Tag: Food Prices

Say Good-Bye To Wheat

For the last several weeks I have been watching and writing about the news coming out of the farming industry….and several people have commented about the pampered lifestyle of farmers (something I do not agree with in any way) but my posts were not a critique of farmers but rather how these news stories could impact our food supply….(that fact was duly missed as usual).

The people that are down on farmers are usually the first people to piss and moan about the price of a loaf of bread…..that is sad that they cannot see past their petty grievances.

The most recent report I read was the possibility of farmers giving up on the cultivation of wheat….

Once known for endless golden wheat fields, America’s heartland is watching its “amber waves of grain” fade as more farmers abandon wheat in search of crops that can actually turn a profit, reports Reuters. Wheat farmers across the Great Plains are facing a tough reality: low prices and persistent drought are making wheat less profitable, pushing many to switch crops or leave fields unharvested. In states like Nebraska, wheat acreage has dropped by more than half since 2005. Nationwide, farmers have abandoned between 20% and 33% of the winter wheat crop each year since 2020.

The combination of ongoing drought, abundant global wheat supplies, and stagnant prices—hovering around $5 per bushel—has squeezed profits. Even bumper crops have not improved the outlook: prices remain low due to competition from other major wheat-producing countries. While some farmers can recoup losses through crop insurance, most agree this isn’t a sustainable business model. The region now sees many producers turning to corn, soybeans, or livestock for better returns. Corn’s value in Kansas, for instance, is more than double that of wheat, despite wheat occupying more acreage.

Unlike corn and soybeans, wheat isn’t used by the biofuels industry, the Western Producer reports. “Unfortunately, our little wheat kernel doesn’t have enough sugar in it or enough of anything in it for us to be a viable commodity for renewable fuel program,” says Chandler Goule, chief executive of the National Association of Wheat Growers. But the decline is more than economic; it’s a cultural shift for a region whose identity is tied to wheat farming, per Reuters. Farmers have invested in irrigation and experimented with new wheat varieties, but they are still finding it hard to make money. As Lon Frahm, a large-scale Kansas farmer, put it: “It’s heritage, but there’s no profit.”

If this is reality then that means that the US may have to import wheat and that means if tariffs remain that any product made from wheat will be more expensive….like a loaf of bread for instance.

If you want to comment then please keep it on topic.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Expensive Being A Meat Eater

For most people it is grilling season….I grill year round so I am in the middle of my season…..but it is Memorial Day weekend the unofficial start of Summer and the grilling season.

All across America grills are being fired up in preparation for those burgers or steaks or chicken…..and there may be a future that is not too pleasing.

I am a die hard meat eater…..although I am not a big fan of lamb but all others will be on my menu at some point…..my favorite is bison but it is already expensive.

So when I read a report about the possible coming of more price hikes on meat I was just shaking my head….

Plenty of grocery staples are going to start costing more in 2025 thanks to inflation, supply chain disruptions, and the implementation of President Donald Trump’s proposed trade tariffs. Meat is one grocery item that’s frequently imported from other nations, and as a result, consumers will see its cost rise as these tariffs take effect. From poultry to veal, meat across the board is about to get more expensive — even Costco foods like beef and seafood will likely start to see price changes.

While these tariffs, which charge international companies to export goods to the U.S., will theoretically raise the nation’s revenue and stimulate domestic production, the reality is that this higher cost of offshore trade will likely get passed onto consumers through elevated in-store and online prices. In some cases, countries have responded with retaliatory tariffs. China, for example, announced a tariff boost from 34% to 84% (and eventually up to 125%) on imported U.S. goods, though fortunately, both countries agreed in May to significantly slash these respective increases, if only for a three-month period.

While tariffs are not the direct reason for every jump in price across the industry, they may prompt ripple effects when combined with other economic and environmental factors. Here are the meats worth keeping an eye on.

Let’s begin with my favorite…..beef….

Certain types of beef, like wagyu and Kobe (a variety of wagyu), are known to be expensive. But more affordable varieties, like ground beef and sirloin steak, have long been meal staples for those watching their spending, as they’re filling, high in protein, and generally quite accessible. In the coming months, however, these go-to foods might pose a budgeting issue for the average American consumer.

Since the start of the pandemic, supply chain issues have already boosted the cost of bovine meat, and while that particular industry challenge has eased somewhat, new economic difficulties are once again threatening to place this ingredient out of reach for some. The domestic cattle population, which currently sits at around 86 million, is the lowest it’s been since 1951, according to USDA data. Imported beef from countries like Canada and Mexico helps fill out the U.S. supply — a boon during summer grilling season when U.S. demand for beef is at its peak — but 25% tariffs on Mexican and Canadian imports may result in higher costs getting passed onto consumers. Additionally, in May 2025, President Donald Trump suspended Mexican beef imports for 15 days following an outbreak of screwworm among the country’s cattle, further straining trade relations.

According to data from the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank, the average price for a pound of beef in April 2025 was $5.80 — an increase of nearly 13% from the previous year (via USA Today). Over the course of 2025, the USDA forecasts that beef prices will continue to rise at least 6.3%.

Veal

Veal is essentially a younger, more expensive version of beef. It comes from male calves, specifically those that are under 18 weeks old. Like lamb, there’s plenty of controversy surrounding the production and consumption of veal, but it remains a staple on restaurant menus and in butcher shops across the country.

Like beef prices, the cost of veal is expected to rise at least 6.3% over the course of 2025, according to USDA data. The agency states that “tight supplies and continued consumer demand” are the cause of increases across the bovine meat industry, and one reason for this tight supply is consistent drought. According to the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS), the latter half of 2024 set drought records, with all states experiencing some level of dryness except for Alaska and Kentucky. Since some domestic beef producers grow their own cattle feed, lack of precipitation often leads to less food and smaller herds.

A swell of inflation in January 2025 and proposed tariffs affecting U.S.-Mexico trade will no doubt also play a role in elevated veal costs. As Jason Walker, co-owner of California’s StarWalker Organic Farms, told The New York Post in February 2025, current record-high prices at cattle auctions are great, “If you’re selling cattle … If you’re buying cattle, it’s not a great thing.” As more ranchers attempt to sell, their herd sizes continue to shrink, thus perpetuating the cycle.

Pork

As beef prices rise, many consumers may start opting for more affordable proteins like pork. There are plenty of ground pork recipes you can make on repeat to get as much value as possible out of this ingredient, but it’s still not immune to the effects of economic upheaval. Per USDA data, pork prices will likely rise at least 1.8% over the course of the year, and while this may seem negligible considering larger projected increases like those affecting beef, people grocery shopping on a budget are likely to feel the squeeze regardless.

Increased demand due to seasonal shifts in consumer behavior may also impact prices. In May 2025, economist David Anderson, Ph.D. told National Hog Farmer that the meat industry gets “a seasonal run going into Memorial Day” and that “demand during grilling season can influence prices across most everything beef, poultry, and pork.” Furthermore, data shared by the USDA in April indicates that domestic pork production in 2025 will equal just 28.1 billion pounds — a 350 million-pound drop from March projections. Dips in production paired with increasing demand may signal further price hikes.

As a result of the ongoing trade war, pork exported from the U.S. into China also faces a potential 81% tariff, which may threaten profit margins and supply in the American hog industry. While tensions appear to be easing as certain tariffs are slashed, market uncertainty remains.

Chicken

While some consumers may find themselves relying more heavily on chicken as an affordable protein source as red meat prices continue to rise, that affordability may only be relative. USDA data indicates that throughout 2025, the price of chicken will likely increase by about 1%. This isn’t a huge margin, but as other grocery staples also grow more costly, higher chicken prices will only contribute to financial strain for many shoppers.

Both labor shortages and the increased price of feed have raised overall production costs in the poultry industry, and these increases will likely become evident throughout the year as chicken products receive heftier price tags. While tariffs won’t necessarily factor into these increases directly, this was a possibility when China’s tariffs on U.S. poultry exports from companies like Tyson Foods and Pilgrim’s Pride were on the rise back in April. Regardless of direct tariff impact, American consumers’ increased reliance on this bird is hard to disentangle from rising beef costs.

In the short term, chicken prices may also rise to meet demand leading up to summer occasions like Memorial Day. Beef is the most popular meat to grill over the holiday weekend according to data shared by GV Wire in 2024: On average, 34% of people named steak as their meat of choice for Memorial Day that year, and while burgers came in second with 19%, chicken managed to snag third place with a respectable 18% (beating out ribs with 11% and hot dogs with just 5%).

Turkey

Much like chicken, turkey is another type of poultry that will see price increases throughout 2025. The USDA’s 101st Annual Agricultural Outlook Forum highlighted “declines in turkey production” in 2024, resulting from decreased prices over the two previous years. In turn, this reduced production — now forecast to decrease 3% in 2025 for an annual total of 4.97 billion pounds — is slated to drive up turkey prices during the year. The agency also noted declines in turkey exports during 2024, which may further strain availability.

Furthermore, in late April 2025, the Veterinary and Food Administration confirmed the presence of avian influenza in certain turkey products imported from Denmark. As health authorities continue attempts to quell a similar virus in chickens — the same one driving up the cost of eggs nationwide — the U.S. turkey industry might experience changes in supply and, as a result, price.

As far as tariffs are concerned, turkey does not appear subject to the same rise in costs Americans are seeing for other protein staples. Much U.S. turkey is produced domestically, and in fact, according to USDA data, chicken is the more commonly imported poultry. For example, between May 4 and 10, 2025, 367 metric tons of turkey were imported to the U.S. exclusively from Canada, whereas chicken imports from Canada, Chile, and Mexico clocked in at 1,599 metric tons over the same period. With President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canadian imports in effect, however, turkey prices may continue to fluctuate.

Fish

The seafood market was seemingly one of the first to see effects from President Donald Trump’s tariffs. By mid-April 2025, U.S. fish vendors were noticing price increases across the industry, especially on products from places like Canada and Brazil. Imports from countries across Asia, such as China, Vietnam, India, and Indonesia, are also likely to see price changes. Steep tariffs on items like cod, halibut, and swordfish have upended production for many vendors, who must now seek out alternative trade partners to keep consumer prices in check.

Norway, a major salmon supplier for the U.S., has faced a 15% tariff since April. According to SalmonBusiness, this could drive up prices by $7 or more per fish. Demand for domestic seafood options will likely rise as these tariffs take effect, and this in turn could further impact prices as well as local supply. According to April 2025 data from Expana, salmon fillets exported from Europe saw a 12% price increase over the course of a week, while Chilean fillet exports rose 6% over the same period. The time-sensitive nature of transporting non-frozen fish may also exacerbate these industry changes. Prices will no doubt continue to fluctuate as trade negotiations continue — especially since about 85% of seafood in the U.S. is imported, according to WFAE.

Shellfish

Much like fish such as salmon and halibut, shellfish is another type of seafood that will see major price shifts as a result of tariffs. Shrimp, lobster, crab, and scallops are just some of the items in this category that have already seen price surges as international vendors navigate new trade limitations.

As an example, let’s take a look at the shrimp industry, which will see tariffs ranging from 10% to 32%. One reason these increases will notably affect shoppers is that most of the shrimp Americans consume annually — over 90%, according to The New York Times — is imported from countries like India, Indonesia, Ecuador, and Vietnam. While Ecuador is only subject to 10% tariffs as of this writing, the other countries listed are (or initially were) subject to much higher rates. Indonesia, for example, could see tariffs as high as 32% under President Donald Trump’s plan, thus making consumer goods imported from the island nation that much more expensive. Vietnam, meanwhile, would have been subject to 46% tariffs before negotiations slashed this number to 10%.

Not everyone in the shellfish industry is pessimistic about these changes, however. The East Coast Shellfish Growers Association expressed support for higher import tariffs in a March 2025 letter to an assistant U.S. trade representative, citing “substantial government subsidies and reduced regulatory costs” as two major advantages offshore competitors have over U.S. shellfish farms — advantages the group believes tariffs would remedy. Other entities like Get Maine Lobster emphasize that domestic shellfish options will remain tariff-free amid a shifting international market.

Read More: https://www.mashed.com/1865103/meats-grab-before-prices-increase/

Be prepared for the coming increases….or switch to that tasteless crap called….plant based meat.

Happy grilling my friends.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Finally Some Good News?

Back in April of this year our clueless leader made a fantastic pronouncement on eggs….remember?

Of course not for most Americans have the memory capability of a garden slug….so let me help….

President Donald Trump, during a press conference today, seemed to get exasperated at a reporter asking him about egg prices, going on a bizarre rant that ended with him stating that ‘egg prices are getting too low.’

“You can have all the eggs you want. We have too many eggs. In fact, if anything, the prices are getting too low. So, I just want to let you know, prices are down,” Trump told the room of reporters.

This comes a day after Trump went on another egg rant at a press conference, denouncing Fed Chair Jerome Powell, where he complained about being tasked with lowering the price of eggs right after election. “The price of eggs, you know, when I came in, they hit me with eggs. I just got there,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

“I was here for one week and they started screaming eggs have gone through the roof. I said, I just got here. I was there for seven days and I hear that eggs have gone through the roof before I got there. And they were screaming at me, the press, the fake news like you, you’re fake, and the fake news is screaming at me about eggs. I said, I’ve only been here, I just, this is my 7th day,” Trump went on.

Fake news?

Has this tool ever bought an egg?

Well the prices came down for the first time in a long while….

US retail egg prices fell in April from the record-high prices they hit earlier this year, according to government data released Tuesday. The average price for a dozen Grade A eggs declined to $5.12 last month after reaching a record $6.23 in March despite wholesale price drops, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. It was the first month-to-month drop in egg prices since October 2024. Overall, the average price of eggs of all sizes fell 12.7%, the steepest monthly decline since March 1984, the AP reports. Still, retail egg prices remain near historic highs. The April average price for a dozen large eggs was 79% higher than reported for the same month a year ago, when the price averaged $2.86 per dozen.

David L. Ortega, a professor of food economics and policy at Michigan State University, said he thinks US egg prices will continue to fall in May and June. Consumer demand tends to fall after Easter, which helps lower prices, he says. Fewer bird flu outbreaks at commercial poultry operations in recent weeks has also helped stabilize the country’s egg supply, Ortega said. According to the Department of Agriculture, there were 59 bird flu outbreaks at commercial poultry operations in February, 12 in March and three in April. But Ortega says the progress of the virus is uncertain, and prices could edge up again if outbreaks expand again. Even one outbreak at a commercial facility can impact supply, because massive egg farms have millions of birds.

Lowering egg prices has been a particular focus of President Trump. In February, the USDA said it would invest $1 billion to help farmers improve their biosecurity measures to fight bird flu. The US has also increased imports of eggs from South Korea, Turkey, Brazil, and other countries. The antitrust division of the Department of Justice is also investigating Cal-Maine Foods, the largest US egg producer. The Mississippi-based company, which supplies around 20% of America’s eggs, said its net income more than tripled to $508.5 million in its most recent quarter, which ended March 1.

Two points that need addressing….

Aid to farmers to increase biosecurity….we pay to help chickens but Donny hires a guy for HHS that does not believe in it for us mere humans.

Seriously?

Second point….Trump said earlier that we have more than enough eggs (paraphrase) and yet we are importing (keep in mind tariffs) from other countries.

How will the tariffs effect prices?  (Okay that is three points….my bad)

I cannot verify the lower prices in my area for I have not been to the store in a couple of weeks….

Is anyone seeing lower prices for eggs?

Please let us know what is happening where you live.

I Read, I Write, You KNow

“lego ergo scribo”

 

Let’s Hear From The Egg-spert.

There are days when Donny just proves what a complete idiot he really has become…..and his latest statement on the cost of eggs proves yet again.

If you follow the news you know that eggs prices are headed even higher and yet that idiot ‘stable genius’ tells us they are too low….along with gas prices.

President Donald Trump, during a press conference today, seemed to get exasperated at a reporter asking him about egg prices, going on a bizarre rant that ended with him stating that ‘egg prices are getting too low.’

“You can have all the eggs you want. We have too many eggs. In fact, if anything, the prices are getting too low. So, I just want to let you know, prices are down,” Trump told the room of reporters.

This comes a day after Trump went on another egg rant at a press conference, denouncing Fed Chair Jerome Powell, where he complained about being tasked with lowering the price of eggs right after election. “The price of eggs, you know, when I came in, they hit me with eggs. I just got there,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

“I was here for one week and they started screaming eggs have gone through the roof. I said, I just got here. I was there for seven days and I hear that eggs have gone through the roof before I got there. And they were screaming at me, the press, the fake news like you, you’re fake, and the fake news is screaming at me about eggs. I said, I’ve only been here, I just, this is my 7th day,” Trump went on.

The pressure on Trump on eggs and grocery prices also comes from some of Trump’s campaign stunts where he promised to ‘immediately’ fix egg and grocery prices. Trump held an August 2024 rally surrounded by groceries and proudly proclaimed, “When I win, I will immediately bring prices down, starting on Day One.”

Trump subsequently wrote on Truth Social: “EGGS & GAS PRICES – OUT OF CONTROL!!! Crooked Joe and the radical left DESTROYED affordability for hardworking Americans. It’s a TOTAL SCAM! On DAY ONE, I’ll SLASH prices—so fast it’ll make their heads spin. Big Oil? Big Farms? They’ll listen to ME, not lobbyists. NO MORE RIPOFFS!!! MAGA!!!”

U.S. egg prices rose again last month to set a new record-high of $6.23 per dozen – despite Donald Trump’s prediction that they were set to fall.

(irishstar.com)

What is Little Donny smoking?

Did I miss something?

Does he have inside information?

True gas has come down about 10 cents where I live but egg prices are still too flippin’ high….a dozen large eggs for around $5.00.

Does anyone take the time to let this demented toad know what is actually happening out here or does he just not give a crap?

At what point does it start looking like this person does not have a clue?

For me it was 85 days ago.

You?

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Does He Watch The Polls?

Polls are notoriously wrong these days…..but after some of the pull back Donny has done on his policies does indicate that at least someone in his inner circle of corrupt officials pays some attention tom them.

The consumer is not happy with all the game playing from Donny and the thugs….

Consumer sentiment in the United States continued its sharp plunge this month under President Donald Trump as Americans grew increasingly concerned about the prospect of a job-destroying recession in the near future—fears fueled in large part by the administration’s erratic tariff policies.

The University of Michigan’s Surveys of Consumers, released Friday, found that U.S. consumer sentiment plunged 11% at the start of April compared to last month, a decline that was “pervasive and unanimous across age, income, education, geographic region, and political affiliation.”

That’s according to the survey project’s director, Joanne Hsu, who said that “sentiment has now lost more than 30% since December 2024 amid growing worries about trade war developments that have oscillated over the course of the year.”

Friday’s assessment shows that overall consumer sentiment has fallen to its second-lowest level since the early 1950s.

https://www.commondreams.org/news/consumer-sentiment-plunges

Part of the problem is the cost of food….like the eggs….

For the third straight month, U.S retail egg prices have hit a record high, despite falling wholesale prices, no bird flu outbreaks, and President Donald Trump’s campaign promises—and recent misleading claims.

On Thursday, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index (CPI) reported the average retail cost of a dozen eggs rose from $5.90 in February to $6.23 last month.

Trump also said that egg prices “are going down more,” a statement that contradicts not only recent trends but also his own administration’s Food Price Outlook, which forecasts a 57.6% increase in egg prices for 2025, with a prediction interval of 31.1%-91.5%.

Recent record egg prices have largely been driven by an avian flu epidemic that has forced farmers to cull over 166 million birds, most of them egg-laying hens. However, no farms are currently reporting any bird flu outbreaks.

https://www.commondreams.org/news/record-egg-prices

While Donny continues his waffling and babbling his approval rating is taking a nose dive….

President Donald Trump is not well-liked, and, according to new polling, few Americans understand why anyone would approve of the job he’s doing.

…

Recent approval polls show Trump sliding: He’s 13 percentage points underwater in a recent YouGov survey, 12 points underwater in a recent Quinnipiac poll and 5 points in the tank in the notoriously pro-Trump Rasmussen poll.

According to YouGov: “Trump’s net job approval is down 14 points since the first Economist/YouGov Poll after he took office this year, when 49% of Americans approved of him and 43% disapproved.”

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2025/04/11/trump-approval-rating-tariffs-groceries-polls/83036443007/

His, Donny’s, tariffs are dooming him in his push to become president for life….the polls illustrate just how pissed the peasants are getting especially with higher and higher food prices….

In the wake of President Donald Trump imposing tariffs on dozens of countries, a vast majority of voters (72 percent) think the tariffs will hurt the U.S. economy in the short-term, while a smaller majority (53 percent) think the tariffs will hurt the U.S. economy in the long-term as well, according to a Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pea- ack) University national poll of registered voters released today.

For the short-term, 72 percent of voters think the tariffs will hurt the U.S. economy, while 22 percent think the tariffs will help the U.S. economy.

97% of Democrats, 77% of Independents, and 44% of Republicans all believe that tariffs will harm the economy. Considering that the tariffs have been dialed back but aren’t going away, that seems like a pretty big problem remaining for Republicans.

https://www.politicususa.com/p/new-poll-bombshell-trump-and-republicans

In case you have not noticed Donny has been waffling lately on the tariffs…..is that a good sign or is he just trying to calm a sleeping beast?

This will be interesting to keep a sharp eye on in the coming days and weeks.

Jeez!  I love this stuff!

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Finally An Answer To Rising Egg Prices!

Most everyone has been hit by the high cost of eggs in the past year and the question has been…..when will something be done about the high prices?

This is the Trump Administration’s answer to solving the ever rising egg prices here in the US….

President Trump’s agriculture secretary announced Wednesday that her department is working with the Department of Government Efficiency “to cut hundreds of millions of dollars of wasteful spending” that will be used to help bring down the retail price of eggs. “We will repurpose some of those dollars by investing in long-term solutions to avian flu,” a major driver of the egg shortage, Brooke Rollins wrote in an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal. In January, the average price for large, Grade A eggs in American cities hit a record $4.95 per dozen.

Agriculture Department will spend as much as $1 billion on the campaign, Rollins said in laying out the plan’s five steps. The first $500 million is allocated to help with biosecurity measures at poultry farms—steps to stop the flu’s spread. In addition, $400 million is set aside for relief to farmers whose flocks have been hit the flu, the Washington Post reports. Another $100 million will go toward developing vaccines and therapeutics for laying chickens. “This should help reduce the need to ‘depopulate’ flocks, which means killing chickens on a farm where there’s an outbreak,” Rollins wrote.

The fourth step, she said, is reducing the regulation of producers, including facilitating the raising of backyard chickens. The last move Rollins listed is temporarily increasing the number of imported eggs, possibly raising purchases from Turkey from the current 70 million a year to as many as 420 million this year, per the Post. A farmers group, United Egg Producers, welcomed Rollins’ plan. The secretary wrote that while the shortage won’t disappear overnight, “we’re confident that it will restore stability to the egg market.”

Just how will this bring down prices?

Trump is considering a 25% tariff on products from the EU so where will we import eggs from that is not effected by these tariffs?

To remind everyone tariffs are paid by the importer and passed onto the consumer in price increases….so again how will this idea bring down prices?

So just how will this lower the price for we will be dealing with the same middlemen that are raping huge profits on the backs of consumers

How can we as consumers be guaranteed that the eggs we import will be safe for they may come from countries with little to no oversight?

And another question why has bird flu hit the US the hardest?….I have not seen a report that it is crisis level elsewhere in the world.

Let me say here that while I do not like this proposal to end high egg prices it is a damn sight better than what the Dems have offered…..an investigation into egg producers….the investigation is needed but it will take a year or better to complete and what will happen to prices in that lag time?

Please share your thoughts on this hair brain idea.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Eggs: Our Favorite Bitch!

A lovely Sunday here in the Deep South….nice temps and semi-clear skies…today I write about a subject that effects most of us almost daily.

That would be the price of eggs….it seems we cannot go one day without some news news flash on the prices and availability…..and then a usual FYI….

I remember during the 2024 campaigns the GOP made hay about the high prices of groceries under the Biden administration and the promise that something would be done if the GOP were given the chance to help their fellow Americans.

As usual it was all lies but that is their MO….lie their asses off then turn their back on any promises made….(and you people still vote for these half human assholes)….but let’s get back to it os Biden’s fault thing….

During the previous American presidential campaign cycle, much was made (by voters and politicians alike) about the high increase in grocery prices under the Biden administration, especially egg prices. In the last two months of former President Joe Biden’s presidency alone, egg prices rose 14% alone, according to CNN.  Further, Donald Trump campaigned on bringing down grocery prices “starting on day one.” 

Instead of that happening, though, Forbes reported that inflation was higher than expected in January 2025 (in which President Trump was in office for nearly two weeks) at 3% rather than 2.8% and that egg prices increased again by a staggering 15%. Trump, perhaps unsurprisingly, responded to these numbers by posting “BIDEN INFLATION UP” on his own social media platform, Truth Social.

The egg price crisis seems to be far more indebted to the virulent avian flu that is infecting America (and killed over 40 million egg-laying birds in 2024).

Regarding Leavitt’s accusations of the Biden administration “mass killing” 100 million chickens — it was actually the USDA, which required the destruction of whole flocks of chickens to stop the avian flu once it was detected, leading to the deaths of 130 million birds since 2022. However, this USDA policy has not changed during the Trump administration and the same culling that Leavitt decried in her statement against Biden continues with President Trump.

As a result of the avian flu rendering over 130 million egg-laying birds as no longer viable, egg prices have soared astronomically.  Further, until biosecurity increases and a vaccine is introduced to entire commercial egg-producing flocks, it is likely that the avian flu crisis (and its resultant increased prices) will continue.

https://www.gobankingrates.com/saving-money/food/biden-egg-prices-are-higher-than-ever-who-is-to-blame/

Did you know that at today’s prices gram for gram eggs are more expensive the beef?

Every day seems to bring a new reminder that egg prices keep rising. The latest is from Axios, which reports that eggs are now more expensive than beef by one metric for the first time. The outlet analyzed nearly 500 months of Consumer Price Index data going back to 1984 and found that January brought a milestone—the cost per gram of protein for a dozen eggs eclipsed that of a pound of ground beef for the first time. The eggs are now running about a half cent more expensive.

Consumers shouldn’t expect relief anytime soon. The average price of a dozen Grade A eggs in US cities reached a record-high $4.95 in January, more than double the price of $2.04 not even two years ago, reports the AP. And the Department of Agriculture has warned that prices are likely to rise another 20% this year. What’s more, prices typically spike around Easter, which is April 20 this year.

There are those that are calling for an investigation into the high prices….but with this do-nothing group in charge it will be a fart in a hurricane.

An advocacy group dedicated to fighting corporate agriculture monopolies on Wednesday urged federal antitrust enforcers to take action against egg producers that the group accuses of taking advantage of the bird flu crisis in order to raise prices, inflate their profits, and consolidate their market power.

What’s more, the slow recovery of “flock size”—the total number of egg-laying hens—”despite historically high prices, further suggests coordinated efforts to restrict supply and sustain inflated prices” that warrants investigation, according to a letter sent by Farm Action president Angela Huffman to Federal Trade Commission Chair Andrew Ferguson and Acting Assistant Attorney General Omeed Assefi, who has been tapped to temporarily lead the DOJ antitrust division.

The letter, which invokes the behavior of “dominant egg producers,” largely provides data on one company, Cal-Maine Foods, the biggest producer and marketer of shell eggs in the country.

Separately, Democratic voices are urging the Trump administration to take action around corporate conduct as it relates to food prices. FTC Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya, a Biden appointee, has also urged Ferguson to open an investigation into egg production and marketing practices—pointing to a 2023 request from Farm Action to the FTC to investigate potential antitrust violations in the egg industry.

https://www.commondreams.org/news/egg-prices-ftc-doj-farm-action

Where are the Democrats?

All they are capable of doing is talking about the problem and offer NO solutions.

Hang on my friends it may get a lot worse.

While we await that other shoe to drop here is a little FYI for alt egg….

If you’re not among those panic-buying eggs, you can easily find suitable egg substitutes for baking, whether due to allergy concerns, scarcity or you’re simply priced out. Another silver lining: Most of the replacements are ingredients you probably already have on hand, and are likely more affordable than eggs.

Baking is a delicate web of ingredients — removing one would be like recklessly pulling out the lynchpin in a Jenga tower — and eggs are incredibly important for a number of reasons. An egg, in particular, has several roles that are crucial to a recipe’s success. It adds richness and moisture, like in a brioche. It can serve to thicken and emulsify, as in a cheesecake. The oven heats up the egg’s protein, creating structure for cakes, muffins and bars. When beaten, eggs provide leavening fluff — case in point: a soufflé. If you’ve ever forgotten to add eggs to a cake batter, then you know all too well the end result is a dense, structureless puck that crumbles faster than a house of cards. So if you don’t or can’t use egg, you definitely need a substitute.

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/cooking/a63704882/best-egg-substitutes-for-baking/

That does it for this Sunday….enjoy your day and as always….Be Well and Be Safe….

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Never to Return

Most of us shop for eggs and most of us have been bitching about the stark rise in prices…..the question has been asked….will we ever see cheap eggs again?  Many do not understand what is happening so I feel a little background will help….

Bird flu is forcing farmers to slaughter millions of chickens a month, pushing US egg prices to more than double their cost in summer 2023. As the AP reports, it appears there may be no relief in sight, given the coming Easter demand. The average price per dozen nationwide hit $4.15 in December. That’s not quite the $4.82 record set two years ago, but the USDA predicts prices are going to soar another 20% this year. “It’s just robbery,” says Minneapolis resident Sage Mills. “Eggs used to be kind of a staple … (but now) you might as well just go out to eat.” A look:

  • What’s driving prices? In two words, bird flu. More than 145 million chickens, turkeys, and other birds have been slaughtered. Cage-free egg laws in 10 states that set minimum space for chickens may also be responsible for some supply disruptions and price increases.
  • Why is the virus so hard to control? Bird flu is primarily spread by wild birds such as ducks and geese as they migrate. It’s also easily tracked into a farm on someone’s boots or vehicle. The virus found a new host in dairy cattle last March, creating more opportunities for it to linger and spread. More than five dozen people have also become ill with bird flu and one died.
  • What’s being done? Many poultry farms installed truck washes to disinfect vehicles and require workers to shower and change clothes before stepping inside a barn. Some farmers have even invested in lasers that shoot beams of green light to discourage wild ducks and geese from landing. Cooking meat to 165 degrees kills bird flu, and pasteurization kills it in milk.
  • How much has the outbreak cost? It’s impossible to know how much farmers have spent to seal barns, build shower houses, or adopt other biosecurity measures. “Over the last five years, my small farm alone has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on biosecurity,” says Minnesota turkey farmer Loren Brey. The USDA has spent at least $1.14 billion compensating farmers for the birds they’ve had to kill. A USDA rep said the department also spent more than $576 million on its own response

The answer is probably never again.

Why?

The egg industry has learned from the oil industry….take advantage of a situation and raise prices then come down a few cents and people will reveille in their savings and what a good job the industry is doing to help the common man.

Of course that will be bullshit and greed has set in so high prices are the norm and for a long time.

Here’s a factoid for you about the egg industry…..

As avian flu rapidly circulates in the U.S., Cal-Maine Foods, the nation’s largest egg producer, appears to be having a bumper year, bolstered in part by taxpayer bailouts in the multi-millions.

The company’s stocks recently soared to a record high, as its net sales rose by a staggering 82 percent last quarter. Cal-Maine Foods expanded its operations last spring, paying around $110 million in cash to acquire the assets and facilities of another egg producer, ISE America. Despite culling at least 1.6 million hens on infected farms last year, the poultry corporation is getting richer and bigger.

U.S. taxpayers have given the poultry giant a lift. The company has received $44 million in indemnity payouts to compensate for bird deaths tied to the avian flu outbreak. Despite the company’s growth, Cal-Maine Foods is the fourth largest recipient of indemnity payments for the ongoing outbreak from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)’s indemnity program.

The compensation system, distinct from the agency’s program for livestock, pays poultry farmers and producers for the market value of the birds and eggs. It does not pay for birds that directly die from avian flu. It only pays for “infected or exposed poultry and/or eggs that are destroyed to control the disease,” — i.e. deliberately killed to prevent the spread of the virus. The agency also provides compensation for other virus control activities, such as destroying contaminated supplies and disinfecting a barn after an outbreak.

How U.S. Taxpayers Bailed Out the Poultry Industry, and Helped Entrench Avian Flu

Here is my problem….if these people are compensated for their loss how can the government allow them to fleece the public.

Basically it is corporate welfare….and you about those ‘welfare queens’ (sorry for the use of this insulting bullshit)

You might want to pay attention for this is not the only industry that gets rich from fucking the public.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Worried About Those High Food Prices?

Consequences of a mindless vote.

I know that everyone has had sticker shock when they go grocery shopping…..but we have a new president and that will soon change, right?

Let’s start with fresh produce….do you buy such items as…. Corn, beans, tomatoes, squash, cotton, vanilla, avocados, cacao, and various spices….or maybe such items as….fresh cucumbers, eggplant, lettuce, squash, and strawberries….

Those items are grown and brought into the US in Mexico and Canada…and in 2025 those and other items will be hit with tariffs….

President-elect Donald Trump vowed Monday that on his first day in office he would impose a 25% tariff on all products coming into the United States from Mexico and Canada.

“As everyone is aware, thousands of people are pouring through Mexico and Canada, bringing Crime and Drugs at levels never seen before,” Trump wrote in a post on his social media platform Truth Social.

Trump said that on Jan. 20, in one of his first executive orders, he would sign all the necessary paperwork to levy a 25% tariff on all products arriving from the U.S.’s North American neighbors.

“This Tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!” he wrote. “Both Mexico and Canada have the absolute right and power to easily solve this long simmering problem. We hereby demand that they use this power, and until such time that they do, it is time for them to pay a very big price!”

Trump said in another Truth Social post that he also would levy an additional 10% tariff on top of existing tariffs on Chinese products coming into the United States.

(usatoday.com)

The key to that statement is the word ‘ALL’….

That means that YOU will be paying higher prices for your fresh veggies and fruit.

Let me help you understand…..the cost of the tariffs will be paid by the importers not the nations affected….and that means YOU will pay for the tariffs because importers will stick you with the extra cost.

So people get ready….bend over and spread ’em….

But not to worry the wealthy will be making lots more money while you spend more just to feed your family….

Trump is not even president yet and already the wealthy has made a killing….and that does not include the proposed tax cuts they will be getting…

An analysis released Wednesday showed that the United States’ 815 billionaires have seen their combined wealth surge by roughly $280 billion since Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election earlier this month, a finding that came as Republicans continued to lay the groundwork for another massive tax giveaway for the rich.

Citing Forbes data, Americans for Tax Fairness (ATF) noted that the collective net worth of the nation’s billionaires jumped $276 billion between November 4—the day before Election Day—and November 12. Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest man and a Trump confidant, accounted for 20% of the total billionaire wealth surge, with his net worth growing by $57 billion in just a week.

ATF found that U.S. billionaire wealth is now at an all-time high of $6.7 trillion—a fact that hasn’t deterred Republican lawmakers from pursuing additional tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, which they want to pay for in part by slashing Medicaid and federal nutrition assistance.

(commondreams.org)

Something for us all to look forward to in the coming Trump administration…

But not to worry the GOP will blame the Dems or immigrants for their screwing of the American people and the humorous thing is morons will believe the bullshit.

This is what YOU voted for….merry christmas.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Those Damn Food Prices

It is another Fall Sunday and down here the temps have cooled a bit (but for how long?) and my attempt to bring a little FYI to your day.

We all have had sticker shock when we visit our local supermarket…..am I right?  It seems that nothing comes down and just keeps eating into our wallets.

Some say that food prices lead to the victory in the last election.

Where do live?

How are prices in your state?

I live in Mississippi and you would think that because of the low wages and living standard we would be on the low end of the scale of prices…..if you think that then sorry but you would be wrong.

Curious how the price of eggs (and other groceries) is really looking across the country? Visual Capitalist has the scoop on how grocery shopping averages out across the US, with the median household dropping $270 on a weekly haul. That’s up about 20% nationwide since August 2020. Wisconsin fared best in the analysis—with households dishing out about $221 per week—while these 10 states had the most costly grocery tabs in America:

  1. Hawaii: $334 per week
  2. Alaska: $329
  3. California: $298
  4. Nevada: $295
  5. Mississippi: $291
  6. Washington: $288
  7. Florida: $287
  8. New Mexico, Texas: $286 (tie)
  1. Louisiana: $283

See the full list on Visual Capitalist.

Find your state and be thankful, if lower than MS, that you do not live here.

But why are food prices so high?

There are probably many things to answer for these increases but the one that I believe is the best contributor is….greed.

Grocery stores’ profit margins increased in recent years, according to a March 2024 report by the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC report notes that food and beverage retailers saw their revenues outpace their costs by more than 6% in 2021. That was a new high for that particular profit measure until 2023, when it reached 7%.

Food manufacturers have relied on price hikes and other tactics to maintain profitability, as well. Take chocolate for example, which has become even more expensive to make this year because of record-high cocoa prices. Companies saw shoppers become more sensitive to chocolate prices as they went up. While shoppers spent more money on chocolate in each of the past two years, they actually cut back on the quantities they bought, according to NielsenIQ data provided to NerdWallet in March.

When that happens, companies know they can’t keep raising prices without further impacting their sales volume. Instead, they make other product changes, like shrinking packages, giving you less product for the same price. That maneuver is known by detractors as shrinkflation.

Members of Congress and the Biden administration have taken turns slamming food companies for these tactics. President Joe Biden called out “shrinkflation” during his State of the Union speech in March. And Sen. Elizabeth Warren blamed high grocery prices on “corporate price gouging” during a Senate subcommittee hearing on high food prices in May.

FTC Chair Lina Khan has said she wants the commission to launch an inquiry into big grocery chains’ pricing practices.

A commission huh?

That ought to bring prices down.

That aside does anyone see lower prices with the incoming economic plan?

I do not.

Whatcha think?

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”