(Quebec) Pig farmers are in an “extremely difficult” situation, recognizes the Legault government.
To a question from the opposition on the situation of the pork industry on Thursday, the Minister of Agriculture, André Lamontagne, indicated that 712 producers are facing serious financial problems.
But subsequently his cabinet had to correct the situation: “there was confusion in the oral”, specified the deputy chief of staff at the ministry, Jean-Bernard Marchand, because there are 712 agricultural enterprises of all types which are in financial difficulty right now “in the very, very short term”, not just pork companies.
The fact remains that “in the end, today, it is extremely difficult” for the pork sector, conceded the minister.
More and more players in this industry, which is highly dependent on exports, are sounding the alarm. Markets have been restructuring since the pandemic.
“The essence of this industry is exporting,” acknowledged the Minister.
“Me, I invite him to do more to try to do a little more for Quebec, but at the start, we produce more than what we consume in Quebec. »
La Financière agricole for its part paid no less than 240 million last year to pork producers. The opposition is concerned about the reduction in funding granted to the organization this year and that its annual ceiling of $650 million will affect its ability to compensate all member producers.
“You know it, everyone knows that there is going to be a big, big, big amount of this 650 million that will go to pork producers,” said Liberal Agriculture Critic André Fortin. .
“At no time have there been indications that this ceiling will be exceeded and that the Financial will not be able to honor its commitments,” replied the Minister.
“You have no idea what the pork (area) claim will be like this year, so I don’t see how you can tell us we’ll have enough,” concluded the Liberal MP.
The PLQ also deplored that even young pork producers are considering throwing in the towel.
“I see producers called Kevin, Mathieu, Guillaume, who are putting the key under the door, they are not Alfred, Albert, Norbert”, imagined Mr. Fortin.
“It is people of a younger generation who make this decision. […] They don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. »
“There is a light at the end of the tunnel,” retorted Mr. Lamontagne. We see it in the markets. »
There would thus be an upturn “far ahead” according to forecast data, he assured.
Pig producers are currently preparing an “exit plan” for operators who wish to leave the industry. The minister says he has passed “the instructions” so that “the model and its diversity” are preserved and that we “take care” of young breeders.