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Fertilizer prices have risen to a record high in North America, threatening to boost food inflation even higher. Nitrogen products are increasing due to the cost of natural gas, which is used in the manufacturing process. The Green Markets North America Fertilizer Price Index soared to a record high last week of $996.32 per short ton. The fertilizer market has been roiled by hurricanes, plant shutdowns, sanctions, and shortages of natural gas in Europe and China, pushing nutrient prices sky-high, which will raise the cost of production for global farmers. Here are global fertilizer prices zooming higher:Fertilizers play an essential...

Food prices to post biggest rise since 1990: USDA By Christopher Doering Wed Aug 20, 5:43 PM ET U.S. consumers should brace for the biggest increase in food prices in nearly 20 years in 2008 and even more pain next year due to surging meat and produce prices, the Agriculture Department said on Wednesday. Food prices are forecast to rise by 5 percent to 6 percent this year, making it the largest annual increase since 1990. Just last month, USDA forecast food prices would climb between 4.5 and 5.5 percent in 2008. "It's a little bit of a surprise how...

Surge in Food Prices Expected Through 2012 Fuel costs, a weak dollar, global demand, and ethanol production push up food prices Posted June 12, 2008 A study released today by the former chief economist of ConAgra Foods forecasts record-breaking food inflation through 2012. The report, by Bill Lapp of Advanced Economic Solutions, estimates food inflation will rise by an average of 9 percent annually between 2008 and 2012. The rate is more than three times the average rate of food inflation in the United States in recent years. The price explosion is due to rising fuel costs, a weak dollar,...

Bread and butter issue: Rising prices may herald the first global food shortage since the 1970s By Jenny Wiggins and Javier Blas in London Published: October 23 2007 19:11 | Last updated: October 23 2007 19:11 When the United Nations held its annual World Food Day last week to publicise the plight of the 854m malnourished people around the world, its warning that there “are still too many hungry people” was a little more anxious than usual.Finding food to feed the hungry is becoming an increasingly difficult task as growing demand for staples such as wheat, corn and rice...