‘Farmers making their decisions’

BY SARA KEDDY

Kings County Register

This time last year, there were over 60 hog farmers in Nova Scotia.

Today, Pork Nova Scotia executive director Henry Vissers says there are fewer than three dozen.

“You’ll see that drop even more,” he says. “A lot of people are emptying out now and will have no pigs - or they’re shipping all to the U.S. - through October and November.”

The provincial government wrote off a $3.5 million loan to hog farmers granted in december 2006, on the condition growers do a business plan. Vissers said most have - but that plan didn’t account for the $60 per pig loss they’re now taking, compared to a $20 shortfall last winter.

“The price is terrible. We’re not telling people to get out, but there’s no further assistance - the government has been pretty consistent they’re not going to help any more.”

Vissers says farmers are making changes as best they can: getting out, shipping weaners to the U.S., trying to enhance their value chain - a group bought a small meat business and is attempting to process and direct sell their own product; or “trying to weather the storm.

“I expect they’re borrowing money. It’s a tough time, and farmers are making their decisions.”