DES MOINES, Iowa – As he stood on the main street of the Iowa State Fairgrounds, Claude Vielfaure wore a smile.That was evidence of a huge shift in farmer mood at the World Pork Expo, as people like Vielfaure, a Manitoban who is Canada’s largest independent producer of pigs, were able to enjoy good times again.“There is renewed optimism on what is going to happen in the future,” said Vielfaure.Throughout the sprawling show, which drew about 15,000 visitors from around the world, producers seemed confident.It was a contrast to last year, when a market slump and the eruption of H1N1 dashed hopes and kept thousands of foreign visitors away.“It has been terrible,” said U.S. National Pork Producers Council past-president Don Butler June 9. He placed per head hog losses for American producers at $24 US in 2009.Canadian producers and industry experts say losses north of the border were far higher during the downturn because of the sudden rise of the Canadian dollar.Now that profitability has returned, the mood of fear and despair has been replaced by cautious optimism. Many producers mentioned being leery about borrowing money to expand production, but said they felt confident about making money in the next two years.The mood among American producers and industry people was more upbeat, which Doug Richards of Ontario Agriculture said makes sense because they are earning better profits.Most American farmers will make profits in 10 of 12 months this year, but Canadian farmers, especially in Ontario, will do worse.“April was great. May was great. June-July is going to be good, probably. But that’s four months and hog production is 12 months,” said Richards.He said Ontario is the worst off, with Quebec having more active packers and Manitoba benefiting from a strong resurgence in demand for weanlings – a business that almost collapsed a year ago.Manitoba Pork Council chair Karl Kynoch noted the improved mood among his province’s producers.“It’s much better. People can see a way forward,” said Kynoch.Weanling producers who survived the downturn are pleased with the rebound, but U.S. country-of-origin labelling is still creating problems. Kynoch said he met with a group of producers with empty feeder barn space.“They have empty barns and they can’t find someone down here to sell them weanlings, but they can’t find someone to buy their pigs if they buy Canadian weanlings,” said Kynoch.“They’re up against the wall.”Despite challenges, Canadian producers and industry people generally seemed positive.“The future looks very bright and we’re very excited,” said Dawn Oude Voschaar, a technology purchaser with Vielfaure’s pig production and packing company Hytek.Pig buyer Andre-Michel Audette said there has been a change.“People are looking forward rather than worrying about what happened in the past.”
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