Strategic Reserves are important – it’s where a nation stores vast quantities of something crucial to its citizens' well-being in case of an emergency. The most familiar example is the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which stores hundreds of millions of barrels of crude oil – intended for release in the event of war or a geopolitical disaster. Another important example is the Strategic National Stockpile, which stores supplies of medicines, medical devices, and personal protective equipment in the event of a biological attack or natural disaster.
Some national reserves may leave people scratching their heads....
1. Canada’s Global Strategic Maple Syrup Reserve
Maple syrup is a big deal to Canada; they produce more than 70% of the world’s supply. The 100-million-pound reserve has been used to keep prices and supplies stable through poor harvest seasons and during spikes in demand by home-bound families during Covid lockdowns.
2. China’s National Pork Stockpile
Each year China consumes more than double the amount of pork consumed by the entire population of Europe. Their national reserve of this resource was begun after disease ravaged the country’s pig farms. While China is secretive about the details, it's believed that it holds up to 200,000 tons of the frozen meat, which is continually rotated after no more than four months.
3. U.S. Cheese Stockpile
After a $2 billion dairy subsidy left American farmers drowning in excess milk. The federal government bought the leftovers and turned much of it into cheese. As of April 2021, there remained 1.4 billion pounds of the stuff in storage. The closest thing to heaven for any mouse lucky enough to sneak in.
4. U.S. Federal Helium Reserve
Besides filling party balloons Helium is crucial to the production of fiber-optic cables, computer chips, and MRI magnets, along with car airbags and specialized welding. The Federal Helium Reserve (FHR) –managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) – since 1925, accounts for 40% of the world’s supply. In 2022 our government stopped selling from this 1-billion-cubic-meter reserve. Not surprisingly, prices of the gas have soared since then.
5. U.S. National Raisin Reserve
Despite what you may imagine, there are not that many uses for raisins. The reserve was created to deal with a surplus of the wrinkled snacks. Apparently, the government’s answer to every problem is to buy it.
6. Europe’s Butter Reserve
CAP (the Common Agricultural Policy) of 1962, began as a subsidy program for farmers that swelled into a mountain that consumed two-thirds of the European Economic Community’s budget, holding a whopping 1.23 million tons of butter by 1986.
God's Strategic Reserves are truly crucial!
He is the ultimate source of the things we need for life. There is no danger of them running out!
"Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalms 37:1
"His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence…" 2 Peter 1:3
"And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19
"For every beast of the forest is mine, And the cattle upon a thousand hills." Psalms 50:10
"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times." 2 Corinthians 9:8
"It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23
"He that believeth on me… from within him shall flow rivers of living water." John 7:38
"And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need." Malachi 3:10
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