Purdue Ag News Roundup
Purdue Ag News Roundup
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June 26, 1998
Crop problems cause spurt in food pricesWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Bad weather resulting in poor fruit and vegetable crops in California and Florida forced grocery store prices up 0.8 percent from April to May, according to Purdue University Extension agricultural economist Joe Uhl.Beef, pork and poultry prices also rose, but not as rapidly, moderating increases somewhat. "This spring's grocery store food prices are running about 2 percent higher than year-earlier levels," Uhl said, "but that's still below last year's annual food price rise of 2.6 percent. "Consumer prices for foods eaten away from home are now rising faster than grocery store prices. The costs of eating out rose 2.8 percent from May 1997 to May 1998." Uhl said the higher cost of eating out reflects increased labor and energy costs, as well as fewer discount promotions. At the grocery store, he said, lower livestock and grain prices at the farm level are being passed along to consumers. In addition, slowly rising dairy, egg, beverage and coffee prices have been important influences in slowing overall food price increases the past 12 months. "This spring's highly fluctuating fresh produce prices are primarily due to weather problems in California and Florida," Uhl said. "The California spring vegetable crops, especially lettuce, continue to be plagued by cold, wet weather and low quality. There was some hail damage to the California grape crop, and the western fruit crop harvest will be delayed. "On the other hand, Florida is harvesting record orange and tomato crops this summer, and the southeastern fruit and vegetable crops are experiencing excellent growing conditions. The summer Midwest fruit and vegetable crops also are expected to be large." But good crops in the Midwest and Southeast can't completely compensate for the losses in California, he said, because the California crops are so large and are harvested at a different time. They also include produce not widely grown in other areas. "Barring further weather problems, shoppers can expect to see stable to slightly increasing food prices this summer," Uhl said. "Although retail beef prices will rise as supplies fall, larger supplies of pork and chicken will keep meat prices down this cookout season. Weakening grain and oilseed prices will also moderate retail food prices in the coming months." CONTACT: Uhl, (765) 494-4219; e-mail, uhl@agecon.purdue.edu
Soccer field turf management seminarsWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Two seminars on taking care of a soccer fields are being offered Thursday, Aug. 6, at the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service Office in Marion County.The seminars are being presented by the Extension Service's Turfgrass Science Program and the Midwest Regional Turf Foundation. According to Zac Reicher, Extension turfgrass specialist, soccer fields are the toughest of all turf areas to manage. "Season-long traffic in all types of weather can literally destroy a field, plus the playing schedule rarely allows for aggressive turf management practices that are essential to keep grass alive," he said. Two seminars are being offered:
Reicher said the seminars are being held at the perfect time to plan and start many crucial turf management techniques to keep fields in playable condition this year and to improve the fields for next year's play. "This seminar will emphasize basic turf management practices that produce the largest impact, with special attention to inexpensive techniques that have high returns," Reicher said. "We'll be covering construction and renovation, turfgrass selection, fertilization, irrigation, pest control and overseeding." Participants in the seminars will receive a guide to managing soccer fields in Indiana. The cost of the workshops is $20 for those who preregiester and $25 for those registering on-site. Members of the Midwest Regional Turf Foundation will receive a $5 discount. The Marion County Extension Office is at 9245 N. Meridian St. in Indianapolis.
CONTACT: Reicher, (765) 494-9737; e-mail, zreicher@dept.agry.purdue.edu;
Compiled by Chris Sigurdson, (765) 494-8415; E-mail, sig@ecn.purdue.edu
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