Food is going up. WAY up.

Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

surfsatwerk

Lifer
Mar 6, 2008
10,110
5
81
Corn around here is all dead in the fields. Farmers are just mowing it down getting ready for next year.
 

Subyman

Moderator <br> VC&G Forum
Mar 18, 2005
7,876
32
86
We have farm land that we lease to a farming company. They planted corn this year and it is all dead. We've had to cash in on crop insurance for the year. It not only affects crops, but cattle prices as well. Most of the corn in our area is feed corn used to raise for chickens, cows, and pigs. Watch gas prices go up as well as ethanol becomes more expensive or is shut down completely. Some states have a mandatory 10% ethanol added to the fuel.

Its a bad situation.
 

SMOGZINN

Lifer
Jun 17, 2005
14,359
4,640
136
That corn is used to feed livestock, so beef and pork will likely take a hit too.

Don't forget that a lot of corn is used to make ethanol which is used as fuel additive. So, unless they back off on the ethanol requirements for fuel then we can expect a good jump in gas prices as well.
 

surfsatwerk

Lifer
Mar 6, 2008
10,110
5
81
Yea, I knew that... guess I wasn't thinking of the big picture like how it'll affect prices on everything else. I don't eat a lot of processed stuff so I normally don't eat much corn products as a result. Pretty much a meat and potatoes guy.

Corn is sacrificed to the Potato Gawd for the blessing of plump potatoey goodness.
 

SunnyD

Belgian Waffler
Jan 2, 2001
32,675
146
106
www.neftastic.com
Corn =

Cereals
Sweeteners
Ethanol
Feed stock (for livestock and poultry)
Plastics
Some building materials
Food additives
Pretty much everything

Prepare to be fucked over.
 

techs

Lifer
Sep 26, 2000
28,559
4
0
Corn around here is all dead in the fields. Farmers are just mowing it down getting ready for next year.

From what I have read is that the difference between bad and a disaster is how much corn gets plowed under. As long as the corn will survive, even if the yields are low, things will be merely bad. But if large areas just get plowed under things are going to get seriously messed up.
 

surfsatwerk

Lifer
Mar 6, 2008
10,110
5
81
From what I have read is that the difference between bad and a disaster is how much corn gets plowed under. As long as the corn will survive, even if the yields are low, things will be merely bad. But if large areas just get plowed under things are going to get seriously messed up.

Well with the super early spring the corn shot up to full height back in June... but that's when we got our last rain. I don't even think it got de-tassled. The ears in the field I walked through last weekend were pathetic things smaller around than my thumb.

Edit: And nobody's selling sweet corn on the corners. This time of year the stuff is everywhere, not this year. I haven't seen anyone selling sweet corn. The only stuff I got was out of friend's backyard garden.
 

wirednuts

Diamond Member
Jan 26, 2007
7,121
4
0
I think current estimates are 60-75% of the corn crop for this year has already been destroyed. No amount of rain is going to bring it back.

sounds about right. only about 30% of american crops are irrigated or mechanically water fed.
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
Ok, educate me... say it starts raining within the next week... how much damage has been done?

wouldn't matter. most of the corn in the field is dead. it can rain all it wants it won't matter.

EVERYTHING is going to go up for the next 2-4 years (and most likely stay there).
 

dmcowen674

No Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
54,889
47
91
www.alienbabeltech.com
Corn =

Cereals
Sweeteners
Ethanol
Feed stock (for livestock and poultry)
Plastics
Some building materials
Food additives
Pretty much everything

Prepare to be fucked over.

8-3-2012

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/surging-corn-prices-spark-food-073432514.html

Surging Corn Prices Spark 'Food vs Fuel' Debate



The surge in grain prices amid the worst drought in the U.S. in more than half a century, has led to livestock farmers demanding the Obama administration reduce or temporarily cancel a federal mandate, which requires part of the corn crop be set aside to produce ethanol for blending into cleaner-burning gasoline.



This year gasoline refiners will use some 13.2 billion gallons of ethanol, which will consume some 40 percent of the corn crop.


The debate is resurrecting painful memories of the food crisis of 2008 when farmers diverted corn crops from food production into the lucrative biofuel market. That contributed to a jump in prices and sparked food riots in Haiti, Bangladesh, Egypt and Mexico.

But cattlemen and ranchers looking for a reprieve of the mandate by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are likely to be disappointed. Washington "remains unwilling to make changes to the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) and is therefore not likely to grant waivers," said Divya Reddy, Global Energy & Natural Resources analyst at consultancy Eurasia Group.


Granting a waiver will send a negative signal about the administration's support for biofuels, Reddy said, ahead of the November presidential election.
 

Svnla

Lifer
Nov 10, 2003
17,986
1,388
126
Most of this year crops are ruined. From what I read, about 60 to 70% of the crops (higher in extreme drought areas in Texas, Arkansas, mid west states) are gone already so if there are plenty of rain tomorrow, it is already too late. Heck it is so dry, the mighty Mississippi River is getting lower and lower every day.

I think I better stock up beef for now because steak will be high very soon.


On a side note, how long you can keep meat (chicken, pork, beef - still in factory packages) in the freezer and it is still safe to eat?
 
Last edited:
Oct 9, 2011
43
0
0
The sad part is that Americans will probably give up fruits and veggies if prices go up and replace those foods with cheaper fats and processed carbs.

That is utterly true. Not that your average American citizen is even aware of how calorie or vitamins work, but for a handful of change at say Taco Bell or any other fast food chain you could come up with your daily calories easy.

I know prices tend to be a lot different outside this crap shoot state of New Jersey, but I've noticed that in most cases buying vegetables end up more expensive than corn filled prepared crap.

Egg-fried rice still tends to be the most delicious and relatively nutrient giving food I can manage with while maintaining a low cost. Even if you are splurging on the hoisin sauce for it.

Speaking of: is there a logic to why brown rice cost slightly more than white rice? All they're doing is removing a process of dehulling the rice, you would think it would be cheaper. I imagine the reasoning is that fewer facilities provide it and thus the cost slightly raises. I've seen a lot of Chinese restaurants charging a heft premium for what in all reason is only a few cents more; damned health food idiots.
 

SunnyD

Belgian Waffler
Jan 2, 2001
32,675
146
106
www.neftastic.com

Oh oh oh... I was waiting for Dave to post something here... let me get you a little more riled up while I have you.

What about the FACT that corn is the #1 subsidized crop in the US, and given than we're looking at a near TOTAL loss this year for corn crops the US taxpayer will basically be paying 110% of the average farmer's income this year? (Pulled that number out my ass, but you get the picture).

Mad props to farmers for doing their work, but honestly... the subsidies are ridiculous.

---

Oh, AND... I bet we'll STILL export more corn this next 12 months than we will consume - all on the taxpayer's dime - just as we have every year for the last decade.
 

Rakewell

Platinum Member
Feb 2, 2005
2,418
1
76
The sad part is that Americans will probably give up fruits and veggies if prices go up and replace those foods with cheaper fats and processed carbs.

Surprisingly,

The corn industry has been hit the hardest. This will affect the shitty high-fructose type markets just as much as field corn (for animal feed) and fruits & vegetables.

(Though, not a great deal of fruits come from the Midwest.)
 
Oct 25, 2006
11,036
11
91
That is utterly true. Not that your average American citizen is even aware of how calorie or vitamins work, but for a handful of change at say Taco Bell or any other fast food chain you could come up with your daily calories easy.

I know prices tend to be a lot different outside this crap shoot state of New Jersey, but I've noticed that in most cases buying vegetables end up more expensive than corn filled prepared crap.

Egg-fried rice still tends to be the most delicious and relatively nutrient giving food I can manage with while maintaining a low cost. Even if you are splurging on the hoisin sauce for it.

Speaking of: is there a logic to why brown rice cost slightly more than white rice? All they're doing is removing a process of dehulling the rice, you would think it would be cheaper. I imagine the reasoning is that fewer facilities provide it and thus the cost slightly raises. I've seen a lot of Chinese restaurants charging a heft premium for what in all reason is only a few cents more; damned health food idiots.

Lower supply of brown rice.