Deadly Pig Virus Affects Economics Of Pork

03:27

March 21, 2014

Illinois hog farmer Phil Borgic says the PED virus killed many of his piglets. The virus is expected to cut pork supplies this year. (Peter Gray/Harvest Public Media)

For the past year, farmers in at least 25 states in the U.S. and three Canadian provinces have been battling P.E.D. — porcine epidemic diarrhea virus. The infection attacks baby pigs and often causes them to die.

The outbreaks are leading to lower pork projections for this year, and prices for bacon are expected to be high.

From the Here & Now Contributors Network, Harvest Public Media's Amy Mayer reports.

Harvest Public Media: Bring home the bacon: Virus cutting pork supplies

Reporter

Amy Mayer, agriculture reporter for Iowa Public Radio and Harvest Public Media. She tweets @AgAmyInAmes.

This segment aired on March 21, 2014.