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Canadian ag officials promote existing programs to support pork industry
Story Date: 10/31/2012
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Source: Chris Scott, MEATINGPLACE, 10/30/12
The Canadian pork industry should take advantage of existing government support programs despite calls for more short-term assistance for troubled hog farmers, according to Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
Ritz notes that more than $31 million in producer and government funds are available through the AgriInvest program, and government officials are working with Advance Payment Program administrators to quickly process applications for cash advances to hog producers. Officials are also adjusting the Hog Industry Loan Loss Reserve Program to provide short-term loans to those already in the program to deal with their liquidity issues.
Last week, the Canadian Pork Council warned that current programs might not be enough to support hog producers hobbled by this summer’s drought and high feed grain issues.
Canadian Pork Council Chairman Jean-Guy Vincent called on Canadian agriculture officials to develop more short-term assistance programs despite the potential effect on U.S. and Canadian pork shipments. Vincent was noting that a study estimated the net effect of the pork industry on the Canadian economy totals $13.4 billion.
Also last week, Ritz outlined government assistance available to Canadian pork producers. See details here. http://www.agr.gc.ca/cb/index_e.php?s1=n&s2=2012&page=n121024a
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