The extremely dry spring weather and ongoing threat of drought has caused an early straw harvest, resulting in the straw being shorter than usual.
England’s pig farmers use over 350,000 tonnes of straw a year. Alternatives include pea straw, woodchips and sawdust, but the most successful alternative is rape straw.
http://www.meatinfo.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/12880/NPA_warns_of_straw_shortages.html