Rick Bergmann of Steinbach, MB, represents Canadian pork producers from coast to coast as chair of the Canadian Pork Council tweeted this on April 14, “Canadian producers are in a dire state. Take a minute and imagine being on a sinking ship waiting for rescue. It’s not a good feeling.”
In response to Janet Krayden, @CdnAgvocate on April 18, saying, “Replying to @JodiKoberinski @FoodProfessor and @CTVNews, FYI Alberta is already at 25 percent unemployment. This is the economic powerhouse that pays for the majority of equalization. The U.S. just announced $16 B aid for USA farmers and $3 Billion for oversupply, so farmers don’t have to cut back production.”
In an interview with Bergman a few days earlier, he responded to where and in what state of the hog industry, considering the events of 2020.
“So a great, great question. For the record, I’ve got more questions than answers on that as well. So as you know, the COVID-19 problem, the pandemic that the world is in, for sure affects so many different entities around the world,” Bergmann said. “There’s much angst and concern with producers affecting every aspect of our business for the most part. So again, when we think about food security and the importance of food, producers are doing whatever they can to continue to produce a protein source for their families, their neighbours, their country, and people around the world.”
The chair of the CPC who runs a pork-related business in Steinbach said farmers keep producing that food for people around the world, but losing too much money at home means some may have difficulty staying afloat.
Bergmann said pork is still moving outside of the country and domestically. Again, with plants closing in the United States live animals, for further growth in the U.S., they’re currently moving, but the valuation has dropped. So it creates a significant problem for a segment of the producers here specifically, and in Manitoba, a robust amount of Isowean farms is hitting them hard.
However, the two big pig processing plants in Manitoba, HyLife at Neepawa, and Maple Leaf Foods at Brandon can remain open, continuing to provide an outlet for finished pigs. They have some excellent protocols in place, which will just further ensure healthy people going into the plants.
“And that is super; we just hope it will continue, not only within our province but within our country, because those processing plants are our key to keeping everything moving properly,” he said. “In this time of chaos, it can be a defining moment for our industry, for our sector. And I truly hope that’s what it’ll be. Where we, number one, work close together. We look after, not only ourselves but the people beside us. I’m thinking specifically of the sector now, but this applies in general terms. If we have that mindset of looking after each other, then we are looking after ourselves at the same time.”
Bergmann said doing it right will also play an essential role in conversations with both provincial and federal governments, as far as ensuring that the primary producer that is providing a vital service here can carry on with doing what they’re doing. “Because again, we’re not creating backpacks or computers, we’re providing a protein that keeps people alive. And, at this point in time, no doubt, Harry, you’re reflective of your ancestry, as I am with mine. Knowing that in some previous generations, food was hard to come by, and we want to avoid that. We really need to understand and continue to sell the point that it’s an essential service, that we’re providing sustenance for people around the world to live and to flourish. And we hope that when the needs become extremely great, that we will have great support from the governments in regards to ensuring that that carries on. Because once that stops, then we’ve got bigger problems.” •
— By Harry Siemens