Now is the time for young farmers to join the industry

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Karen and Drew de Bruyn believe that the bottom of the industry trough is precisely the time for young farmers to enter the hog business. They also feel that Ontario pork should have a recognizable symbol so that consumers know they are buying local

by KAREN and DREW DE BRUYN

No one wants to be reminded of the tough times that have occurred in the last three years to the pork industry. The effect of the low profit returns of the hogs has been felt throughout the industry from the packers, to the feed suppliers, right to the family farmer. A farmer's children have first-hand experience of what financial troubles can do to the family farm. Financial troubles have caused heated discussions over the supper table and debt levels have given the parents sleepless nights. Low returns have taken a lot of the fun out of the pork industry.

As farm kids who have witnessed and know the devastating effect that the troubled pork industry has had on not just our own family but on friends and neighbours, what incentive is there to become a hog farmer? Financially speaking, there is no attraction for newcomers to enter the pork industry right now.

We, however, take a more positive view. We feel that it is a lot easier for young farmers to get into the industry at the bottom of the trough and ride the wave up, than to get in at the peak.

Any young farmer who is interested in entering the hog industry should find a fellow pork producer who is thinking about quitting. Get them to help you get set up by slowly taking over their farm. Any farmer who built up their own farm through hard work and determination is going to have a hard time seeing it go to waste. Having a young person slowly taking over a retiring farmer's farm allows them to pass on their traditions and pride to you. You will also benefit from their contacts and suppliers, giving you a head start in the industry. Through tough times and good times, remember we are all in this together.

Secondly, the hog industry should take a lead from the beef, dairy and egg producers. Using impressive media campaigns to show people that buying local is important. It is time, in our opinion, for swine producers to do the same. 

We also think that Ontario consumers would be happy to support their local farmers if there was an easier way to identify local pork products in the grocery store. By placing a recognizable symbol on Ontario pork, producers would be assuring families that they are eating a safe, local product. This symbol would also prevent consumers from unknowingly buying a foreign pork product which they thought was from Ontario. I also think that it is important that this symbol be only used for Ontario pork and not other food products, so that it can be easily recognizable for consumers.

Although there is a significant cost involved in labelling pork from Ontario, I believe this program would pay for itself as consumers would proudly support their local producers if they were informed. Swine producers need to come together to design a symbol for Ontario pork products and then go to work assuring that this symbol is on all Ontario pork products and only Ontario pork products.

For many Ontario pork producers, raising swine has been in the family for generations.

Being an Ontario pork producer is more than just an occupation, it's a lifestyle. Pork producers in Ontario are proud to be feeding their province. Isn't it time that the credit is taken for the dedication that goes into each Ontario pork product? Ontario pork producers deserve the credit and Ontarians deserve the chance to support them. BP

Karen and Drew de Bruyn are Grade 10 and Grade 12 students in Oxford County. Their parents, Debbie and John de Bruyn are committed producers. John is a new Ontario Pork board director.