First things first, there is no need for panic, and it is important to remember the United States is a net food exporter. The U.S. is blessed with a food production and capacity industry that leads the world. We have fertile land, abundant harvests and the strong advantage of food independence.
That said, the influence of multinational corporations in our agriculture industry over the past three decades has ramifications, and we have outlined exhaustively, on these pages, what the real-world consequences are. As we head into a chapter of global food crisis, the food production capacity of the United States can be viewed as an asset, but only insofar as we are willing to secure a national food supply for our own America-First interests.
What we have talked about prudently on these pages is now coming into greater focus, as global leaders are beginning to prepare their own citizens for the long-term consequences of their disruption to the food supply chain.
The meteor of government intervention hit the ocean back in the spring of 2020, when government intervened in the food supply process, the tsunami -the ripple effect from that intervention- is now within sight of shore.
I’m not going to repeat the history here. CTH readers already know the details {Go Deep} – for everyone else, use the site search function. As a result of intervention, global COVID intervention, food stocks were depleted. Combined with increased energy costs, driven by the ideological chase for climate change under the guise of ‘Build Back Better,’ we end up with higher fertilizer costs for this year.
The ripple effect becomes a tsunami, and the next round of global food harvests becomes more critically important and simultaneously more expensive. For the past three months, the sound of the alarms have grown louder. Now, people are really starting to pay attention.
(Food Supply Chain) […] Commodity markets are soaring — wheat is up about 50% in two weeks and corn just touched a decade high. The surging costs could end up weighing on currencies in emerging markets, where food represents a bigger share of consumer-price baskets. And analysts are predicting export flows will continue to be disrupted for months even if the war were to end tomorrow.
The crisis extends beyond just the impact of grain exports (critical as they are). Russia is also a key supplier for fertilizers. Virtually every major crop in the world depends on inputs like potash and nitrogen, and without a steady stream, farmers will have a harder time growing everything from coffee to rice and soybeans.
Plainly speaking, there are few other places on the planet where a conflict like this could create such a devastating blow to ensuring that food supplies stay plentiful and affordable. It’s why Russia and Ukraine are known as the breadbaskets to the world. (read more)
There is some alarmism in that last cited paragraph. Russia and Ukraine are not “breadbaskets to the world“; they are breadbaskets to Europe, parts of the middle east and parts of Asia (in the northern hemisphere). It is more accurate to say Russia and Ukraine are to Europe what the United States is to North America.
Canada and Mexico could survive without the U.S. farmland, but they would have to modify quickly. Europe, the U.K and Scandinavia can survive without Russia/Ukraine, but they too would need to modify quickly.
Analogously, Central America would be less impacted by U.S. harvest disruptions than eastern Asia, the destination for most of our agricultural exports. The beneficiaries of Ukraine/Russia harvests in Southern Europe and the Middle East are more vulnerable than the beneficiaries in the U.K and northern Europe.
The issue for us, in the United States, is going to be increased global demand for agricultural food products from us to fill any void created by the Ukraine Russia conflict.
This demand side issue is made more complicated by multinational ownership of our farm outputs (Big Ag). Corporate ownership of U.S. food products *could become* an issue if we have external geopolitical influences upon the U.S food supply.
The United States government has never had to view food supplies as a national security threat. However, because supply has never been an issue, and because the multinational ownership rose up during a time frame when supply was never an issue, there is no reference point for how (or even if) the U.S. government will react if domestic food outputs are distributed away from American citizens by corporations chasing the highest financial return.
Think about it.
NOTE: Wheat, corn and soybeans are the foundation of the U.S. food supply. They are primarily used as ingredients in processed foods, oils, and are fed to the cattle, hogs, and poultry that supply meat and eggs for the American diet. When those grain harvests go up in price, the downstream increase in price is far reaching.
Remember, there is no such thing as a “commodity” market in the free market sense of the word. Those commodity markets are now “controlled markets“, and fully under the control of massive multinational agricultural corporations.
It is critical to think of BIG AG in the same way we already are familiar with multinational manufacturing of durable goods.
We are already familiar how China, Mexico and ASEAN nations export our raw materials (ore, coking coal, rare earth minerals etc.). The raw materials to manufacture goods are then trans-shipped back into the U.S. for purchase.
It is within this decades-long process where we lost the manufacturing base, and the multinational economic planners (World Trade Organization) put us on a path to being a “service driven” economy.
The road to a “service-driven economy” is paved with a great disparity between financial classes. The wealth gap is directly related to the inability of the middle class to thrive.
Elite financial interests, including those within Washington DC, gain wealth and power, while the U.S. workforce is reduced to servitude, “service”, of their affluent needs. The destruction of the U.S. industrial and manufacturing base is EXACTLY WHY the wealth gap has exploded in the past 30 years.
With that familiarity, did you think the multinationals would stop with only “DURABLE GOODS”?
They don’t.
They didn’t.
The exact same exfiltration and exploitation has been happening, with increased speed, over the past 20 years with “CONSUMABLE GOODS“, i.e. food.
Raw material foodstuff is exported to China, ASEAN nations and Mexico, processed and shipped back into the U.S. as a finished product. This is the same design-flow with food as previously exploited by other economic sectors, including auto manufacturing.
Multinational corporations, BIG AG, are now invested in controlling the outputs of U.S. agricultural industry and farmers. This overall process is why food prices were rising so fast in the past decade. Government COVID intervention in the food supply chain made these pricing issues worse. Government energy policy under the guise of Build Back Better is pouring fuel into the inflationary furnace.
The free market was not determining price before COVID; there was no “supply and demand” influence in the modern agricultural dynamic. Food commodities have been a controlled market just like durable goods. The raw material (harvests writ large) was exploited by the financial interests of massive multinational corporations.
All of these dynamics created the meteor which quietly hit the ocean when no one noticed.
Now the tsunami warning sirens are sounding and people are starting to wonder why…
https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/1501615225526697997
This global “crisis” could provide the perfect entry for global government to fundamentally transform their relationship with the people.
Food insecurity will generate massive demands on governments around the world for solutions.
Even the preppers, who are well prepared for what might happen, will be subject to the outcomes of the government solutions, just like all travelers having to take their shoes off at the airport security check. We all live in the same world, so when they change it for the few, it changes for the many.
Final thought… even if you are well prepared for the worst-case scenario, when they hand the ration cards or food/gas coupons, get in line with everyone else and use them – even if you don’t need them. Do not draw any attention to yourself. Do not behave any differently than anyone else. Even if it doesn’t suck for you, give the appearance that it does. Keep the eyes of a mouse and the ears of an elephant.
I started making my own beer 7 yrs ago. You can buy 50 lb sacks of any grain for $50-60 from a local homebrew supply (before it goes up) . You can buy grain mills that are powered by battery drill for $100-150. It takes me about 2 min to grind up 10 lbs of barely and wheat. I get my hops for about 1 $/oz online. This comes out to about $7-8 a case if you don’t over hop.
I have a big chest freezer to put the grain in and kill bugs. A few years back I had a weevil infestation which made a trail from my grain storage tubs to the flour in my pantry. Beer with protein…lol. Open sacks do tend to stale a bit after a year but it isn’t that bad.
I figure beer will be easily bartered if SHTF. The yeasts are $5-10 per batch but after fermentation it multiplies. This can used several times to make more beer. It can also be used to make bread. Flour can be made with the same grain mill. You can find cheap bread machined at goodwill. I got a ZO for 6 bucks almost 10 years ago. They are great for mixing dough but cooking in them wears them out. I use dough cycle and make bread in the oven. I have a 1/2 steel plate in the oven for pizza and bread. They last forever compared to stone….which I broke many. You can also find coffee grinders at goodwill cheap for grinding spices and dried peppers.
Btw seeds are fully stocked here at Ace, Tractor Supply, Menards and most everywhere I looked. It seems they are out sooner and more abundant the previous years. I replaced some old seeds but am pretty well stocked. Stick to heirloom and save your own seeds. There are multiple gardening forums that have seed exchanges. I just had a hot pepper seed train come through. There were hundreds of varieties. You take/give some and send it to the next participant. I also make fermented and vinegar hot sauces which can be bartered.
Look into cold frames and other ways to extend your garden season 2-3 months. A small lean-to greenhouse against the house will gain a lot of heat. I gained 40 deg on sunny days in my old set up. I moved and am working on new set up. Thanks to all the pot heads you can get grow tents and lights cheap to start veggies. All my cold crops are ready for cold frames a month before season. This will also help prevent bolting(flowering early). There are many calculators online to show when to start each veggie based on first frost date. I start really HOT peppers can be started in Jan to go out in May since they like a long hot season. I got mild/sweet pepper seeds started today and tomatoes next week. Some years I will have over 500 starts and not near enough room. The will make for good bartering.
The bad news is I lost most all my hunting land. I still have all my grinders and make deer sausage/burger. A meat grinder is a good tool to have. I buy pork cuts when its $1-2 lb which make cheap sausage with out all the salt and preservatives. It can be mixed with venison to add flavor and fat. It does go rancid in the freezer after about six months so grind as needed and keep big cut frozen until ready to grind more.
Get into archery. Arrows and bolts can re-sharpened and used many times. With the right care and practice a dozen arrows will last me 5 or 6 years. It is also a great family sport. Just don’t aim for each others arrows and damage them. I can take out bunnies and squirrels no problem if needed.
Learn to perimeter shop for groceries and make cooking a challenge. Making everything from scratch will lower your bill, be lot more healthy and better stocked with the coming shortages. I grown most all my herbs which is great for homemade sausage. The Asian/Indian markets are a great place to buy spices, rice and flour in bulk for much cheaper than the grocery store.
Long story short…Obola ran my commercial construction company into the ground. It’s amazing what I learned to do going from 2-3k a week to 2-3 hundred a week. I treated it like an early retirement and fished/hunted my tail off. I did do a trial week of only deer, fish and garden meals minus milk/dairy. It aint easy
Very sorry to hear about your construction company, Rairdog.
It was a pleasure reading your entry.
Your remarkable skills, abilities and attitude are admirable. Your ancestors would be proud of you!
I hope you continue to share your knowledge with as many folks, as possible.
Thank you! Grandpa had a farm (WA wheat and timothy) but he sure didn’t drink! The whole experience was worth it. I couldn’t afford paying meat processors or buy beer. Equipment is expensive but most last forever…lol.
You offer lots of wonderful information but I have to make a comment regarding saying we should be sure to get heirloom seeds.. I also thought that was the best advice, as I always buy heirloom seeds and non-GMO plants anyway. Just recently,however, I’ve been informed by a horticulturist that if everything goes as badly as many are expecting it to, then you need to be aware: For many years, your neighbors have been instrumental in keeping a majority of the insects off of your garden and the critters away from it despite your use of heirloom seeds, as a result of them using GMO seeds. The seeds are designed specifically to be more Hardy and resistant. But it’s likely that they are no longer going to be planting the gmo crops when the fecal matter hits that oscillator. The deterrant that had been preventing all of the critters and the bugs from coming to your garden will be gone, but the predators will be fighting hot and hard for a much smaller selection, making pest control a very serious issue regardless this first year. You should have an equal mix of GMO and heirloom the first year so that you are somewhat assured of at least a little better crop yield when you really really need it ( the GMO seeds are a little bit better at preventing infestations and giving you a bigger crop even if it is not
as good tasting or
nutritious, hey,at least it’s
food).
Thanks so much for all of the other wonderful advice that you offered,and I’m going to take note of every bit of it.
My understanding is all seeds are non GMO unless it comes from an authorized GMO seed dealer with a contract. That is mostly corn, soybean, wheat, safflower and others but not stuff I would grow. I also knows they can contaminate you crops through pollination if you grow those same crops nearby. I’m sure they are working on GMO beets, potatoes, tomatoes and peppers but have never seen them. I don’t believe an average gardener can buy GMO seeds or plants.
Last season was the second year for this house/garden. My tomatoes were close to 10 ft tall bent over and infested with aphids. I had fence/bird netting…mostly squirrels. At dusk the lacewing and praying mantis would swarm in and feast. I only noticed how many because they had a hard time squeezing through the netting. I had to free many 6 in mantis’ that came in from the bottom and couldn’t fly out the top. We’re ready for war…lol
This same horticulturist told me that putting slivers of Irish spring soap around the garden keeps away the deer and many of the bugs that otherwise would show up. Not sure if it’s accurate or not but I’m going to try it …can’t hurt
Depends on how hungry the deer are. You can put up an inexpensive electric fence very easily: 3 strands at varying heights takes care of groundhogs and deer, your main threats. Plastic posts are easily moved. If the deer still try to get in, you can put aluminum foil with peanut butter on it. Once they try that out, they won’t come back for awhile.
Most seeds will keep for several years if you take care of them. You can look online and get good info from people that have done their own experiments. Even onions will go longer than most sources say. It’s just that the percentage that sprout goes down a bit from year to year. So, my advice would be to buy as many seeds of the types that you want that you can afford, within reason. You’re right, the newer hybrids are MUCH more disease resistant, so they’re worth stocking up on. Find out how long each type of plant’s seeds tend to last for how long.
Then, get a smattering of heirlooms that you can use from year to year, e.g. Brandywine and San Marzano tomotoes, Kentucky Wonder beans, the things that are easiest to keep going for yourself. If you can avoid blights, potatoes should go from year to year, just like garlic.
But also stock up on fungicides and insecticides. Fungus and insects will do you in really quick. On that note, I would try to go as organic as possible, but get some conventional backup. Organic treatments are best but they need to be applied much more often, and they won’t help with late blight on tomatoes and potatoes, which is deadly.
I’ll second that and add that in addition to heirloom seeds, people should get a couple years of hybrid seeds if they lack experience. Heirloom are all fine and good and breed more or less pure down the road, but hybrid varieties are bred for vigor and production which will be important during the first couple years of learning. As skills improve shift to heirloom varieties for better results in the long term. Whichever you do, learn to save seeds right off the bat. They are your future.
Thank you so much. I am stocking up on the equipment, machines, you mentioned today. I have stocked up on canned goods and water but I need to start growing stuff, making bread etc.
A still would be a great investment. When covid hit, I got a still and some more chickens first thing.
“…the United States is a net food exporter” but as sundance mentions the pressure is on to weaken and destroy this industry in a related way to the energy crisis. The Green Manifestos written in the past, did not refer to mandates but they did refer to many pending “prohibitions.”
Biden’s handlers have mainly produced EO’s and other means to cut production of energy for example. But, unless there are enough genuine Conservatives elected in November that actually care about the people, the Federal prohibition phase will begin in earnest.
Some local gov’ts have already done so. NY city Council enacted a Bill entitled, “Use of substances with certain emissions profiles.” It “prohibits the combustion of substances with certain emissions profiles in buildings within the City.” Of course they’re referring to natural gas fireplaces and home heating furnaces. No new gas lines can be installed.
If this push is not stopped, the prohibitions will severely impact all industries in the USA including farming and any gas or oil fired vehicles and even AOC’s dreaded cow flatulence. These are cultists that will not stop.
This is why the fast food chains have introduced plant protein products. Vegans/Vegetarians don’t need things that resemble, or even taste like meat. They run a mile from them. The Soylent Green is meant for us after they kill the cows into extinction!
One outcome of the sanctions on Russia I find of interest.
Pornhub, Cocoa Cola, McDonalds, Visa, Google, Facebook – the list goes on – have withdrawn their “services”from Russia.
That should mean, the Russians will be the healthiest, best informed, financially secure, least spied on, and most moral country in the world.
What’s not to like?
@patrick H. lol, I thought the same thing…
I see Xiden using his EOs to send American food overseas in hard times, no problem. We were a next exporter of oil until his arrival, he’ll do the same for food.
He will do so until the American people PUT ASIDE THEIR DIFFERENCES AND COME AFTER AMERICAN POLITICIANS THE WAY SRI LANKA IS DOING. Don’t think it won’t happen. Both biden and trump paid (threatened) two thirds of the farmers on gov subsidies to PLOW UNDER THEIR CROPS. The gov is purposely creating a food shortage.
The famine in Russia was not because of lack of production but because the Communists took the produce, no different that big corporate faring exporting our best crops while starving and taking us here.
Ireland exported grain during the potato famine.
JUST LIKE THE US GOV IS DOING NOW! The past 4 years both biden and trump have paid the farmers to plow under their crops! Two thirds in fact! They are creating a starvation situation. The gov is planning to starve as many Americans as possible into FEMA camps.
Have you seen what is happening Sri Lanka? Picture or imagine if you will, that type of scenario happening in America. But insert people holding guns, I’m talking guns new and old that have been in families for GENERATIONS. And these people are starving because of dirty filthy politicians that have screwed them out of almost everything going back decades. Right now in Sri Lanka they are burning down politicians and polices houses and beating and murdering them. And they are using sticks and stones.
The weak link for the USA’s highly processed food system may be getting the end food product packaged for grocery stores. Think of how much packaging requires plastic or products requiring petroleum. I know of shortages for plastic film already.
The more processing required and the farther the food has to travel, more energy/gas is required which as Sundance points out leads to price increases. Also, these same food processors are stressed trying to hire good candidates to run the factories.
People need to help themselves by gardening, buying from local farmers, and learning how to “process” their own food to preserve over the winter…
These sick insane cultists want back to 1800s
Let’s sharpen the bayonets !!!
Victory gardens – starting mine soon, already preparing the ground.
I stop when I see crews grinding up trees near home and they will dump it free. Then put newspaper/cardboard over the existing grass. Layer with wood chips and grass clippings. Next year its ready to plant. Free, never till and rarely water.
Maybe this is really the end times that are found on many pages in the Bible. The clergy love to preach about the end times because it keeps the flock edgy enough to fill the collection plates.
I have overstepped my own boundaries here and now I must apologize for my personal musings. I intended no offense because I am also a struggling Christian.
Yeah, we know. Try to keep up, will you? COVID19 mandates were the 1st Horseman, Ukraine is the 2nd . . . “APOKALYPSIS of Messiah Yeshua that God gave to him to show to his servants what things that will quickly come to pass; and signified having sent through his angel to his servant, John.” ~ APOKALYPSIS 1.1
“When the Lamb opened the 3rd seal, I heard the 3rd living creature say, “Go!” I looked, and there was a Black Horse, and its rider held a scale. I heard what sounded like a voice from among the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a day’s pay or three quarts of barley for a day’s pay. But do not damage the olive oil and the wine.” ~ APOKALYPSIS 6.5-6
. . . welcome to the final hour of Daniel’s 70th week folks. Trust the plan and enjoy the show.
Bill Gates is the larger private owner of farmland in the United States. What could possibly go wrong.
Just because he owns it does not mean he can control it.
There will be no serious food shortages if there is food to go around. Citizens will see to it that the commies in DC don’t get control of the food. You can take that to the bank.
We are not going to sit by and let a corrupt greedy bunch of bastards starve people to death when there is food available. A food shortage in the USA is not going to happen by selling food grown and processed in America to those abroad. If we allow it, we don’t deserve a country and we don’t deserve to be free. There are probably already things we should not have allowed. There are more of us than them. At some point that has to mean something besides a nice phrase.
Your optimism is refreshing.
If you don’t want the government, already proven to be working against you, to steal your food a la Holodomor, I suggest you stock up on ammo right now and make some cooperative arrangements with your neighbors.
This thing could get messy – and deadly.
Early in the Trump administration there was talk of putting the flag of the country that produced the food stuff on the front of the packages, but that went by the wayside.
But by law country of origin labeling is there. All u have to do is read
See why Nabisco stuff is in short supply.
Mexico has all the nabisco plants now and the lead time and raw mat shortages have turned a readily available product into weekly shortages or more
Then why is it that my town has a national meat processing and packing plant 7 minutes from my house, and another just over 50 miles away, plus several small indie ones around town, yet the big Grocer’s haven’t had red meat (other than the $27 per pound & up steaks & ground beef once in awhile) in 4 of every 5 shopping trips this year? We’ve always had great prices and abundant stock on the shelves until this year. Is there something else I’m not seeing that’s going on?
Thanks
My favorite wonderful local grocery chain, Crest Fresh Market, has beautiful salmon, but I
won’t buy it because there is no country of orgin listed on it. It could be from or processed in or by China.
Yup. Problem with putting flag of origin on a package is nobody knows flags very well. How many could identify the flags of Hungary, Paraguay, or even France? On the other hand, even if people read the name of a country, how many even know where most of them are?
I believe Indonesia buys around 20% of Ukraine/ Russia’s surplus grain in a typical year. That’s only 230 million people scheduled to pop-off in food riots within the next 12 months. Nothing to see here. /sarc.
Scary times. It’s going to be really really interesting to see this play out.
Most people in this country have a fairly soft and easy life. As my husband says he thanks the good Lord everything day that we’re not out scratching up roots and berries to stay alive.
When life gets tough, some people don’t adjust too well.
What could further the chaos of ineffective governance?
Poking the Russian Bear with NATO concerns!
Was it planned or did it just happen thru negligence?
Elections now 8 months away.
You decide.
Negligence? = Biden/Blinken as planned.
Planned.
We should have already stopped feeding our leftist cities long ago
America the world is starving send more money!
Independent trucker friend (who’s saddle tanks hold 240 gallons) is now only filling up with 133 gallons at the cost of $695.00. It’s all he can afford. He cannot pass the increased costs on to the consumer because his revenue comes from the hands of a broker who, in turn, keeps the independent trucker’s surcharge from the industry. As a result, he is almost operating in the negative and before long will have to shut it down. Now imagine that same scenario with the million of other independent truckers out there. Empty shelves and chaos. You’ve got to love that New Green Deal!
I have a nephew who is a truck shipping broker. His job is more critical in that he can get a load for a truck so they make money driving back home. Dead head is the term for only getting paid for one direction and going home empty.
Recently because of health conditions, I’ve started eating mostly fresh vegetables, protein .. basically trying to eat plant based no processed food. Starting the second week, I suddenly realized I felt so much better every morning. Then my sugar count dropped off quickly and stayed there all day. Then I found Hubby and I had a good time prepping all the fresh veggies we needed every day. We are senior citizens and retired so we have the time. But as a young mother living in a very rural lifestyle, I prepped all meals on Sunday afternoon. I worked and. had a long commute. There were no local restaurants and the only fast food was what the local gas station served. I’m lucky to live in the actual ‘break basket’ of the world.. the San Joaquin Valley. Food is plentiful. Every Sunday after church, Hubby and I drive to the local produce stands and what’s in season becomes that week’s meals. And I’m prepared. Hubby fishes the Pacific Ocean and even being disabled he deer hunts and pig hunts in our foothills. I’m gonna heed your warning of the mouse eyes and elephant ears. The mini Costco in my garage is going to be covered today with some old sheets. Every day when I drive into my garage, my heart breaks when I see my food storage system. We shouldn’t have to be doing this in a country as great as our is. I’m frightened but resolute.
I’ve also been very frustrated with my Catholic Church. The California Catholics have proven to be a cowardly bunch. I keep reminding myself that God is in charge and we all need to trust in him. And follow his teachings. Okay. Rant over Be safe out there.
I made the same food transition about two years ago. It’s amazing how quickly and dramatically you see results, isn’t it? God bless you and remember that even in a great country, stuff happens. The Big Guy likes to test us. Don’t know why but he’s been doing it since he created us.
Biden Pride. Remember the bumper stickers. Remember the neighbor with a row of Biden yard signs.
I cannot see you.
So China is a great importer of food. Plus they must import animal feed.American farms raise most animal feed a few miles or less from the animal. Energy is high and so is food shipping.
The reason the US is going to have a food shorage is because Trump’s last and every year Biden has been in office they have paid two thirds of the farmers who are on government subsidies to PLOW UNDER THEIR CROPS! THE GOVERNMENT IS PURPOSELY CREATING A STARVATION SITUATION! Biden has even threatened those few brave farmers who have refused to comply with being BARRED FOR LIFE FROM ANY GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS! When you are all hungry and starving AND DYING for lack of food?! REMEMBER WHO DID IT TO YOU!!! YOUR GOVERNMENT!!!!!