The Rural Voice, 1980-05, Page 14Problems in
the pork industry
Trouble in the hog industry
- Ray and Carolyn Stock face an uncertain future,
but still seem optimistic.
BY DEBBIE RANNEY
Ray and Carolyn Stock of R.R.1,
Stratford have a farrow to finish hog
operation with about 65 sows and the hog
industry is one that seems to be having its
fair share of problems right now.
They bought their farm in 1972 and had
beef cattle to start with and some sows. In
the summer of 1977, they lost their barn in
a fire and rebuilt a new one. After that they
decided to go strictly into pigs. They
recently started a herd of Berkshires which
were more common 30 or 40 years ago but
which are starting to come baJc again. The
idea is to sell breeding stock once they
have the herd built up.
The Stocks had about two and a half good
years, when prices were excellent, but now
Mr. Stock says things are "terrible."
Problems in the hog industry now include
high interest rates and the low prices.
Mrs. Stock said if it was one way or the
other, it wouldn't be so bad, and the Stocks
said they are part of that group with
facilities that aren't easily adaptable to
anything else.
The problem in the hog industry also
occurred because a lot of people got in
when things were good.
"Everyone was jumping in with both
feet, even dairymen looking for greener
pastures to get away from milking cows.
Instead of 30 to 40 milk cows they got into
100 or more sows, so I'm just wondering if
greener pastures look a lot better," Mr.
Stock said.
The Stocks said their new operation cost
five times more than what their insurance
paid for the old building and theirs is a very
Ray Stock has recently started a herd of Berkshires, a pig more
common 30 or 40 years ago. (Photo by Ranney)
PG. 12 THE RURAL VOICE/MAY 1980
basic farm.
Mr. Stock thinks it makes a lot more
common sense to have simplicity in the
barn than a lot of gadgets that supposedly
save man hours.
So what is the answer to the hog
industry's problems? Mr. Stock say he's
not totally convinced that a quota system is
the answer. A quota system would give you
"a fair margin over and above your cost, but
I'm not totally convinced that's the answer
either."
"I suspect that if we went to a quota
system again those that could afford the
quota in later years would be getting into
business where the young farmer wouldn't
be able to afford quota," Mr. Stock said.
He said, "If a quota comes in. we're
(those already in the hog industry) going to
be in a very unique position but for the
young guy that wants to get into the hog
industry, not only does he have to buy high
priced machinery, he also has to buy high
pried quota."
"I don't feel we can buy anything other
than the bare necessities. I don't think its
time to go any further with borrowing,"
Mr. Stock says of his own operation.
"It would be nice to have the govern-
ment drop interest rates for farmers and
put a subsidy on pork, but it's not likely
feasible," he said.
"If the governm.:nt is going to help the
hog farmer",, he has to help small business
in the same way. With a deficit like this
country's got, , 1 don't know where the
money is going to come from," he added.
But Mr. Stock's outlook for the future is
optimistic.
"I'm convinced times are going to get
better," It's a matter of just being able to
survive through .this rough period," he
said.
The Stocks also do some cash cropping,
but 90 per cent of their crops are put in and
taken off by custom operators so they have