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Okay, I knew milk prices were rising. But after seeing an add for a $2.89 gallon of milk this weekend, I was amazed to walk into Publix today and saw the Purity brand milk priced at over $5 per gallon.

Questions for debate>

What does this mean?

What are the positive and negative effects of this?

What will be the consumer impact and reaction?

What are the causes of this? Is this the ethanol plan scamming American consumers for greedy millionaires to improve their profits?



Is this great news for small farmers? Or should we be scouring the markets to figure how to cash in on a great investment opportunity today?

Here is the reason – and it comes down to the stupidity of putting alcohol from corn in GAS. The price of milk is tied to corn and corn is up.

Thank your Congressman if he voted for this idiocy. We are all now paying for it in many ways – milk price is only one.

In the past few months, several factors have reduced the supply of milk world-wide or raised its cost of production. The European Union is ending subsidies on dairy exports, and a drought in Australia has cut the supply of milk available to Asia. In the U.S., some dairy farmers are raising milk prices to offset the higher prices they pay for cattle feed as corn prices rise. Corn is a key feed ingredient.
As processors pass their higher costs on to consumers in the form of more-expensive cartons of milk at the grocery store, it will add to the strain on many family budgets already stretched by higher fuel and energy costs. In May, the average price of a gallon of whole milk in the U.S. was $3.26, up 6.2% from $3.07 a year earlier, according to the Labor Department.

http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/milk...625094509990001

Funny, the first few sources I read mentioned nothing about ethanol, but a lot about how the drought in many areas of the world has stoked the greed of milk distributors (who set the prices) worldwide.

And besides, cow’s milk is for baby cows, not humans. The American consumer has been duped by corporations and advertising agencies into believing that “milk does a body good” and all that (and hey, I love the California cheese commercials ), but the fact remains that milk isn’t the healthy, wholesome food it’s made out to be, at least not for humans. It is actually a huge cause of allergies, anemia, and intestinal problems. And besides, there’s all that icky stuff that gets in the milk (like blood and pus, hormones and antibiotics and lord knows what else) during the milking process. Bleh. We’re better off without it, and the best way to combat the ridiculous high prices is not to buy it.

Disclaimer: I love dairy products like cheese and ice cream, and I put milk on cereal, but there’s no way in hell I’d pay twice as much for any of those products.

One of the positives of the price of milk going up means that people will stop buying it. Why are we upset that the price of milk has gone up? Some people may not realize this, but humans do not need cow milk to survive; therefore, one does not need to buy milk.

At risk of sounding a bit wacko (oh well), we have really all been shilled by Big Dairy. Humans don't need milk in their diet, and to a certain extent, it may not be very beneficial. Milk is not a great source of calcium, despite the popular belief to the contrary: yes, milk contains a large amount of calcium, but there are other components of milk that prevent calcium absorption (if I remember correctly). Etc.

I don't want to derail the thread with all my talk of how gross milk is; but I am curious to know why we're upset that the price of milk has gone up.

I agree and now milk made here is linked to cancer. When the kids want milk I buy organic only and as little as possible. Certainly adults should not drink milk – esp. men.


Milk and the Cancer Connection
by Hans R. Larsen, MSc ChE

On January 23, 1998 researchers at the Harvard Medical School released a major study providing conclusive evidence that IGF-1 is a potent risk factor for prostate cancer. Should you be concerned? Yes, you certainly should, particularly if you drink milk produced in the United States.
IGF-1 or insulin-like growth factor 1 is an important hormone that is produced in the liver and body tissues. It is a polypeptide and consists of 70 amino acids linked together. All mammals produce IGF-1 molecules very similar in structure and human and bovine IGF-1 are completely identical. IGF-1 acquired its name because it has insulin-like activity in fat (adipose) tissue and has a structure that is very similar to that of proinsulin. The body's production of IGF-1 is regulated by the human growth hormone and peaks at puberty. IGF-1 production declines with age and is only about half the adult value at the age of 70 years. IGF-1 is a very powerful hormone that has profound effects even though its concentration in the blood serum is only about 200 ng/mL or 0.2 millionth of a gram per milliliter (1-4).
IGF-1 and cancer
IGF-1 is known to stimulate the growth of both normal and cancerous cells(2,5). In 1990 researchers at Stanford University reported that IGF-1 promotes the growth of prostate cells(2). This was followed by the discovery that IGF-1 accelerates the growth of breast cancer cells(6-8). In 1995 researchers at the National Institutes of Health reported that IGF-1 plays a central role in the progression of many childhood cancers and in the growth of tumours in breast cancer, small cell lung cancer, melanoma, and cancers of the pancreas and prostate(9). In September 1997 an international team of researchers reported the first epidemiological evidence that high IGF-1 concentrations are closely linked to an increased risk of prostate cancer(10). Other researchers provided evidence of IGF-1's link to breast and colon cancers(10,11).
http://vvv.com/healthnews/milk.html




Did they mention corn? Which is cow feed but now the price is higher because most goes to ethanol.

Actually, this isn't true at all, Ted. Most corn grown still goes to livestock feed, even with the increased use in producing ethanol. In fact, even corn used to produce ethanol, has a large percentage of the product going back into livestock feed.

Out of a single bushel of corn used in ethanol production, typically about 15 pounds of product (the starches) can be used for ethanol. The remainder (about 18 pounds of what is known as "distillers grains") are used as high protein animal feed supplements, pressed for corn oil, etc.

And that only takes into account field corn. Sweet corn, or other corn used as human food, or in the production of things like cereal, isn't affected at all, because it's an entirely different type of corn.

I would say that the increased in oil prices probably has a larger effect on the price of food, regardless of source, than does ethanol production. After all, the food has to get to market somehow.

Beat you to it.

Um, did you read my quoted source? Yes, corn is fed to cows, hence my comment about how ethanol isn't the driving factor in milk prices going up. Drought has caused corn production to suffer. I didn't read anywhere about corn prices going up, only that corn production is down due to drought. I would imagine that prices on a lot of corn-related products have gone (or will go) up. Using ethanol as a big scary bugaboo is irrelevant.

Yeah, I dunno how I skipped over your post! After I posted, I saw it. But good to know that we're not all brainwashed by Big Dairy. hee hee.

My boyfriend is a farmer. He grows Sweet Corn and Feed Corn along with Soybeans.
85% of the corn goes to feeding cattle. Only a small amount 15% goes to ethanol in the nation.
So corn for ethanol is not why milk is going up.
It has to do with the drought across the nation.
We check the Agriculture Markets daily. Corn at one time this year has been at it's highest of over 4.00 a bushel.
Soybeans are at the highest we have ever seen at one time over 9.00 a bushel.
You may complain about the prices of milk but last year this was the first time in over 10 years he ever got a profit that was worth his farming.
The cost of seed corn and soybean seed is very expensive, plus you have to have fertilizer and weed killer.
That is also a factor in why the prices of milk have gone up.
Another reason is the cost of fuel to run the combine, plow etc.
So yes we are going to pay, but as you may not agree it is about time the small famer is making it worth their while.

I think you are right mom. Milk is $2.85 a gallon here in the northeast and we have had plenty of rain. The west is where the drought is and the high milk prices I guess.

Why is milk so high? Because of collusion between "Big Dairy" and "Big Gubmint" aka The Calcium Cartel

I don't particularly care for Wal-Mart, but I do shop there sometimes - particularly early in the morning when there's not a mob of people in there.

I just got back. Milk is 2 gallons for $7.00. You don't have to buy two, so that's $3.50 per gallon. I'm not a milk drinker, but the last time I remember it was $2.86 per gallon. That's a 23% increase.

Apparently the price of milk is a regional thing. Texas is cattle country and Fort Worth is Cowtown. Maybe "god" just put us closer to the cow.

Actually, that is about the price here. It is much higher than at other times. But a premium brand was briefly at that above $5 price.

I'd feel better about the bump if I knew that small farmers were reaping the gains. Momof3's poist made me feel a little better about that. I'll be less enthusiastic if I find out that some large agribusiness funds have made massive profits while working families look for ways to meet another price hike while wages are facing downward pressures.

This would be a good time for the non-believers to try SOY MILK. It is so much better and CHEAPER. As a child, I grew up on cow's milk and my grandpa was a dairy farmer so I saw him milk the cows, pasteurize the milk and bring it fresh from the barn...............I enjoyed it at the time.

However, many people have a hard time digesting lactose and soy milk is a wonderful alternative. The cost is about 1.59 per gallon. There are many brands out there and you can always find one on sale.

I don't drink milk, but I pour it on cereal.

I've been using soy milk for about two years. This is a good suggestion.

I also buy vegie burgers on occasion. I just burned one a few hours ago. There was no fire, but it set off the smoke alarm. I inhaled a bit of smoke and had to get out of the house for a while. I've almost quit coughing.

There are a lot of concerns about soy products, soy milk may not be such a great idea after all.

Soy Alert

Now, FWIW, I don't know which of dueling nutritional activists is more credible, but clearly there's a bit of argument about the merits of soymilk. On the other hand, there isn't much debate about the cost. Soy is more expensive than milk, at least hereabouts.

Interesting data. I have read other articles as well and have tried to limit soy intake although I really like miso soup, and cooked soy beans.

I would just go to organic milk – which is more expensive but free of chemicals and nearly always produced by smaller farm groups.

Ah, yes. Leave it to bikerdad to profer a preacher’s fear-mongering take on soy (complete with Biblical references!). I prefer scientific evidence myself. I don’t eat many soy products and don’t like tofu much, but I can also spot a load of hooey from a mile away. Relax, those nasty vegetarians aren't conspiring to take away your manhood. I think you have far more to worry about from all the hormonal manipulation of our feed animals.

He's a preacher? I didna know. That was simply one of many, many pages that turned up when I googled the subject, it looked fairly complete, so I chose it. Rather than dismissing him and others in an ad hominem, you would be better served by addressing their arguments.

To repeat though, my sole point is that there is a big controversy over the value of soy products. As a devoted connosieur of photon burritos, miso soup, soy and teriyaki sauce, I'm certainly not on the "soy is eeeevil" bandwagon.

WebMD - How Good is Soy?

I would definitely consider the source (or who is truly behind the source of information) that you are citing. Did you read the section in your link where the minister equated early masturbation, as in very early (like at age 2) with the consumption of soy. That is a claim that I find fantastic and downright absurd. It would be a good cover up for a pedophile, however. "Oh, the child eats tofu....that's why she's playing with herself. Don't worry, I'm not molesting her or anything."

At any rate, if you want to play it safe, drink RICE MILK. It is deemed safe until it becomes popular enough that the dairy and beef industries will need to find something gravely wrong with it, too.

I think it all boils down to using any product in moderation as well as finding products that are organic.

As someone who follows medical issues, it may be useful to consider that the majority of the world's population has either dairy intolerance or is outright allergic. Dairy also has potential health pitfalls beyond intolerance. Saturated fat is an important problem. The only reason dairy is such a big deal in the U.S. is because the dairy industry historically has been very active lobbying in Washington, D.C. and through consumer marketing. The original "Four Food Groups" in which dairy secured a quarter of the instructional diagram, was in fact a marketing effort by the dairy industry. There was no scientific evidence for this recommendation. The only thing recommending it is that it is a convenient source of calcium. But calcium can be obtained from many other food sources, including various vegetables.

The dairy industry also opposed the government recommendation to change to a more detailed and accurate food group diagram, in which a histogram demonstrated the relative dietary amounts recommended. Eventually, after much politicking, the "Food Pyramid" was reluctantly approved since it has the subliminal message that dairy and meats are more important, -- although showing a reduced dietary quantity, the position of dairy is yet on the tip of the pyramid, "on top". Apparently they wanted to capitalize on semantic confusion in susceptible populations. The recent redesign of the food pyramid once again involved a tug of war between commercial vs. scientific issues. I suspect the more confusing graphics now are intentionally so.

Since Vitamin D is not inherently present in milk, it is added, D is not a reason in and of itself to worry about, and sun generated vitamin D is better metabolically anyway.

If you are part of the world's minority that can actually ingest dairy without symptom, then milk expense might be an issue. However, given that most people already consume far too much food, I suspect rising food prices may actually be a blessing in disguise.

I imagine the most virulently anti-soy sources are those who have a vested interest in the meat and dairy market. I don't know much about the Weston A. Price organization, but I'd venture to say they represent or are comprised of meat and dairy farmers.

Like many of the sites I read said...it's just a BEAN, fercryinoutloud. Why demonize a bean?

I think anytime as Americans we consider the prices of our agriculture we have to assume that the government is the biggest factor or influencer when it comes to price ..from our gov. heavy regulated oversight, you can't even legally buy non-pasteurized milk (food police!), to our gov. heavy price controls, milk is without question one of the most ill effected. But Organic milk has been at your worried price in my area for quite some time now.

As for all the arguments that milk is gross and not intended for humans and rightfully should be made less available by means of being costed out of Americans ability to purchase. First shame on you, tell that to the low income families who are counting pennies so they can provide milk (and many other staples)on the table for their children. But in my mind, who cares what milk was intended for? Altho that is arguable in and of itself, was there a set rule of intention placed upon the creation of every living thing and it's byproducts on earth? And if so who decides on this final "intention" of everything on earth?

Milk tastes good (to the majority of us) and it is a main staple of the American diet. The price of milk affects the price of many things ..cheese, chocolate, Starbucks etc.
So our govt should not mess around as much as they do with the price, availability and quality of our milk. Remove govt. hidden tax on items like milk, remove govt minimum price restrictions and market controls and then perhaps high oil prices would be more relevent.