Drought may cut U.S. bacon production

WASHINGTON – If you like bacon, then you probably subscribe to the thought that everything tastes better with it.

But could we be running short?

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says a drop in corn and soybean crops could lead to a reduction in pork production next year. Officials estimate next year’s pork output to be 23 billion pounds, down about 1.3 percent from this year, CBS reports.

CBS says a U.K. pig association also warns a global bacon and pork shortage is “unavoidable,” although the warning comes as the group urges British stores to pay pig farmers “a fair price.”

Take solace though: The decline in production could be worse in Europe. Mick Sloyan of British Pig Executive says pork losses could hit 10 percent in 2013 and cause a doubling of pork prices, according to CBS.

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