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If you have been a reader of mine for some time, you know that I have been pointing at the 2023 / 2024 fall and winter as a time where many people may not have food on the table.
The are many issues going on globally that have created this perfect storm.
I am not only talking food shortages and availability, but also people will be priced out of the food market.
First Issue – Food Inflation
In a recent analysis from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service, food prices will remain high for the 2023 year and well into 2024, with increases in 2023 projected to be higher than average.
USDA researchers said in a press release stated …“Food prices are expected to grow more slowly in 2023 than in 2022 but still at above historical-average rates. In 2023, all food prices are predicted to increase 5.9 percent, with a prediction interval of 5.3 to 6.5 percent.”
Folks, I do not know where these USDA folks shop, but I know that I have been seeing the prices in our local store double if not triple on some items.
I have to admit that I no longer trust the government numbers. They are purposely throwing out numbers that are not realistic and in fact, unrealistically low.
Second Issue – Weather Has Killed Our Crops
Again, the USDA as well as US Agriculture departments both have bolstered that the US will have pretty good crop yields.
Weather all over the US has plagued the rancher and farmer this year. We have seen droughts, heat waves, massive rains that have resulted in floods.
This has taken a massive toll on food production across the US. Wheat, Corn, Soy, Rice and other cereal staples have been hit the hardest. Following that are the standard vegetable crops that have been hit by the above as well as pestilence. Have you seen the videos of the swarms of locus and crickets? They are literally eating everything in their path.
Third Issue – Ranchers and Farmers Are Not Producing As Much
This is a biggie and stems from the input cost just to raise fruits, vegetables, and livestock.
Here is a quick example…A 50 lb. bag of seed corn to feed cattle has gone up from $1200 to $3000. Just one bag will seed approximately an acre.
Just to give you an idea, if you had 100 acres of feed plot, which a lot of us think is a lot of acreage; do you know that you could only feed 31 cows with each having a 4-month-old calves for one year.
Now kick in the astronomical price of fertilizer and you can see how farmers and ranchers can’t afford to plant or raise livestock. The cost of the input needed outweighs the price of the product you can produce.
As you can see, we are looking at a pretty harsh fall and winter for 2023 and into 2024.
What Can We Do About It & What Should We Prep?
Now, depending on where you live, some of the things that I am mentioning may be available in your area and some items may not. What you want to do is try to stock up on these as much as possible and do it now while supplies are on hand.
We are coming into the harvest season and food will be the most plentiful. So basically, get while the getting is good.
Foods To Buy Now
Onions – we have been seeing shortages of onions for a while. If you are able to get a 50 lb. bag of onions and then store them in a cool dry place. A bin with holes is a great place. To add the storage time, look into adding saw dust to the bins. They should last all winter.
Potatoes & Sweet Potatoes & Potato Products – A big drop in US potato production is exacerbating a worldwide spud shortage, as disruptions to potato supply chains impacted the US.
US potato production in 2021 was 7% below the five-year average. Severe drought in several states including Washington, North Dakota, and No. 1 producer Idaho was the worst potato yields in years, where year-over-year yields fell 9%.
Like the onions, stockpile potatoes and put them in cool dark area and practically speaking they should keep all winter for you.
If you are like our family, look into potato flakes and dehydrated / freeze dried hash browns. These will also become hard to come by as well.
Flour / Wheat – Because the US and the world’s wheat production has been greatly diminished, anything made from wheat will be short this fall and especially in the winter.
Flour is pretty easy to store, you simply put it in your freezer and you’re good to go.
NOW.. if you have the means to grind your own wheat berries, wheat will store almost indefinitely.
If this is what you are thinking, then you will need a good wheat grinder. I HIGHLY recommend the NutriMill Harvest Stone Grain Mill. It is a costly investment, but it will last you a very long time if properly taken care of and as a bonus, it will run on a solar generator…
READ FULL ARTICLE HERE….- What You Can Do About It – Raymond Mhor – The Kilted Prepper
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