THE BIG GAME GETS CAUGHT UP IN SOME CHICKEN SCRATCH

Tricia Braid

Jan 24, 2013  |  Today's News

The National Chicken Council has thrown a flag on the ethanol industry, saying that Super Bowl fans won’t get their fair share of wings this year because of high corn prices. Yup, you heard that right. The Super Bowl buffet just won’t quite be the same this year, according to the chicken guys. 

“Chicken companies produced about one percent fewer birds last year, due in large part to record high corn and feed prices,” Bill Roenigk, chief economist and market analyst at the Washington, D.C.-based National Chicken Council said. “Corn makes up more than two-thirds of chicken feed and corn prices hit an all-time high in 2012, due to two reasons: last summer’s drought and pressure from a federal government requirement that mandates 40 percent of our corn crop be turned into fuel in the form of ethanol. Simply put, less corn equals higher feed costs, which means fewer birds produced.”

But that’s NOT REALLY the case. According to Fuels America, “ Despite the Chicken Council’s claims, the poultry industry hardly seems to be cutting back on feed and animal production. According to market analysts, USDA estimates show more corn going to livestock and poultry feed, implying ‘that livestock and poultry producers used up more corn than earlier expected.’ And, the same analysts noted, producers ‘do not seem to be cutting back but rather are increasing animal numbers’ and animal weights.”

Click here to read a blog disputing the chicken council’s claims.

Maybe we can finally get these stories to “fly the coop?” Or what about, “go home to roost?”