Heard something scary today - where is our grain/wheat/corn going?
By coffeebreak
@coffeebreak (17797)
United States
March 15, 2008 9:45pm CST
I just heard something on Glen Beck that I hadn't ever heard about before. I have been wondering why bread is so high lately. I mean, $3.29 for a loaf of non-name brand? Eggs, he said are 40 cents higher this year than last. I don't buy eggs mcuh so I didn't notice, but flour tortillas are 10/12 for $3.29! Corn products are also going through the roof.
Well, today he told why and that it is only going to get worse. Apparently this ethanol gas, which is grain based, is taking so much of the grain crops, that ther isn't much left for food so that is why the food crops are rising prices. He said the count last year was 75 factories for produceing ethanol were either up and running or nearly that many up and running. HE said if something doesnt' stop = we could be importing wheat in just the next few years. There is no land anymore to plant more crops and what there is planted goes mostly to ethanol. So we might have a bit more gas/fuel, but we have not meat (cows eat grains) no bread (from corn or wheat) and no eggs (chickens eat grain).
Wonder why this is not an issue in the current presidential wagers?
1 person likes this
4 responses
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
16 Mar 08
The ethanol isn't coming from our food crops. There is special corn raised for ethanol. The key matter is that farmers are paid more to raise experimental or specialty corn/wheat than crop products. When I lived in Iowa I'd bet 5% of the corn field in the area I lived were for food, 10% was for ethanol, and the other 85% was for experimental corn. As far as wheat, I am sure the same goes. More money in selling your acres out than sending wheat.
I have read many places that a lot of our corn and wheat just rots because it is not used fast enough.
Is ethanol made from anything but corn? For some reason I though all ethanol was corn based.
As far as food prices rising, I can't say that I noticed they were until the last month or so when gas prices started going up.
These issue are not new issues. I lived in Iowa 6 years ago and people were talking about this.
1 person likes this
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
16 Mar 08
I was thinking about this while I wa sin line at Starbucks (I get a lot of great thinking done there LOL). If we are worried about the cost of food due to a grain shortage, we should buy food from free range chickens or cattle the are grass fed. In reality, there is not a huge difference in cost and if people started buying such product, there would not be as big of an issue with grain. May actually force farmers to change their farming style into something more eco-friendly, better for the animals health and clean up our food supply.
2 people like this
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
17 Mar 08
There isn't anything wrong with the meat. Still need a heffer to give birth! I thought is was on shleves as they showed in the news clip the butchers putting it out on the shelves in the stores, but maybe that was just for visual effect. Range is better, but the problem is they are taking away the ranges!
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
17 Mar 08
But if more people buy free range, grass only meat, farmers will preserve the area instead of selling it. Personally, I think a HUGE problems that is not addressed is the fact that the majority of beef farms in the US are not owned by US citizens. The farmers (and after they pass, their families) can not afford to own their farms due to cost so they sell to people outside of the US.
2 people like this
@my52cents (569)
• United States
16 Mar 08
That is an excellent question, coffeebreak. I think the candidates don't want to discuss it. Plus, it's a "green" issue. When people consider alternative fuels, they need to look at the big picture to see how alternatives affect other things. What you described is one of the problems with ethanol, the depletion of the American corn supply which rebounds exactly as you described. When we buy bread, meat, and eggs, we're subsidizing someone else's fuel savings (assuming ethanol is cheaper - if not, we're subsidizing the myth of global warming). If they don't get you in one pocket, they get you in the other.
Important issue. Glad you brought it up.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
17 Mar 08
Yeah, you're right, if not one pocket, then the other. Half the time it is always the back pockets first tho so we dont' know what's going on! And no they won't discuss it as we want those answers and they can't candy coat and tangle so many words that we dont' know what they are talkig about as it comes out their mouths! Everyone is focusing on the war and although it is important, they are all forgetting about our own country and with diesel at $4.39 a gallon out here in california - the truckers are already stopping coming this way - they just can't afford the fuel so independent truckers are braking at the state line! And think about how much product is "trucked" across this country! Big time economy problem, but most only think of Truckers in relation to Convoy - that movie (back in the late70's early 80's it came out) with Kris Kristofferson. Kris was cute and the conoys were amazing to see (we traveled back in those days - saw the convoys all the time!) but the point is still the same!
1 person likes this
@theprogamer (10532)
• United States
17 Mar 08
Its the production of crops (and lack of). Corn yes, some of it is due to ethanol, but its due to what type of corn(maize/hybrid maize) is being produced (meaning other forms of corn and crops are sacrificed). Wheat is one of the main crops I know of that is also feeling the sting. Either way the ripple effect is there and it can be seen at your local grocery store (though now the current ripple is due to increased transportation costs due to fuel).
This isn't an issue Coffee because the clowns running for president are either
A) Only getting by on smooth talk, lies and exaggerated issues
B) Only getting by due to the need for "change" (despite how amorphous it is)
C) Only ignoring this because they lack the sense and ability to do something about it (utter incompetence)
Its like a car in full drive towards a cliff and the driver is in the backseat sleeping (the country is in the trunk -_-).
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
17 Mar 08
Sad but true, you are right on all counts! And yes, diesel at $4.29 here in Calif - the independent trucks can't afford to cross the border! Last summer they stated that if it hits $4 a gal - they will not be trucking into CA. So that could raise the prices probably more than lack of product!
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
17 Mar 08
I hadn't heard it a problem either until the news story. I dont eat alot of bread, rye bread and tortillas mainly! But I have to buy it for my husband and I see it go up every week - $3.49 was the last loaf I bought of just regular white bread. Generic wasn't much cheaper. I remember wondering about a month ago why tortillas are so high! I mean they are only flour! and the price was 10 tortillas for $3.29! I rembmer them at 99ยข a dozen! Well, this answers my question.... they use flour, flour comes from grain... grain is now going to ethanol...ergo tortillas increas in price!
