Emotionally, a hog barn fire can be traumatic. Financially, it can be devastating, according to a consultant and hog barn manager from Lowe Farm, Man.
Lorne Tannas manages Tobacco Creek Farms, where a farrowing barn was destroyed by fire. It was only with the support of friends, neighbours, barn workers and other community members that the venture was rebuilt and reopened.
Despite his personal experience, Tannas had a chilling message for hog barn owners and managers. He said a large barn fire often spells the financial ruin of the affected hog operation.
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“Most people at that point in time lose the farm,” he said.
“It doesn’t matter how much insurance you have and it doesn’t matter how much work you’ve done.”
He said there are two main reasons for this: it can take a long time for the insurance payment and many hog operations lack adequate contingency funds to tide them over until the payment arrives.
He knows of a hog barn owner who lost his barn to a fire and had to wait 18 months before receiving an insurance payment. The producer went broke while he waited for the cheque.
“He was fully covered and he was fully paid out (by insurance), but he lost his farm in the 18 months when the cash flow wasn’t coming in.”
To prevent those kinds of scenarios, Tannas said hog barn owners and managers must focus on fire prevention and getting a quick response should a fire occur. He also said it is important to have a contingency plan to keep a hog venture afloat in the event of a serious fire.
In his case, the fire at Tobacco Creek Farms destroyed the farrowing barn but did not kill the animals inside. That meant that one of the first challenges was finding alternative shelter.
Another challenge was securing funding to cover expenses until the farrowing barn could be rebuilt. Wages were still paid and sows still needed to be fed and watered.
As part of forming a contingency plan, Tannas said it’s important to develop a good rapport with the local bank or credit union and with suppliers of things such as feed. That rapport could prove valuable in the aftermath of a fire, since it could influence how accommodating creditors might be.
It is also important to understand the terms of an insurance policy, he said. Read the fine print, and when promised something by an insurer, make sure the item is spelled out clearly in the policy.
Rebuilding in the aftermath of a large barn fire can seem daunting, Tannas said. In his case, community support and the dedication of the barn workers played a large role in his recovery.
“This is what builds the confidence back,” he said.
“This is what builds our trust in our community and makes us a community.”
