Someone else already used the term Porkocalypse so I had to root about for my own pun. It sucks in either event:
Might want to get your fill of ham this year, because “a world
shortage of pork and bacon next year is now unavoidable,” according to
an industry trade group.Blame the drought conditions that blazed through the corn and soybean
crop this year. Less feed led to herds declining across the European Union “at a significant rate,” according to the National Pig Assn. in Britain.And the trend “is being mirrored around the world,” according to a release (hat tip to the Financial Times).
In the second half of
next year, the number of slaughtered pigs could fall 10%, doubling the
price of European pork, according to the release.The trade group urged supermarkets to pay pig farmers a fair price for the meat to help cover the drought-related losses.
In U.S. warehouses, pork supply soared to a record last month,
rising 31% to 580.8 million pounds at the end of August from a year
earlier, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.The surge came as farmers scaled down their herds as feeding the animals became increasingly expensive.
In July, global food prices leaped 10% from the month before, according to the World Bank. Maize and wheat jumped 25% while soybeans rose 17%.
What will porkaholics and baconphiles do? Is this the revenge of the vegans? Nah, it’s that “non-existent” climate change thing…
Jeez, I feel like Les Fucking Nessman. Hmm, I wonder if they’re still awarding the Silver Sow award?
Aporkalypse
Granted, this will make all things porcine go 1% chic now… Pickled pig’s feet will vanish from the highway gas stations (or on Carrollton) and appear at MUCH higher prices at hoity NYC/L.A. restaurants.
Once a year we get our very own pig from a nearby (organic) farm. We make our own bacon & sausage. Pig feet are good in pozole though I admit I don’t like shaving the hair off the feet.
Haven’t had much success making ham but that’s the spousal unit’s area.
It requires a good size freezer — especially since the pig tends to arrive near the time we get our annual half-cow.
Gosh, if only pigs could be fed with something besides commodity crops…
They’ll have to pry my bacon from my cold, dead fingers!
After the coronary, of course.
Funny how the press release seems to avoid the fact that cattle feed is caught in the same bind.
Funny how the corn producers seem to forget about getting crop subsidies from the govt.
Even though I am in an area that is a high pork producer (mostly covering getting weight on the young pigs), cattle area (trivia, MO is one of the highest cattle states), and crop plantings are extremely weighted to corn and soybeansand the draught has devastated corn. If we get some rain there is still some chance for beans), funny how the local news runs an article that Congress left town without taking action on several vital bills including the farm bill, without mentioning that spending bills have to come from the (heavily republican) house – and otherwise make no effort to stop blaming the dems.
@Misha, Good point. From the medical side I have to ask if it is a good idea (beyond the lack of crop diversity making us vulnerable) that the overwhelming majority of our food is corn in one way or another.
Besides our Cheetos, we have a govt subsidy for corn including one for High Fructose Corn Syrup (and wonder why we’re overweight). The chicken, pork, and beef in the supermarket is overwhelmingly corn fed, …
As a concrete example, on the weekend thread of what are you allergic to, a lot of people are allergic to different grasses. If you’re allergic to corn (which is not uncommon), you are really limited in what you can safely eat.
well, we got lots of pigs in WI.
As someone who randomly developed some sort of pork allergy (I don’t understand it either) and has a roommate who insists on making delicious things with pork in them (FUCK YOU JUDE), I can’t say I’m overly sad about this.
I am sad, however, about my inability to eat gumbo and be a human being the next day.