Massive incoming grain and food shortages

[BrandonsBirbs]

So, this really didn't seem to happen.
I'm still paying the same for feed as I was in March.

Lucky for some. Mines doubled.

 

[Perris]

Lucky for some. Mines doubled.

I think there's profiteering going on. We are 80-90% self sufficient in wheat, but producers or middlemen seem to be using the international price (as if they were buying it on the open market, where they could sell it of course) to set the rate anyway.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

I really hadn't seen any changes, $2 up, $2 down, but yesterday when I went to order my feed it had gone up $8

 

[BrandonsBirbs]

I think there's profiteering going on. We are 80-90% self sufficient in wheat, but producers or middlemen seem to be using the international price (as if they were buying it on the open market, where they could sell it of course) to set the rate anyway.

Wouldn't surprise me, it's blamed on the RUS vs UKR war supposedly we get most our grain from there. Prices are literally going up every week, 50p this week, £1 next week. UK is struggling.

(Last year we were celebrating being so self-sufficient with grains like you say, now magically we cannot produce enough?)

Big time farms saying they're having massive issues with stock and cost too, tried increasing price of eggs in supermarkets but the supermarkets are refusing to pay them any more.

I literally cannot find turkey nor any game bird starter anywhere without paying £50 a bag (last year was like £14? Most places had it for £18-22 but all out of stock for foreseeable future). Getting to the point I may have to give in with my quail, I refuse to give them an inadequate food source.

I'm sure some shops have in-stock but I can't carry a 20kg bag home, don't drive and am unfortunately a complete loner.

 

[saysfaa]

We are very concerned because we live in Alaska where things tend to not get up here when they're any shortages. Also I don't have any space, or the climate to grow my feed. Suggestions?

You could keep more in reserve. You don't have to get more at once except the first time. Rotate it out by feeding the oldest first but if you've been getting more when you are down to enough for a week, start looking for more when you are down to enough for a month. As a concept, I don't know how many weeks you currently do or what is do-able instead. You can keep it fresh a lot longer than people in warmer climates.

You could start learning more about chicken nutrition to know what you may be able to substitute if something is unavailable but not everything is. Easy is all-flock or chick feed plus a calcium source for layer feed; the other end of the spectrum is getting creative with whatever is available.

 

[saysfaa]

...
(Last year we were celebrating being so self-sufficient with grains like you say, now magically we cannot produce enough?)
...

That is actually the case in large parts of the world because of fertilizer shortages or the weather or both. Rice is particularly dependent on fertilizer.

Do you have some sort of taxi or ride share thing where you are? The ride share around here used to be done on a bulletin board in the grocery store or park. Or in newspaper adds. Now it is done on craigslist or other websites but it is still being done.

 

[BrandonsBirbs]

That is actually the case in large parts of the world because of fertilizer shortages or the weather or both. Rice is particularly dependent on fertilizer.

Do you have some sort of taxi or ride share thing where you are? The ride share around here used to be done on a bulletin board in the grocery store or park. Or in newspaper adds. Now it is done on craigslist or other websites but it is still being done.

I've no idea, moved to this area with the family about 3 years ago, don't know anyone or anything around here other than where our local pond is for wildfire photos

 

[Ascholten]

Fertilizer Shortage.
Chickens are an excellent source of 'fertilizer'.
You pee right?
There's fertilizer right there.
Not a real shortage, a manufactured one.

There's a dairy farm / regular farm right next to the power plant I work at. The waste from them goes into like cesspools they have or cessponds, whatever you want to call it. Every year they liquefy this somehow and spray it down into the fields. Stinks to high heaven for a day or so but you'd swear you can literally watch the plants grow in those fields. They used to have to pay to dispose of the rest when it just got too full.

This year, they got so many people buying it from them, they had to turn them away to make sure they have enough for their own crops! Fertilizer is there for those who are capable of thinking outside the box. (Pun semi intended)

Aaron.

 

[The Truth Is Out There]

Stocking up on chicken feed isn't the correct path.
Chicken feed is made of grain. Whole grains can keep quite a long time in the correct environmental conditions. However, chicken feed isn't made of whole grain. It is ground and once the hull of grains and seeds is cracked, it deteriorates rapidly, not to mention the supplemental vitamins and amino added to the feed which also has a limited shelf life.
I would never give a feed that is more than 3 months old. The original nutrition, as listed on the guaranteed analysis tag, will no longer be in the feed. Diminished nutrition can lead to health problems, among them are poorer disease resistance. not to mention poor hatchability

Fertilizer Shortage.
Chickens are an excellent source of 'fertilizer'.
You pee right?
There's fertilizer right there.
Not a real shortage, a manufactured one.

There's a dairy farm / regular farm right next to the power plant I work at. The waste from them goes into like cesspools they have or cessponds, whatever you want to call it. Every year they liquefy this somehow and spray it down into the fields. Stinks to high heaven for a day or so but you'd swear you can literally watch the plants grow in those fields. They used to have to pay to dispose of the rest when it just got too full.

This year, they got so many people buying it from them, they had to turn them away to make sure they have enough for their own crops! Fertilizer is there for those who are capable of thinking outside the box. (Pun semi intended)

Aaron.

I agree with this! Without going into detail... these hard times were planned by the people who run the world. We have to go back to our roots and help each other out. Continue sharing ideas and lost knowledge. I say lost because so many people have not been taught farming practices or how to do things like our ancestors.
Keep searching and you will always find a a way!

 

[raingarden]

these hard times were planned by the people who run the world.

You are so naive. It is aliens in flying saucers that run the world. Not people.