Pig shortage?

[lakemirror]

Greetings all.

Another tick of the clock in the countdown to Armageddon is upon us. Forget global warming, forget nuclear holocaust, it's time to fear the reaper: http://www.todayonline.com/World/EDC120926-0000085/Pork-and-bacon-shortage-unavoidable--UK-pig-association

My sister in Florida sent me this link as a laugh, as our upcoming family Thanksgiving celebrations and subsequent company Christmastime BBQ at the family business will herald the death of many pigs. Gets me wondering, though....is this just the next petrol shortage scare? As soon as the price goes up the shortage will magically vanish? Seems just another cycle in the supply-and-demand roller coaster that is being used as a marketing tool by the "National Pig Association" (really?).

In any case, we'll suffer through the "shortage" and live to tell the tale, I'm sure.

[keith157]

On a serious note, it could be linked to the disater that has befallen to US corn crop due to drought this year

[Pecker]

The strange thing is, I usually find that pork is far cheaper than beef or lamb, and often cheaper than chicken.

A hike in price would only put it up to similar levels.

Steve W

[aris]

The strange thing is, I usually find that pork is far cheaper than beef or lamb, and often cheaper than chicken.

A hike in price would only put it up to similar levels.

Steve W

All food is going up. Pork may well still be cheaper in relative terms.

The basic issue is that the feed prices have gone up due to drought and other weather conditions around the world. It doesn't take much to move prices upwards. A quick google should find you many news articles on the subject.

If you have a large freezer, stock up now. It won't last long of course, but it can help.

[keith157]

Wise words

[lakemirror]

Yep, called it....no shortage, just a way to justify a rise in price:

http://www.theledger.com/article/20121001/NEWS/121009933/1178?p=all&tc=pgall

A partial quote:

By JIM SUHR
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: Monday, October 1, 2012 at 11:57 p.m.
Last Modified: Monday, October 1, 2012 at 11:57 p.m.
ST. LOUIS | Bacon lovers can relax. They'll find all they want on supermarket shelves in the coming months, though their pocketbooks may take a hit.

The economics of the current drought are likely to nose up prices for bacon and other pork products next year, by as much as 10 percent.

But U.S. agricultural economists are dismissing reports of a global bacon shortage that lent sizzle to headlines and Twitter feeds last week. Simply put, the talk of scarcity is hogwash.

"Use of the word ‘shortage' caused visions of (1970s-style) gasoline lines in a lot of people's heads, and that's not the case," said Steve Meyer, president of Iowa-based Paragon Economics and a consultant to the National Pork Producers Council and National Pork Board.

"If the definition of shortage is that you can't find it on the shelves, then no, the concern is not valid. If the concern is higher cost for it, then yes."

[aris]

Semantics. The demand is larger than the supply - the price goes up. Pork bellies are a commodity.