Bacon Backlash: Local Experts Respond to Shortage Claim
By: Jacob Long, WMBD/WYZZ-TV
Updated: September 25, 2012
ARROWSMITH - Bacon is not necessarily a "Breakfast of Champions."
Nonetheless, the popular food item keeps Pat Bane of Arrowsmith in business.
"A lot of food ingredients add it for the taste and flavor," he told WMBD 31 on Tuesday.
Bane has been a pig farmer his entire life. This year herds like his are feeling the effects of the worst drought in years.
"We'll probably be more aggressive in removing non-productive animals," he said.
The issue is feed, which for pigs, is made of corn and soybeans.
It's more expensive this year because of the drought, and Britain's National Pig Association says the global pig supply is dwindling as a result.
The association goes on to say the problem is so severe we are all headed toward an "unavoidable" bacon shortage.
"About 75% of the cost in livestock is feed. So we know farmers are going to cut back. We're in a world economy and when there's a shortage, there's a shortage everywhere," Bane said in response to the bacon claim.
Commodity experts with the Illinois Farm Bureau are not totally sold, though.
They say the drought is driving up feed prices, but not to the point bacon will disappear from the menu or the grocery store.
"When you add the soybean crop in with what came out with the corn crop there will be a reduction, but it's not catastrophic for livestock. You're going to be able to have bacon on your cheeseburger, " said senior economist Mike Doherty.
Still, Doherty cautioned you might have to pay more for that bacon and other pork products.
"We expect prices for pork products to increase next year. Some predictions have been around four or five percent," he said.
Back at Bane's farm, he has a safety net to protect him from rising prices.
His pig farm is McLean County's largest with 3,000 pigs, but he knows others aren't so lucky.
"There are people who will get out. There are people who will retire," he said.
To keep things in perspective, keep in mind the latest update from the USDA.
It predicts pork production will fall about 300,000,000 lbs next year, but that's only 1.3% of current production levels.
You can read more about the British group's claims here.
Nonetheless, the popular food item keeps Pat Bane of Arrowsmith in business.
"A lot of food ingredients add it for the taste and flavor," he told WMBD 31 on Tuesday.
Bane has been a pig farmer his entire life. This year herds like his are feeling the effects of the worst drought in years.
"We'll probably be more aggressive in removing non-productive animals," he said.
The issue is feed, which for pigs, is made of corn and soybeans.
It's more expensive this year because of the drought, and Britain's National Pig Association says the global pig supply is dwindling as a result.
The association goes on to say the problem is so severe we are all headed toward an "unavoidable" bacon shortage.
"About 75% of the cost in livestock is feed. So we know farmers are going to cut back. We're in a world economy and when there's a shortage, there's a shortage everywhere," Bane said in response to the bacon claim.
Commodity experts with the Illinois Farm Bureau are not totally sold, though.
They say the drought is driving up feed prices, but not to the point bacon will disappear from the menu or the grocery store.
"When you add the soybean crop in with what came out with the corn crop there will be a reduction, but it's not catastrophic for livestock. You're going to be able to have bacon on your cheeseburger, " said senior economist Mike Doherty.
Still, Doherty cautioned you might have to pay more for that bacon and other pork products.
"We expect prices for pork products to increase next year. Some predictions have been around four or five percent," he said.
Back at Bane's farm, he has a safety net to protect him from rising prices.
His pig farm is McLean County's largest with 3,000 pigs, but he knows others aren't so lucky.
"There are people who will get out. There are people who will retire," he said.
To keep things in perspective, keep in mind the latest update from the USDA.
It predicts pork production will fall about 300,000,000 lbs next year, but that's only 1.3% of current production levels.
You can read more about the British group's claims here.
