Curtain Cider
March 6th, 2008, 09:00 AM
On Thu, 28 Feb 2008 10:08:59 -0000, "Pat Gardiner"
> wrote:
>Pat's Note: I'm not against humane culls in some circumstances, and I'm not
>against exit money to persuade some to leave an overcrowded industry.
>
>I'm especially in favour when the pigs are sick and pose a human health
>risk. In fact, I think it very necessary.
>
>But the money should go to the right people. Not to conglomerates, they
>should be ordered to close down with no compensation and you have to find a
>mechanism to ensure that those accepting taxpayer's money do not use that
>money to set up again under another name.
>
>One of the features of the pig industry especially in Britain has been
>"funny money", front companies and constant changes of ownership. Too much
>money went to the wrong people in the past. The whole fiasco resembles a
>Tenerife timeshare
>
>When the news that the British government will not test for MRSA in
>Britain's pigs becomes common knowledge especially in the consultant ranks
>of the NHS, the government will have to act obviously, and it needs to act
>humanely towards the pig keepers as well as the pigs.
>
>It needs integrity. You can't leave the implementation to Britain's corrupt
>government vets. All the money will disappear into the pockets of their
>mates, usually called stakeholders.
>
>http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2008/02/27/hog-industry.html#skip300x250
>
>Hog industry expected to jump on new culling cash
>
>Last Updated: Wednesday, February 27, 2008 | 11:35 AM CT
>
>CBC News
>
>Beleaguered hog producers in Manitoba are welcoming an initiative in
>Tuesday's federal budget that sets aside $50 million to pay farmers to cull
>their sow herds.
>
>The Manitoba Pork Council expects about 10 per cent of producers will take
>the federal government up on its offer to reduce the sow population. The
>industry has been struggling as the cost of feed soars, while the price
>producers are paid for their pork falls.
>
>Council manager Andrew Dickson estimates more than 100 farmers in the
>province will cull their herds - collecting more than $200 per head - and
>likely get out of the hog business for good.
>
>About 36,000 sows could be slaughtered in Manitoba, but the meat from the
>animals, which is suitable for sausages or meat pies, will not make it to
>market, Dickson said.
>
>The government does not want to risk raising the ire of the American hog
>industry by offering the excess sow meat on the human consumption market, he
>said, so the sows have to be either used in pet food or composted.
>
>"We've got to be very careful here," he said. "We don't want a trade
>challenge from the United States on things like getting rid of old sows."
>
>But David Northcott, head of the province's largest food bank, disagrees. He
>would love to get some of the meat to the 17,000 Manitoba families that use
>food banks - and he doesn't believe doing so would violate trade agreements.
>
>"If it we give it to low-income, hungry Canadians, the same way that the
>U.S. people give it to hungry Americans, that's not dumping. That's feeding
>our citizens," he said.
>
>Some hog producers have already contacted him about donating animals they
>can't make any money by selling, he said.
> wrote:
>Pat's Note: I'm not against humane culls in some circumstances, and I'm not
>against exit money to persuade some to leave an overcrowded industry.
>
>I'm especially in favour when the pigs are sick and pose a human health
>risk. In fact, I think it very necessary.
>
>But the money should go to the right people. Not to conglomerates, they
>should be ordered to close down with no compensation and you have to find a
>mechanism to ensure that those accepting taxpayer's money do not use that
>money to set up again under another name.
>
>One of the features of the pig industry especially in Britain has been
>"funny money", front companies and constant changes of ownership. Too much
>money went to the wrong people in the past. The whole fiasco resembles a
>Tenerife timeshare
>
>When the news that the British government will not test for MRSA in
>Britain's pigs becomes common knowledge especially in the consultant ranks
>of the NHS, the government will have to act obviously, and it needs to act
>humanely towards the pig keepers as well as the pigs.
>
>It needs integrity. You can't leave the implementation to Britain's corrupt
>government vets. All the money will disappear into the pockets of their
>mates, usually called stakeholders.
>
>http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2008/02/27/hog-industry.html#skip300x250
>
>Hog industry expected to jump on new culling cash
>
>Last Updated: Wednesday, February 27, 2008 | 11:35 AM CT
>
>CBC News
>
>Beleaguered hog producers in Manitoba are welcoming an initiative in
>Tuesday's federal budget that sets aside $50 million to pay farmers to cull
>their sow herds.
>
>The Manitoba Pork Council expects about 10 per cent of producers will take
>the federal government up on its offer to reduce the sow population. The
>industry has been struggling as the cost of feed soars, while the price
>producers are paid for their pork falls.
>
>Council manager Andrew Dickson estimates more than 100 farmers in the
>province will cull their herds - collecting more than $200 per head - and
>likely get out of the hog business for good.
>
>About 36,000 sows could be slaughtered in Manitoba, but the meat from the
>animals, which is suitable for sausages or meat pies, will not make it to
>market, Dickson said.
>
>The government does not want to risk raising the ire of the American hog
>industry by offering the excess sow meat on the human consumption market, he
>said, so the sows have to be either used in pet food or composted.
>
>"We've got to be very careful here," he said. "We don't want a trade
>challenge from the United States on things like getting rid of old sows."
>
>But David Northcott, head of the province's largest food bank, disagrees. He
>would love to get some of the meat to the 17,000 Manitoba families that use
>food banks - and he doesn't believe doing so would violate trade agreements.
>
>"If it we give it to low-income, hungry Canadians, the same way that the
>U.S. people give it to hungry Americans, that's not dumping. That's feeding
>our citizens," he said.
>
>Some hog producers have already contacted him about donating animals they
>can't make any money by selling, he said.