Consumer Affaris warns on food prices

[momma_to_seven_chi]

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2010/04/food_inflation.html

[pcrowder]

Yup, it's coming. Add in all increasing taxes and then throw inflation in the mix, and it's not going to be pretty.

[momma_to_seven_chi]

I thought it was interesting that consumer affairs reported on it. Usually "respected" media doesn't say too much even though the WSJ did have that one piece on storing food.

[NCLee]

Thanks for posting the link.

It's interesting from another aspect, as well.

Many in the media and in Washington keep trying to paint a more rosey picture i.e. the worst is over. One of the "positve" indicators is the rise in conumer spending.

"Unfortunately, they fail to realize that rising food and gasoline prices accounted for 58 percent of February's year-over-year 3.85 percent rise in retail sales," the group said. http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2010/04/food_inflation.html

So, when the reports come out for April, to get a valid percentage of retail sales, we'll probably need to factor out inflation at 60% along with the impact of the Energy Star rebate that's pushing appliances out of the stores. Local TV stations have been reporting how many govt give-away dollars for NC are remaining on a daily basis. "Better get your share while you can" type reporting.

Lee

[firegirl969]

I sat in a meeting this week with our superintendant of schools and the director of the department of family and children's services. They both stated about the economy that next spring when the stimulus money was all gone TSWHTF here. They said that the stimulus bailout was indeed a baidaid fix and it just made it look like a fix, but it can in no way be sustained. DH and I are doing all we can to prepare for the time to come. I feel that it will be " The Greatest Depression."

[patience]

firegirl,

Excellent point. We haven't seen the depth of the problems existing now, due to that band-aid "fix". When unemployment runs out for people, and the emergency funding runs out for ther programs, the real impact will be felt. Govt. and mainstream media try to put a good face on the situation, undoubtedly in an effort to keep people from panicking. But nice words and BS only go so far.

Food prices escalating will winnow out a lot of the BS for many people, no matter what the govt. figures say about inflation. I see a long hard winter coming up.

[AlchemyAcres]

Folks around here are already starting to bitch!

Of course, they are some of the same folks who have invested countless hours and dollars in pretty ornamental landscaping rather than edibles!!! I fully support their freedom to do as they wish, but I sure as heck don't feel sorry for 'em!!!!!!

No comprendo porqué lo haces!!!


~Martin

[leera]

Martin,that is exactly why I dug up all the Hostas that came with the house and gave them away....Planting strawberries in place of them this afternoon actually.

I've put in grape vines and rhubarb,blueberries and will be adding raspberries along with getting the garden in soon.Everything I am doing now,once established, will pay for itself in a few years when I don't have to buy it in the store.

I plan on slowly expanding the gardens until I have no need to buy any of the things I can grow myself.

Was told yesterday that the price of meat will be going up too due to a "lack of market ready livestock".......hmm,sounds like a just a ploy to raise prices to me.

I figure the more self reliant I can be,the better.The less I need to buy something,the better.I know it seems like we need to do just the opposite for the economy to pick up,but my own personal economy will benefit greatly from my own efforts to reduce spending.

[debbie-bountiful]

I raise beef cattle. Prices right now are decent in selling but when you add up how much feed, fertilizer, etc.. the producer isn't making the money. I figure my own round bales of hay are costing me to produce at least 25 a bale. I use to sell hay but people want it for nothing so I just keep it now.

MY POINT is I believe a lot of producers are going out of business, so then what, where do you buy your beef. South of the border! YUK>

[pcrowder]

Nope debbie - they want you to import it from China! They're already talking the last couple of weeks of having our milk imported from China too, in addition to everything else we're importing from them. No thanks -- I draw the line at melamine-tained ANYTHING edible.

Haven't we as a country learned anything about China's unscruptulous sales in the last 3 years?

[cinok]

I raise beef cattle. Prices right now are decent in selling but when you add up how much feed, fertilizer, etc.. the producer isn't making the money. I figure my own round bales of hay are costing me to produce at least 25 a bale. I use to sell hay but people want it for nothing so I just keep it now.

MY POINT is I believe a lot of producers are going out of business, so then what, where do you buy your beef. South of the border! YUK>

We just got a bottle calf.Our boys or doing it as a 4H project along with the goats so they need to track all expenses. We picked up one sons check for the county extension office the other day his goat didn't make the sale but it was add on money although he was appreciative of the donations he said this doesn't ever cover 2 bags of show feed. I said welcome to the real world.
The margin in beef is so slim that they are when you look at producer spread sheets they are looking for any way to make a extra $1.00 a head. Hay,feed are the expenses many townies don't think of when they complain about the price of beef they don't think about how the expense of that ear corn they eat with their steak effects the production cost of cattle.

[cinok]

Folks around here are already starting to bitch!

Of course, they are some of the same folks who have invested countless hours and dollars in pretty ornamental landscaping rather than edibles!!! I fully support their freedom to do as they wish, but I sure as heck don't feel sorry for 'em!!!!!!

No comprendo porqué lo haces!!!


~Martin
All those flowers may look pretty in front of your suburban homestead but they have costs with no return.

[CapeCMom]

Now Martin-and Cinok...I hope your sarcasm wasn't directed at me.

If you have traded for your perennials in a plant exchange or with friends and relatives they really don't cost a thing. And they do have a return. My yard is full of bees because of my flowers, thus pollinating my vegi garden. Plus something is to be said for the enjoyment factor. It brings peace to my hectic life a double return for my hard work.

[debbie-bountiful]

[ The margin in beef is so slim that they are when you look at producer spread sheets they are looking for any way to make a extra $1.00 a head. Hay,feed are the expenses many townies don't think of when they complain about the price of beef they don't think about how the expense of that ear corn they eat with their steak effects the production cost of cattle.[/QUOTE]

That is the point, they do not realize. Well, after eating south of the border steaks maybe they'll come to senses. Not to mention regulations on that beef the south sells. Now I have sold feeder calves to people wanting to raise their own which is nice for them and me. So those people understand what a "good beef" is.

[Anon001]

I don't know what y'all are talking about with the margin being slim on beef. My calves paid for this place in 10 years. I have culled and used natural practices to harden the herd.

I have very little feed expense and I know that my hay bales don't cost $25 to put up. I was buying hay for $20 a bale delivered. But, I'm going to go back to haying some of my own. I know some people that have to feed their cows a lot of feed. Mine don't require it and they are pastured year round and never have seen a "dry" lot or a barn lot.

If a person can't make money in the cattle market today, something is definitely wrong.

I have culled to the point that I have hardy cows that produce hardy calves.

Beef cattle for profit and show cattle are two entirely different worlds. It is almost impossible to make money on a 4-H or FFA show calf.

Paul

[AlchemyAcres]

Now Martin...I hope your sarcasm wasn't directed at me.

It wasn't directed at anyone here...and no need to defend yourself...to each his own.

I was talking about local folks who make no effort to grow even a basic edible garden, invest a lot in pretty landscaping and expect sympathy while whining about the quality and cost of food. I just roll my eyes! They'll get no sympathy from me!!!!


~Martin

[debbie-bountiful]

I don't know what y'all are talking about with the margin being slim on beef. My calves paid for this place in 10 years. I have culled and used natural practices to harden the herd.

I have very little feed expense and I know that my hay bales don't cost $25 to put up. I was buying hay for $20 a bale delivered. But, I'm going to go back to haying some of my own. I know some people that have to feed their cows a lot of feed. Mine don't require it and they are pastured year round and never have seen a "dry" lot or a barn lot.

If a person can't make money in the cattle market today, something is definitely wrong.

I have culled to the point that I have hardy cows that produce hardy calves.

Beef cattle for profit and show cattle are two entirely different worlds. It is almost impossible to make money on a 4-H or FFA show calf.

Paul


I raise beef and sell montly at the stockyards. I have my records obviously for tax purposes. When I say 25 per bale, I am referring to the 2000 I am paying today for fertizlier and the 18 a bale I pay to a person to cut, roll my hay fields.
If I had my own baler it would becheaper but then I would have the expense of the equipment in the larger tractor and bailer.

Now, I do make some money off the calves, especially the ones at the sale barn this last week at 1.04 per pound and my calves were all 500 - 700 pounders this week. Last Decemer I took in calves that I didn't want to winter and they must of got 90 cents a pound. Pretty disapointed in that. But... there is no way a average cattleman is making that great of a living. My husband works full time and when he retires in a full year this will be a nice suplement to retirement income only.

[CapeCMom]

Ok- cool-my bad-

When you said people around here I thought you meant people on this forum.
Thanks.

[patience]

I don't know any rich farmers. My repair shop business has always been well over half farm repairs, but the recepits from farm work are nil so far this year. One neighbor runs about 200 head of beef brood cows and is making very little, if anything on them now. To generate some income, he contracted with Tyson's to put in a couple big chicken houses to raise broilers, a very labor intensive operation.

Dairy farmers are treading water this past year, as milk prices have bounced from $20/hundred pounds, down to $12 (below cost of production) and now around $16.

One local machinery dealer went bankrupt here last year. A farm equipment consignment auction last month had less than half the stuff on the block sold--didn't meet the reserve prices so they trucked it all back home.

As usual, if consumer food costs go up, it is NOT the farmers getting the money.