- Time of past OR future Camino
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This story is in the Guardian today. The change in climate is affecting the availability of acorns and hence the production of jamón ibérico bellota.
Spain’s prized jamón ibérico under threat from climate crisis
Rising temperatures and low rainfall threaten key ingredient of pigs’ diet – acorns from the dehesa oak forestswww.theguardian.com
Embellishing is unfair, I think. It is apparent that the writer (who is based in Spain) has done some extra research and established, for example, that importing acorns is an option, but not an attractive one. He has explained for the benefit of non-Spanish readers what dehesas are, why they are generally under threat and why they are important. The writer has also added statistical information about rainfall and temperature in Estremadura pointing out a 35% drop over the last 50 years and interviewed local representatives to corroborate the original story. The inference that the weather changes are part of a general pattern of climate change is exactly what mainstream science is saying. These are not 'embellishments'. They are additional pieces of useful, background information showing that the reporter has done his job properly and not just cut and pasted from another report as a lazy journalist might do.I read the original report in Spanish and it is amazing how the Gaun's reporter has embellished his story with mentions about climate change.
These are totally absent in the Spanish report: there was little rain in October, the pigs aren't as fat as they should be and prices of jamón are expected to go up.
https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20230130/falta-bellota-sequia-jamon-iberico-espana/2419089.shtml
I read the original report in Spanish and it is amazing how the Gaun's reporter has embellished his story with mentions about climate change. These are totally absent in the Spanish report: there was little rain in October, the pigs aren't as fat as they should be and prices of jamón are expected to go up.
https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20230130/falta-bellota-sequia-jamon-iberico-espana/2419089.shtml
I am a fast reader and wondered about the mention of prices, too. The Guardian/Graudian has a reputation for their spelling errors but not for shoddy reporting of their reporters and contributors. As the article refers to market prices, I took this to mean the price that producers can ask for their product and not the price that the consumer pays. That farmers receive less while consumers pay more, due to the market-dominant power of supermarket chains, will not surprise anyone who takes an interest in how their food is produced, marketed and sold. But that is not the reason as I learnt when I read a bit more, out of mere curiosity.prices of jamón are expected to go up.
But, what this last article says is that the problem is not the lack of acorns, but the increase in cost production (electricity and feed). Actually it says that acorn production has been good in last campaigns.I am a fast reader and wondered about the mention of prices, too. The Guardian/Graudian has a reputation for their spelling errors but not for shoddy reporting of their reporters and contributors. As the article refers to market prices, I took this to mean the price that producers can ask for their product and not the price that the consumer pays. That farmers receive less while consumers pay more, due to the market-dominant power of supermarket chains, will not surprise anyone who takes an interest in how their food is produced, marketed and sold. But that is not the reason as I learnt when I read a bit more, out of mere curiosity.
The Guardian article is apparently correct: as a result of unusually hot and dry summers, the oaks are producing fewer acorns. This, plus a drop in the market price, led to a 20% reduction in the jamón ibérico produced last year in Extremadura. The article does not refer just to this year's summer and it refers to last year's drop of prices. Producing a jamón ibérico bellota isn't quick, it takes 2-4 years. Rentability and profitability are an issue, and small farmers may give up because of this. One may wonder whether we ought to take in interest in the news about the land where we walk as peregrinos and about the people who live there and about short and long-term developments that affect their livelihood when we are merely passing through. Up to each individual to decide.
The price of acorn-fed Iberian hams will skyrocket in the coming years due to a 15% drop in the number of pigs because many farmers stopped rearing this species during Covid-19 and also because of the increase in production costs.The closure of restaurants and the cancellation of fairs, celebrations and social gatherings during the height of the pandemic caused the price of pig products to fall drastically in 2019 and 2020.
El jamón ibérico se disparará de precio en 2022 tras caer un 15% el censo de cerdos
Los costes fijos de producción se han encarecido: el saco de pienso ha subido un 25%.www.elespanol.com
This last article is dated 8th December 2021. I take this to mean that in addition to the increase in costs and loss of markets that existed the year before last, the farmers are now facing a shortage of acorns. We have had a La Niña event since then which probably accounts for that.But
But, what this last article says is that the problem is not the lack of acorns, but the increase in cost production (electricity and feed). Actually it says that acorn production has been good in last campaigns.
The pigs eat feed (cereals, etc) from april to septembre when there are no acorns.
The other three DOP are: Guijuelo (Salamanca), Jabugo (Huelva) and Los Pedroches (Córdoba).
Yes, dehesas are important in center and south Spain. There are also dehesas with ash trees (for cows). They cut their branches ( desmochado) in a way to make the shade bigger.This last article is dated 8th December 2021. I take this to mean that in addition to the increase in costs and loss of markets that existed the year before last, the farmers are now facing a shortage of acorns. We have had a La Niña event since then which probably accounts for that.
On a more general note; the dehesas are a remarkable feature of traditional Spanish agriculture. They comprise pasture with oak trees planted at carefully calculated intervals. The trees prevent the grass drying out in the sun in summer but provide enough light for the grass to grow up in spring. This grass feeds cattle but the trees also provide shade for the cattle in summer. In addition to that, the trees provide timber and firewood. The acorns are almost a bonus. In some areas they used to plant cork oaks as well holm oaks, another source of income. Plus they are nice to walk through, as you will a lot of the time if you follow the Via de la Plata.
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Speaking for myself I find the reality of life for those who welcome and sometimes tolerate us as pilgrims of great interest. It is one of the reasons I prefer the less-travelled routes and I make an effort to learn enough language to speak to people beyond the hospitality industry.One may wonder whether we ought to take an interest in the news about the land where we walk as peregrinos and about the people who live there and about short and long-term developments that affect their livelihood when we are merely passing through. Up to each individual to decide.
I am not a scientist but of course climate change has something (alot) to do with it.I read the original report in Spanish and it is amazing how the Gaun's reporter has embellished his story with mentions about climate change.
These are totally absent in the Spanish report: there was little rain in October, the pigs aren't as fat as they should be and prices of jamón are expected to go up.
https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20230130/falta-bellota-sequia-jamon-iberico-espana/2419089.shtml
The Guardian headline that has stuck in my mind is "Queen in brawl at Palace" - a reference to footballer Gerry Queen being shown a red card after an incident while playing for Crystal Palace.Ah, the dear old Gruaniad. Once renowned for the humour of it’s compositors ( the description of Edward Heath as the Prim Minister was a favourite).
A desiccated Dehesa and skinny pigs can be added to the list of things we should be more worried about than the availability of sleeping bag transport between 3* Albergues
I’ve seen it high a couple of times and once so low that the guy who runs the eel trap was carrying water on his quad bike to try and keep his catch wet. Good to hear it’s fullPassed through there yesterday. I can report that the reservoir is full at the moment. Never seen so much water there!
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Sorry to disagree, but this thread is very much to do with the camino. I, like most of the pilgrims i've met are very interested in the environment through which they are walking. Yes part of it may be if it is too hot, to dry, on fire or flooded which affects the ability to progress. But also if the comunities and the area through which we travel is being adversley affected surely if the trees are dying are as bigger consern as to discarded toilet paper. The lack of jamon, wine or olives on the way will be as much of a worry as to if there is a a bed at the end of the day as many of us look forward to this (even if I dont eat meat) as much as checking out a local chapel. Talk to a local on the Vdlp and the level of the reservoir, health of the trees, amount of grazing is more important to them then the number of pilgrams that pass by. The history of the route is more then in the churches and bars, it literaly is in the stoney ground we walk on so taking time to look up and wonder what is happening and what we can do about it is part of the camino contemplation.Some might suggest that this topic has little to do with the pilgrimage to Santiago. Any reference I might make to my "hungry gap" greens totally destroyed by 10 days of continuous sub-zero temperatures (never before in the 20 years I've lived and gardened here) might lead others to think that that has even less to do with Camino.
I much prefer a conversation over a glass to a confusion over a key-board
Sorry to hear that amiga. Speedy recoveryNo luck on the vino front, lying flat on my back recovering from a broken hip - not walking of lack of vege related, rather an over enthusiastic heading dog deciding that the quickest way to a rabbit was through not around me. All good, just generally falling apart as I age feeling a bit grumpy and house bound.
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