Grilling Out Costing More: Retail Meat Prices Continue To Climb
May 26, 2014
Summer grilling season will cost meat lovers a few more dollars this year, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. Wholesale meat prices climbed higher during the first quarter of the year and retail meat prices quickly followed suit.
“Retail prices for beef and pork cuts have steadily pushed into new record territory,” said John Anderson, AFBF’s deputy chief economist.
“For pork, the average retail price per pound in March—$3.83—was higher than the prior four months and eclipsed the record level set last fall,” Anderson said.
“For beef, the price move in March was more dramatic. Consumers saw the sixth straight month of new record retail prices for fresh beef products, at $5.40 per pound, which is a 23-percent increase compared to the 2010-2012 average,” he explained.
The sharp increase in retail beef prices has not occurred in a vacuum, Anderson noted. Retail pork prices are currently 18 percent higher than in 2010-2012 while chicken is up 9 percent.
“Farmers and ranchers are raising smaller numbers of hogs and cattle. This is the key factor contributing to higher retail meat prices, a trend that is likely to continue through the summer and, at least for beef, into next year,” Anderson said.
The long-term effects of searing back-to-back droughts in 2011 and 2012 resulted in less feed available for cattle, and ultimately forced a substantial decline in cattle numbers that is now resulting in lower beef production. Year-to-date beef production is down by close to 5 percent according to the Agriculture Department.
Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus or PEDv, a serious hog disease that poses no risk to humans or food safety, is expected to result in a 2 percent decline in 2014 production according to USDA, further influencing retail prices for bacon, ham, pork chops and other products.
The good news for consumers is that although they will pay a bit more for meats this summer, there will be plenty of everyone’s favorites to go around.
“Meat supplies will continue to be plentiful,” said Anderson. “From burgers to brats, steaks to chops and everything in between, consumers will have no problem finding their favorite meats for summer barbeques and cook-outs,” he said.
Barons Top Wahoos By One
May 26, 2014
When starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen left the game after seven innings, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos trailed the Birmingham Barons by only one run, 2-1.
By the end of Sunday’s game, Birmingham left the field with a 5-1 victory in the finale of a five-game series at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
It was a familiar story to Lorenzen—a stingy offense. In his 10 starts this season, only three have come with more than three runs. Plus, both runs the Barons scored came on misplayed fly balls by centerfielder Yorman Rodriguez, normally known for his excellent defense and arm that’s rated the best in the Cincinnati Reds organization.
“Those things are out of my control,” Lorenzen said. “I could get mad and negative about it but that does not help me be successful. Plays just happen. The bug hit him twice, and I was like, ‘Man.’”
On a positive note, Lorenzon threw 5 innings without allowing a hit in his last start, and then another 3.1 innings Sunday for 8.1 straight no-hit innings over his last two starts. He finally gave up a double to the Barons Trayce Thompson which scored Dan Wagner, who had reached third on the first Rodriguez error.
“I try to throw a no-hitter every game out there,” Lorenzen said. “We were talking about it. It was a little frustrating” not to go nine innings without allowing a hit.
Wahoos manager Delino DeShields singled Lorenzen out after the game. “That kid is going to be a big league pitcher one day. Every time he throws I see something a little different.”
After Pensacola third baseman Juan Silverio hit his third solo homerun to left field in five at bats over the past two games to tie the game at 1 in the fifth inning, the Barons added another run in their very next at bat. Wagner led off with a double and scored to make the score, 2-1, on a deep fly ball by Thompson to centerfield that Rodriguez ran back on but dropped. The Barons added three more in the eighth inning for the 5-1 win.
by Tommy Thrall
Pictured: The Pensacola Blue Wahoos lose to the Birmingham Barons 5-1 at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium on Sunday. Photo by Michael Spooneybarger/ Pensacola Blue Wahoos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Slight Chance Of Isolated Rain
May 25, 2014
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Tonight Isolated showers and thunderstorms before 7pm. Patchy fog after 3am. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 65. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 10%.
- Memorial Day Patchy fog before 7am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Light southeast wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
- Monday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
- Tuesday Isolated showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Light south wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Tuesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light southwest after midnight.
- Wednesday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Light southwest wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
- Wednesday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable after midnight.
- Thursday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
- Thursday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 65.
- Friday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
- Friday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.
- Saturday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
- Saturday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68.
- Sunday A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
Memorial Day Travel A Little More Expensive This Year
May 25, 2014
Memorial Day weekend travel is just a little bit tougher on the wallet this year as compared to 2013.
According to the AAA Fuel Gage Report, the average cost of a gallon of regular unleaded in Escambia County was $3.59 Saturday, down a nickel over a month ago. Last year, a gallon of unleaded gas averaged $3.41 per gallon on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. The current national average is $3.65 per gallon.
AAA Travel projects 36.1 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more from home during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, a 1.5 percent increase from the 35.5 million people who traveled last year. Kicking off the summer driving season, more than eight in ten travelers will be driving to their destinations. The Memorial Day holiday travel period is defined as Thursday, May 22 to Monday, May 26.
The national average ended a 16-day streak of daily declines last week, but has still dropped on 18 of the last 21 days. Reported increases in retail demand due to warmer temperatures are adding some upward pressure on wholesale prices, and the rise in demand is beginning to outpace the increases in supplies. Even with these minor fluctuations in price, the national average is expected to remain well below last year’s peak price of $3.79 per gallon.
Political tensions between Russia and the Ukraine continue to keep global markets on edge and are being closely monitored by market watchers for any signs of escalation. Last Friday, President Putin sent a letter to European Union governments indicating that a disruption in supply may be on the horizon. Although analysts report the probability of a long-term disruption is relatively low, a cutoff of supply by Russia could have ripple effects that would be felt in Europe and the United States.
National Missing Children’s Day: Search Continues In North Escambia Case
May 25, 2014
A Tate High School student last seen 12 years ago in North Escambia is among those being remembered today on National Missing Children’s Day
President Ronald Reagan proclaimed May 25 as National Missing Children’s Day in 1983 and the nation observes this day each year
“Those of us who are parents understand that the loved ones of missing children will never stop loving them, and law enforcement will not stop searching for them,” Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Gerald Bailey said.
Danielle Arion Bell, then 14, was last seen at a party in September 2001 in the 500 block of Cedar Tree Lane, between Highway 29 and Highway 95A in Cantonment.
Witnesses told authorities that Bell left a party with a man that was in his mid-twenties at the time. Escambia County deputies later questioned that man and searched his home, but he was never charged in connection with the case.
During the summer of 2007, Alfredo Gomez Sanchez, Jr. was charged with providing law enforcement with false information about his whereabouts at the time Bell disappeared. He was not implicated in her disappearance.
In October 2010, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit served a search warrant at the home.
As part of that search warrant, a septic tank behind the residence was pumped out, and dogs from Escambia Search and Rescue were also used to search the area. Investigators said nothing was found, and they would not say what new information might have led to the search.
According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Danielle has a scar on her right forearm and blue eyes. She had brown hair at the time of her disappearance. Danielle, whose nickname was “Dani”, was a member of the Tate Aggies cheerleading squad. The popular teen enjoyed dancing and drawing.
Anyone with information about Bell is asked to call the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit at (850) 436-9580 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
FDLE invites the public to sign up to receive Missing Child Alerts and AMBER Alerts via email or text message by visiting www.missingchildrenalert.com. To view photos of missing children, visit www.fdle.state.fl.us.
Pictured top: Investigators pumped and searched a septic tank at this home on Cedar Tree Lane in Cantonment in October 2010 in the case of missing teen Danielle Arion Bell. Pictured below: A search and rescue K-9 team was also on site. Pictured bottom: A septic tank company employee prepares to pump a septic tank at the home. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
4-Year Old Falls Off Boat; Child’s Name Released
May 25, 2014
THIS IS AN ARCHIVED STORY. CLICK HERE FOR AN UPDATED STORY.
The search for a 4-year old boy who fell off a boat Saturday afternoon continues.
About 4 p.m., a 911 caller reported the boy had fallen off a 20-foot boat somewhere between Ft. Pickens and NAS Pensacola. The child has been identified by Florida Fish and Wildlife as 4-year old Logan Fontana Maye.
According to FWC the child’s grandfather, Steve Maye, said he was idling away from the Coast Guard Station near Fort Pickens when the boy wanted assistance in getting sand out of his life jacket.
The life jacket was taken off the child, and Maye told authorities he gave it back to him and thought he put it on before he moved the boat at just 10 mph. Maye told officials that it was about one minute later that he looked and did not see Logan.
Officials confirmed Logan was not wearing a personal floatation device at the time he fell overboard.
Escambia Fire Rescue, LifeFlight, Florida Fish and Wildlife, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Coast Guard, Navy Fire and Escambia Search and Rescue were among the agencies that took part in Saturday’s search. Numerous agencies were back on the search on Sunday and will continue on Monday.
Pictured: The search for a 4-year old that fell of a boat Saturday. Photos courtesy WEAR for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Memorial Day Events Planned
May 25, 2014
MONDAY
Barrancas National Cemetery
- The Gulf Coast Veterans Advocacy Council, Inc. will hold a Memorial Service at Barrancas National Cemetery on board NAS in Pensacola, at 9 a.m. Monday to honor and recognize those who have answered the final roll call. The master ceremonies will be Lt. Col. Eurydice S. Stanley, a highly decorated active duty National Guardsman. She has served as a senior human resource officer, and a reserve component advisor.
Atmore Memorial Service
- Memorial Day services in Atmore, hosted by VFW Post 7016 and American Legion Post 90, will be held at the Veterans Monument in front of Atmore City Hall on Monday beginning at 9 a.m. Keynote speaker will be CSM Jackie Gedling. Attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair.
Featured Recipe: Bold Burger Stars During Grilling Season
May 25, 2014
Today’s featured recipe from food writer Janet Tharpe is a bold burger with kicked up toppings.
Wahoos Beat Barons
May 25, 2014
Red’s minor league hitting coordinator Ryan Jackson came to work with the Pensacola Wahoos during the series with the Birmingham Barons.
Pensacola leads the Southern League with .257 batting average but Jackson thought its lineup could use a little tune up.
One person who benefited was third baseman Juan Silverio who smacked two home runs, including a game-winning one in the eighth inning, that helped the Blue Wahoos rally from a five-run deficit to win, 7-6, over Birmingham in front of a third straight sellout crowd Saturday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.
The Wahoos seven runs on seven hits Saturday followed a 10-run, 10-hit victory the night before.
“I feel like they’re headed in the right direction,” Jackson said after throwing some batting practice before the game. “They just have to make sure they get quality at bats. That’s what I look for.”
Silverio said through a translator, Wahoos reliever Fabian Williamson, that Jackson had him doing some extra hitting off a tee.
“Things have been feeling better the past few days and batting practice today was pretty good,” said Silverio, who knocked a few over the left field wall just like he did in the game. “I went out there with a good approach.”
Trailing 6-1, Silverio, who was hitless in his previous eight at bats, started the rally with a solo shot in the fifth inning. The blast came after Wahoos manager Delino DeShields got thrown out of the game for arguing an out call at first base on Juan Duran’s grounder to third.
Two batters later, Rey Navarro added a nearly identical two-run homer over the left field wall to cut the Barons’ lead to, 6-4. Navarro came into the game hitting .342 in his last 10 games and has two doubles, a triple and homer against the Barons this series.
In the sixth inning, Pensacola then sent eight hitters to the plate and added two more runs to tie the game at 6.
The raucous Blue Wahoos fans then received some extra excitement after the inning when team owner Quint Studer danced with the grounds crew in the infield to “Sweet Home Chicago” by the Blues Brothers. Studer’s big move was a jumping 360-degree spin in the air that delighted the packed stadium.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Silverio clubbed another home run to left field to put Pensacola ahead for the first time, 7-6, which ended up the winning margin.
“Juan has a lot of talent and he works hard,” DeShields said of Silverio, who before coming to the Reds organization was the ninth best prospect in the White Sox organization in 2012. “I don’t think he realizes how much talent he has some times. He can be special.”
Florida Forest Service Warns Of Wildfire Danger Time
May 25, 2014
For some it’s beaches, others think of backyard cookouts or baseball games. For wildland firefighters and the personnel of the Florida Forest Service’s Blackwater Forestry Center, however, the days and weeks around Memorial Day typically means a big fire or two.
While Florida experiences wildfires year round, spring traditionally is the height of the season across the state. In the three counties within the Blackwater response area (Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa) that window can be narrowed down even more.
“Right around Memorial Day we usually see some pretty significant fire activity,” said David Smith, operations administrator for the district. “We get rain in April and early May that will prompt new growth and add to the fuel on the ground and then we typically get a drying period of a week, maybe two weeks, that usually produces some of our more difficult fire conditions.”
Current forecasts show no rain in the next week or so. In the past few days, moderate winds and low humidity have helped dry out vegetative fuels after the recent rains. That lines up with historical patterns that have helped make the time around Memorial Day busy for the FFS.
During the past 10 years, Blackwater has seen an average of about 16 wildfires from May 20 to June 10 — the 21 days centered on the holiday. During the past four years, each of the season peaks has produced at least one fire larger than 50 acres that has had a significant impact on residents, roads or the public in general.
Pictured: A wildfire in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.