Animals safe for now says pork producer

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

by BETTER FARMING STAFF

The tanks holding diesel fuel for the generators running his pig barns were half empty this morning, says Wayne Bartels. But the embattled Haldimand pork producer says he will accept offers of donations of fuel “from across the province” and continue to run his barns after his local power utility shut off service when he failed to pay his bill.

“The generators are running. There is still no change with Hydro. There has been an outpouring from across Ontario,” Bartels says. He said he will accept help reluctantly. ”We’d like to do it on our own. Obviously the kindness of strangers is really great.”

Yesterday Haldimand County Hydro shut off power to Bartels’ pig barns. The farmer refused offers of help from the Ontario Farm Animal Council and Ontario Pork to either sell his pigs or euthanize them.

Bartels hopes federal government backed loans for pork producers will be available in a couple of weeks. In early October, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada announced the loans will be available at some financial institutions “based on viable business plans.”
With a federally backed loan, “we should be in good shape for a while,” Bartels says.

The Welland and District SPCA is comfortable with the situation says manager Ted Bettle. “Our interest here is that the animals don’t unnecessarily suffer.”

Bartels “is hoping the government may step in. That remains to be seen,” Bettle says. So far the province has announced no plan to help pork producers.

How fast can farmers expect to get their loans backed by the federal government? Rob Martin, director of research at Credit Union Central of Canada in Ottawa, says the federal government hasn't finalized the contribution agreement that needs to be signed between the government and financial institutions. That might be done this week and then loans can be arranged shortly after that.

Gary Stordy, manager, public relations at the Canadian Pork Council, says a two week turnaround is "potentially possible" and depends upon the lender. Banks are probably further ahead than the credit unions, he says.

"We hope the banks expedite this process and provide this service" to producers.

Keith Robbins, director of communications and consumer marketing at Ontario Pork, says the key to getting a federal loan guarantee quickly is having a well-prepared business plan. BF