| Show i High Food Prices Dont Don't L. L Darrell Stokes Davis County Agent has received an article on high food prices by Lloyd A. A Clement Extension Extension Exten Exten- Extension sion Economist at the Utah State University Mr Clement says dont don't blame the farmer for high food prices The fact is that farmers are the consumers consumer's best friend THE AMERICAN agricultural industry he points out continues continues continues con con- to produce more than commercial markets will absorb absorb absorb ab ab- ab- ab at prevailing prices and they can even better it if the situation should warrant The unparalleled production has kept food prices from rising higher than they are while the prices received by the farmer have averaged no nomore nomore nomore more most often orten considerably considerably considerably consider consider- ably less than those of twenty years ago says the economist BUT MR Clements adds the food marketing bill has more than doubled in the last 20 years And there are lots of reasons The increased population population population lation has upped the volume of food marketing by more than a third Marketing services have jumped by one-half one because consumers want and are getting getting getting get get- ting more sorting grading trimming packaging processing processing processing process process- ing and storage more in built-in conveniences and they are eating more and more away from home HE liE ALSO noted that labor costs which account for nearly half of oC the total food marketing bill have doubled New plant and equipment costs along with transportation materials materials materials ma ma- for Cor packaging interest interest interest inter inter- est rent and taxes keep climbing climbing climbing climb climb- ing as do production costs forthe for forthe forthe the farmer Our agricultural producers he emphasized are striving to meet this price-cost price squeeze in the nation They too are pushing hard for more efficient efficient effi effi- marketing and product promotion CONSUMERS continue to tobe tobe tobe be favored by increasing in incomes incomes incomes in- in comes while farm income lags Despite higher food prices consumers spend less of their incomes for Cor food than any time in history and are getting the best says the economist For comparison consumers might ponder these figures For all items except food the cost has increased 42 percent transportation is up 60 percent percent percent per per- cent housing 42 percent rent 52 percent and medical care 86 percent while all food including including including in in- eating away from home has increased about 37 n percent over the past 20 years says Mr Clement IT IS MR Clements Clement's contention contention contention con con- that consumers should be ever grateful to this nations nation's nations nation's nations nation's na na- na- na tion's producers who have stayed on the job cutting expenses expenses expenses ex ex- wherever possible and putting on the dinner tables of this nation the finest Coodin food in the greatest abundance Clement does not believe e ebe many consumers would be 00 willing to trade places wit wita with witha h hn a farmer in order to have a an n opportunity to share the odds a farmer faces Caces every day i ithe in inthe inthe n the operation of his business bm a |
