Pig farmers in Downing Street protest over rising feed costs

PIG farmers from across the country will stage a demonstration on the streets of London over fears many will be forced out of business by rising overheads.

Soaring costs of feed mean many pig farmers are losing up to £20 per animal, this in spite of Britain’s major supermarkets continuing to report record profits.

Virtually all of the big supermarket chains reported strong trading over the Christmas period while the National Pig Association (NPA) said its industry lost in the region of £27m.

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The worldwide market for cereals climbed rapidly during 2010 sending the cost of animal feed – typically the primary cost for animal farmers – sky high. Last week the National Farmers’ Union estimated that the nation’s pig farmers, a quarter of which operate in Yorkshire, could face income drops of two thirds as a result.

The NPA said the situation is already beginning to force some farmers out of business and threatening the long-term future for British pork production.

It intends to hold the rally outside Downing Street on March 3 but said it does not want to see a price increase for consumers.

Rather, farmers want to send the message that the industry will not accept that it should lose money to subsidise the profits of supermarkets and hopes to foster demand for British pork amongst the consumer as a means of ensuring this. A petition is also being prepared to hand in to Number 10 on the matter.

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The executive director of the NPA, Stewart Houston, told the Yorkshire Post that despite several meetings with large-scale supermarkets, the severity of the situation did not appear to be getting across.

“We have been doing the rounds with retailers and been through all of the circumstances we face, only to receive the same response,” he said.

“Our aim is to encourage consumers to support British pork and pigs and that is what we hope will increase demand and mean a more positive cash flow.

“It would seem wrong to simply ask for help when so many people have problems with their own finances.”

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However Mr Houston and his NPA colleagues are heartened by focus groups which have shown consumers are even more minded to help British farmers than before. More than 80 per cent of consumers say they are prepared to do a little more to help farmers through the current crisis, compared with 72 per cent in May 2008.

Also more than four out of five people said that Britain should be proud of how much higher our animal welfare standards are versus the rest of Europe.

Mr Houston had praise for Leeds-based chain Asda, which recently acted to increase its payments to Asda Pork Link members.

“What has happened with Asda is a start and it is great that at last a retailer is recognising there is a problem,” he added.

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The NPA ran a similar campaign in 2007 called Pigs Are Worth It which had a beneficial effect in increasing pricing and farmers hope to achieve similar results this time out.

The new campaign, Pigs Are Still Worth It, will also see letters written to all major retailers calling for an improvement in pricing, as well as a series of road-side advertisements asking for shoppers to support British farmers.

Hog roast pork buns will be handed out to the public on the day of the protest and MPs will be invited to attend to meet their constituents and find out about the feed cost crisis for farmers.

Anyone wishing to attend the demonstration is advised to text their name and the word RALLY to 07860 365913.