Higher beer prices coming..

[4dsc]

Another good reason why ethanol and biofuels are not a very good idea!

http://www.finfacts.com/irelandbusinessnews/publish/article_10006685.shtml

Heatwaves and biofuel demand in Europe and US to fuel bread, pasta and beer price rises

The combination of heatwaves in Europe and the US, low global grain stocks and an increase in production of biofuels has seen wheat prices rise to 10-year highs and may lead to big increases in the cost of bread and pasta.

The US Agriculture Department has reported that growing conditions for the US spring wheat crop were the worst in 18 years.

Corn and barley prices are also likely to rise, which may push up the cost of beer and breakfast cereals.

The US has had the warmest year on record and Europe has experienced a heatwave that has damaged grain crops at a time when worldwide stocks are relatively low.

The lower barley crop is expected to push up the price of malt, a basic ingredient for beer. Coldiretti, the Italian farmers' body warned last week that hot, dry weather had caused damage worth €100m to crops in northern Italy. It said yields would fall by up to 9 per cent.

The US Agriculture Department has reported that growing conditions for the US spring wheat crop were the worst in 18 years because there was not enough moisture to germinate seeds. A sharp rise in requirements for biofuel is forecast in the next two years as ethanol plants open across Europe and production is ramped-up in the US. Global wheat demand is expected to exceed production this season for the fifth time in six years.

The United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organisation said recently that world cereals stockpiles would fall by 10 per cent to 414m tonnes by the end of the current season in June 2007.

[global1]

1. Beer Going Up In Price? Now That's Just The Last Straw........

it's one thing if gas prices go up - but beer? We have to get rid of George W. Bush. It will raise the cost of me going to a NASCAR race or to a baseball or football game. I think we should march on Washington. Protest. Maybe a hunger strike. What can we do to stop this travesty?

[Xipe Totec]

3. As I predicted...

I've often said, and still believe, that there are two metrics that determine whether the party in power will win or lose:

1).- What is the price of gas.

2).- What is the price of a six-pack of beer.

If the Republicans are vulnerable right now, it is because of this.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2678558#2678981

[BR_Parkway]

6. Joe SixPack changes voter registration to D

[Delphinus]

15. Agreed.

And we'd better learn how to capitalize on it fast.

[seemunkee]

2. NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

[phantom power]

4. ARRRR! Hulk SMASH!

[necso]

5. Ethanol has

(and bio-fuels have, more generally) the most promise when the source-resource is unused, under-utilized or poorly utilized.

For example, a great deal of food-production (grains, soybeans) goes to livestock feed, and if the demand for this feed drops, then the existing harvest would include some available production. However, the world trend is (I believe) in the other direction. (And many currently-used farming techniques are harmful -- erosion, contamination, diversion, etc.)

Generally, direct-use of sunlight to produce energy has the most promise, as it promises the highest efficiency, although storage/cost remain major issues.

[RufusEarl]

7. Well this may just cause that revolution, we've all been calling for!

Gas to expensive? well i can stay home have a few beers, kick back and watch american idol. Yea that's the ticket, i can work around high gas prices.

What! What's that you say? you're going to raise the price of my beer? No way, i'll see all of you in DC. We have to get organized, where are my shoes? hey i can't find my wallet, Ok somebody ice down the beer, I got it covered, let's go!

Hey anybody got gas money? Not me i just spent all i had on beer, how about you Earl? Not me, i chipped in on the beer.

Well hell! OK how about this, we have plenty of beer, why don't we go back to the house and just watch American idol!

Revolution over for now, but hey we tried!

[bbinacan]

8. Now I am

depressed.:beer:

[Dead_Parrot]

9. Arrgh!

Take me outside and shoot me in the head. Life is meaningless.

[dipsydoodle]

10. So don't buy it

the makers will get the message. You might think that as the UK is only miniscule our beer prices are uniform across the country - they're not. The north of England is very price sensitive towards beer and even a penny price increase can effectively stop a maker selling. London is the complete opposite with price variations of anything up to a £1 a pint even for the same maker - higher prices for the ambience of the hostelry I'm told !

As to this bit : A sharp rise in requirements for biofuel is forecast in the next two years as ethanol plants open across Europe and production is ramped-up in the US. Global wheat demand is expected to exceed production this season for the fifth time in six years

Speak for yourselves - Europe is more likely to use increased amounts of biodiesel : not ethanol. We don't have the reluctance to use small efficient diesel engines over here.

[Dead_Parrot]

11. Don't buy beer!?

You're kidding, right?
:D :beer:
;)

[mopinko]

12. really

don't breathe, maybe. don't buy beer? come on!

[dipsydoodle]

13. There's nothing particularly scientific

about the way in which goods are priced other than an economic minimum. Thereafter price is determined by what consumers are prepared to pay - that is the actual definition of price. So - beer sellers in this instance will get away with what they believe they are able to. What I'm saying is prove them wrong. :)

[Sequoia]

14. My brew for your gas? I don't think so.