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.