Washington, DC (TLS). The U.S. Agriculture Department reported today that Americans should brace themselves for a massive case of sticker-shock by the end of the summer...not at the new-car lot but at the grocery store.
Prices for common, everyday food staples such as meat, milk, cheese, corn and other veggies, will increase by 50 to 65 percent by September.
On balance, the average American family will pay at least 100 bucks per month more for groceries this September than they did last September.
What, exactly, is driving this numbing price hike? Ethanol production.
Corn is the main ingredient in ethanol and hundreds of other products, including the feed given to cows. Hence, the price hike in meat, milk, and cheese.
Because farmers are increasingly using farmland to grow corn for the FUEL industry as opposed to the FOOD industry, the law of supply and demand will result in a smaller supply of corn for food and an increasing demand for the food items that depend on corn, thus driving food prices through the roof.
We can thank the Einsteins in the 'environmentalist movement' for the coming train wreck at the grocery store.
For years the 'man-is-to-blame-for-global-warming' crowd and their comrades in the 'renewable bio-fuels' movement have been feeding to the public the notion that oil is evil and that ethanol is the answer to our energy needs.
We will now suffer the consequences of that notion as we pay out the wazoo for food...all because the corn is going to make fuel.
I have never had a problem with developing alternative sources of energy, weaning ourselves off of our dependence on foreign oil. But it is just as bad an idea to depend solely on ethanol and other agri-fuels as it is to depend solely on oil.
We need to begin developing and utilizing nuclear energy to the max, since we have discovered ways to make it safe. It is the cleanest fuel available. Fuel cell technology is another way to go, as are solar and wind power.
As for now, when you are shocked at how food prices suddenly skyrocket in about three months, remember that this is what we get for listening to the loons in the environmentalist movement.
Showing posts with label nuclear energy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nuclear energy. Show all posts
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Friday, April 13, 2007
Agri-Fuel to Cause Food Prices to Skyrocket
Washington, DC (TLS). In the frenzied rush to judgment amid the hysteria surrounding global warming, one little fact seems to totally escape notice on the part of those who are determined to ram 'agri-fuel' down the throats of consumers. Such 'green-friendly' fuel will cause food prices to skyrocket.
The increase has already been felt as prices are rising for grains, oils, eggs, corn, and other commodities that are used to make ethanol and other fuels that are made from farm-grown items. Meat prices are on the rise as well since farmers must purchase grains to feed their stock...grains that are also used to produce fuel.
No better example of the law of supply and demand can be found than that which is currently being played out in the push to develop grains into sources of energy. As the demand for these grains increases due to their utilization in the production of fuel, prices will increase for these grains...which means that farmers must pay more to buy them for their livestock, and thus, the consumer will pay more for meat at the grocery store.
Market watchers say we can expect such rises in prices for food to continue. Such inflation is the result of governments pushing the agriculture industry to grow goods that can be used as alternative sources of energy. This causes an unhealthy competition between that which is grown for food and that which is grown for energy.
To be sure, agri-fuel is one alternative source that can be utilized in our search for alternatives to oil. But it is a big mistake to think this is the only source or even the main source of such an alternative.
To rely solely on agriculture to provide for the nation's energy will end in disaster.
This is why modern-day nuclear power is long overdue a second look. Nuclear power is much safer than back in the days when the plants that produced it were lacking in some of the modern safeguards that prevent the infamous 'meltdowns' of Chernobyl and science-fiction films. Modern technology has rendered the production of nuclear energy to be safe.
And it is as clean and 'green-friendly' as it gets.
Another alternative that should be put on the fast track is hydrogen fuel cell technology. Here again, the process of production is safe and and the energy it produces is clean.
The utilization of these two important alternative sources of energy will take a great amount of pressure off of the agricultural industry, thus saving Americans a tone of money at the grocery store.
Read more about this here:
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/consumer_goods/article1642746.ece
The increase has already been felt as prices are rising for grains, oils, eggs, corn, and other commodities that are used to make ethanol and other fuels that are made from farm-grown items. Meat prices are on the rise as well since farmers must purchase grains to feed their stock...grains that are also used to produce fuel.
No better example of the law of supply and demand can be found than that which is currently being played out in the push to develop grains into sources of energy. As the demand for these grains increases due to their utilization in the production of fuel, prices will increase for these grains...which means that farmers must pay more to buy them for their livestock, and thus, the consumer will pay more for meat at the grocery store.
Market watchers say we can expect such rises in prices for food to continue. Such inflation is the result of governments pushing the agriculture industry to grow goods that can be used as alternative sources of energy. This causes an unhealthy competition between that which is grown for food and that which is grown for energy.
To be sure, agri-fuel is one alternative source that can be utilized in our search for alternatives to oil. But it is a big mistake to think this is the only source or even the main source of such an alternative.
To rely solely on agriculture to provide for the nation's energy will end in disaster.
This is why modern-day nuclear power is long overdue a second look. Nuclear power is much safer than back in the days when the plants that produced it were lacking in some of the modern safeguards that prevent the infamous 'meltdowns' of Chernobyl and science-fiction films. Modern technology has rendered the production of nuclear energy to be safe.
And it is as clean and 'green-friendly' as it gets.
Another alternative that should be put on the fast track is hydrogen fuel cell technology. Here again, the process of production is safe and and the energy it produces is clean.
The utilization of these two important alternative sources of energy will take a great amount of pressure off of the agricultural industry, thus saving Americans a tone of money at the grocery store.
Read more about this here:
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/consumer_goods/article1642746.ece
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