Why is ground meat so expensive?

[shortbun]

buy lobster, it's cheap right now!!

 

[SaraJayne]

Lots of things. Corn is more expensive because a lot of it is being used to make fuel. So farmers have to spend more to feed their animals. And gas prices are a lot higher so that impacts the cost to get the food from the farm to the store. There's plenty of other factors but these are the first two that come to mind.

Unless we get a lot of rain (2+ inches) in the next couple weeks in the midwest, expect corn prices to skyrocket which in turn affects everything else.

Our corn crop is in serious trouble right now, due to the drought.

 

[SaraJayne]

Or hunt, of course.

We're fortunate in that DH both hunts and fishes, so we get a lot of "free" food that way.

Free being relative to the cost of licenses and processing of the meat, of course.

 

[HayGan]

Unless we get a lot of rain (2+ inches) in the next couple weeks in the midwest, expect corn prices to skyrocket which in turn affects everything else.

Our corn crop is in serious trouble right now, due to the drought.

Unfortunately, I think most American are oblivious to the impending food crisis that is coming if conditions don't turn around in the midwest soon!

 

[bettymae1121]

Unless we get a lot of rain (2+ inches) in the next couple weeks in the midwest, expect corn prices to skyrocket which in turn affects everything else.

Our corn crop is in serious trouble right now, due to the drought.

Unfortunately, I think most American are oblivious to the impending food crisis that is coming if conditions don't turn around in the midwest soon!

I think it's too late already. I saw a report from southern IL and the corn and soybean crops look decemated. Even if we get tons of rain in the next few days (and none is in the forecast) I don't think it would be enough to save the crops, at least in this state.

I only make ground beef once a week on average so it's not too bad for us as far as ground beef goes. But I do prefer organic for meat and it's getting tougher to justify the cost, even though the quality is way better. DH is a carnivor so I can't get away with meatless meals too often.

We're lucky we can afford to absorb higher food costs, I know a lot of people aren't so fortunate...

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Unless we get a lot of rain (2+ inches) in the next couple weeks in the midwest, expect corn prices to skyrocket which in turn affects everything else.

Our corn crop is in serious trouble right now, due to the drought.

Cows aren't meant to eat corn! They should eat grass.

 

[hercamore]

MN corn crop is 77% healthy in spite of our rain deficit.




herc.

 

[momplus3]

We buy all of our meat from a local meat market. If you but over 10 lbs or ground beef. the price is $2.29 per pound - not $1 a pound but better than our local grocery store. Boneless chicken breast is $1.79 per pound - way better than the grocery store. We then supplement with their weekly specials - a whole pork loin is $1.39 per pound!


This market does all of their own butchering so the cost is kept low.

 

[HayGan]

Cows aren't meant to eat corn! They should eat grass.

Grass dies in a drought as well - just look at my front yard (and we aren't even drought conditions!)

The fact is that there isn't enough grassland to feed the number of cattle that demand dictates. Whether you agree with it or not - it is what has to be.

 

[SaraJayne]

Cows aren't meant to eat corn! They should eat grass.

I wasn't referring to cattle feed. I was referring to how corn prices affect everything else in the food chain.

 

[SaraJayne]

Grass dies in a drought as well - just look at my front yard (and we aren't even drought conditions!)

The fact is that there isn't enough grassland to feed the number of cattle that demand dictates. Whether you agree with it or not - it is what has to be.

Good point (and an obvious one I didn't think of LOL). We haven't mowed our lawn in at least 2 weeks. When it's dead, there is nothing to mow.

Which in turn means animals that are supposed to be grazing don't have much to eat, either.

 

[SaraJayne]

UNDATED (WSAU) Hot weather is normally great for growing corn – but a lack of rain is causing problems. Officials say only half of Wisconsin’s corn crop is in good-to-excellent condition. The average height is 40-inches, but that varies – even within the same farm field. And there’s a lot of curling and other signs of stress with the corn.


About a quarter of it is rated poor-to-very-poor, as the ground below it literally thirsts for rain. 62-percent of Wisconsin farm fields are either short or very-short of moisture.


Madison only had about a third-of-an-inch of rain in June, the lowest ever for the month. And until this morning, La Crosse only had a trace of rain since June 21st. Just three-percent of Wisconsin’s soybeans have bloomed, and almost half the crop is rated good-to-excellent. Officials say weeds have become a problem.


Oats are doing well, with two-thirds in good-to-excellent shape. And two-thirds of the second hay crop is in. But experts say farmers will be in trouble if the state doesn’t get some good, soaking rains soon.


Forecasters say southern Wisconsin probably won’t get any rain at least until the weekend. And after this morning, there’s only a slight chance for more showers in the north for the rest of the week. Crandon reported three-point-one inches of rain in a 24-hour period. But heavy deluges like that generally wash off, instead of sinking into the ground.

http://wsau.com/news/articles/2012/jul/03/wisconsins-corn-crop-needs-more-rain/ This story is from July 3rd. We have not received any rain since this story was put out.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I have found that ground turkey and chicken is fairly reasonable, I don't buy much of it, but it's less expensive. I rarely use ground beef and mostly use boneless, skinless chicken breast. Dh hasn't complained about meatless meals, yet. I don't buy much in the way of meat any more anyway, and we are lucky that we can shop at the Commissary, where they don't mark up groceries.

 

[Zhoen]

I have found that ground turkey and chicken is fairly reasonable, I don't buy much of it, but it's less expensive. I rarely use ground beef and mostly use boneless, skinless chicken breast. Dh hasn't complained about meatless meals, yet. I don't buy much in the way of meat any more anyway, and we are lucky that we can shop at the Commissary, where they don't mark up groceries.

Actually, they do, but not by as much. They aren't allowed to sell "at cost", because the local Senators say it hurts the local economy (which it doesn't... spend less at the commissary=spend more in town on stuff, just not groceries) They sell for as little as they can get away with, which is still a massive improvement over the civilian stores, in most cases. The downside is, all those products the gov't buys as "price support" levels are what we get... not much of the really good stuff, and what they do have of the good stuff is NOT discounted... I can get cruelty-free eggs at Whole Foods for less than organic at the commissary... anything like that is comparable to "regular" prices, so it still pays to watch the loss leaders in town. And since walmart doesn't mark food up much, you can usually meet/beat the commissary prices there on certain items.

That said, I shop the commissary and haunt their markdowns section, and even there, the costs ARE going up. Beans that used to be $.99/lb are now $1.16/lb ... yes, it's only 17 cents... but that's also 17 PERCENT! For beans! Beef and pork are also higher than they used to be, but I have good luck finding it on markdown and grinding the beef myself. I haven't noticed a big increase in the chicken prices at the commissary yet, but in town it's definitely gone up.

Honestly, we're trying to build our pantry stash as much as the current house (tiny) allows, and every time I see a conversation like this, I freak out and increase my hoard. See, this is why I'm going to keep rabbits someday... and gotta hook my single sister up with a guy who hunts...

 

[minerva78]

I made the switch from ground beef to ground turkey a while ago, when I noticed how expensive ground beef had gotten! I occasionally buy ground beef, but only if it's significantly discounted or comes in a discounted meat package I sometimes get from a local butcher. Ground turkey can take a little getting used to, but I use it so much no one even notices the difference anymore. I'm not sure why ground turkey is so much cheaper than ground beef though, or at least it is where I live in NC. I assume it must be a whole lot cheaper to raise turkeys.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Actually, they do, but not by as much. They aren't allowed to sell "at cost", because the local Senators say it hurts the local economy (which it doesn't... spend less at the commissary=spend more in town on stuff, just not groceries) They sell for as little as they can get away with, which is still a massive improvement over the civilian stores, in most cases. The downside is, all those products the gov't buys as "price support" levels are what we get... not much of the really good stuff, and what they do have of the good stuff is NOT discounted... I can get cruelty-free eggs at Whole Foods for less than organic at the commissary... anything like that is comparable to "regular" prices, so it still pays to watch the loss leaders in town. And since walmart doesn't mark food up much, you can usually meet/beat the commissary prices there on certain items.

That said, I shop the commissary and haunt their markdowns section, and even there, the costs ARE going up. Beans that used to be $.99/lb are now $1.16/lb ... yes, it's only 17 cents... but that's also 17 PERCENT! For beans! Beef and pork are also higher than they used to be, but I have good luck finding it on markdown and grinding the beef myself. I haven't noticed a big increase in the chicken prices at the commissary yet, but in town it's definitely gone up.

Honestly, we're trying to build our pantry stash as much as the current house (tiny) allows, and every time I see a conversation like this, I freak out and increase my hoard. See, this is why I'm going to keep rabbits someday... and gotta hook my single sister up with a guy who hunts...

Oh, don't say that to a rabbit owner (pet).

I only shop at the Commissary, there isn't much I can't get there. I don't find anything off post to be cheaper and with the grocery taxes, it definitely isn't cheaper. I am at work 45 hours a week and don't have time to comparison shop, because it really isn't worth it.

I use coupons and can find alot more at our Commissary than I could ever find at Walmart with the coupons I use. My grocery budget went down remarkedly when we were able to go back to shop at the Commissary and we get twice as much for the money.

It's just Dh and I, so I don't have to buy large packages of meat and we eat alot of chicken and turkey and it really is reasonable at the Commissary.

We tried fishing, that was a joke and I loathe hunting, no way would Dh go hunting, he has friends that do and will give him packs of meat sometimes, I refuse to eat it.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Has to be the drought. Grain farmers are taking a big hit and they have to pass it along to the farmers. Farmers can't afford to feed their animals so they are thinning their herds. The cattle are no where near the weight that a farmer would like them to be, before selling them. Its all the trickle down effect.

My Niece relies on her horses to graze in the pasture but with the drought there is nothing for them. She has to buy hay at a hefty price because the farmer is hurting with the drought.

 

[cm8]

buy lobster, it's cheap right now!!

Cows aren't meant to eat corn! They should eat grass.

quantitative easing and food stamp recipients don't care how much it costs....

 

[bdcp]

This is why I love Wegmans. I buy their soon to expire meat, come home, and freeze it. Last week, I got 6 lbs of 90/10 ground beef for $1.49/lb. today, I bought beef kabobs, marinated with veggies, for $4/lb and Greek turkey burgers for $2. Everyone tells me Wegmans is expensive, but it's an amazing store and I love it. And, I buy the already prepared meat because it is definitely easier for us with a baby. No one seems to buy this type of meat, so I buy every pack there is... It's still very fresh. For anyone who has ever shopped at a Wegmans, you know how nice they are.

I shop at Wegman's. It is NOT more expensive. In fact, in comparison shopping done locally in the DC area, they came out #1 in lowest cost. What is expensive at Wegman's is all the specialty and prepared foods. The bakery, butcher and prepared foods do add up quickly, but regular groceries are cheaper. They compared them to Giant, Safeway, etc and Wegman's always wins. I love their washed, packaged fresh veggies-asparagus, green beans. Their store brands are also excellent.

I buy ground beef (95/5) there and I couldn't tell you how much per pound it is, but we only eat it about once every couple of weeks.

I am also eligible to shop at the Commissary, but don't. I have 3 that are at least 45 minutes from me. It takes me most of the day so I don't bother anymore. I work and don't feel like using my one day off per week to shop there. The best deals at the commissary are on canned goods and cereal.

 

[disneylove69]

I was at the airport a month or so ago and farmers were talking, after attending some convention. They were talking how meat prices were going to be going up and up. Farmer's were predicting a hot dry season. They also talked about a year when many farmers had cattle dying naturally or they had to put them down becuase there was not enough water or feed.