[Sca-cooks] Current farm prices and affects on feast budgeting

[Terry Decker]

That's the Quarter (Sept-Nov 2007) price increase (based on USDA Economic 
Research for Kansas City).  Five dollars (or around 25% increase) in three 
months.  One year ago the price was $12.44, today it's $20.59.  That's about 
a 40% increase in wheat prices in one year and the trend is upward. 
Wholesale value of the flour and byproducts is about 30% more.  Then you add 
in transportation, baking and sales costs and your probably looking at 300% 
over wholesale.  I'm betting the farmer's 12 cents will cost us 50 cents.

Over the past two years, bread and flour prices around the world have risen 
between 40% and 75%.  We're just beginning to feel the hit.

Bear

> And how much of the cost for a loaf of bread is from the wheat? They are 
> talking about changes from around $15 to $20 per BUSHEL.
>
> A bushel of wheat is 60 pounds or about 40 loaves of bread.  So for each 
> loaf of bread about 12 cents more goes to the farmer.  I don't think that 
> is going to break anyone.
>
> Ranvaig