Corn prices are up and your food bill will follow

This year we had a good year in our area, we had rains when needed, but that was not the case in a lot of the country. Our national corn crop is short of needed demand.
 
Not only did the drought have an effect, but the Federal Environmental Protection Agency added to the shortfall by their coming out allowing the amount of ethanol blended into our fuel to rise from 10 percent to 15 percent. Ethanol is made by choice from corn, but doesn’t have to be. We have covered that issue before.

Corn prices are up. My farm did better than ever before as a result, but now we all will be feeling the price increase. Deer hunters have seen it already. We will all see it at the grocery store.

Now as producers face rising feed costs, they will not only pass on the cost, but will also cut back on their production. Either choice will up the cost you and I will face.  If ranchers cut their herds back we can expect these prices to last for years. For then we not only need to get through this period of corn shortage, but we will then need to once again build up our cattle herds to match our consumer needs. We are not just looking at the meat counter, but the dairy counter with milk and cheese. Then there are also eggs.

We must also consider the many other corn by-products like corn chips, corn tortillas, etc. You will be amazed at how many products we eat and use that is a corn by-product. They can all be expected to rise in cost.

Your Tom turkey this year is expected to cost some 15 percent more than last year. You still had cornbread dressing and other traditional dishes. They are tasted like that great Thanksgiving dinner you looked forward to, but it cost more than ever before.

Father Samuel Heitkamp is a retired priest and was director of the former rural life organization in the archdiocese.