Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Support grows for British pig farmers' Save Our Bacon campaign


    United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron and Home Secretary Theresa May have pledged their support for British pig farmers’ Save Our Bacon campaign, which has attracted media coverage around the world.
    UK pig farmers are urging shoppers to save British bacon for future generations by looking for the independent Red Tractor logo when shopping, as this proves the meat comes from British farms. "I am delighted to be able to support the Save Our Bacon campaign," said Cameron. "I am keenly aware of the problems currently affecting pig producers largely because of the increase in grain prices over the last few months. I welcome the chance to encourage people to support and buy the high-quality and high-welfare British pork products."
    Britain’s pig farmers are asking for the public’s support because harvest failure around the world has caused the cost of pig feed to soar. Feed wheat, a key ingredient in pig feed, has increased over 30 percent since the beginning of 2012, and soya has increased over 65 percent. As feed accounts for 65 percent of the cost of raising a bacon pig, this has plunged Britain’s pig producers into loss, and it is feared production could be down by as much as 10 percent by Christmas.
    "Pig farmers don’t have the benefit of European subsidies," said pig producer Richard Longthorp, chairman of National Pig Association which is running the Save Our Bacon campaign. "So we can only survive these exceptional costs if the large supermarkets choose to pay us a fair price as a matter of urgency — and for that to happen we need shoppers to make a special effort to demonstrate their support for high-welfare British bacon, sausages and pork."
    Other government figures who have publicly pledged their support for National Pig Association’s Save Our Bacon campaign include Natural Environment Minister Richard Benyon, Health Minister Anna Soubry, Culture Minister Ed Vaizey, Scotland Minister David Mundell and Local Government Minister Eric Pickles.

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