100,000 pigs to be destroyed

Nukemall

Member
Not yet, there are rumours of some larger operations taking the decision upon themselves.
I have had two pig farmers in tears this week for the first time in my farming career, one sat in my kitchen the other on the phone, both early 60s in age.
If nothing else, please talk to your neighbours/friends.
CO2 shortage is likely to make this situation worse before it gets better.
 

JP1

Member
Livestock Farmer
It's a desperate situation

27,500 sows going out and many stopping breeding or packing up. One on the NPA meeting the other night will see the sows going after 55 years building it up

The current rollover is way over 100,000 already and folks who jiggled around and found additional temporary space are running out of options

Government not interested and it's a serious welfare issue now.

The logical thing might be to cull out as weaners and give a break until the anticipated up turn around March but that's a brave move getting rid of your seedcorn.
 

JP1

Member
Livestock Farmer
Thanks very much for your replies, very sad to hear.

I wonder what can the Government do?
Home Office : agree to a temporary Covid relief visa waiver to bring in cutting plant workers

DEFRA: agree to AHDB being able to give levy payers back some of their money to support initiatives to assist welfare on farms with rollover and also prepare euthanasia programmes
 
Thanks very much for your replies, very sad to hear.

I wonder what can the Government do?
They could get off their fat arses and take some responsibility for the reality of the situation instead of burying their collective heads in the sand and pretending that it’s all down to covid.
Latest :
“Nick Allen, chief executive of the British Meat Processors Association, said the CO2 shortage spelled a mounting animal welfare crisis, warning that more than 200,000 pigs would soon be crammed onto farms because farmers were unable to ship them to slaughter.”
 
Last edited:

Goweresque

Member
Location
North Wilts
Home Office : agree to a temporary Covid relief visa waiver to bring in cutting plant workers

In other words give in to the big business interests who have been growing fat for decades on cheap imported labour and who don't like the supply being turned off. Any 'temporary' visas would soon turn out to be permanent for the individuals concerned and whats the betting that the meat processing industry would always find a reason why the time was never right to stop their cheap labour conveyor belt again?
 

JP1

Member
Livestock Farmer
In other words give in to the big business interests who have been growing fat for decades on cheap imported labour and who don't like the supply being turned off. Any 'temporary' visas would soon turn out to be permanent for the individuals concerned and whats the betting that the meat processing industry would always find a reason why the time was never right to stop their cheap labour conveyor belt again?
I hope you don't face the same problems with your lambs.

There are generational pig farmers in absolutely desperate positions right now
 

An Gof

Member
Location
Cornwall
In other words give in to the big business interests who have been growing fat for decades on cheap imported labour and who don't like the supply being turned off. Any 'temporary' visas would soon turn out to be permanent for the individuals concerned and whats the betting that the meat processing industry would always find a reason why the time was never right to stop their cheap labour conveyor belt again?

Are you blind to the severity of the problem facing the pig industry and fellow farmers or just *****
😡😡😡
 

Werzle

Member
Location
Midlands
In other words give in to the big business interests who have been growing fat for decades on cheap imported labour and who don't like the supply being turned off. Any 'temporary' visas would soon turn out to be permanent for the individuals concerned and whats the betting that the meat processing industry would always find a reason why the time was never right to stop their cheap labour conveyor belt again?
Awful for the farmers but you do get the feeling a game of who will blink first is going on between big business who just do not want to up wages and the government. All very fishy
 

JP1

Member
Livestock Farmer
In other words give in to the big business interests who have been growing fat for decades on cheap imported labour and who don't like the supply being turned off. Any 'temporary' visas would soon turn out to be permanent for the individuals concerned and whats the betting that the meat processing industry would always find a reason why the time was never right to stop their cheap labour conveyor belt again?
I think you need to recognise the integrators are more capable of looking after their own short term issues on their farms, it's the independents that are being crucified right now
 

Goweresque

Member
Location
North Wilts
Are you blind to the severity of the problem facing the pig industry and fellow farmers or just *****
😡😡😡

Hard cases make bad law. Just because farmers are facing difficulties does not mean we should immediately give in to vested interests. Big business has been trying to reverse the Brexit vote ever since the day after it, and this is just another excuse for them to get back the limitless supply of cheap labour they have become utterly addicted to.
 

JP1

Member
Livestock Farmer
Hard cases make bad law. Just because farmers are facing difficulties does not mean we should immediately give in to vested interests. Big business has been trying to reverse the Brexit vote ever since the day after it, and this is just another excuse for them to get back the limitless supply of cheap labour they have become utterly addicted to.
This is not the time to state that. There are massive welfare cases looming.

I suppose the news that the Teesside fertiliser works shut without notice forcing a CO2 shortage is their fault too

I'm praying an on-farm euthanasia programme does not have to happen in the next few weeks
 
Awful for the farmers but you do get the feeling a game of who will blink first is going on between big business who just do not want to up wages and the government. All very fishy
They could double the wages but if the folk who are trained and willing to do the work aren’t allowed in the country then they are on a hiding to nothing.
 

JP1

Member
Livestock Farmer
Although your post wasn't directed at me: Personally I don't think I'm blind to it, I just haven't seen enough info about it. Any threads on here explaining the issue comprehensively to a non pig man?
Brexit : workers left. Not coming back

UK rollover of 100,000 plus pigs all costing more to feed, going overweight and out of spec and holding accommodation for pigs coming through from farrowing system

China takes 5th quarter and current export ban on these

Brexit means we cannot export whole carcases

Likely all freezers already full

Cull sow price through the floor

Government sitting on it's hands

Already 27,500 + sows being taken out
 

JP1

Member
Livestock Farmer
Awful for the farmers but you do get the feeling a game of who will blink first is going on between big business who just do not want to up wages and the government. All very fishy
Interviewed on Radio 4 about the CO2 shocker, Nick Allen , CEO of BMPA sounded genuinely shaken and not knowing what to do next. He didn't sound like a poker player tbh
 

milkloss

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
East Sussex
Brexit : workers left. Not coming back

UK rollover of 100,000 plus pigs all costing more to feed, going overweight and out of spec and holding accommodation for pigs coming through from farrowing system

China takes 5th quarter and current export ban on these

Brexit means we cannot export whole carcases

Likely all freezers already full

Cull sow price through the floor

Government sitting on it's hands

Already 27,500 + sows being taken out
A like for the response and not for the content of the information. What's with the ban on the 5th quarter?
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 77 43.0%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 62 34.6%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 30 16.8%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.7%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.7%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 4 2.2%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

  • 1,286
  • 1
As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
Top