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
Comments
The farmer has not disclosed all of the information here. I heard on CBC radio this morning that he owed an $11,000 hydro bill and had not paid hydro in 3 months. This suggests that this is not a small farming operation if the hydro bill is that large. I suspect this is a factory pig farm, hence the conditions are critically dependent on high ariflow through the barns. Maybe we should let him go out of business. The animals should be seized and his permits should be revoked.
With regards to your comment, you obviously have not been following this story very closely, nor done much of a background check before posting your idea of Mr. Bartels farm. I on the other hand have been extremely interested in this story since the latest edition of the Better Pork Magazine came. Bartels has never hid any of his "details". He is open to say that he has 4500 animals currently on the farm, which range in age, due to the fact that he is a farrow to finish farm. Now being born and raised a farmer, I have learned that any efficient farm, with this many animals, must have adequate airflow. This tight ventilation system is not only for airflow, but for the security of the animals health. Maybe you should take back all of your earlier comments and opinions until you have educated yourself on the situation. I give kudos to how Bartels is handling his situation and hope for the best, as any fellow farmer should.
As the first person questioned, what is the financial situation of Mr. Bartels? What are all the other debts that Mr. Bartels currently has on the books if he cannot pay a hydro bill? Is this even a viable operation? Are his costs of production in line? I understand from radio interviews that he has won production awards...ok, for production...but what about cost of production? Anyone could over spend to achieve production numbers but how long would that be sustainable? We hear the plight of producer that is at the mercy of a industry in turmoil…was he a competitive farm to start with?
Obviously he doesn't have pigs for pets this farm needs help as a lot of our Ontario farmers. No farm is a small operation to suggest that is just ignorant. He needs aid right away, and that is how we get our pork, bacon, spare ribs. They won't seize the animals it would be a shame for them to euthanize all those cute little piggies.
Actually it would be a crime. Bartels should just have a pig roast to raise funds. My whole family would be there to help.
Karen in Caledonia
I disagree with the rude comments mentioned about pig farmers should just get out of business, and the hydro bill being $11,000 is a factory farm....incorrect...I have worked in pig barns ranging from 700 head sow barns, 1000 head finishing barns and a 1500 head loose housing sow barn, it doesn't need to be a factory farm to have a large hydro bill...everything costs money to run everything smoothly in a pig barn, computerized feeding systems, ventilation, and it just doesn't stop there...propane in the country for heat, showers for the barn owner/employees to shower in before they enter the barn....so to think that they don't have a viable business plan, too many pigs etc., is incorrect...farmers are very organized, to run a pig barn requires high organizational skills, etc. I could go on mentioning other things...such as when Walkerton residents blamed all the nearby farmers, etc but ill send my message now.
How will he qualify for a federal loan, if he needs a viable business plan. If he can't pay his hydro bill, where does he stand with all the other suppliers. The sooner we stop extending credit to hog farmers that don't stand a chance of surviving the better. There are too many pigs anyway. This operation is clearly not viable. Enough already.
Post new comment