Smaller corn surplus could push food prices higher

[xchrom]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CROP_SIZE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-09-12-11-59-09

NEW YORK (AP) -- Food prices could rise next year because an unseasonably hot summer likely damaged much of this year's corn crop.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated Monday that a surplus of 672 million bushels of corn will be left over at the end of next summer. The estimated surplus is down from last month's forecast and well below levels that are considered healthy.

This spring, farmers planted the second-largest crop since World War II. But high temperatures stunted the plants.

"We just didn't have a good growing year," said Jason Ward, an analyst with Northstar Commodity in Minneapolis. "It was too hot, too warm, too dry at the wrong time."

[SpiralHawk]

1. "...well below levels that are considered healthy..."

[Marrah_G]

2. Corn is not really that good for us anyway

Most of it is GMO. There are tons of veggies out there that are better for us. All the more reason to start cooking again and buying local.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. A big problem with farmers switching from corn to other crops

has to do with storage and delivery. Some crops - corn, wheat, soybeans, other grains - can be stored for periods of time and then shipped in large quantities. If a farmer were to switch to vegetable production - broccoli, for instance - far more water would be required to irrigate the crop; it could not be easily machine-harvested, and it would rot quickly before it could be shipped from many locations. If your farm is in the middle of Kansas or Nebraska you really can't grow broccoli for sale in large quantities. The climate and geography of most of the midwest and central plains supports grain crops but not vegetables.

I totally agree with the idea of buying local produce for individual use, and high-fructose corn syrup should not be put in every damn thing the way it is now. Most corn goes for animal feed, though, so it's a necessary crop. And I'd hate to see thousands of farmers put out of business because they can't sell their corn - there are still a lot of family farms in the central states; they aren't all huge operations owned by Cargill.

[Shagbark Hickory]

8. Yeah broccoli is tough. But what about beans, peas, potatoes, carrots etc?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

9. Anything that can't be stored and could rot before it's delivered to market

is going to be a problem. Most vegetables also require more water and fertilizer than corn, and can't be machine-harvested, adding greatly to the expense of production. And potatoes won't grow well in the plains states; the climate is wrong.

[Shagbark Hickory]

10. Here's an idea. How about we just get it all from China and pay American farmers to grow nothing?

Or have we tried that already?

[Fumesucker]

3. Someone I know has been telling me this for at least a couple of months..

:shrug:

[hedgehog]

4. I buy corn based chicken feed every few weeks and I've

seen a price jump already.

[Rex]

5. Good thing we make everything out of glucose-fructose syrup .

:eyes:

[Broderick]

7. Because my gas tank eats

the food supply.

[former9thward]

11. Food prices are going up because of ethanol.

Food is being turned into fuel. Prices go up as a result. Ethanol does not work and is just corporate welfare for Big Agriculture.

[swilton]

12. So what's wrong with giving up corn syrup and

processed food?

[xchrom]

13. Well - I guess you'll be fine when food prices over all go up.

Not every one is in that position.