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Enjoy your fry-ups and breakfast rolls while you can as a global crisis threatens to hit Ireland. We could be facing a pork and bacon shortage.

By Declan Whooley

Global reports have said that there will be a shortage of pork due to the droughts in North America and Russia adding to a spike in grain costs.

Ireland is certainly not immune and the bad news is that the price of pork is rising and it is only going one way. We spoke to IFA Pigs Chairman Tim Cullinan who says the pork shortage will only get worse.

“In the last 12 months there has been an eight per cent drop in pig herds in Ireland because farmers cannot afford to stay in business. There needs to be a better share of retail price or the problem will get much worse,” he told JOE today.

Cuillinan added that as well as increasing prices for cereal and protein, regulations coming into the Irish market will further add to costs and he believes there is only one possible solution to the shortage.

"We (farmers) need a much better share of retail price, or else there is no long-term future in this country for breeding pigs," he added.

This country has enough problems but it may come to a stand-still if ham sandwiches, breakfast rolls and other pork and bacon products are to be rash-ened!