KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Reuters) - U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer on Thursday sought to calm the frayed nerves of consumers, saying there was no shortage of rice in the United States even as a major outlet limited sales.
He also said the surge in rice prices to record highs at the Chicago Board of Trade, the world's largest grain exchange, could be attributed, in part, to speculation about future rice shortages.
"We don't see any evidence of the lack of availability of rice. There are no supply issues," he told reporters after addressing a conference on agro-terrorism in Kansas City.
"Part of the price issue is speculation because we're so close to capacity...that if something disrupts it like the weather pattern then you can start seeing some supply issues.
"But today there are no supply issues that we see in the marketplace or in the foreseeable future," he added.
the traders all operate on a very high margin basis. the more money they can borrow short term? the more contracts they can control... the more contracts? the more influence they have on the final price...
all that CASH that left the stocks had to go to work somewhere
-------------------- Don't envy the happiness of those who live in a fool's paradise. Posts: 36378 | From: USA | Registered: Sep 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
so really there is no problem.. just the price is doubling like rabbits in spring.. and that's not a problem because we're all rich
Posts: 2965 | Registered: Aug 2005
| IP: Logged |