This is a post I wrote and didn't publish. After arm twisting from a friend (V) i did....
I had the change to talk with a local farmer yesterday. He said he was getting ready for harvest. I then said I lived in the city mostly growing up, but now live in the country, can I ask you some farming questions. Fairbuilt Foods did a short corn pack didn't they. he replied, 8 days only 400 acres. Several years ago it was 2400 acres and took 45 days. What changed? He said they is so much canned corn sitting in warehouses, across the country. That's why. and buying habits changing.
I asked if this wet summer would impact the harvest, He said the fields will be muddy, but the yield will not change. In fact he said that this was the wettest summer in the 30 some years he had been farming on his own. I asked will you have to spend more money drying your corn and soy. He said he has never had to dry his crops, but has the equipment if he does. The farmers have record yield year after year, but the cost of planing has not gone down. You can repair your equipment year after year and not buy new equipment, but fuel is high, and I think that bits his profit. He said he doesn't care if he is getting $3 for corn or $7 as long as he can pay his bills.
I have also found that when products at your local market are on sale its because too much is in the warehouses and they need to move the old to make room for new. Here we have large egg farms, when they have too many eggs to put in the market the price drop. Remember last year we paid record prices on eggs, not this year.
We love eating steak, who doesn't, but due to price we cut out all red meat. Well, as luck as it, prices are coming down and we have stated to eat beef again. We score steak at $2.99 lb, our meat guys cut them at just under 1 lb, So I spent the money and bought some steaks, small but steak just the same.
We are still buying ground turkey, and fresh pork every month. We went major shopping and I got back into my need one, but buy two habit again on a few items. Well, I will close this post. Thanks to all for the kind words, I guess a missed a couple of doses of my meds the last few days, feeling better now.
Stay Safe..............Rob
5 comments:
I wonder if living in a small town makes a difference in grocery prices. Here in Shakopee I'm still waiting for the price of hamburger to drop a little so I can afford to can some more. Same with bacon. There have been decent sales on canned vegetables once in a while. Maybe that's for the same reason as the corn.
I'm glad to hear you're feeling better, my friend. Good post on farming issues, too.
I'm not sure. The family that owns Marketplace here, owns two more, Annandale, St. Micheal, and the Cub Foods in Buffalo. I think its all based on supply and demand. Scott tells me they have 'hot buys" and load up on some items. I still want him to give me a tour of the back areas.
Like I said some days are good and days are bad. last night I did some research on WW 2 bases here in MN. Time flew by. When I finish I will post my findings.
I like the local farm report gives me more insight to the actually workings.
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