Follow up

I too was astounded by the percentage of college graduates on yesterdays chart. I expected that 60+ years since the GI Bill's inauguration the percentages may have been higher. Since this isn't the political blog I'll leave it at that. Too many academic and white collar types are blind to the income levels of blue collar occupations.

From yesterdays post one thing led to another and found 3 factoids which further amazed me. Mayhaps they will you also.



1. Veterinarians: According to the Los Angeles Times 50% of all vets in the US are over 50 old. A third of the vets employed by the USDA are eligible for retirement in the next 3 years.

The American Veterinary Medical Association polled vet students from the class of 2010 to see where they hoped to take their careers. 91% planned to care for pets only, while 2% planned on working exclusively with livestock. Pet Drs earn more.

Imagine the implications for the US food supply since large animal vets are the nation's primary food inspectors.



2. Cotton Prices: Were you aware that cotton prices have risen 80% since July. Better stock up on your Lucky Brand jeans before the holiday rush. Accordingly, some denim manufacturers are beginning to add plastic to their fabric to lessen the blow of expected price increases.



3. Genetically Modified Grain: This is a moral as well as a political issue around the world, and I'm not going there. What struck me as noteworthy was a news item from Reuters yesterday which announced America's largest grain trading partner, China, refused a US shipment of genetically modified corn.

Clearly, Monsanto knows what GM crops China doesn't accept, and most dirt farmers have a handle on the geopolitics of their GM crops. This may be the canary in the mineshaft warning of how GM grains infiltrate neighboring crops, it may possibly have been a test to see how well China checks its imports, or it may simply have been a mistake.

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