Canadian pork producers braces for losses
Canada’s pork producers are facing an unprecedented crisis as a result of COVID-19. The pandemic has put farm families and their livelihoods at risk and the potential for a sharp rise in food insecurity has never been greater. Producers across the country now expect to lose $30 to $50 a hog for every hog they sell in 2020, costing farmers across the country CA $675 million (US $483 million).
COVID-19 has pushed the pork sector into free fall by disrupting supply chains and driving down prices. The market devastation caused by COVID-19 will only increase as the pandemic drags on.
“We are asking the government for an emergency payment of $20/hog so that pork producers can continue to pay bills, feed pigs and keep producing food for Canadian families” explains Rick Bergmann, Canadian Pork Council Chair and Manitoba producer. “Without it, family farms will be lost. In turn, we will continue to see disruption in the food supply chain, and increased food insecurity as supplies tighten and food becomes even more expensive,” adds Mr. Bergmann.
The Canadian Pork Council has been working with government officials to impress upon them the seriousness and the urgency of the situation and demand swift action. “Governments don’t need to reinvent the wheel, they have the tools to fix this problem,” said Mr. Bergmann. “They need the political will to do it,” he adds.
Governments have said food security is a priority, but they have offered little concrete support for Canada’s food producers. Canadians risk seeing food shortages if governments do not step forward with the support farmers need to keep producing food before the end of the month. “Pork producers can simply not afford to continue raising animals under these conditions,” said René Roy, 1st Vice-Chair of CPC. “We love what we do, and love being able to feed people a safe, high-quality protein, but we feel very lonely shouldering the impact of this global crisis,” added Mr. Roy.
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