|
|
Published June 20, 2008 06:10 pm - Higher input and fuel costs are forcing area farmers to come up with ways to offset their growing expenses.
Farmers escape blame
Not seen as culprits in higher food costs
By BRAD DICKERSON
Glasgow Daily Times
GLASGOW
—
Higher input and fuel costs are forcing area farmers to come up with ways to offset their growing expenses.
“Your actual row crop farmers are planting more acres to make do of what’s left of the squeeze,” said Jay Coleman, president of the Barren County Farm Bureau. “A lot of livestock producers are finding alternate rations, different formulations than they’ve ever used before.
“The Barren County farmers are a very diversified group of people.”
These costs, however, are of growing concern for agricultural leaders across the southern United States. They warned that many farmers could go out of business if solutions aren’t found, forcing the nation to import more food.
“I’ve had farmers in my state come to me in tears because they don’t know what they’re going to do,” Commissioner Ron Sparks of Alabama said during the annual conference of the Southern Association of State Departments of Agriculture, held in Lexington last week.
Coleman does not believe the country is in the midst of a food crisis, despite some national media reports to the contrary.
“There’s plenty of food that’s out there,” he said. “It just may be a little higher than what everybody wants to pay for it.”
As for higher food prices, Coleman said polls show that Americans do not blame farmers for the increase and that a panel of economists stressed that most individuals know farmers get a small percentage of the retail food dollar.
He added that most processed foods have very small amounts of farm commodities in them.
“An average-sized box of cornflakes (cereal) is somewhere in the $3 range,” Coleman said. “Well, inside that $3 box of cornflakes, if corn is $6 a bushel, there’s about eight or 10 cents worth of corn.”
That same box of cereal, Coleman said, also uses an abundance of high-priced fuel to be transported to the processing plant, then back to the distributor, then a grocery store.
“There’s more fuel cost in a box of cornflakes than there is corn,” Coleman said. “Your increased fuel cost, your increased labor cost – all that into these processed foods have amounted to more, really, than what the actual commodities in them.”
Although fuel and input costs have been the main concerns as of late, Coleman said there is another factor to consider — weather conditions.
“Hay supplies going out of last year were (at) record lows,” he said. “It’s very uncertain times.
|
|
 |
|
OPENING FOR PET GROOMER-STYLIST
for bush pet boarding & grooming business. Pleasant working environment with established client base. 5 years experience...>MORE
COMPETITIVE PHARMACEUTICAL DISTRIBUTOR IS
seeking full-time tele-sales reps. Base pay plus commissions. You must possess strong work ethics, good attendance rec...>MORE
ADULT THERAPIST
LifeSkills has a full-time Adult Therapist position available for our service center in Metcalfe County. The position is...>MORE
ELECTRICIAN WANTED. KY LICENSE PREFERRED.
OSHA 10 hr. 10+ years exp., commercial, EOE, Drug free workplace. Job is located in Glasgow, KY. Interested applicants c...>MORE
MANAGEMENT (KEYHOLDER) POSITION WITH LOCAL
shoe store. Exciting career opportunity. Retail experience preferred. Competitive benefit package. Apply at SHOE SHOW, 2...>MORE
CAREER MINDED INDIVIDUALS SEARCHING FOR A HOME
We offer HOME ON WEEKENDS!! 2500 miles per week 100% no touch freight No force dispatch to NYC. Safety & ...>MORE
BLUEGRASS SUPPLY CHAIN SERVICES
Has immediate part time forklift operator openings at a client location in Edmonton, KY. Team members are responsible fo...>MORE
See all ads |
|
1999 DODGE WORK VAN, LWB, V8, AUTO,
a/c, pb, ps, cruise 110k mi. $2,700 OBO Call 270-646-8440...>MORE
2002 HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING,
black, leather bags, $7,000. Call 270-678-9502....>MORE
2005 DODGE MAGNUM SXT WITH 73,000 MILES.
White ext., gray leather int., automatic, 6 cylinder, 3.5L engine. Asking $10,900. Call 270-202-2346.
...>MORE
1990 CHEVY SPORT TRUCK
350, black, automatic, air conditioned, power windows, alloy wheels. $3,500. 651-3906.
...>MORE
1997 CHRYSLER LHS, 4 DOOR, AUTO,
loaded, leather, sunroof, 84K actual miles. $3,400. OBO. Call 646-5017.
...>MORE
1997 GEO TRACKER, 2 DR. AUTO, 2 WD., 4 CYL. GAS
no a/c manual steering, great gass mileage, $2,200. Call 646-8122....>MORE
2007 PT CRUISER, 56K MILES
excellent condition. $7,500.00. Call 270-590-4725.
...>MORE
LOOKING FOR A GREAT AUTO DEAL?.....
Looking to buy or sell? Check here for the Premium Auto Section. You can post an ad with unlimited text and ...>MORE
05 KIA - $4,995; 02 CHEVY MALIBU 80k mi. $4,995;
02 Dodge Intrepid, very low miles; 04 Saturn 4 dr nice $4,995; 2000 Pontiac Grand Am 4 dr; 99 Mustang LX; 96 Mustang; 03...>MORE
See all ads |
|
MEADOW DR. 3 BR, 2 BA HOUSE,
2 car garage, service animals only. Call 270-678-2204.
...>MORE
SPACIOUS 16X80 ON 1 ACRE LOT WITH ALL NEW
utilities. Home has 3 bedrooms and 2 baths with new carpet throughout. Located in Red Cross area. Call 270-678-6565....>MORE
2 BR, 1 BA, 1247 HAYWOOD CEDAR GROVE RD.
$400 mo. plus $400 security deposit. 1 yr. lease. Service animals only. 270-646-0521.
...>MORE
LG. 2 BR, 1 BA, ALL APPLIANCES INCL. WASHER & DRYER
E. Main St. $450/mo. New management. 404-3580.
...>MORE
2 BDR, 1 BATH W/GARGE.$475/MO. $400 DEP.
ll appl. furnished.Service animals only. 270-404-1953...>MORE
NICE 3 BR, 2 BA HOUSE ON LARGE LOT.
Lexington Dr. area. $98,900. 270-678-2198.
...>MORE
LRG. 2 BR, 1 BA HOUSE WITH FENCED YARD,
garage, hardwood and tile floors throughout. Recently remodeled. Fridge, stove, washer and dryer included. Detached 2 ca...>MORE
3 BR BASEMENT APARTMENT,
and 2 BR 14x70 trailer. Call 270-678-4825 or 270-547-8922.
...>MORE
2 BR, 1 BA 209B FORRESTER RD. 1 CAR GARAGE,
appliances furnished, large living room. $450 mo. plus $400 dep. 270-576-7271....>MORE
2 BR HOUSE AT 319 JEFFERSON ST.
Hardwood floors, $475 mo. Cell phone 670-3139.
...>MORE
See all ads |
|
 |
|