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2026-08-17 -Signs, Portents, and the Weather-

A historic shortage is squeezing an American dinner staple and relief could be years away

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Posted by Skidmark 2026-08-17 07:22|| E-Mail|| Front Page|| [323 views ] Top

1 [AI]
impact of diet on childhood reading levels over the last 75 years

Research indicates that **diet quality is a significant predictor of childhood reading levels and cognitive development**, with specific nutrients playing distinct roles in visual processing and language acquisition. Over recent decades, the focus has shifted from general caloric sufficiency to the **quality of specific nutrients**, such as omega-3 fatty acids and iron, which are critical for brain maturation and reading fluency.

**Key Nutritional Drivers of Reading Ability**
* **Omega-3 Fatty Acids (DHA):** Essential for eye and brain development, DHA supports the neural pathways required for tracking words and using working memory; deficiencies are linked to difficulties in reading fluency and visual processing.
* **Iron and Micronutrients:** Iron deficiency anemia is a major risk factor for impaired cognitive development and lower academic achievement, while folate, zinc, and B vitamins also show strong correlations with better cognitive performance.
* **Overall Diet Quality:** Diets high in fruits, vegetables, fish, and whole grains are associated with better reading skills, whereas diets high in saturated fats, sugars, and processed foods are linked to poorer cognitive function and lower standardized test scores.

**Long-Term Trends and Dietary Shifts**
* **Decline in Phenotypic IQ:** In affluent Western countries, recent data suggests a reversal of the "Flynn Effect" (historical gains in IQ), which researchers attribute to **declining protein quality** and overall nutritional density in children's diets over the last several decades.
* **Obesity and Academic Performance:** The rise in childhood obesity and the consumption of energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods have coincided with increased risks of lower academic achievement, including reading and math scores.
* **School Nutrition Programs:** Evidence shows that improved school lunch programs with strictly controlled nutritional quality can lead to **higher long-term educational attainment**, even if immediate cognitive test scores do not show dramatic changes, suggesting that sustained proper nutrition supports learning capacity and school engagement.

While historical data spanning exactly 75 years is limited, the consistent scientific consensus is that **malnutrition and poor diet quality impair the neurological development** necessary for reading, and that **improving dietary intake** through both home and school environments is a proven strategy to enhance academic outcomes.

Posted by Skidmark 2026-08-17 07:28|| 2026-08-17 07:28|| Front Page Top

2 Or not buying it.

Kind of the trend we're seeing here in the Midwest.

Plenty of (expensive) beef in the stores, but folks seem to be purchasing more chicken and pork.

Posted by Mullah Richard 2026-08-17 09:28|| 2026-08-17 09:28|| Front Page Top

3 or make do.

Posted by Procopius2k 2026-08-17 10:19|| 2026-08-17 10:19|| Front Page Top

4 Whatever became of the vaunted imported "Argentine Beef" that Trump promoted as a way to alleviate the beef shortage an high prices in the US?

Posted by Seeking Cure For Ignorance 2026-08-17 10:30|| 2026-08-17 10:30|| Front Page Top

5 ^ ask your AI news reader

[AI]
Whatever became of the vaunted imported Argentine Beef that Trump promoted as a way to alleviate the beef shortage an high prices in the US?

The **imported Argentine beef** promoted by President Donald Trump to lower U.S. prices was officially authorized via a **February 2026 proclamation** that quadrupled the low-tariff quota by **80,000 metric tons**, yet the initiative has been marred by **regulatory failures** and sustained industry opposition. While the policy successfully boosted Argentine exports to the U.S. by **185% in volume** through mid-2026, its effectiveness in reducing consumer costs remains disputed by economists who argue the added supply is too small to significantly impact prices.

**Recent Recall Incident**: In **August 2026**, nearly **30,000 pounds** of the imported beef distributed in Florida and Texas was recalled by the USDA after entering the U.S. without mandatory **import reinspection**. Officials classified this as an **administrative error** by the importer, Corte Argentino USA LLC, rather than a food safety issue, but the lapse intensified criticism from domestic ranchers regarding the reliability of foreign supply chains.

**Industry and Political Backlash**: The plan faces continued fury from U.S. cattle groups like the **National Cattlemen's Beef Association**, who label it **market manipulation** that undermines domestic producers without guaranteeing lower grocery bills. Additionally, the program operates alongside ongoing concerns about **screwworm threats** from the Mexican border, which some ranchers argue poses a greater risk to the U.S. herd than the import policy solves.

Posted by Skidmark 2026-08-17 11:07|| 2026-08-17 11:07|| Front Page Top

6 Don't forget the anti-trust probe.

Every time I've been on I40 west of Amarillo that stockyard keeps getting bigger.

Posted by Procopius2k 2026-08-17 11:41|| 2026-08-17 11:41|| Front Page Top

7 Free Markets, but all the inputs are controlled.

If they wanted us on a diet of bug and vegetable proteins, and were to create conditions that facilitated the transition, what would be different?

Posted by mossomo 2026-08-17 12:44|| 2026-08-17 12:44|| Front Page Top

8 If Trump starts having trouble getting a Big Mac, he'll find a way to fix the problem.

Posted by Abu Uluque 2026-08-17 14:14|| 2026-08-17 14:14|| Front Page Top

9 Note: a few dairy farms down here in my neck of the woods, sell bull calves for around $2.5k. With 9 months of grazing,it fills up a freezer.

Just don't let the wife make a pet out it.

Posted by NN2N1 2026-08-17 23:02|| 2026-08-17 23:02|| Front Page Top

23:02 NN2N1
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