Bacon Shortage Could Hit Iowa, Pork Industry Experts Warn

Could bacon, that all-time favorite breakfast meat, begin disappearing from store shelves?

One pork trade group says a world-wide pork shortage, including disappearing bacon stores, will happen.

"A world shortage of pork and bacon next year is now unavoidable," Britain's National Pig Association said in a press release. "New data shows the European Union pig herd is declining at a significant rate, and this is a trend that is being mirrored around the world. Pig farmers have been plunged into loss by high pig-feed costs, caused by the global failure of maize and soya harvests."

The drought is affecting Iowa pork producers who are facing a losing proposition with corn, according to KCCI Channel 8 in Des Moines. They need to feed their hogs at more than $7 a bushel.

The widespread summer drought this year devastated corn and other feed crops in other parts of the country as well, leading pig farmers to slaughter thier herds early.

That, in turn, has temporarily boosted pork supplies in the U.S., according to a Bloomberg News Report. But the record slaughter of pigs in the U.S. this year means farmers will have smaller herds next year and will bring fewer pork products to the markert.

Story County farmer David Struthers told KCCI he's already trimming the size of his herd in order to reduce his losses.

"If I were purchasing all my grain to feed my hogs, I'd probably be closing out right now," Struthers told the TV station.