Minnesota is below the national average
Retail food prices at the supermarket increased slightly during the fourth quarter of 2010, according to the latest American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Marketbasket Survey.
The informal survey shows the total cost of 16 food items that can be used to prepare one or more meals was $46.97 (Minn. - $46.86), up 80 cents or about 2 percent compared to the third quarter of 2010. Of the 16 items surveyed, nine increased, six decreased and one remained the same in average price compared to the prior quarter. The total average price for the 16 items was up $4.07 (about 10 percent) compared to one year ago.
Bacon, eggs, whole milk, sliced deli ham and bread increased the most in dollar value compared to the third quarter.
Bacon increased 68 cents to $4.32 per pound (Minn. - $4.26); eggs and whole milk increased 19 cents to $1.60 per dozen (Minn. - $1.60) and $3.35 per gallon (Minn. - $3.64), respectively; sliced deli ham increased 18 cents to $4.84 per pound (Minn. - $4.41); and bread increased 14 cents to $1.75 for a 20-ounce loaf (Minn. - $1.54).
“Hearty breakfast lovers felt the pinch in the fourth quarter of 2010,” said AFBF Economist John Anderson. “Increased consumer demand for meats and dairy products that began in 2009 continued through the fourth quarter of 2010. Wholesale meat supplies remained tight in the fourth quarter of the year, due to smaller livestock herds and poultry flocks, which also contributed to the retail price increases our volunteer shoppers reported.”
Other items that increased in price since the third quarter were sirloin tip roast, up 9 cents to $3.95 per pound (Minn. - $4.20); shredded cheddar cheese, up 7 cents to $4.16 per pound (Minn. - $4.33); toasted oat cereal and vegetable oil, up 4 cents each to $2.88 for a 9-ounce box (Minn. - $2.92) and 32-ounce bottle (Minn. - $2.49), respectively.
Most items showing an increase in retail price from quarter-to-quarter also showed year-to-year increases. Compared to one year ago, bacon was up 44 percent, eggs were up 4 percent, whole milk was up 10 percent and sliced deli ham was up 11 percent.
“Increasing our nation’s livestock herd to meet the growing demand for meat and dairy products takes time, so we are likely to see retail prices continue to increase for some foods throughout 2011,” said Anderson.
Six foods decreased slightly in price compared to the prior quarter: boneless chicken breasts, down 34 cents to $3.10 per pound (Minn. - $3.73); flour, down 16 cents to $1.99 for a 5-pound bag (Minn. - $2.01); Russet potatoes, down 13 cents to $2.50 for a 5-pound bag (Minn. - $2.21); ground chuck, down 10 cents to $2.83 per pound (Minn. - $2.85); and bagged salad, down 6 cents to $2.69 per pound (Minn. - $2.12).
Orange juice remained the same in price at $2.97 for a half-gallon (Minn. - $3.19).
The year-to-year direction of the marketbasket survey tracks with the federal government’s Consumer Price Index (www.bls.gov/cpi) report for food at home. As retail grocery prices have increased gradually over time, the share of the average food dollar that America’s farm and ranch families receive has dropped.
“In the mid-1970s, farmers received about one-third of consumer retail food expenditures for food eaten at home and away from home, on average. Since then, that
figure has decreased steadily and is now just over 20 percent, according to Agriculture Department statistics,” said Anderson.
Using the “food at home and away from home” percentage across-the-board, the farmer’s share of this quarter’s $46.97 market basket would be $9.39.
AFBF, the nation’s largest general farm organization, has been conducting the informal quarterly marketbasket survey of retail food price trends since 1989. The mix of foods in the marketbasket was updated during the first quarter of 2008.
According to USDA, Americans spend just under 10 percent of their disposable annual income on food, the lowest average of any country in the world. A total of 92 shoppers in 29 states participated in the latest survey, conducted in late October/early November.
Showing posts with label agriculture issues. Show all posts
Showing posts with label agriculture issues. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
More views from the West Central Research and Outreach Center's centennial celebration on July 16 in Morris...plus a "crop update" from MPR
In a report given on Minnesota Public Radio this morning...the headline is "Farmers are seeing lots of green".
A few notes...35% of Minnesota's corn crop is in excellent condition. Only one other year dating back to 1986 was better, in 1994, when 43% of our corn was excellent... in 1986 it was 35% excellent.
Soybeans are 25% excellent.
The state's best crop currently is barley, 36% rated excellent. Barley is being harvested now in small amounts, plus sweet corn.
It's early to predict but we are on track to set records. "Rain makes grain" and that's what has taken place in 2010.
We also are having what some say is a bumper crop of bugs... stories are being circulated about exploding insect populations. In SW MN, the "earwig" bug is growing in numbers. They are crawlers about a 1/2 inch long...they can get into houses and crawl around on the floor. Experts say the bug is harmless, if not gross.
Back to the WCROC centennial...
In this 5+ minute clip, the topic of the money in agriculture is discussed, including the U.S. "cheap food" policy and also the power of large agribusiness in the marketplace. At about the 4:00 mark, a member of the crowd brings up agriculture's "wealth distribution problem" - this all took place at the West Central Research and Outreach Center's centennial celebration in Morris, MN on July 16, 2010.
Below, George Boody talks about agricultural diversity.
A few notes...35% of Minnesota's corn crop is in excellent condition. Only one other year dating back to 1986 was better, in 1994, when 43% of our corn was excellent... in 1986 it was 35% excellent.
Soybeans are 25% excellent.
The state's best crop currently is barley, 36% rated excellent. Barley is being harvested now in small amounts, plus sweet corn.
It's early to predict but we are on track to set records. "Rain makes grain" and that's what has taken place in 2010.
We also are having what some say is a bumper crop of bugs... stories are being circulated about exploding insect populations. In SW MN, the "earwig" bug is growing in numbers. They are crawlers about a 1/2 inch long...they can get into houses and crawl around on the floor. Experts say the bug is harmless, if not gross.
Back to the WCROC centennial...
In this 5+ minute clip, the topic of the money in agriculture is discussed, including the U.S. "cheap food" policy and also the power of large agribusiness in the marketplace. At about the 4:00 mark, a member of the crowd brings up agriculture's "wealth distribution problem" - this all took place at the West Central Research and Outreach Center's centennial celebration in Morris, MN on July 16, 2010.
Below, George Boody talks about agricultural diversity.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Great crowd turns out for West Central Research and Outreach Center's Centennial Day in Morris
A great crowd was on hand to help celebrate the 100th anniversary of the West Central Research and Outreach Center in Morris on July 16.
In the two video clips below, George Boody talks about the importance of "agricultural diversity" in our world. He is the executive director of the Land Stewardship Project.
Photos from the event, which can be viewed in a slideshow order that gives you a good idea of what was discussed in the afternoon, can be viewed at the Herman-Hoffman Tribune's Dotphoto online gallery.
Click on the "Dotphoto" link on the left hand side of our website.
www.hermanhoffmantribune.com
More will follow later tonight.
In the two video clips below, George Boody talks about the importance of "agricultural diversity" in our world. He is the executive director of the Land Stewardship Project.
Photos from the event, which can be viewed in a slideshow order that gives you a good idea of what was discussed in the afternoon, can be viewed at the Herman-Hoffman Tribune's Dotphoto online gallery.
Click on the "Dotphoto" link on the left hand side of our website.
www.hermanhoffmantribune.com
More will follow later tonight.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Sitting in on the Minnesota Farmers Union agriculture discussion at Lakeside Ballroom in Glenwood
Minnesota Farmers Union president Doug Peterson and some of his staff are on hand now at Lakeside Ballroom in Glenwood.
Tom Meium of Congressman Collin Peterson's office said the following:
Collin favors these parts of the health care reform bill: ends the pre-existing condition exclusion - children covered up to 26 - health insurance companies can no longer drop you if you get a serious illness
Collin heard mostly from farmers, independent business owners who pay for their own insurance - they expressed grave concerns about rates going up. It was not addressed in the bill, even supporters of the bill acknowledge that insurance rates will go up.
Inflation rates and uncontrolled expenses that have been going up for quite some time have not been addressed.
Eleven percent of the CD7 do not have health insurance. About 1/3 of those will be covered. That's disappointing to Collin. He was hoping more of the uninsured would be covered.
That plus the expenses out of consumers pockets not being addressed led Collin to vote No on the bill.
If you compare legislation to a football game, we're probably at about halftime.
The first half was developing a bill. The second half will be implementation of the bill.
Health and Human Services will bring this to reality over the next 4 to 5 years. "Rubber hits the road" - the legislative intent will be put into action.
Collin pledges his support to the work of the second half. He won't be a part of the political games and rhetoric about repealing the bill.
He supports several parts of the bill. He will work with his colleagues of both parties to address the cost issue and make it a workable program.
More will be posted on this meeting on Wednesday.
Tom Meium of Congressman Collin Peterson's office said the following:
Collin favors these parts of the health care reform bill: ends the pre-existing condition exclusion - children covered up to 26 - health insurance companies can no longer drop you if you get a serious illness
Collin heard mostly from farmers, independent business owners who pay for their own insurance - they expressed grave concerns about rates going up. It was not addressed in the bill, even supporters of the bill acknowledge that insurance rates will go up.
Inflation rates and uncontrolled expenses that have been going up for quite some time have not been addressed.
Eleven percent of the CD7 do not have health insurance. About 1/3 of those will be covered. That's disappointing to Collin. He was hoping more of the uninsured would be covered.
That plus the expenses out of consumers pockets not being addressed led Collin to vote No on the bill.
If you compare legislation to a football game, we're probably at about halftime.
The first half was developing a bill. The second half will be implementation of the bill.
Health and Human Services will bring this to reality over the next 4 to 5 years. "Rubber hits the road" - the legislative intent will be put into action.
Collin pledges his support to the work of the second half. He won't be a part of the political games and rhetoric about repealing the bill.
He supports several parts of the bill. He will work with his colleagues of both parties to address the cost issue and make it a workable program.
- Other issues were discussed throughout the forum, with a heavy emphasis on health care reform and agriculture concentration.
More will be posted on this meeting on Wednesday.
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