Pork Producers Offered Funding

Nova Scotia pork producers will receive one million dollars from the provincial government to help sustain them through an ongoing decline in market price, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Chris d'Entremont said today, Nov. 22. The program will be administered through Pork Nova Scotia and its loan program.

"The pork industry has been working on a strategic plan for long-term sustainability. This funding will help producers through this tough financial period while they plan for the future," said Mr. d'Entremont.

"We have committed one million dollars. Because pork pricing is cyclical, it was important that the industry choose the best mechanism for delivering the funding to producers."

Pork prices have been below the cost of production for several years. The board of Pork Nova Scotia will use the province's non-repayable funding to increase the group's ability to provide loans to producers.

"We are pleased that the minister has provided this funding solution for the hog producers," said Herman Berfelo, chair of the commodity board, Pork Nova Scotia. "Pork Nova Scotia agrees that the best way to disperse this funding is to provide it through our established loan program. Because producers know and understand the Nova Scotia Hog Loan Support Program, it provides the most efficient way to get the money to producers."

Details regarding the funding and the Nova Scotia Hog Loan Support Program are available through Pork Nova Scotia.