your water when it says that it cuts you off.

On the other hand, while no special permit is required for the use of groundwater by drilling wells, state governments often have the power to stop the waste of groundwater and the ecological damage caused by the extraction of groundwater.

Obviously, under the current public opinion situation, after "assessment", the groundwater extraction and use of most of Jiagu's farms do not comply with the management regulations of local government departments.

-- Restricting the export of forage grass is the most ruthless.

Qi Zhengdu laughed angrily: "It's really interlocking!"

Naturally, he could "hydrate" Jiagu's farm in the United States by opening the hanging, but in the current situation that Jiagu doesn't know how many pairs of eyes he is staring at, this is not wise.

Therefore, seeing the dilemma faced by most of the farms in Jiagu, many large cattle farms and cattle companies in the Midwest of the United States began to take advantage of the "drought" to rob.

"Heh, you can't hold it down so soon?" Qi Zheng pouted.

Lu Zhiwei said with a tense face: "The drought has affected more than just forage production. Since the outbreak of the drought and the lack of relief in sight, food prices have continued to rise recently, with corn and soybean prices on the Chicago Board of Trade remaining high for several weeks, and corn, the main ingredient in concentrate feed, soaring by 30% in the past month......"

The cow is a creature that is very adaptable, as long as you give it something to eat, it can survive. As the weather continues to be dry, many ranchers will choose to reduce the amount of concentrate feed and increase the supply of forage and other roughage. After all, compared to the skyrocketing price of corn and other grains, forage grass that is more cost-effective despite the price increase is a better choice.

In this way, the attractiveness of the Jiagu branch's possession of the highest quality forage production assets is even more obvious.

-- The intention of the American Cattle Association against Jiagu is partly the promotion of the mastermind behind the scenes, and some is the coveting of Jiagu Grass Farm, so it is difficult to say.

Similarly, Jiagu's organic farms in the United States have also been questioned by many buyers.

Qi Zheng naturally didn't think that these jumping guys were the real masterminds behind the scenes, but their jumping up and down really made Qi Zheng very unhappy.

If you are not happy, you have to be angry!

So in the eyes of those who are interested, after Qi Zheng arrived in the United States, he kept inspecting the Jiagu farms distributed in the Midwestern states of the United States, and occasionally met with one or two buyers who inquired, as if he was really considering selling the farm.

But where no one is looking, change is creeping in.

......