Pork industry fears a public backlash over producer's crisis

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Financially pressed producer runs barn on generators after utility cuts power but diesel supply is short

UPDATE: Wed. Oct. 14, 2009, OMAFRA comments added

Comments

After all the news of eHealth and the auditor generals findings I find it very hard to believe that this government would allow the Bartell's farm to kill all the pigs. What is $11,000.00 when this government presided over a billion dollars in scandal? I would sent them the money today if I had it no questions asked.Our farmers have suffered enough and it's time for all concerned to go to the rescue and end this nonsense. our farmers are the only industry left that has any credibility and if they do not get the hydro re-connected as soon as possible I hope all Canadians stand up and say enough is enough.I urge all to send Leona Dombrowsky a letter as I am doing informing her that this Government is to be held responsible for our farmers demise.

To The above poster, $11,000.00 may seem small but are you also going to pay the propane bill? What about the feed mill? Gas, Diesel, AI supplies, labor? I have heard of some farmers racking up bills to the feed mills so large that they had to sell a farm to the mill to pay it off. We are not talking about one farmer owing one utility $11,000.00 we are talking about thousands of farmers owing hundreds of thousands each. And even if we bail them out they are still in an industry that is selling market hogs more than $50.00 per pig under input costs (Multiply that by the 4500 pigs and consider that the inventory probably turns many times per year)

Our producers need help and the government needs to step in, but a simple cash handout is not going to fix this very broken industry.

I don't know what will...

I guess i just woke up yesterday from a 100 year sleep? I did not suggest that a bailout for farmers was the answer and by the way "Bailout" has become the new catch phrase that most who use the word have no idea of the issues.If this liberal government can squander a billion dollars I say eleven thousand is nothing. I have no sympathy for the this government that you seem to accept/protect.In the future we will need our farmers and all they produce as it is now they are being eliminated one by one and I will not stand by and see it happen.

Finally, someone who sees the bigger picture - Our province "in the future will need our farmers and all they produce" and we as consumers and those controlling agriculture (commodity boards, government etc.) can not sit back and watch farmers be eliminated one by one.

Let the SPCA take the pigs and house them at Queens Park. Let the Human Rights Commission take the politicians and their staff and house them at Bartside Farms. OK everyone, where shall we turn the power off?

What is happening to Wayne Bartels very publically in the media is also happening or about to happen on every back road in Ontario - farmers going broke. How many years can farmers continue to produce food with very high standards, and sell it under the cost of production? When consumers are demanding local food but can't differentiate it from the imports, they feel ripped off. Canadian Food Inspection Agency is funded through tax dollars ($600 Million/yr)to regulate Cdn. food yet we let imported foods on our grocery shelves that not up to these same standards. There are so many things wrong with this system - is there no one in leadership with a shred of commonsense left? Commodity Groups (Ontario Pork, Ontario Cattlemen, etc) MUST grow a backbone and speak up for their producers to Government. Shame on you for not providing the leadership you were entrusted with. And shame on our Government for not taking the leadership to provide food sovereignty for Canadian citizens.

You are 100% correct in your comments regarding consumers not knowing if they are buying local content. We the Ontario taxpayers have a right to know where our meat, pork produce and poultry is coming from. With so many high quality farms in this province, why is there imported product on our Canadian shelves. During times like these, our farmers products should be all over the supermarket shelves and then good people like the Barterls would not be dealing with this situation. If other countries can ban or prevent the importation of Canadian beef and pork, why are we allowing out of country meats into our province. I say fair turn around is fair play. Come on Canada, demand that our own products are front and center on our shelves. Sure you may pay a little bit more, but at least we know where its came from and it is supporting our own people.

We all need to tell Ontario Pork to get to work and do what they where instructed to do on Sept. 22 and that is go back to the province and do not quit until we are put on an equal footing with Quebec. We keep hearing that Leona will not give the industry money especially with the splinter groups leading the charge. Come on Ontario Pork step up and do what you where elected to do and that is lead. The industry will stand behind you.

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