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Valley dairies struggle with high feed prices
The Fresno Bee ^ | Friday, Oct. 29, 2010 | Robert Rodriguez

Posted on 10/30/2010 3:24:39 PM PDT by pterional

Still wobbly from nearly a two-year price skid, California's struggling dairy industry is suffering another blow: rising feed costs.

Feed prices have spiked in the last several weeks, jumping nearly 30%.

A smaller-than-expected Midwestern corn crop, competition among ethanol producers and fewer alfalfa acres have all contributed to higher feed costs.

And analysts expect feed costs -- a major expense for dairies -- to remain strong through at least the beginning of 2011.

That comes as bitter news to dairy operators who lately had been benefiting from higher milk prices

Read more: http://www.fresnobee.com/2010/10/29/2137871/valley-dairies-struggle-with-high.html#ixzz13snR6BYz

(Excerpt) Read more at fresnobee.com ...


TOPICS: Agriculture; Business/Economy; Food
KEYWORDS: agitprop; agriculture; california; dairy; inflation; ntsa; proarabtrolls; proopectrolls

1 posted on 10/30/2010 3:24:43 PM PDT by pterional
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To: pterional

Inflation is starting to effect agriculture production.


2 posted on 10/30/2010 3:26:40 PM PDT by pterional
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To: pterional

Gee,we only pay 99 cents for a gallon of milk where we live.


3 posted on 10/30/2010 3:27:22 PM PDT by taxtruth
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To: pterional
Corn for fuel.....Brilliant!!!!!

Our government is so stupid, it's pathetic.

4 posted on 10/30/2010 3:27:33 PM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: pterional

I just visited NY after not being there for a while. While doing some grocery shopping, I saw prices are really rising there.

I thought, inflation, here we come. Hallmark of a Democrat presidency.


5 posted on 10/30/2010 3:27:55 PM PDT by I still care (I miss my friends, bagels, and the NYC skyline - but not the taxes. I love the South.)
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To: pterional

As a boy we fed the milk cows corn silage with grain and hay for the winter.


6 posted on 10/30/2010 3:32:24 PM PDT by B4Ranch (Conflict is inevitable; Combat is an option. Train for the fight.)
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To: Sacajaweau

STOP TURNING FOOD INTO FUEL.

It’s just plain stupid, it raises the cost of food, it destroys rubber in auto’s and in boats it’s the kiss of death.

Drill Baby Drill.


7 posted on 10/30/2010 3:33:36 PM PDT by Venturer
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To: pterional
competition among ethanol producers

I have a good idea. Let's burn our food!

8 posted on 10/30/2010 3:42:28 PM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (Islam is the religion of Satan and Mohammed was his minion.)
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To: pterional

food prices are going to skyrocket


9 posted on 10/30/2010 3:43:49 PM PDT by GeronL (http://libertyfic.proboards.com <--- My Fiction/ Science Fiction Board)
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To: taxtruth

Sarcasm, right?


10 posted on 10/30/2010 3:58:36 PM PDT by workerbee (We're not scared, Maobama -- we're pissed off!)
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To: workerbee

No,that’s what the cost of milk is here in TX.at Kroger.99 CENTS a gallon!


11 posted on 10/30/2010 4:03:53 PM PDT by taxtruth
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To: taxtruth

How is that possible? Even at our Walmart it’s $2.99. At the “regular” grocery store, unless it’s on sale for Walmart price, it’s typically close to $4.00 a gallon.

I don’t blame the dairy farmers, I know they’re getting squat.


12 posted on 10/30/2010 4:06:16 PM PDT by workerbee (We're not scared, Maobama -- we're pissed off!)
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To: workerbee

I have no idea???I know of 3 stores that sell milk at 99 cents a gallon in my area.


13 posted on 10/30/2010 4:08:51 PM PDT by taxtruth
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To: pterional

Don’t worry. It’s all going according to the Obama/Soros plan. No fuel, no food, no heat. We’ll all be dead by spring.


14 posted on 10/30/2010 4:10:39 PM PDT by Dogbert41
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To: taxtruth

They sell it as a loss leader to get people in their stores. Or, more accurately, to keep their customers from going to a competitor that sells it for $.99 instead.


15 posted on 10/30/2010 4:40:15 PM PDT by 9YearLurker
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To: pterional

This is far more than just the dairy industry. The US cattle herd is at the lowest levels its been since 1973, the swine herd at the lowest level since they started keeping track.

Some farmers are dipping in to their winter feed supply already because of high feed prices. But that means that come winter, they will have to cut their herds even lower.

Both corn (+60%) and wheat (+45%) are more expensive than this time last year. Oats, a major feed component, is expected to jump with other feed stocks.

And the federal government is sticking to its *increasing* ethanol demands from corn.

Worst of all, what could turn strong food inflation into hyperinflation, is if the current flood into US Treasury bonds and similar instruments burns out. This could cause a “flight to commodities”, in which investors would purchase the physical commodity, driving up the prices strongly by outbidding retailers, *and* limiting the supply available to retailers.

So say you want 5lbs of flour. Overnight the price quintuples, *and* you are limited by the store in how much you can buy.

How do you think it will effect the food industry if flour costs $10/lb?

$20/lb?


16 posted on 10/30/2010 5:12:08 PM PDT by yefragetuwrabrumuy
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To: Venturer

We need an energy policy—but not one formulated by communists.


17 posted on 10/30/2010 5:23:22 PM PDT by SC_Pete
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To: pterional

Just noting that we here in Oregon have a lot of feed for sale... Help our farmers out by buying from Oregon.


18 posted on 10/30/2010 5:48:59 PM PDT by The Watcher
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