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For immediate release Minister has no Answers for Farmers with Dead Cows
“Minister, because you cut funding to deadstock operators with no warning and no plan, all of these farmers have dead livestock on the farm that they can’t dispose of safely,” said Hardeman. “What do you want me to tell farmers who are wondering what to do with their dead cows?” Since restrictions were introduced to deal with BSE, deadstock collectors have not been able to generate sufficient income from the sale of hides and other animal parts to cover the costs of collecting and processing the dead animals. The collectors have been dependant on government support to continue operating. “Deadstock collectors were shocked when they were informed that there was no more funding and that it would not be continued in the future,” said Hardeman. “The government had promised to work with the industry to make it more economically viable, instead they simply stopped the funding without any thought to the consequences for farmers.” Over the past few days all of the deadstock collectors in Eastern Ontario have stopped collecting dead animals from farms leaving farmers with no options for safely removing and disposing of the deadstock. In his question to the Minister Hardeman cited examples of farmers from Beaverton, Brock, Greenbush and Brockville – all of whom have dead cattle and no safe way to dispose of them. “Deadstock collectors told the McGuinty government that they could not operate without that funding that that is exactly what happened,” said Hardeman. “The Minister knew this was coming and instead of creating a plan, she created this dangerous problem.” - 30 - For more information, contact:
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