Bacon shortage

[HotPepperRosemary]

Choco it is not just a rumor!
The drought is being blamed for the lack of livestock feed which will in turn run up the cost to the farmers and so it is passed on to us the consumer. THAT is what the report stated.
Yes rumor can effect price but that is not the case here.

Shadow...I don't think that people realize how devastating this drought has been to the high plains and the midwest. The upper pacific coast too.
But we grow the bulk of the food in the high plains and midwest.
Corn, wheat, soybeans, sugar beets, alfalfa, flax, barley, canola, sunflowers, edible beans and wild rice. We raise cattle, hogs, bison, turkeys, chickens, ducks, geese, goats, lamas and sheep.
There are apple orchards, grapes, plums, berries, pumpkins, squash, and other vegetables grown as well.
When there is no rain...there is a shortage of food.
If there is no precipitation this winter...it will be devastating next year as well. Worse in fact.
That's the truth. I know because we are farmers. Next spring will be the deciding factor.

[HotPepperRosemary]

The high costs of fuel is not helping either. Then there are the rising costs reflected in fertilizer and other chemicals. There's insurance on equipment and crops and other insurances like health, disability, life, etc...
It is a viscious circle...When fuel costs escalate it reflects in the costs for machinery and parts and labor...and so on and so on...
Farmers still have operating costs. Many have loan payments too. Especially young farmers.
It is tough all around.

[LubyLubyLuby]

Well I guess I've contributed to the shortage also because I did stock up on bacon. We use a lot for seasoning in vegetables. Bought some pork chops and will go back for pickled pork for dried beans and some roasts.

[HotPepperRosemary]

If you shrink wrap your bacon it lasts for about 6 months. We should know how prices go by then. If the drought continues...we will either pay the high prices or not eat pork. I am praying for rain. How about everyone who eats prays for rain!
Butcher wrapped bacon and pork will last about as long. No freezer burn or rancid taste. I am going to enjoy it as long as I can! ;)
Fingers and toes crossed for lots of snow this winter. And last resort is lots of spring rain. I don't even know what rain feels like.We haven't had any precipitation since last winter. It has been really tough.
Also...nitrate free bacon lasts the longest.

[LubyLubyLuby]

If you shrink wrap your bacon it lasts for about 6 months. We should know how prices go by then. If the drought continues...we will either pay the high prices or not eat pork. I am praying for rain. How about everyone who eats prays for rain!
Butcher wrapped bacon and pork will last about as long. No freezer burn or rancid taste. I am going to enjoy it as long as I can! ;)
Fingers and toes crossed for lots of snow this winter. And last resort is lots of spring rain. I don't even know what rain feels like.We haven't had any precipitation since last winter. It has been really tough.
Also...nitrate free bacon lasts the longest.

We have a vacuum sealer so pretty much everything we buy for the freezer gets vacuum sealed. The only thing I don't vacuum seal is chichen and shrimp. I freeze those in water - find it lasts a longer frozen in water.

[HotPepperRosemary]

If you shrink wrap your bacon it lasts for about 6 months. We should know how prices go by then. If the drought continues...we will either pay the high prices or not eat pork. I am praying for rain. How about everyone who eats prays for rain!
Butcher wrapped bacon and pork will last about as long. No freezer burn or rancid taste. I am going to enjoy it as long as I can! ;)
Fingers and toes crossed for lots of snow this winter. And last resort is lots of spring rain. I don't even know what rain feels like.We haven't had any precipitation since last winter. It has been really tough.
Also...nitrate free bacon lasts the longest.

We have a vacuum sealer so pretty much everything we buy for the freezer gets vacuum sealed. The only thing I don't vacuum seal is chichen and shrimp. I freeze those in water - find it lasts a longer frozen in water.

Oh me too!!! Water in the zip lock bags works great. I do my fish that way too. Fresh caught that is. I love my vacuum sealer! Works great! No freezer burn.
The meats I get from the local butcher come wrapped very well so I never rewrap that. All the meat I buy is local. We have ranchers for friends and can just say I want a side or quarter from so and so's cattle.
Poultry I raise myself. And you can't make a better broth than from a fresh home grown free range chicken! ;)

[HotPepperRosemary]

I am thinking that I'll buy some laying hens next spring too. Haven't for a couple of years now.