Challenging times for pig farmers as feed prices soar

12:12pm Tuesday 11th March 2008

Comments (1)   Have your say »

A STOGURSEY pig farmer says the industry is facing a challenging future as the cost of pig feed continues to rise across the UK.

Terry Miller has seen his overheads soar as increasingly affluent Asian countries such as China and India are heightening their demand for wheat and Soya, leading to a shortage of the source in this country.

This has lead to farmers protesting on Downing Street to warn the Prime Minister that the industry will be decimated unless action is taken to assist their businesses.

Terry, who runs the family Higher Monkton Farm with his sons Paul and Simon, believes action must be taken to support the nation's farmers.

He said: "We're under immense pressure at the moment with the price increases.

"We've seen a 65% increase in pig feed prices and this almost cuts our profit margin to nil, causing major implications for our pig farming.

"The lack of wheat is not the only problem. Soya is a main source of protein for pigs and, with the Asian economies increasing their demand, the price of this has gone up too.

"There are three main factors contributing to the struggles facing farmers in this country. The rise in fuel prices, fertilizer prices and now feed prices.

"This issue needs to be addressed quickly as the industry will struggle to continue without financial sustainability."

Neil Parish MEP, Conservative chairman of the European Parliament's agriculture committee, backed Terry's concerns in a recent statement.

He said: "Pig farmers cannot sustain their recent losses for long. We face the serious prospect of no more British pork products unless we take swift action.

"I believe the EU needs to seriously reconsider its opposition to GM feed.

"We are already importing pork that is fed on GM, yet our own farmers are being denied the opportunity to compete on a level playing field.

"There are a number of regulations that pig producers must abide by that can be relaxed and improved labelling schemes should enable consumers to identify local produce.

"However, what is really needed is a consumer-drive price increase and that needs for everybody to make a conscious decision to buy British."