Beef, Pork And Shrimp Prices Soar To Record Highs

[Donger]

We previously noted that both beef and pork (courtesy of the affectionately named Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus) prices have been reaching new all time highs on an almost daily basis. It is time to update the chart.



... pork



... and shrimp.



Prices for shrimp have jumped to a 14-year high in recent months, spurred by a disease that’s ravaging the crustacean’s population. At Noodles & Co., a chain with locations across the country, it costs 29 percent more to add the shellfish to pastas this year, and shrimp-heavy dishes at places like the Cheesecake Factory Inc. are going up as well.

Restaurant chains, already struggling with shaky U.S. consumer confidence, are taking a profit hit as prices climb. Even worse, the surge is happening during the season of Lent, when eateries rely on seafood to lure Christian diners who abstain from chicken, beef and pork on certain days.

“It’s coming at a tough time for the industry,” said Andrew Barish, a San Francisco-based analyst at Jefferies LLC. “With the Lenten season, what you’ll see out there is a lot of promotions with seafood, and usually shrimp is a big part of that.”

[Katipan]

Originally Posted by Donger

Then why not just eat seaweed and rice?

We do, silly.

[MOhillbilly]

Originally Posted by Buehler445

I thought about buying some cows and try to get in on this feeder price, but CHRIST. If you don't have them, there is no way to get in profitably.

In other news I talked to a cow calf guy, and asked him if he was retaining heifers. His response? "Every one of them." Dude has big steel balls. I'd have probably let them go. Run one more year with the old bitches and try to retain some when price goes back down some.

I guess that's why I'm not a cowboy.

Same goin on here. My vet was talkin about when I had some dehorned a few weeks back.
Part of the high prices has got to be from the drought and the mass herd sell offs and another part has to be from the NorCal recall of 9 million pounds of beef.

[Katipan]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Because it doesn't taste like just seaweed and rice.

Kat must be eating california rolls at the Chinese buffet...

Oh hush. They never eat it if you're honest.

And you should know I'm a spicy tuna handroll.

[Just Passin' By]

This reminds me of a meal I had over the weekend, where shrimp Mozambique and octopus stew played starring roles.


Yummy

[Katipan]

Hey! I think I ate sushi with Frazzy.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Katipan

Oh hush. They never eat it if you're honest.

And you should know I'm a spicy tuna handroll.

[MOhillbilly]

Originally Posted by oldandslow

Find a dairy, buy the bull calves (they usually don't want them), castrate them and then bottle feed. You can get in relatively cheaply that way, but it's a lot of work.

Mortality rate is crazy and the prices are high.

[listopencil]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

So you don't like sushi either?

I like the fake sushi from the grocery store deli with soy sauce.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by listopencil

I like the fake sushi from the grocery store deli with soy sauce.

Hopefully it is actually fake, otherwise you're gonna end up with worms...

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by MOhillbilly

Same goin on here. My vet was talkin about when I had some dehorned a few weeks back.
Part of the high prices has got to be from the drought and the mass herd sell offs and another part has to be from the NorCal recall of 9 million pounds of beef.

Yeah, the drought in Texas (which lasted like 5 years, but has let up some) and then more recently in 12 when the whole middle part of the country was drought demolished the herd size.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by ghak99

Northern. Nearly every hill you can get a tractor over has been ripped up the past few years so the local market is strong and the hay lot auctions in Southern Iowa aren't showing signs of letting up. Some of the smarter guys have gone to getting a haylage crop off before beans so they can haul the majority of their dry hay north to the feedlots.

I've got some oats I'm going to hay off. Hopefully there is a giant shortage and I can make some money.

God I wish I could double crop something. Just once. Just to see what it would feel like.

[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by Donger

I actually heard that the real reason for the higher shrimp prices is Fukushima.

That was my first guess. I've wondered lately if I'm taking my life in my hands eating salmon from alaska.

[ghak99]

Originally Posted by Buehler445

I've got some oats I'm going to hay off. Hopefully there is a giant shortage and I can make some money.

God I wish I could double crop something. Just once. Just to see what it would feel like.

My double crop attempts have failed the past 4 years. Historically we've had ~40% shot on beans following wheat but the recent droughts have smashed this ratio. The haylage before beans speeds up the second crop's planting window far enough into the spring moisture window to come out alright though.

[Bwana]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Just wait until the government finishes confiscating all those cattle out west and see what beef prices do...

Yeah if they try that we'll find out if federal agents taste like chicken.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by ghak99

My double crop attempts have failed the past 4 years. Historically we've had ~40% shot on beans following wheat but the recent droughts have smashed this ratio. The haylage before beans speeds up the second crop's planting window far enough into the spring moisture window to come out alright though.

Yeah, I've read a lot of guys spreading rye behind the combine and letting get like 4 foot tall and rolling it and planting into it, then paraquating it the next day.

Two years ago I had some wheat stubble burn off because the neighbor's combine had a bad bearing. I went back in the fall and DRILLED rye to try and hold the ground. It got 8 inches tall.

**** all you guys. /pout