I've been hitting the items on sale so I've not felt the bite as much...I also don't eat certain 'staples' all that often like cold cereal, or that many frozen dinners right now. My last trip to Costco provided some pleasant surprises, and some less than pleasant ones.
Does anyone have a good idea what foods are going up quickly? yes, I can and will check the info online, but I also want a feel from those who have been shopping regularly.
I had asked pretty much the same question of a friend of mine who is an active farmer, here is his response:
"Meat prices will soar in about 6 months on pork and beef.
Chicken, turkey, duck, and farmed fish, will start going up now until sky high.
The grain to meat conversion on beef is highest which means whopping prices. Even the feeder cattle folks who use mostly grass to raise their product for the feed yards are going to get more $ and every other group that supplies farmers are not going to miss a chance to gouge when they see money.
Your best bet for home production is chickens. Meat and layers can be fed pretty good with table scraps as long as you don't get to many. However, better to get a few extra, if freezer space allows, and supplement them all with some mash to balance their protein levels.
Tell your neighbors to save their scraps for your chickens and you will give them one when processed. All grain elevators have a place where all the cracked grain sifts off. They may or may not charge you, but it's excellent feed for chickens.
Hybrids are the only way to go for meat. Just don't expect them to free range, and breeding requires incubation...way too stupid for both.
Eggs will also go sky high. Layers are a little harder to feed just scraps unless you go with a breed that has the older blood lines. Maybe not as productive, but they will scratch and hunt bugs when allowed to free range.
Good nest boxes where they roost is a must. Closing them in where you want them to lay and roost for a couple weeks is also a must, or else they will roost in trees and lay their eggs here and there.
Keep the layers water in the roost shed and never ever let a layer go without water. No water-no eggs, and many times they shut down for good, unless bred.
Keep roosters away, unless you like blood spots in your eggs. They don't need a rooster to start laying. However, a rooster will help start a hen that shuts down too early. 2 years is about all you will get from layers. You can use them to replace themselves, IF you have the right rooster, and IF they will get broody (set on the nest). Incubation is OK, but baby chick supplier is just as cheap.
Then it's time for the pressure cooker..and trust me, soup meat is all an old layer is good for. Shoot all critters and make sure you have a safe and sound roost for them at night. Don't forget to shut the door EVERY night. Weasels, ferret, mink, raccoon, fox, bobcat, coyote, and tramps, all love, and I mean love, chicken.
And a weasel or ferret will kill every chicken, even if they can only eat one chicken. Once they get a taste, without a doubt they will be back for more. In the tramps case, he will tell his friends."
Hope this helps answer your question.
