An era of cheap food may be drawing to a close

[RandySF]

U.S. grain prices should stay unrelentingly high this year, according to a Reuters poll, the latest sign that the era of cheap food has come to an end.

U.S. corn, soybeans and wheat prices -- which surged by as much has 50 percent last year and hit their highest levels since mid-2008 -- will dip by at most 5 percent by the end of 2011, according to the poll of 16 analysts.

The forecasts suggest no quick relief for nations bedeviled by record high food costs that have stoked civil unrest. It means any extreme weather event in a grains-producing part of the world could send prices soaring further.

The expectations may also strengthen importers' resolve to build bigger inventories after a year in which stocks of corn and soybeans in the United States -- the world's top exporter -- dwindled to their lowest level in decades.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41311106

[flvegan]

1. Maybe if we grew more food to feed to people

rather than waste by feeding to animals to make meat, we might be better off.

Just sayin'...

[JanMichael]

2. The meat lovers in the US will never, ever get that. I promise you

that your post will be met with nothing but sarcasm from "progressives" that seemingly can't grasp the concept of eating vegetables and grain.

[Brilliantrocket]

5. Instead of arguing a socialist type everyone gets a piece of shit idealogy

Just accept there are too many people.

Edit: Let me clarify, I don't want to give up my meat just because we have no population control. Humans are naturally omnivores.

[customerserviceguy]

4. Are we still paying farmers not to grow food?

Maybe that's a better place to start, than attacking omnivores.

[flvegan]

8. "Attacking?"

Sorry you feel that way. I offered a suggestion, you feel attacked. That just might be on you, mate.

[customerserviceguy]

10. I am always on the lookout

for those who would bend the laws to make your belief system the law. Maybe you don't have any such intentions, and I mistake you for those who do, and for that, I apologize for any over-reaction.

Freedoms have to be defended at all times.

[no_hypocrisy]

3. You CAN'T eat "cheap" if you're eating healthy.

Organic vegetables, fruit, soy, dairy, eggs, meat, poultry, etc. costs at least 50% more than the stuff the stores call "food". You pay a premium to eat food that isn't GM-designed, without pesticides, without hormones, etc.

Maybe the OP should have been titled, "Get a guarantor in order to eat healthy in the near future".

[bobbolink]

9. Thank you for speaking to reality. So many here just don't get what poor people are up against.

[Hutzpa]

6. Sounds like Monsato has won again. n/t

[Hannah Bell]

7. they'd like you to believe it