We know that corn is already overproduced and sold to consumers in more calorie dense, expensive ways every day. How will the price of corn being driven down even further and the increased price of flour affect the nation's health? Should wheat and other crops be genetically modified so they can compete?
Monday, August 26, 2013
Minnesota farmers turn away from wheat; corn, soybeans more profitable
Minnesota used to be the nation's wheat producing capital, but lately the local farmers have turned to more profitable crops. As we've discussed in class, corn and soybeans have been genetically engineered to withstand harsh conditions and survive heavy doses of pesticides. It is more worthwhile and cost effective for farmers to cultivate these crops, but how will this effect the wheat market? Already, the price of flour is increasing because millers are located further from the source of wheat.
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1. It is more worthwhile and cost effective for farmers to cultivate these crops, but how will this effect the wheat market?
ReplyDeleteI believe that the decline of the production of wheat in Minnesota will have significant repercussions on the economy, the supply chain in the agricultural industry, and the wheat market. With that said, it is not realistic for the farmers in Minnesota to continue farming wheat when it is much more profitable to grow genetically modified corn and soybeans. Because of this, I think there is much fear and uncertainty in the wheat market and wheat prices have taken a beating.
2. How will the price of corn being driven down even further and the increased price of flour affect the nation's health?
I think it will contribute even more to our nation’s obesity epidemic and continue sending our nation in a downward spiral in terms of health and nutrition because nutritious food will continue to become more and more expensive. Cheap, processed foods will continue to become more widely available for consumers.
3. Should wheat and other crops be genetically modified so they can compete?
I think that in order to compete, the wheat crop does need to be genetically modified. I feel at this point there is no going back and reversing the GMO crops and returning to our natural, non-GMO farming. At this point, we need to make the best of the technology we have implemented and begin to find ways to use it to create healthier, less processed ways of producing food.
I feel that like all people, farmers will react to incentives, and the incentives to farm easier crops that bring larger yields and profit will affect the wheat market in a very negative way. As more and more farmers move away from wheat production the waning in supply will continue to drive up prices, which will negatively affect consumers wishing to purchase wheat products. This could cause consumers to look for other products to replace their normal intake of wheat - thus decreasing demand - which could have an even greater negative impact on the wheat market. If this situation were to take shape and persist - then their would ultimately need to be some sort of intervention either through the government or regulation allowing wheat to be produced as GMOs or in a way that allows it to be more competitive in relation to other crops.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting!
I feel that like all people, farmers will react to incentives, and the incentives to farm easier crops that bring larger yields and profit will affect the wheat market in a very negative way. As more and more farmers move away from wheat production the waning in supply will continue to drive up prices, which will negatively affect consumers wishing to purchase wheat products. This could cause consumers to look for other products to replace their normal intake of wheat - thus decreasing demand - which could have an even greater negative impact on the wheat market. If this situation were to take shape and persist - then their would ultimately need to be some sort of intervention either through the government or regulation allowing wheat to be produced as GMOs or in a way that allows it to be more competitive in relation to other crops.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting!
I think that we can see how this has negatively affected the wheat prices. They are higher and have less demand which hurts the farmers immensely. Because of this, farmers have to look to incentives and what others are willing to give them in order to switch over to another crop in order to maintain their standard of living. In the past decade or so, I think that we have seen a significant increase in the nation's weight as a whole and overall, relatively lower health standards. I would attribute these growing health concerns to the inputs such as corn products that are going into our food. Especially when we consider the obesity epidemic among the children of the late 90's and early 2000's. I would say that the nation has changed significantly in terms of what we eat as well as technological changes which has caused the decline in the nation's health. Additionally, looking oversees at other countries that prohibit the use of GM inputs in comparison to the health of their nation's people can prove to a certain extent what negative side effects are linked to such inputs. Unfortunately, I think at the rate we are going, someone has to win and someone will lose. I'd so it is going towards major corporations pocketing more money and the health of the nation going downhill.
ReplyDelete