A new report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture suggests there may be more bacon on breakfast tables across the nation.
Purdue University Agricultural Economist Chris Hurt says pork production is higher than expected following a pig virus many feared would take a heavy toll on baby pigs. More pigs than expected survived this summer and inventory is higher than anticipated.
This means that supply will be higher this winter and throughout 2015 and prices will be more moderate.
"Pork producers are going to be expanding production by the spring of 2015 and that's where we should start to see more moderation in grocery store price," Hurt says.
He says these moderate prices will likely continue into 2016 as well.
Hurt says right now, pork producers are seeing higher pork prices, lower feed prices and farmers are seeing a bounty of corn and soybean crops, all of which are fueling expansion plans. He expects pork supplies next summer to up by 5 percent.
"Corn, soybeans are the most important commodities, but pork then comes generally in as the third most important commodity in Indiana," Hurt says. He says Indiana is the fifth largest pork producer in the United States.
Hurt says the virus has not yet been controlled, but they now know more about it and two new vaccines are on the horizon.