Dave Packer ABC News - April 8, 2022 - KRDO’s Afternoon News

Prices for food commodities like grains and vegetable oils reached their highest levels ever last month largely because of “massive supply disruptions” caused by Russia's war in Ukraine, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Index. The FAO said its Food Price Index, which it uses to track the costs of different foods, was up 12.6% since February and reached its highest point since its inception in 1990. Anything with grains, wheat, barley, and corn saw its price rise dramatically, as Russia and Ukraine combined account for 30% of global wheat exports and 20% of global corn exports. Vegetable oil prices also increased significantly, with Ukraine and Russia being the top two exporters of sunflower seed oils. The FAO also said poor weather conditions in the United States and China also were blamed for crop concerns.