Sticker shock at the grocery store!

We're exporting more dairy to India, Japan and China. Demand for cheese has went up as these countries become more Westernized. Australia usually has the dairy products market in that area, but their production is down because of years of drought.

There's been enough customer demand for BGH free milk that some processors are requiring no BGH use or paying premiums for BGH free milk. Whatever bad things BGH does, it also can increase milk production 8% - 12%. So there is a drop in actual pounds produced there.

AND... I guess this is an open secret in the dairy industry... there was a CWT herd buyout this spring that was supposed to reduce the national herd by (I think) 10%. CWT is a co-op that buys herds for slaughter in order to decrease production & hopefully increase price. So there was a lot of cows taken out of production there.

Yesterday I was in line at the scrap metal dealer's, buying a pulsator, and got to talking with a dairy farmer. I asked him what he was getting now, and he said, "$22 a hundred. All last year, it was $10... it's an expensive hobby..." and the guy choked up. That jump in milk prices probably saved his farm and livelihood.

Lynnheater,

Our property got flooded and we have to do some serious rebuilding, including a lot of fencing. But when the fences are up, we are bringing home a red Dexter cow.
Got to bring her about 600 miles, down from Queensland. I like Alpacas and Boer Goats also, but don't have the land to stock them.
Maybe after the next lotto win...... LOL

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BIDADISNDAT: Aiming to Live a Good Life of Near Self Sufficiency on a Permaculture Based Organic Home Farm

Had a coupon for a free bag of non-contaminated dog kibble, so I went to WM yesterday to pick it up. The price had gone up 40+% in one month! ldc

thanks arabian knight for bringing this up. We are vermonters watching the cwt of milk go up from a few years back but not enough to keep up with the bills for the local dairy farmers.

Lets face the facts that this is all tied into inflation and fuel prices and we are going to see the budget break before it gets normal again. I can spend 250 at the grocery store in a week now. I used to be able to hold it at 150 to 175 depending on pricing. We have our own veggies (no taters yet - the store is selling them for $8.00 for a 10# bag now - last year $4.00 for a 10# bag) and our own meat of all kinds. I need garbage bags, tp, soap, milk (not milking enough yet), yeast, sugars, oils etc. You get the picture. Milk prices are one area I will pay more IF the farmer is getting more per cwt. Though those goats of ours are producing more and more so maybe I am going to at least have my own yogurt!

I strive to be self sufficient but it appears that I have a long way to go.

We are in for a long winter I am afraid!
Laurie

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Its a good day, I woke up on the right side of the grass.