I guess you missed the part that processing corn into ethanol and ethanol mash is actually more expensive in the first place. Again, it takes more energy to produce ethanol, than the energy ethanol returns. I don't care that one of the end products, ethanol mash is then fed to cattle. It still has to be processed and there's an expense component to that, which you're missing.
Beef prices were effected by the recent drought, as cattle are being kept off the market to rebuild the herds.
I wish I could go back and find that post on this thread to credit the original poster. He was of course, absolutely correct. I'm not debating his point however.
Now, explain the outrageous prices on potato chips.
Sorry, I don't eat them and wouldn't know the first thing about potato chip prices. I try to stay away from heavily processed food. Perhaps it has something to do with the Irish potato famine of 1845 - 1852?
It doesn't matter if it isn't subsidized. Either it's viable on the free market or it isn't.
If it isn't...it will "wither on the vine".
Well then if not beef or potato chips, exactly what high food prices are you complaining about...grits?
Pork, sweet corn, corn chips and vegetable are cheap enough...and yes, grits too.