Price crisis for pig producers
Ten per cent of UK pig producers say they may be forced to quit by Christmas, according to the National Pig Association (NPA).
As a result, it says that around 1.5m rashers of British bacon a week look likely to disappear from supermarket shelves, while 2.3m sausages a week are also at risk of disappearing.
The NPA blames poor crop-growing weather around the world for making pig feed too expensive for British farmers, with a 25 per cent increase in the cost of ingredients such as wheat and soya in recent weeks.
“Over the next few weeks, British pig farmers need to persuade the pork supply chain to work together towards a producer price that reflects the recent rises in feed prices,” says NPA general manager Dr Zoe Davies.