Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 25, 1979)
FOURTEEN The Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon, Thursday January 25, 1979 Food price comparisons bear out need for shopping skills If you are one of the consumers who gasp every time you purchase foods, you may be interested in some comparative figures from other countries. The U.S. Department of Agriculture attaches compare food costs every month in 16 world capital cities. Their survey tells us that the boneless sirloin steak that cost $3.02 a pound in Washington Extension Events With Birdine Tultis D.C. on November 1, cost $15.87 in Tokyo and 92 cents in Brazilia. Of the countries regularly surveyed, only Can ada and West Germany re ported food price index de clines from August to Septem ber, The index for the United Staates remained the same during the period. It rose in the remaining 13 countries. The attaches found beef prices were up in over half the cities surveyed. They jumped 44 percent in Buenos Aires, but dropped 7 per cent in London. Pork prices rose in 1ft" of the surveyed countries while poultry and egg prices dropped in many capitals. Butter prices rose in 10 of the 16 capitals. Chese and milk prices remained somewhat stable. In almost all countries, prices for apples, potatoes and Russet potato diversion program now underway; 'starch' outlet is added A program to pay growers to divert russet potatoes to livestock feed, will begin Jan. 15, Acting Secretary of Agri culture Carol Tucker Fore man has announced. The Department's Food Safety and Quality Service (FSQS) initiated the program to offset price-depressing effects of the fall crop potato surplus. The agency will pay growers to invest up to 9 million hudredweight of russet potatoes from consumer mar keting channels into livestock feed, or as an added outlet not mentioned in a Dec. 27 announcement to starch. There are several processing Cattlemen denounce reports of higher prices and shortages "Recent reports of beef 'shortages and soaring prices for hamburger in 1979 is ridiculous and simply not justified by the facts," stated Bill Ross, Jordan Valley, President of the 3,000-member Oregon Cattlemen's Associa tion. Ross was speaking during a press conference in Portland last week, called by the cattle association. Ross' comment was in response to nationally quoted statements by meat processors and some administration officials to the effect that decreasing beef supplies would bring sharp price increases, particularly to ground beef, where $2 per pound hamburger was pre dicted. Ross stated that "in the best judgement of agricultural economists, both in the pri vate and public sector, which we have been in contact with, it is our opinion that retail prices of beef will increase approximately 10 to 12 per cent during 1979. In regard to hamburger prices we see a possible increase of between 10 to 14 per cent during the coming year. During the past year, overall beef prices showed about an 18 per cent increase over 1977. The major cause for these increases is due to a low supply of finished cattle and a continued strong consumer demand." "The current cyclical de crease in beef output means that production in 1979 may be down about 5 per cent from 1978," said President Ross. "However, substantial in creases in pork and poultry production mean that 1979 meat supplies actually will be larger than last year. And, on a per capita basis, total meat supplies should at least equal 1978. "Therefore, it is ridiculous to be talking about so-called shortages. Per capita beef supplies last year have been the third largest in history, and, in 1979, will be only 6 or 7 pounds less. What is happen ing is that we are now returning to more normal supplies and abnormally low prices in relation to other items we buy. As a matter of fact, the government's latest beef price index showed that beef prices still were running behind the index of all food prices." "Obviously, cattlemen hope, that after four years of financial losses because of escalating costs and burden some supplies they will ex perience some additional in crease in cattle prices this year," Ross said. "Higher average prices will provide the incentive to rebuild herds and bring a supply increase again in future years." "Meanwhile, the meat sup ply situation is such that we see no basis whatsoever for scare-type speculation that hamburger prices may aver age 40 to 50 cents per pound higher in 1979." "Right now, and for months to come, supplies of fed cattle which provide the choice roasts and steaks which people prefer are and will be large. Furthermore, even though non-fed cattle production is declining cycli cally, consumers will not experience hamburger short ages. Fed cattle always have provided, and will provide, a substantial share of our ground beef." Ross also spoke for the industry in regards to in creased beef imports which were announced last week by President Carter. The Oregon Cattlemen's Association Pres ident said that, "President Carter and his administration again has failed to assure cattlemen that it will not continue to tamper with the cattle market. It is anticipated that another 200-300 million pounds of imported beef would be allowed into the United States which would mean nearly 1 billion, 570 million pounds of foreign beef for 1979." Ross said that the admini stration's import policies would have little or no effect with beef prices at the retail level. However, it definitely has a negative action for the cattle industry, for it tends to perpetuate the feeling of uncertainty among producers. "Without more assurance that there will not be further intervention in the market, cattlemen will be more reluctant to rebuild their herds, and the net long-term result can be smaller beef supplies and higher prices for consumers than otherwise would be the case. While last week's announcement might seem to serve the political interests of the Administra tion's so-called inflation fight ers, it actually will not contribute to their efforts in the short term, and it certain ly is not productive from a long-term standpoint," stated Ross. "While the increase over 1978 is not large," Ross said, "a lower level of imports would have sent a more positive signal to cattlemen and would have provided a better stimulus to cow herd stabilization. Also, a definite commitment not to tamper further with the market during 1979 would have been in the best interest of consumers as well as cattlemen in that it would have restored more confidence in the future. "As it is now, the Admin istration appears to care little about the future of the domestic livestock industry. And blame for some of the prospective longer term de crease in beef supplies must be laid at the steps of the White House." plants that convert potatoes into starch in the russet growing area. Payments for diverting potatoes will be $2 per hundredweight for the first 30 days Jan. 15 through Feb. 13 and $1.75 for the second 30 days of the program opera tion Feb. 14 through March 15. Potatoes must be of U.S. No. 2 processing grade or better for payments to be made. The Agricultural Stabiliza tion and Conservation Service (ASCS) will administer the program. Interested growers should contact their local county ASCS office for pro gram details. onions fell as domestic sup plies were generally abun dant. Many factors, as well as supply and demand, affect food prices. We encourage you to be a wise consumer, comparing costs and values as you shop. Use the unit pricing information you find available in all major stores to deter mine which is the best buy for you. Next month we will be offering a lesson on "Unit Pricing" to assist homemak ers in understanding the information available. Exten sion also has a correspon dence course starting this week, "You, the Food Shop per," available to those wish ing to sharpen their shopping skills at home. Error noted in CowBelle Cookbooks The recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookies on page 105 of the new Morrow County Cow Belles Cookbook omitted the amount of shortening re quired. If you are the proud owner of one of the cookbooks, please add 1-cups shorten ing to the recipe. (The recipe is one I shared with the CowBelles, and somewhere in typing the gremlins mixed up the info. I usually use half shortening, half butter or margarine.) Goulash." As one of the first Amer icans allowed to live and work in the Soviet controlled coun try, Debbie had many obser vations to share on the culture and history of the country. She found the citizens had-more freedom than she had antic ipated. Debbie is an enthus iastic supporter of the IFYE program, and recommends all 4-H'ers consider International exchange as one of their goals. We thank Jim and Monica Swanson, lone, for sharing their home with Debbie during her visit to the county. margarine.; i Debbie Hoeft uiu Trail riding course is of Hungarian IFYE 1718 at OSU Debbie Hoeft, International 4-H Youth Exchange who spent five months in Hungary, enjoyed three very busy days in Morrow County reporting on her exlperiences and ob servations there. She reported to assemblies at each of the elementary schools, Chamber of Commerce, Lions CLub, and the 4-H Council. In addition, she spent one morn ing with the Junior High Home Ec classes at Heppner, teach ing the students how to make the traditional "Hungarian Area trail riding enthusiasts may be interested in partici pating in a Horsemen's Short Course, to be offered Feb. 17 and 18 at Oregon State University in Corvallis. The in-depth clinic on trail riding and related horse activities will include class topics on competitive and endurance riding, selection of horses and equipment, horse buying, trail first aid, pleasure trails, public land trails, feeding, conditioning and medication, trail ride organization and a packing demonstration. Instructors will include nat ionally known endurance and competition trail riders. Fees ratige from $5 for those 18 and under and college students for one day to $23 for a family for both days. A group rate for six or more allows a 25 per cent reduction in the total bill. More information and reg istration blanks may be obtained from John Nord heim, Morrow County Exten sion Agent, in Heppner. ( OURo cHERfcTAGE The tradition of the soil. The clear look of pollution free skies. The solid foundation of those who have come before. Those are the elements of pride we in Northeastern Oregon have a right to hold dear. Heritage is also the foundation upon which our Savings & Loan has been built. As an enter prise, as an active member of our community, a pride we feel is reflected in the business we do day to day. Our heritage belongs to all of us. We work along with you to preserve that which is good. OURo COMMITMENT We were found ed with the prin ciples provided by our original board of directors 44 years ago. It was simple then, it is simple today. Commitment. How we conduct ourselves in busi ness. How we con duct ourselves as people. Our com mitment is a ded icated effort to keep our West and our heritage a liv ing and growing factor. win. I V. 1 ' .1 . r . .. frJ f"""i ESTERfl HwntWIWI 111! WESTERN WRITAGE FEDERAL SVftGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION FSLK Formerly First Federal Savings & Loan Offices in Pendleton, AAilton-Free water, Heppner & Hermlston a OURo cWEST From those who blazed the trails through rough and timbered terrain to those who blaze trails in today's modem business world, the West is where we live and where we do busi ness. As a community minded organiza tion, our Western heritage continual ly reminds us how grateful we are to live in the area we do. KEEPING cYOU TIRST For 44 years we've been North eastern Oregon's . largest financial in stitution. We know why. Because we keep you first. With service, atti tude, and desire. Originally as First Federal Savings & Loan of Pendleton, now as Western Heritage Savings. The basic needs of the communities we serve we know will not change. Nor will we. Our name is changing. Our commitment re- mams.
