Animals safe for now says pork producer

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His hydro has been cut and his barns are now running on diesel generators but Wayne Bartels says he hopes to qualify for a federal loan program that will be available in two weeks

photo: Wayne Bartels

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.

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