Tim Pettit, Owner Morrisville Big M
/ Jim Kenyon
If you like bacon with your breakfast, you may want to "pig out" while you can.
Experts are predicting an unavoidable shortage of bacon and other pork products in the coming year because of this year's drought. The prediction comes from the National Pig Association in Britain, The organization says drought conditions caused a shortage and price spike for corn and soybeans used to feed pigs. As a result, farmers in Europe are reducing their herds.
The trend "is being mirrored around the world" according to the National Pig Association.
That appears to be the case in Central New York. Tim Pettit who owns the Morrisville Big M in Madison County told CNY Central's Jim Kenyon that his meat suppliers have informed him of a pending "glut" of meat because farmers nationwide are bringing their animals to slaughter. Pettit says that glut will initially lead to lower prices, but eventually as supplies decrease, prices will increase. Pettit says the impact of feed prices affects not only pork, but beef and dairy products as well.
About a mile away from the Morrisville Big M, Shawn Bossard manages the dairy farm/classroom owned by Morrisville State College. Bossard says while Central New York escaped the worst of the drought, other parts of the United States were hard hit. He says the drought affected feed prices nationwide. Bossard predicts the higher prices and shortages of pork and other meats will last "a couple of years" because it will take that long for farmers to raise enough livestock to replace animals being brought to slaughter.
Associate Professor of Agriculture Business, Sheila Marshman says China is an important factor in the pending shortage of pork. Marshman says while China has 20 percent of the world's population, it has only 8 percent of the land mass for raising livestock. Because the Chinese have a growing disposable income, Marshman says demand of pork products has increased significantly. Marshman says feed grown in the United States is exported to China. She says China uses the feed to grow pigs for its own consumers and exports meat products back into the United States.
Marshman suggests that consumers "get to know their local farmers" to ensure the quality and availability of food.
