Holiday side dishes will be a bit more expensive

Consumers will pay slightly more this year when they prepare side dishes that make the Thanksgiving meal, a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service specialist said.

There will be some good buys possible this year, but overall, the meal will cost more, said David Anderson, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension economist and professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics, Bryan-College Station.

“We’re looking at overall retail prices being a little higher this year,” Anderson said. “These retail prices include what it costs to get it packaged and to the store, so that doesn’t necessarily mean higher prices are happening at the farm level.”

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics latest Consumer Price Index shows that at-home food prices have risen 1.1% over the last 12 months. 

A mixed shopping bag of produce prices

Anderson said there’s some interesting data from the October reports by U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service, which provides produce prices after surveying 29,000 grocery stores about their specials, features and items on sale.

Green beans and russet potatoes are Thanksgiving dinner items where consumers might see slight savings or fairly stable prices, but many other items will be higher unless they find a grocery store with an advertised special, he said.

Green beans are $1.82 per pound on average this year compared to $1.99 per pound last year. Russet potatoes will cost about 88 cents per pound this year, compared to 85 cents per pound last year.

Another cost savings may be found with apples, Anderson said. With such a large variety of apples offered, it could pay to shop around. For example, varieties like Gala and Granny Smith are cheaper in dollars per pound than a year ago, while Fuji apples are a little more expensive.

Staples of the season, like cranberries, sweet potatoes and onions, also saw a price jump.

Cranberries went from $2.01 for a 12-ounce bag last year to $2.34 this year. Anderson said this could directly result from fewer outlets featuring them in their sales this year. Last year, of the surveyed outlets, 14,300 outlets featured cranberries in ads, but only 5,300 had cranberries on sale this year.

Sweet potatoes will cost about 80 cents per pound this year compared to 69 cents per pound last year, and fewer outlets also had them as a featured sale item.

“They also have yellow onions selling for $1.06 per pound this year versus 74 cents per pound last year,” Anderson said. “In percentage terms, that’s one of the bigger jumps.”

Some baking ingredients rise as well

The biggest price jump will be felt on baked goods and deviled eggs, if that’s a side dish headed to the Thanksgiving feast, as the price of a dozen eggs has risen from $2.07 last year to $3.37 this October.

“Eggs are quite a bit more expensive after the industry was hit by the avian influenza issue, which really cut our egg production,” Anderson said. “The holidays are a high-use time with all the baking, but this shouldn’t come as a surprise because the consumer has seen those prices rise over the entire year.”

Anderson said the monthly Consumer Price Index, which reports on milk, cheese, sugar and flour, indicated consumers would see a mixed bag of prices.

Milk rose to $4.04 per gallon this year compared to $3.93 per gallon a year ago, while cheddar cheese stayed flat at $5.84 per pound this year compared to $5.85 last year.

The report indicated sugar prices have declined slightly in recent months, but they are higher than a year ago, he said. And flour prices are lower this year than last year.

“We know wheat prices are pretty low, so it is probably a case where lower wheat prices translate back to lower flour prices,” Anderson said.

AgriLife Extension district reporters compiled the following summaries:

Central

The weather had been favorable for crop development, with mild temperatures, sunny days and intermittent rain the previous week. The rain improved small grain and pasture conditions, although more moisture was needed as rapid drying raised concerns. Pastures greened up, and early planted winter pastures were being grazed, though some areas remained dry. The rain encouraged the germination of ryegrass, wheat and oats, but full seed emergence remained uncertain. Wheat planting neared completion, and oat planting continued. Cattle remained in good condition, with supplemental feeding ongoing. The cattle, sheep and goat markets remained strong. The pecan harvest was in full swing, but additional moisture was needed to sustain growth.

Rolling Plains

Favorable conditions were reported across the Rolling Plains last week, with widespread rains providing much-needed relief to farmers and ranchers. Farmers who had been unable to plant wheat due to dry conditions were able to finish planting in those areas, as well as patch seed into spots that may have washed out from localized heavy rainfall. Livestock benefited from the improved conditions, with noticeable growth in pasture grasses. Most calves had been weaned and shipped to market, and cattle prices favored producers. With the rains improving native grass pastures and winter wheat grazing, stocker calves were expected to have optimal conditions heading into the winter.

Coastal Bend

Warm, dry conditions persisted, with no significant rain in many areas for the past 45 days. Temperatures remained in the upper 80s, with cool mornings. Soil moisture levels were critically low, and pasture conditions continued to deteriorate due to dry weather and the seasonal dormancy of warm-season grasses. Forage quality was low, and hay feeding of livestock was in full swing, with protein supplements also being provided on heavily stocked pastures. Field crop producers held off on fertilization until conditions improved, while some prepared fields and booked seed and chemicals for the next year. Corn stalk destruction and fall bedding activities resumed in some areas following recent rains. Cattle remained in good condition, with prices steady and high. The pecan harvest continued, though yields were minimal.

East

Most of the district received some rainfall, but high winds and temperatures had already dried out some counties. Daytime temperatures were warmer than normal. Pasture and rangeland conditions ranged from poor to fair. Subsoil conditions were short to adequate, while topsoil conditions were adequate. As nighttime temperatures began to cool, summer grasses slowed, and winter forages started to grow. Marion County producers completed their last cutting of hay. Livestock were in fair to good condition, with some supplementation taking place. Cattle market prices increased.

South Plains

Wet conditions persisted across a large area following last week’s heavy rains, which saturated the ground. Cotton farmers waited for fields to dry so they could pick up modules and finish stripping cotton. Many farmers were also waiting for a hard freeze to finish off late milo. Early planted wheat that had emerged before the rain looked good. Producers planned to continue planting wheat once fields dried enough to allow entry. Cattle remained in good condition.

Panhandle

Recent rainfall totals ranged from 2-4 inches of slow, soaking showers, providing a significant boost to winter small grains and other commodities planted as cover crops. While wheat had struggled to establish a good stand, it responded with rapid growth and development following the rain. However, progress in harvesting the remaining cotton acres was slow due to wet ground conditions, with additional drying needed for the machine stripping of seed cotton. The pace of field tillage operations also slowed due to saturated soils. The additional rainfall was highly beneficial, significantly improving topsoil and subsoil moisture levels. This reduced the immediate need and costs for supplemental irrigation across many acres. Supplemental feeding of cattle continued. Soil moisture conditions were adequate. Pasture, rangeland and overall crop conditions were reported as fair to good.

North

Several counties received much-needed rain, which was welcomed but insufficient to alleviate ongoing drought conditions. Temperatures were reported as average to above average, with cold nights and warm days. Winter wheat, Bermuda grass, winter annual ryegrass and oats showed good signs of growth and greening. Livestock conditions were reported as good to excellent, with supplemental hay being provided in areas where forage production remained limited due to the ongoing drought. The counties reported pasture and rangeland conditions primarily falling into the fair, good and poor categories. Subsoil and topsoil moisture levels were mostly adequate. Feral hog activity was reported as widespread, although most nuisance flies had subsided.

Far West

The district experienced cooler weather and additional rain showers. The thunderstorms that passed through Sunday night were much needed, but more consistent showers were needed. Temperatures averaged highs of 85 degrees and lows of 50 degrees, with reported precipitation of 1.05 inches. High wind gusts and lightning were also reported. The cotton harvest was nearing completion, but both yields and grades were disappointing for growers. Color and micronaire issues dropped grades and led to very low loan values. Wheat acres were expected to increase significantly, and if sufficient rain falls, a good portion may make it to harvest due to high input costs and low cotton prices. A few acres of late grain sorghum were being harvested, and pecans had started to be harvested. Hay was being baled, and the pumpkin-growing season ended. Pastures were bare of winter weeds, and livestock were in fair condition. Producers were advised to continue supplementing feed for livestock and wildlife.

West Central

The district received up to 2 inches of rain, which was much needed but not enough to alleviate the ongoing drought conditions. The rain was beneficial for early planted wheat, which showed good emergence, and for filling stock tanks. However, more rain is still needed to significantly improve soil moisture and ease dry conditions. The first frost may occur this week, but the overall weather has been mild, with cooler nights and warm days. Wet field conditions delayed wheat planting and the final cotton harvesting in some areas. Pasture conditions improved, with winter grasses growing well, especially in brushy areas, though moisture was still needed to maintain pasture health. Livestock were in good condition, with fall cattle work and shipping ongoing. The cattle market has strengthened, with prices rising for stocker steers and heifers, while feeder steers and packer cows remained steady. The pecan harvest continued with good nut quality.

Southwest

Trace amounts of moisture were observed in parts of the district; however, drought conditions persisted. Drops in nighttime and morning temperatures encouraged cool-season grasses and forbs to germinate or break dormancy, though growth remained limited due to scarce moisture. Some oats and wheat were planted following the previous week’s rains. Winter wheat continued to emerge, with 100% now planted. As the growing season ended, the recent moisture helped reinforce perennial root systems for the cool season. Supplemented livestock and wildlife remained in fair condition, though cows with calves began to show signs of stress. Hunting season progressed well, and livestock markets remained steady to higher. Pasture forages were typical for the time of year.

South

Temperatures dropped as low as 52 degrees in the early mornings in some areas, with daily highs ranging from 59-95 degrees. Temperatures remained above normal most of the week, with some overcast days. Scattered showers helped some solid and rangeland conditions, but dry and windy conditions in other areas halted some grain planting and raised concerns about roadside and wildfire risks. Peanut harvest, sesame and fall vegetable harvests were all underway in parts of the district. Strawberry producers replanted some areas where plant mortality had occurred. In other parts of the district, producers planted leafy greens, winter wheat, cabbage, onion and other cool-season vegetables. These crops progressed well but needed moisture to continue maturing. A few forage producers were still making hay, likely the last cuttings of the year. Row crop producers worked their fields, building up rows in preparation for the upcoming growing season and chemically controlling weeds. Hidalgo County reported low pecan production due to drought and a lack of water in irrigation canals. Some producers waited for rain to cultivate and plant their oats, hoping for a change in weather. Citrus harvest continued. Rain was still needed across a significant portion of the district, with multiple counties reporting declining topsoil and subsoil moisture levels that would worsen without rainfall. Rangeland and pasture conditions were fair, and grazing availability in stocked pastures decreased. Vegetative cover and forage quality declined, limiting food availability for wildlife. Beef cattle producers began supplementing their herds more heavily due to reduced grass yields and marketed spring calves. In cattle markets, packer cows and bulls sold steadily compared to the previous week, while calves and yearlings sold for $2-$6 per hundredweight higher, with higher volumes. The fall breeding season was underway. Some ranchers reduced their herds and sold calves at lighter weights than desired due to drought conditions. Some producers were hauling water as stock tank levels dropped. Ranchers began supplemental feeding livestock. Deer and quail hunting was expected to improve with cooler temperatures.