Are we running out of cows?
 

not only did gas prices go up, but prices on milk did too :mad: i use to pay under $2 for a gallon of milk. depending on the brand, i saw one going for $3.25 and as high as $4.99. i wonder what would happen if i put milk in my gas tank?

Don't drink milk. Its not good for you. Problem solved.

lol. Try it and let us know LMAO.

No I actually went to the grocery store yesterday and I was amazed at a lot of the prices. I went home and told my hubby who swears they are that price but that I usually get things on sale, but I know for a fact prices werent that high.

I can usually find a 2 liter of pepsi or coke, one of the two on sale for 99 cents or less for the week and stock up on a few. I went to the store and coke was 1.85 a 2 liter and pepsi was on sale, but dang 4 for 5 thats not on sale really. Lunch meat usually one brand is like on sale for 3.00 a pound or 4.00 (talking ham or turkey), cheapest this week was ham and it was 6.75 a pound with your stupid bonus card. I dont think I can stand all the prices of food going up so much. Im gonna starve myself pretty soon cause I wont be able to afford to eat either.

Youll see me walking to work and not eating.

Fine with me, I can do without milk. And it's true... milk isn't necessary for adults, and isn't very good for them. You can get your calcium from plenty of other things.

It's because of the mad cow scare in Canada last year. At least that was what was reported here a few weeks ago.

There is a difference in cows with beef and dairy.
I have a friends from a dairy family, and my relatives have one, and the price is affected by everything that goes into running a business. One that is directly realted to AznSAE's original post is one of gas prices. Gas is used to get the trucks to and from the dairy, to bring in feed, vet visits, all contributes to the price factor. And depending on where one lives, food may be taxed, which increases the overall price. Prices of milk have increased over all since January, and if you really want to see how in the US, the USDA does numbercrunching.

When I lived in Alaska, in both Fairbanks and Anchorage, a gallon of milk was easily four dollars, and this was years ago. As for milk being healthy or not healthy, it varies from person to person. Obviously if one is lactose intolerant, milk is not a good choice for them.

I think I've been out in the country a little too long...

Shipping costs (including gas prices) will factor greatly into the cost of food.
I remember one of my Pi Phi sisters spent the the summer in the NWT (northwest Territoy) and she was telling us the cost of a loaf of bread was 4 dollars. Because food has to be shipped so far up north and that gets expensive they have to increase the cost of food.

Not just. There is an increase in demand for it and there are also players in the commodities market that are increasing prices. In fact that's the most important aspect I'd say. Just like with gas, there is increased demand but the prices are being dominated by several hedge funds.

-Rudey

Why is milk not good for you?

Exactly! That is why remote areas pay more for things, if they can even get them. When I'd go out to the bush and stay in the Village, I would take groceries as luggage. My friend would order from Sam's Club, and I'd pick it up, and take it with me. Luckily part of that was facilitated by knowing someone that owned their own plane (Alaska has the highest percentage of private plane owners). The most coveted items were fresh milk, and fresh produce. In the summer it isn't as bad, with all the berries growing, but it really put in perspective for me how priviliged my life is nutrition wise.

We had a lot of fun with a senior dinner for her students that were going away to college. We had an etiquette lesson with the tricky foods, like artichokes and lobster. There weren't any restaurants, so we inprovised.

End the hijack!

The Dept of Agriculture also decided to increase the minimum amount paid to dairy farmers.

I haven't really seen a big jump around here--it's still just under $3 for a gallon of store-brand skim.

This is funny reading people's ideas on what leads to greater prices.

-Rudey
--It's like throwing darts in the dark for most of you

The demand for milk has been declining since 2000.

Don't you love being close to the source? Of tasty food products?

I got a dirty look from the campus cows yesterday when I drove by, I think they knew I had one of their realtives for lunch :eek:

Go Cyclones!

:D

Robert's Dairy has a processing plant in Des Moines and another small one in Iowa City. It helps!

I'm surprised the cattle back at the farm haven't staged a revolt yet. :) Which reminds me, I need to have my parents bring down some more meat the next time they visit, we're running low on ground beef.

Again, prices are generally driven through the market. Right now cheese is the biggest mover for the milk market and is traded on the Chicago merc if you're really interested.

-Rudey

Here's another idea to add to the list:
Last night my friend was telling me that the price of milk has gone up because dairy famers are selling the milk cows and buying the cows that are used for steak. He's not the type of guy to just make something like that up but I do not know what his source was.

Just for my own curiousity, where is that from?

-Rudey

I'll have to find it again, but I should have prefaced that it's milk per gallon, not overall dairy.

I understand that prices are generally driven by the market (you are talking to a farmer's daughter) but there are other factors that come into play.

Umm yes other factors do come into play, but they're not as much. I understand you're a farmer's daughter but people are coming up with BS things like gas prices when they don't understand that, for example, when a hedge fund decides to increase its holding on cheese on the merc, it's very difficult to get out of that price increase even with increased output.

-Rudey

Farmer's market, huh? ;)

You caught me.

-Rudey
--But I fixed it so the joke's on you Fonzarelli!

I pay a little over $2.50 for a gallon of skim milk. If I want I can get two gallons for over $3... but I never finish the 1st before the expiration date anyway, so it's kind of a waste.

but I have seen milk go for over $3 alone around here. Depends on what brand you buy. I don't get it. If happy cows come from california (TM cheese) then why am I paying an arm and leg for milk? :p

Did they start to send out Wisconsin cows to Iraq? :confused:

I haven't noticed the rise in milk prices much either, but again, like ISUKappa - I live in Iowa and in Des Moines so there's AE (Anderson Erickson) and Roberts in town. The thing I've noticed most as far as rising cost in the dairy industry is the price of butter has gone up quite a bit. Luckily for me, I generally get my butter for free through my dad - he works in the dairy industry. Prices on some of this stuff should be cheaper, for this month anyway because...June is "Dairy Month."

Are we running out of cows?
 

I found lots here: http://www.moocow.com/