Food Prices are skyrocketing, Should we try to grow more local produce?

Question

Should each state set aside a certain amount of Farmland to grow crops and livestock to take back control of our food? from the large food conglomerates. Who see food as a commodity

Answer 1

Actually, I was watching Oprah yesturday, and she was talking about "freegans" or "freeganism". That is the term given to "freegans" who are normal everyday people, digging out of grocery store waste bins to find all sorts of clean food that's been thrown out that day.

Personally, I would never EVER do that. But for the population that does, I find it helpful for the economy you might say. Some of the food that is being thrown out of grocery stores is still editable, and could be donated to charity. Not only that, people like yourselves who are concered about the food price, could try this new thing. Just a suggestion though, lol.

Answer 2

I'm not sure of the needed plan but I certainly recognize the rising cost of food. One of the factors affecting food prices is the use of corn based ethanol. Our food cost is based on the availability of food as determined by the amount of land dedicated to food production and the cost of transporting food to the end-user. As corn based ethanol is growing, more farmers are switching their land from food production to fuel production. Much of the corn already being grown is being diverted from livestock feed use to fuel production. Farming is still more efficient on a large scale. The crop yield on large farms is higher than on small farms and the costs to plant, grow, harvest, store and transport the food are lower when done on large scale. Local farming will only reduce transport costs but may decrease yields and thus efficiency due to natural variations in climate and soil quality. What is needed is a national plan that more wisely manages the farm use as well as individual garden growers. We need to start planting gardens in our yards. If you can grow food for less than you can buy it then you will come out ahead and take demand off of the national system.

Ethanol subsidies are dangerous business. We will change our lives if we don't have enough fuel, we will end our live if we don't have enough food.

Answer 3

Anyone who has ever listened to the Daily Farm Report on the radio in farm country knows that farm products are commodities. Even small vegetable farmers view food as a commodity as evidenced by local Farmer's Markets.

My dad grows a 2.5 acre garden every season and sells his produce (commodities) to neighbors to supplement his retirement and because he has always enjoyed difficult physical labor.

It's part of who he is.

http://www.ams.usda.gov/foodserv/

I don't believe state governments should be involved by dictating how much and what should be grown on what land and for heaven's sake, keep the Federal government out of it completely.

"If we were directed from Washington when to sow and when to reap, we would soon want for bread."

Thomas Jefferson

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Answer 4

prices are up because gas prices are up...it costs more to get food to the stores...

Answer 5

In my household we by the produce grown in Florida or Georgia. I believe it is safer and puts money back in our own economy, to say nothing of the fact the veggies and fruit are planted in our own county by our own Mom and Pop people. We also plant our own : Victory Garden:. These gardens are great as you can grow almost everything in most climates. Give it a try and see how much you save. One point I haven't made is it's great to get the children involved as well. They are thrilled to see something they grow end up on the table. I say make it a family affair and save money at the same time. Just make sure the produce you purchase is grown in this country.

Answer 6

The reason for the increase in the cost of food is the ethanol subsidies passed by Congress last year.

BTW - you are going to see gas prices jump because Congress just passed another tax on the oil companies.

Answer 7

Food prices are going up for many reasons,

1. fuel prices to haul it to your local grocers

  1a.this is due to the democrats and global alarmists not        allowing drilling or new refineries to be built here.

2.Since the global alarmists are pushing ethanol and bio diesel(made from food sources like corn) this drives up the cost and over inflates food crops along with feed(animal industry)

3. operation costs.govt taxes

3a.Products are taxed at the source,sale to merchandisers/brokers,processing,truckin... industry,fuel,and eventually you the customer