Canada - Pig men cashing in on grain shortage Myth
07 Oct 2012
Canada’s top agriculture official says his agency is working with the pork industry to determine the best way to support a segment battered by high feed grain costs stemming from this year’s drought.
Canadian Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz told attendees at last weekend’s Canadian Farm Writers Federation 2012 Conference in Winnipeg that the government is focusing on maintaining an adequate supply of hogs to keep hog slaughter plants in business.
A significant number of producers are leaving the industry in response to higher grain costs. The agriculture minister also noted that no single program can meet all of the needs of the industry, but making sure an adequate supply of hogs to keep major processing facilities busy remains a priority.
Several groups have called on Canada’s federal and provincial governments to launch a package that could cost as much as $150 million to keep pork producers in operation for the next six to nine months. Six months ago, Canadian officials announced an investment of $4.5 million to help Maple Leaf Inc. upgrade a hog processing facility in Manitoba.
Source: meatingplace
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