The Riff-Raff Element Posted November 6, 2006 Share Posted November 6, 2006 I recieved an email from a site I subsribe to (I'll talk to anyone, me)informing me that the World grain crop for 2006 was now in and countedand that the total "in the bin" was 1967 million tonnes, which is anawful lot of bread rolls in anybody's language. HOWEVER demand isprdicted at 2040 million tonnes, a shortfall of 73 million tonnes.Of course, this is all the fault of the Americans*, and not just because of their extrordinary eating habits. I quote verbatim:EXPLODING U.S. GRAIN DEMAND FOR AUTOMOTIVE FUEL THREATENS WORLD FOOD SECURITY AND POLITICAL STABILITYIt would appear that not only are the US going to try to kill us allwith green house gases, but they are going to attempt to stave us intosubmission first.Now, although a shortfall of 73 million tonnes sounds bad, appearantlyfamine is not just yet around the corner. What it does mean is the the"carry over" stocks from one year to the next will drop to 57 days, thelowest seen for 34 years. It would seem that the last time thishappened, the price of grain doubled. Coming on top of current highprices for energy, this could make the immediate future look Far FromOrange.I seem to recall in 1973 that my parents went mad one day and turnedour garden into a small holding as a hedge against the imminantcollapse of civilisation as we know it. We got very bored of eatingbroccoli. However, since potatoes can yield 20 tonnes and acre againstwheat at about three tonnes, should we all be ploughing up the lawn?Anyone got any further tips for surviving the oncoming storm?* It's a US based organisation, so I suppose that they are allowed to slag off as much as they want... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassis Posted November 6, 2006 Share Posted November 6, 2006 I've got a 15 acre field of wheat sprouting next door, so I'll be okay. The rest of you can starve, if you didn't get me a present for International Sausage Decade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Riff-Raff Element Posted November 6, 2006 Author Share Posted November 6, 2006 [quote user="Cassis"]I've got a 15 acre field of wheat sprouting nextdoor, so I'll be okay. The rest of you can starve, if you didn'tget me a present for International Sausage Decade.[/quote]How about a hot dog bun? [6] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris pp Posted November 6, 2006 Share Posted November 6, 2006 You get Earth Policy News as well, John? It's no joke, and this is where the whole bio fuel theory falls apart, great idea if you don't mind the price of food being directly linked to fuel demand, a case of where a grower can get the best price.Land prices in France start to look a bit on the cheap side.Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Riff-Raff Element Posted November 6, 2006 Author Share Posted November 6, 2006 [quote user="chris pp"]You get Earth Policy News as well,John? It's no joke, and this is where the whole bio fuel theoryfalls apart, great idea if you don't mind the price of food beingdirectly linked to fuel demand, a case of where a grower can get thebest price.Land prices in France start to look a bit on the cheap side.Chris[/quote]Indeed I do. And very interesting it is too. The biofuels thing justlooks less and less like a real alternative, I believe, but I don'tsuppose for one moment it won't be milked to death first. Incidently, abook that might be right up your street (if you've not already readit): "We Want Real Food" by Graham Harvey - ISBN 10 1 84529 267 7. Onehundred and one reasons for growing your own veg, and the bits aboutindustrial-scale organic farming are most revealing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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