BURT HIGHLIGHTS PLIGHT OF COUNTY PIG FARMERS

West Worcestershire Parliamentary Candidate, Richard Burt today visited Lawn Farm in Welland to highlight concerns about the plight of the pig farming industry in Worcestershire and across the UK.

Due to feed costs DOUBLING in the past eighteen months, Worcestershire farmers are currently losing an average of £26 per pig, forcing many into financial difficulty and pushing some out of pig farming all together.
Commenting, Welland pig farmer, Roger Cousins said:

"The British pig industry is on the verge of vanishing. Feed prices have doubled and farmers are losing money for every pig that is raised.

“Pigs reared in the UK are subject to the highest animal welfare standards in the world. Not only is this crisis affecting pig farmers themselves, but it is also one that will affect consumers, reducing the quality of the meat on offer to them.

"Consumers both in Worcestershire and across the country have said that they are happy to pay more for their pork, but if the farmers don't get a fair price for their pigs many will struggle to carry on in business at all.

"I know too many local pig farmers who are finding that it simply no longer pays to rear pigs - this has to change. After all everyone in business deserves to receive a fair price for their labour.”

Richard Burt said:

"I have great sympathy with hard pressed pig farmers and will do all I can to highlight the plight of the industry and to encourage local supermarkets and abattoirs to give our farmers a fair price for our pork.
“Farmers are not asking for special treatment, merely to be paid a fair price for their labour.

“Even a small increase of between 7p and 17p per item on the shelves would go a long way to helping pig farmers, and ensure that the British public can continue to purchase high-quality local produce.

“Roger and his wife, Jo are running an activity toy business from the farm and have converted one barn to a holiday home. This is the only way they can make ends meet in the current climate.”

Caption: Richard Burt with Roger Cousins at Lawn Farm

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

1). The National Pig Association’s campaign (NPA) is called “Pigs Are Worth It”. More information available at www.pigsarworthit.com

2). Pigs reared in the UK are subject to the highest animal welfare standards in the world. A 2007 BPEX Imports report highlighted that 70% of imported pig meat for the EU would be illegal to produce in the UK.

3). A YouGov survey shows that 78% of people polled say that they are happy to pay more for high welfare pork.

4). An analysis of TNS data by BPEX shows that in 2007, consumer retail spending on pork, bacon, ham and sausage was £174 million higher than the previous year, with £85 million due to higher prices. Over the same period, pig prices only increased by an average of 3.3p/kg, resulting in a £20 million increase for the farmers. This means that £65 million of the increase in price did not find its way to British pig farmers.