Farmers Expected to Plant Less Corn

[trekz 7]

AP

Farmers Expected to Plant Less Corn

Monday March 31, 9:08 am ET

By Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press Writer

Less Corn in the Ground Could Translate Into Higher Grocery Bills

 

 

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Farmers are expected to plant less corn this year, according to the Department of Agriculture, and that could mean higher bills at the grocery store.

Corn prices have skyrocketed in recent years, helped by the burgeoning ethanol industry, which turns the crop into fuel, and rising worldwide demand for food. The higher prices have hurt poultry, beef and pork companies, who use corn to feed their animals.

 

Farmers are expected to plant 86 million acres of corn this year, the government predicted Monday, down 8 percent from 2007, when the amount of corn planted was the highest since World War II. The decreased supply could drive corn prices even higher -- a cost for food producers that could be passed on to consumers.

 

According to the agriculture department, corn planting is expected to remain at historically high levels but could be down this year because of the high expense of growing corn and favorable prices for other crops, such as soybeans.

 

As many farmers have made that switch, soybean planting is expected to be up 18 percent this year, at almost 75 million acres. The largest increases in soybean planting are expected in Iowa and Nebraska.

 

Though the ethanol industry is heavily subsidized and has contributed to the rise in prices, a decrease in corn production could hurt that business, too. Higher prices for the crop could be passed on to those filling their cars up with the renewable fuel.

 

The number of ethanol plants has increased from 50 in 1999 to 134 now with more being built, according to the Renewable Fuels Association. An average, 100 million gallon-per-year ethanol plant consumes about 33 million bushels of corn.

 

The Department of Agriculture report is based on sample surveys of 86,000 farm operators in the first two weeks of March.

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When my family was getting out of farming 30 years ago, we were switching to more soybeans anad some wheat, because of better prices. What is so frustrating for farmers is that they receive such a small percentage of the ultimate grocery store charged price.

 

What is also frustrating is how family farming is disappearing more quickly, (because of high costs and risks involved) with real pride in producing the best product, and pride in the family farm and a longtime connection to the land. In its place is corporate farming with the emphasis on profit, and willingness to jump on trends, sometimes resulting in less crop diversity, which could be dangerous if there are sudden crop disease or more severe weather change.

[Kor37 9]

Farms here in Maryland are disappearing at an alarming rate. Developers are snatching them up and building houses on the land. I think its terrible. No tree in Maryland seems safe from development..... :lol:

[Theunicornhunter 2]

People should be a lot more alarmed about this than they are. There are already food shortages - wheat production is down and many charities are finding it hard to fill food order for third world countries because of diminished wheat supply. I buy wheat (to grind for flour) and some sources are out of wheat.

 

Also, corn is used primarily in the US for livestock so increased feed costs could mean increased meat costs.

 

And the disappearance of family farms is a cause of concern for many reasons.