Pig farmer leading a struggle for survival of an industry (From Gazette & Herald)

Pig farmer leading a struggle for survival of an industry

STRUGGLING pig farmers are urging supermarket giants to give them a better deal - or British pork could be a thing of the past.

One of the leaders in the fight is Fred Henley, who has some 100 sows on his 90-acre Green Farm at Seaton Ross. He says: "Pig farming has always been volatile but in the past five years it has been an almost downward trend."

Ryedale, he says, like most other rural areas of Yorkshire, has seen a decline in the number of farmers keeping pigs, once a key part of the agricultural industry in the district.

"We used to produce 65pc of pork eaten in Britain - today it's only 20pc," says Mr Henley a pig farmer for 30 years.

He has been a leader in the Pig Industry Support Group which is master-minding initiatives to win a better deal from supermarket companies.

Farmers have now become so worried that they have turned to organising blockades at the warehouse depots of supermarket chains, which has brought them to the discussion table, says Mr Henley.

The farmers have had one success - with Asda, which has agreed to put labels indicating British-produced pork which, says Mr Henley, is a superior product to that imported from France.

"Pork produced from local farmers is fresher and better quality than when it has had to travel long distances."

Mr Henley says that Malton bacon factory is now processing a high proportion of imported pigs. "We are eating almost as much pork and bacon but the number of pigs in this country has dropped from 700,000 to 500,000."

The group's leaders are also talking with Tesco. "We find that if we can win the support of one company others fall into line," he said. "Morrisons are the best supermarket company to deal with."

The farmers calculate that while they get £70 for a pig it is retailed in the supermarket butchery shops for £300. "We believe that there is scope for us to be paid an extra £10 which would make a big difference to the viability of the industry."

One issue which angers the farmers is that while keeping pigs in stalls is banned in Britain the practice is are allowed in other European countries.

"We should be able to recoup these additional costs because we are providing better welfare for the pigs unlike our European competitors. There are too many hidden costs between us and the housewife."

He has been helping to promote British pork by handing out leaflets in shopping centres. "But there are some people who will always buy on the price, regardless of the meat's origin".

The future of pig farming continuing in his family looks uncertain. His 18-year-old son John, who five years ago planned to follow in his footsteps, is now a fire fighter.

In addition to tumbling prices, pig farmers have been hit hard also by a wasting disease and the outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

Mr Henley wants better support from the National Farmers' Union which has not supported for blockades of warehouses.

"We have found that it is the only way to get dialogue going. We are pleading with the supermarket companies to help us survive. Our direct action has had some success and it has been good-humoured. We must get a better deal if British pig farmers are to exist in the future."

Updated: 11:05 Wednesday, January 22, 2003