November 24, 2024 | 11:20 GMT +7

  • Click to copy
Monday- 10:51, 18/03/2024

USA and Canada reduce pig herd while facing ongoing problems

(VAN) North America’s pork industry faces dire straits. Ongoing equity losses are huge, and the sector is currently scrambling to reverse the trend through cutting supply.
Photo: Canva

Photo: Canva

By August 2023, the situation in Québec, Canada was so severe that the provincial pig producers’ association, Éleveurs de porcs du Québec, started a programme to help chosen producers exit the industry. In 2023, the Premier of Quebec stated that pork farmers there were in an “extremely difficult situation,” with over 700 of them dealing with serious financial challenges.

Details of the programme in Québec

The programme has a goal of reducing the province’s pig herd by 7% overall, with another 2% coming from those already getting out. This addresses the reduced slaughter capacity in the province. A major Canadian packing firm, Olymel, shutting down a large plant in Quebec in June 2023.

Following the end of the first applicant competition, which had 260 applicants and 60 farms selected, a second round of applications ended January 29, 2024. The association’s public relations director and secretary general, Tristan Delauriers, reports that those who did not get accepted in the first round could re-apply in the second, but only about 60 applications were recently received. “There were a lot of different farmer profiles who applied and want to stop production,” he says, “but many are close to retirement, hadn’t invested in the farm recently and had no one to take over the farm.”

USA outlook

During the last few months, there have been attempts to cut farrowings in various parts of the US, but overall, the national herd size remains the same. Data from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has shown that farrowings dropped 4% in the last part of 2023, but piglets per litter were up 4%.

However, Dennis Smith of Archer Financial Services recently stated a belief that growth in litter size was overstated and the decline in breeding stock understated.

In a news story from Iowa, where the state’s herd has actually risen 3% in recent months, Steve Meyer (chief livestock economist at Ever.Ag market analysis company) states a believe that the US sow herd needs to shrink 6% to 10% to have an impact on restoring industry profits.

Export growth

The US market share of world pork exports grew in 2023 and Miller believes this will likely continue in 2024. And although some experts point out that pork consumption is dropping in China and other Asian countries for several reasons, Miller notes that due to economic losses at the 3 largest pork producers in China, China may “be forced to import large amounts of pork before the end of 2024.”

Canadian export to China

Regarding Canadian exports to China, Farm Credit Canada, a leading farm lending and analysis firm, notes that they have not yet bounced back to pre-African Swine Fever levels. However, Éleveurs de porcs du Québec economic director Renaud Sanscartier recently stated that “consumption of pork has increased slightly in Canada in recent months.

H.D

(PP)

Aquaculture company hopes to create inland fish farm industry at Waikerie

Aquaculture company hopes to create inland fish farm industry at Waikerie

(VAN) Fish and seaweed could soon be farmed at a site in Waikerie by an Adelaide-based aquaculture company. Previous research has found the concept is technically viable, but has not yet been widely replicated in Australia.

Gaza food production ‘decimated’ with 70% of farmland hit

Gaza food production ‘decimated’ with 70% of farmland hit

(VAN) Israeli attacks have destroyed huge areas of land used for crops, with 90% of cattle killed, analysis shows.

Improving safety at sea at a time of climate change

Improving safety at sea at a time of climate change

(VAN) Interview with Manuel Barange, Director of FAO’s Fisheries and Aquaculture Division.

British farmers warn of bitter harvest

British farmers warn of bitter harvest

(VAN) Finances, politics and a cultural divide push the agriculture sector to the brink and stir up anger.

Small farms key to taking on hunger

Small farms key to taking on hunger

(VAN) Modest operations account for more than 90% of global food producers.

What the farmers' protest tells us about their argument with the government

What the farmers' protest tells us about their argument with the government

(VAN) The farmers' demonstration was best summed up in two images: real tractors being driven by farmers around Parliament Square, and beside them a collection of toy tractors being peddled around by their children.

FAO urges all its Members and partners to join the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty

FAO urges all its Members and partners to join the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty

(VAN) G20’s initiative is officially launched in Brazil. FAO will host the Global Alliance’s Support Mechanism.

Read more