Threats to our Food Supply

rick1 wrote:Possible railroad workers strike back on the table, BMWED members vote against new contract:
https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news/2022/10/10/bmwed-union-bnsf-railroad-deal-strike.html

TRex2 wrote:

rick1 wrote:Possible railroad workers strike back on the table, BMWED members vote against new contract:
https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news/2022/10/10/bmwed-union-bnsf-railroad-deal-strike.html

I heard the strike isn't until Nov 19th, so we have a month to "stack it to the rafters." (buzz phrase making the rounds a few months ago)

Dave58 wrote:More problems
https://www.wsj.com/articles/mississippi-river-approaching-record-low-water-levels-threatening-commercial-traffic-11665748981

That has caused shippers to turn to more expensive rail and truck transport that can cost five times as much as a barge shipment.

Higher shipping costs for grains and fertilizers could lead to higher food costs in your local grocery store — even as farmers who grow the food are getting less because their harvest is piling up, according to the University of Arkansas.

An increase in the price of steel could boost the cost of a new car. A late coal shipment to a power plant may cause electricity to cost more. Even the price of a gallon of gasoline could rise as more tractor-trailers take to the highways and increase demand.

“One 15-barge tow has the same freight capacity as 940 semi trucks," Mike Steenhoek, executive director of the Soy Transportation Coalition, told Bloomberg.

And the effects could linger. Fertilizer that should be moving north on the river now to be applied in November isn't moving.

“The biggest issue is planning for next year,” said Hunter Biram, extension economist with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. With fertilizer, "That cost is already high and we don’t know yet how much higher that could go."

Dave58 wrote:Just found this on ZeroHedge .. I don't know how true it is

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/food-crisis-2023-going-be-far-worse-most-people-would-dare-imagine

Dave58 wrote:Just found this on ZeroHedge .. I don't know how true it is
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/food-crisis-2023-going-be-far-worse-most-people-would-dare-imagine

rick1 wrote:With all the drought in the west and mid-west, ranchers are now saying that there will be a meat recession coming and prices will soar:

https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/meat-recession-coming

rick1 wrote:Farmer predicts worse food shortages, higher prices in 2023 amid inflation, drought and interest rate hikes, thank you corn pop:
https://www.foxnews.com/us/farmer-predicts-worse-food-shortages-higher-prices-2023-amid-inflation-drought-interests-rate-hikes

TRex2 wrote:

Dave58 wrote:Just found this on ZeroHedge .. I don't know how true it is
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/food-crisis-2023-going-be-far-worse-most-people-would-dare-imagine

General rule of thumb is that if it is on ZeroHedge, it is true, although it may take longer to come into reality, than the author's predict.

I can't think of anything he has said that didn't eventually come to pass.

TRex2 wrote:...

If we go back, almost a year ago, after Russia invaded Ukraine, crude oil, gas, fertilizer, wheat and sunflower all skyrocketed in price. There was even talk of $180 a barrel, but that was mostly panic talking.

Even six months ago, after the panic died down, there was a lot of unease, which is probably what Putin wanted. But, crude oil and fertilizer have returned to sane pricing levels, and it looks like the famine is further off than we thought, although there are some countries in and near Africa, where the populations are at or near starvation levels.

One thing driving down the prices of crude oil and natural gas is the recession, which began, globally, around May, last year, and here in the US, it began near the end of 2022. Less demand means more available for the dollar. As long as West Texas Crude remains near $70 a barrel, not much will change. Over $70 and inflation will take off again, but if it gets too much below $70, fuels production and refining will drop, leading further into recession.

TRex2 wrote:

TRex2 wrote:...

The Saudi's are planning to cut production. Just the news of the plan caused prices to spike about 15%. The real spikes will happen this summer, and will probably cause 25% increase in motor fuel costs.

Eventually (in a year, give or take a few months), this will impact food supplies, since growing, processing and shipping food is a fossil fuel intensive endeavor. Just one more, in a long line of insults to our food supplies.

Gas jumped 10 cents a gallon and diesel jumped 20 cents a gallon here, in our area, on Tuesday.

This morning I went to Giant Eagle to pick up our ham for Easter, there was a sign on the doors and at the meat case. It read, "due to the increase in transportation (fuel) costs, prices of meat products have increased, this increase will be effective April 13, 2023."

I talked with one of the assistant managers and she said that all items will be increasing over the next 2 weeks 'cause of fuel costs.

Thanks crowbait joe, here's a present for ya  

rick1 wrote:Gas jumped 10 cents a gallon and diesel jumped 20 cents a gallon here, in our area, on Tuesday.

This morning I went to Giant Eagle to pick up our ham for Easter, there was a sign on the doors and at the meat case. It read, "due to the increase in transportation (fuel) costs, prices of meat products have increased, this increase will be effective April 13, 2023."

I talked with one of the assistant managers and she said that all items will be increasing over the next 2 weeks 'cause of fuel costs.

Thanks crowbait joe, here's a present for ya  

“This is by far the deadliest barn fire for cattle overall and the most devastating barn fire in Texas since we began tracking barn fires in 2013,”

ReadyMom wrote:Over 18,000 Dairy Cows Killed as Unprecedented Explosion Rocks Texas Farm
https://www.westernjournal.com/18000-dairy-cows-killed-unprecedented-explosion-rocks-texas-farm/

The disaster took place at Southfork Dairy Farms near Dimmitt, which is located between Lubbock and Amarillo.

“This is by far the deadliest barn fire for cattle overall and the most devastating barn fire in Texas since we began tracking barn fires in 2013,”

rick1 wrote:Ya know ReadyMom, there have been more fires/explosions on processing plants, grain silo's, warehouses, farms, etc., then ever before.

Here's my take on this, there is no doubt in my mind that big brother is behind it, just like big brother has imbedded agents in the catholic churches.

dmwalsh568 wrote:Funny, I was chalking it up to overworked and understaffed facilities not keeping up on maintenance so we're more likely to see accidents.

And when it happens at these mega farm facilities the impact of each accident goes way up....

Dave58 wrote:https://finance.yahoo.com/news/farmers-set-abandon-us-wheat-204246494.html

Russia has formally withdrawn from a UN-brokered deal to export Ukrainian grain across the Black Sea, potentially imperilling tens of millions of tonnes of food exports from the war-torn country.

President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters on Monday that the agreement had “essentially stopped” and Russia would no longer co-operate with the deal.

dmwalsh568 wrote:And it's official, Russia has pulled out of the Ukraine grain deal

https://www.ft.com/content/c0c62c3c-54fa-49c7-9d5c-53deb91bf989

Russia has formally withdrawn from a UN-brokered deal to export Ukrainian grain across the Black Sea, potentially imperilling tens of millions of tonnes of food exports from the war-torn country.

President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters on Monday that the agreement had “essentially stopped” and Russia would no longer co-operate with the deal.

more at link above

dmwalsh568 wrote:And it's official, Russia has pulled out of the Ukraine grain deal

https://www.ft.com/content/c0c62c3c-54fa-49c7-9d5c-53deb91bf989

Russia has formally withdrawn from a UN-brokered deal to export Ukrainian grain across the Black Sea, potentially imperilling tens of millions of tonnes of food exports from the war-torn country.
President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters on Monday that the agreement had “essentially stopped” and Russia would no longer co-operate with the deal.

more at link above

rick1 wrote:The price of rice is skyrocketing, is a shortage of rice coming soon due to no monsoon season, the war in Ukraine, too much heat, etc.:
https://www.aol.com/news/el-nino-threatening-rice-crops-033501205.html

rick1 wrote:The price of rice is skyrocketing, is a shortage of rice coming soon due to no monsoon season, the war in Ukraine, too much heat, etc.:

https://www.aol.com/news/el-nino-threatening-rice-crops-033501205.html

dmwalsh568 wrote:And it's official, Russia has pulled out of the Ukraine grain deal
https://www.ft.com/content/c0c62c3c-54fa-49c7-9d5c-53deb91bf989

Russia has formally withdrawn from a UN-brokered deal to export Ukrainian grain across the Black Sea, potentially imperilling tens of millions of tonnes of food exports from the war-torn country.
President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters on Monday that the agreement had “essentially stopped” and Russia would no longer co-operate with the deal.

more at link above

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would discuss the export deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin during their planned meeting in August, or perhaps sooner by phone.

The European Union will continue to help facilitate food exports from Ukraine, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Twitter. She condemned the “cynical move” by Russia.

When the deal was inked, the UN agreed in parallel to improve access to Russian food and fertilizer exports. Russia has demanded several obstacles be removed to bolster trade — including reconnecting an agricultural bank to the SWIFT international payments system.

No new vessels have been approved to join the Ukraine grain deal since late last month and Russia had blocked one of the three open ports. Ship inspection times have progressively grown longer, with fewer than one cleared per day in the first half of this month. A lone vessel remained in the corridor Monday — the TQ Samsun — which departed over the weekend from the port of Odesa. The UN said its outbound inspection is underway.

Long-Term Risk

Following repeated disruptions, the shipping corridor through the Black Sea is now nearly empty, tempering the immediate interruption to world crop flows. However, the bigger risk lies longer-term, as fractured and costly export logistics could spur Ukrainian farmers to further cut harvests already shrinking under the weight of the war.

When the deal was inked, the UN agreed in parallel to improve access to Russian food and fertilizer exports. Russia has demanded several obstacles be removed to bolster trade — including reconnecting an agricultural bank to the SWIFT international payments system.

No new vessels have been approved to join the Ukraine grain deal since late last month and Russia has blocked one of the three open ports. Ship inspection times have progressively grown longer, with fewer than one cleared per day in the first half of this month.

Cinnamon wrote:Dave58,

That is horrifying.

Dave58 wrote:Has anybody heard of this ?
If it is true this is really bad....
https://www.kingdomclaritylabel.com/news/a-comprehensive-list-of-food-companies-and-products-that-use-senomyx

Around the year 2001, Senomyx patented several flavor enhancers by using "proprietary taste receptor-based assay systems", which have been previously expressed in human cell culture, in HEK293 cells.[2] HEK293 cells are a cell line widely used in biological and medical research, immortalized through a genetic modification removed from the original human embryonic kidney cells taken from a healthy, aborted human fetus in the early 1970s.

The furor we've seen over the release of genetically modified mosquitoes (see FDA On Proposed Oxitec Mosquito Trials In The Florida Keys) - magnified and propelled by social media - shows how quickly sentiment can build against anything related to GMOs.

Considering how reluctant tens of millions of people are to get vaccines, convincing them to consume GM chicken is going to be a hard sell.

Walter Donovan : Well, Marcus, we're on the verge of the greatest discovery in the history of mankind.
Marcus Brody : And you're meddling with powers you can't possibly comprehend.

Cinnamon wrote:More and more I am trying to buy my food from local sources. I know everyone can't do that and I thank God every day I live in farm and Amish country.

I didn't have much of a garden this year due to Husband's illness, but I have neighbors who were generous with their fruits and veggies. Next year, I plan to do much better - a greenhouse and garden cage are in my future plans.

Cinnamon wrote:Thanks, Dave.
...
That said, still stocking up on things, since the family reunion is over - I intentionally rotated out a lot of supplies so that we could refresh the pantry. Husband and I couldn't have eaten that much on our own.

Cinnamon wrote:Shortages for the last 2 weeks where we shop:

Eggs - completely out for two weeks. We get ours from our neighbor, so no worries for us.

Broth - all the canned and packaged broth shelves were nearly empty. Lot of holes in the canned soup, too. In all fairness, we've had bad weather, so I guess that could be why. I make a lot of chicken broth, but not a lot of beef broth. Guess I need to start.

Bread was about out. I got one of the last loaves of the brand we buy. I used to make our bread, but with all the illness in the family, I got out of the habit. Probably need to pick it up again.

Potatoes - none in the bins. Some single ones for baking. There were some baby potatoes in bags.

Apples - there were some, but the pickings were slim.  

Animal dry food - the cats' food has been out for weeks, but I didn't worry because I stocked up. Now that we're feeding the neighbor's 4 kittens, I need a more. I got the last bag on the shelf on Friday. The dog food we usually buy has been in stock, but the less expensive stuff is low, or gone.

TRex2 wrote:

Cinnamon wrote:Shortages for the last 2 weeks where we shop:

Eggs - completely out for two weeks. We get ours from our neighbor, so no worries for us.

Broth - all the canned and packaged broth shelves were nearly empty. Lot of holes in the canned soup, too. In all fairness, we've had bad weather, so I guess that could be why. I make a lot of chicken broth, but not a lot of beef broth. Guess I need to start.

Bread was about out. I got one of the last loaves of the brand we buy. I used to make our bread, but with all the illness in the family, I got out of the habit. Probably need to pick it up again.

Potatoes - none in the bins. Some single ones for baking. There were some baby potatoes in bags.

Apples - there were some, but the pickings were slim.  

Animal dry food - the cats' food has been out for weeks, but I didn't worry because I stocked up. Now that we're feeding the neighbor's 4 kittens, I need a more. I got the last bag on the shelf on Friday. The dog food we usually buy has been in stock, but the less expensive stuff is low, or gone.

That is pretty alarming.

That isn't normal, for your local grocer, is it?
Possibly due to weather?

I am planning a trip to the grocer, probably on Wednesday (weather factors into my schedule).
I need to pay attention, and take notes.

Dave58 wrote:

TRex2 wrote:

Cinnamon wrote:Shortages for the last 2 weeks where we shop:
...

That is pretty alarming.

That isn't normal, for your local grocer, is it?
Possibly due to weather?

I am planning a trip to the grocer, probably on Wednesday (weather factors into my schedule).
I need to pay attention, and take notes.

My wife is going to another town close by today. I will have her take a good look at things

Dave58 wrote:https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/us-to-sell-off-entire-northeast-gasoline-supply-reserve/ar-BB1jiLdI?ocid=socialshare&cvid=fa996ee87762464f9c148c79764c2a87&ei=13

rick1 wrote:The U.S. producing less beef and less calves for beef production.

Like vegie burgers or cricket burgers, better develop a taste for it. The demonrat state of NY suing largest beef producer over climate change and beef:

https://www.agriculture.com/fewer-cattle-and-lower-u-s-beef-production-in-the-near-term-8559393

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/ny-attorney-general-sues-worlds-largest-beef-producer-over-methane-emissions-climate-commitments/ar-BB1j7gp7

TRex2 wrote:

Cinnamon wrote:Shortages for the last 2 weeks where we shop:

Eggs - completely out for two weeks. We get ours from our neighbor, so no worries for us.

Broth - all the canned and packaged broth shelves were nearly empty. Lot of holes in the canned soup, too. In all fairness, we've had bad weather, so I guess that could be why. I make a lot of chicken broth, but not a lot of beef broth. Guess I need to start.

Bread was about out. I got one of the last loaves of the brand we buy. I used to make our bread, but with all the illness in the family, I got out of the habit. Probably need to pick it up again.

Potatoes - none in the bins. Some single ones for baking. There were some baby potatoes in bags.

Apples - there were some, but the pickings were slim.  

Animal dry food - the cats' food has been out for weeks, but I didn't worry because I stocked up. Now that we're feeding the neighbor's 4 kittens, I need a more. I got the last bag on the shelf on Friday. The dog food we usually buy has been in stock, but the less expensive stuff is low, or gone.

That is pretty alarming.

That isn't normal, for your local grocer, is it?
Possibly due to weather?

I am planning a trip to the grocer, probably on Wednesday (weather factors into my schedule).
I need to pay attention, and take notes.