Some may consider this an “alarmist” post but I’m just sharing my thoughts – which is what I pretty much always do.
If you’ve been watching the news or have friends in Iowa, you know they’ve suffered from a pretty devastating storm. In fact, Chad and his crew were on their way home from NY and they got diverted to Iowa to help get power restored there.
Depending on which news reports you read, corn crops, and even other crops, could be a good sized loss or it could be totally devastating. Some corn crops have been destroyed, some are damaged and there’s danger of disease attacking the damaged crops. Their storage and processing facilities are damaged also.
If you use corn – whole kernel corn, cream style corn, corn meal, cornbread mix, corn oil, corn syrup – anything involving corn – I would suggest buying a bit extra. No need to clean out the shelves – just think about what you’re comfortable having on hand.
I would guess that even if there are no shortages, there will be price increases for corn and anything that uses corn products. Animal feed uses corn and when the feed prices go up, the animal prices go up also.
Plan ahead – it seems like there’s no limit to the shortages and crises we could face. Again, not trying to sound alarm bells but advising that we all pay attention to what’s happening and plan accordingly.
Dottie Newkirk says
I feel so very, very bad for those farmers…….AND, you’re not being an alarmist (in my opinion, for what it’s worth). You’re just giving us a heads up!
Judy Laquidara says
I do too. Many of them had bad crops last year and now this. I cannot even imagine – they have so much on the line, and can do every single thing right and then something that’s totally out of their control ruins it all. Thank goodness for farmers but I’m very sorry for what they’re going through.
Ann D. says
I’d like to point out that 95% of corn grown in america is field corn, which is not made into any of those products you mentioned except corn starch and corn oil. It is grown for consumption by animals (ie cow feed). The other 5% is sweet corn which is made into human food products. Iowa mostly grows field corn and some popcorn. Where this is more likely to hit your wallet is hamburger prices and not fritos, corn flakes or frozen or canned corn. As a farm girl, who is moving back to Iowa to help run the family farm, I feel somewhat qualified to write on this.
This storm also nailed Illinois crops. You can actually see the damage from satellite photos. So yes, this is likely to affect beef prices.
Judy Laquidara says
This part of MO actually grows a lot of sweet corn for human consumption and had a very bad crop. Sam’s was already out of sweet corn (canned) today so, real or perceived, it’s getting hard to find on the shelves in stores in some places.
Ann D. says
ah! That’s good to know. Where my dad is, missed out on the storm altogether, but they’re really dry so could have used a little rain. These systems do affect our food supply and not always in the way we think.
Rebecca in SoCal says
EVERYthing has corn! I learned this from somebody who decided she couldn’t eat any GMO corn (so basically everything on the modern market) and started researching corn and all its derivatives. I think she even found corn in plastic! (plastic for food–wraps, containers)
So, yeah, the price of everything is likely to go up. You’re like a commodities trader!
Joyce says
I have a friend who lives in Iowa in the area that got hit hard. She has had no electricity for 7 days now. I know she is thankful for all the crews coming in to help. She says she’s been sitting on her balcony in the evening and doing a little knitting. She said she rode out the storm in a closet at her office with several co-workers. They were all fine, but the building now has no roof…
Sara Fridley says
I have to agree with Ann (above). Most of the corn destroyed is field corn and this is already impacting corn prices – but not human consumption corn in particular. And it sure could impact beef prices, and other meats because it’s used as feed. Sweet corn is primarily what is used for human foods – especially whole kernel and creamed corn. It’s about halfway through sweet corn harvest in Minnesota and Iowa, so hopefully there won’t be any real shortage of those products. But it will have some widespread impact on lots of things. My husband followed that storm on Monday into Iowa, and his client (a telephone company) had huge damage. One of my best friends just moved to Marion/Cedar Rapids and I feel so bad for the damage they’ve experienced. She said it was the most terrifying experience she’s ever had and she was a military wife who has lived all over the country.
Paula Philpot says
Judy we have had trouble getting corn meal since March when all this started. Paula in KY
Judy Laquidara says
I’ve not had trouble getting cornmeal at the store or through Walmart.com.
Just checked and there are many varieties at Walmart.com right now.
Nelle Coursey says
This is so sad for all those involved. The wind can be a devastating thing all by itself! Praying for those who lost crops, homes, trees and lives in this horrible storm!
Gloria Y says
I lived in Cedar Rapids for 8 years and the city has been devastated. Many of my friends are w/o power. Quaker Oats is located in Cedar Rapids and the silos were moved off the foundations.
Danna Uyehara says
I am way ahead of you; the day this was reported, I went out and stocked up on canned corn, as well as one can of dehydrated corn…which was all they had left anyway….BUT it never occurred to me to get cornmeal or cornbread boxes….off to the store I go! Thanks for the reminder! (PS….In my opinion, things will only get worse from here. As an old Boy/Girl Scout Leader, my motto remains “Be Prepared”!)
Judy Laquidara says
I think everyone was probably ahead of me on the issue of the Iowa storms. We didn’t have TV last week and with the move, I’ve kinda had my head buried.
My thoughts exactly. IF corn continues to be available, we’ll just use what we have and not need to buy more. Since I don’t like going out very often, it’s so much easier to keep what I need on hand for weeks and then when I do go out, buy a case of this and a case of that and be done for another two or three months.