IARN — As grocery outlets restock shelves, farmers producing such food and food products continue to feel the effects of COVID-19. They are “trying to make the best of a bad situation,” according to an Iowa hog farmer.
Mike Paustian, of Walcott, Iowa, serves as president of the Iowa Pork Producers Association. Paustian sheds light on the ongoing challenges livestock producers face in saying, “It’s going to be a long time until things are back to normal on the farm.”
“Everyone’s lives are starting to get closer to normal and we’re left with a mess on our farms that’s going to take a long time to work through. It makes it difficult for farmers to make plans,” Paustian said. “The normal production cycle for a pig is nearly 10 months from conception to when those pigs go to market. That requires a lot of time, resources, and work to raise pigs and get them to that point.”
American swine producers work to accommodate herds. Yet, they struggle to make long-term plans, even for the youngest of pigs, due to continuing backlogs at processing facilities.
“My wife and I were weaning pigs and it got me thinking about it. The pigs that we’re weaning are about five months into that journey, about the half way point. In one way, I’m thinking about what do I need to do to make sure these pigs have one great day after another, everything they need to thrive and grow as fast as they can. But I find myself not thinking about it anymore. In fact, I’m starting to think about, ‘Is there a future for these pigs? Where are they going to go in five months?’ I don’t know that we’re going to be out from under this by then,” Paustian said.
Paustian says, “It’s crippling to be in this situation.” However, swine producers continue “to make the best of a bad situation.”
Story courtesy of the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network.
