LAS CRUCES — The bacon scare is over.

Word was received last week that there should not be a bacon shortage in the not-too-distant future. I would have hated to be forced to explain to my skinny-as-a-rail daughter that her favorite food (in moderation, of course) was going to be harder to find on store shelves.

Still, the flip side of the coin, news wise, is that the price of bacon, and other grocery items, could rise.

"If the definition of shortage is that you can't find it on the shelves, then no, the concern is not valid," Steve Meyer, a consultant to the National Pork Producers Council and National Pork Board, recently told The Associated Press. "If the concern is higher cost for it, then yes."

The main reason is the stubborn drought that still clasps a swath of our nation. Because of the lack of moisture, the corn crop is compromised and prices, already under pressure by demand to make ethanol, are expected to rise. That raises the price of food for animals such as pigs and cattle. The Associated Press reports that more farmers might send pigs to slaughter sooner so they do not have to buy as much feed. That could initially lower the cost of pork, but when that extra supply runs down, prices would bounce back up.

Add to that the concern that if a new farm bill isn't passed by Congress, the National Milk Producers Federation says government purchases of dairy products, under a different pricing system, could cause milk prices to rise above $6 per gallon.


Now, that could be ameliorated if the farm bill is passed, but Congress is on recess until after the election, so we'll have to wait to see what happens.

Janae Sanders said that she has already felt the effects.

"Prices are going up on most things, not just food," she said on the Sun-News Facebook page. "My family has already had to cut back."

Lucas Herndon believes the answer is for people to "Grow it yourself."

"Legalize chicken-keeping in the city limits," he said. "Increase vendor space at the farmers market. Utilize public space for urban farming."

Jacqueline Toth is worried about the economy.

"I am still recession-proof shopping," she said.

"This is only one of ... myriad ... reasons why supporting a healthy, sustainable and equitable local and regional food system is imperative," Krysten Aguilar said.


Shopping on a budget

Here are some ways to shop for groceries while staying on a budget:

• Have a budget in mind that you won't stray from

• Look for sale items

• Write a grocery list of exactly what you need


• Don't go to the grocery store hungry

• Don't go when you are feeling really rushed