Where Do We Go From Here

[mikey]

One of the main problems I see as a hog producer in the Philippines is,the high cost of production,mainly the feed cost involved.Every year the cost of feed will rise,that is almost a given,the cost of production rises but the price per kilo liveweight stays about the same or lower,getting harder and harder to squeeze out some profit(s) from ones operation.With the major proscessors importing from abroad,new hog operations starting up everyday,there is always the slight chance of over supply.I have seen this happen in North America,over supply,the price drops and inventories of stock lower,the weaker producers leave,the stronger ones find a way to hang on until the market picks up again.The big fish eat the little fish.I think the key is to be able to lower ones feed cost(s) some how.

mikey  Region 7

[Slyfox]

how can we lower the feed cost? corn now is use for fuel  . maybe we all hog farmer unite and increase our prices this is the best solution in order to survive

[mikey]

Slyfox,right on.we do need to unite,the hog producers of the Philippines need to get our message out that the hight cost(s) of operating our farms is killing us.Having a forum like this to brain storm ideas is a good start,putting pressure on the Philippine Govt. is another,long term plans would be the exporting of our product,the major problem here is the rateing of the processing plant,AAA the best followed by AA,hog processing plants here in North America kill thousands of hogs per shift.The cost(s) of equipement for processing is expensive,may be good quality used equipement is a option.
Proud Independant Region 7
mikey

[mikey]

I think a good long time goal is exporting,then one does not have to rely on the home market place,more production as more product is exported.The problem alot of us are facing is the rising cost of production mainly the feed cost involved in such a business.When we are able to lower our production costs and become more price competative in the world market place we should be able to compete for a share in the market place.My personal opinion only:
Independant Producer Region 7
mikey

[nemo]

Exporting is the key in balancing the over supply of pigs in the Philippines. The problem in our country is supply is ever increasing but demand is very volatile.

ANother possible area is propagation of R&D. There are so much research conducted by the government about alternative feed. The main problem is they spent much on research and never on the development.

[genie_ps]

... The main problem is they spent much on research and never on the development.

(lol), quote of the month Doc.

[mikey]

Doc,oversupply,thats the last thing Mr Hog and I need,knew 10 million hogs per year for a country that has little to no exports was too good to be true.Atleast in the back of my mind always thought there might be a chance that one would have to cull their numbers,seen it all before.
mikey

[nemo]

Filipino eat pork a lot one evidence is that heart attack is in the top 10 killer of pinoy.

Also the Philippines is within the top 10 in the world in terms of sow population.

genie_ps
i have read a lot in the internet, journals about researches saying this is a good substitute for this or for that.  The government must realize that we are not a dumb driving  cattle that if they release a study we will just follow it blindly.  They are the ones who must set an example. They must create pet/demo projects so people could see and realize the benefit of this study.

[mikey]

Doc, good to hear we are in the top 10 as sow producers,still believe we need a second market,exporting would really help unload our numbers.Look at Canada,if Canada had no export markets,there would not be the numbers being produced,our own in country market place could not support the numbers.Korea,China, etc. are all pork eating nations,the pork producers of the Philippines need Govts. to help us secure these markets.Thinking of planting some value added crops on the land ,the sale of the crops would help pay for the production of the hogs,am happy that the wife and I have goats,cattle,turkeys as a back up in case the bottom falls out of the pork market.
Independant Producer Region 7
mikey

[Slyfox]

Doc, good to hear we are in the top 10 as sow producers,still believe we need a second market,exporting would really help unload our numbers.Look at Canada,if Canada had no export markets,there would not be the numbers being produced,our own in country market place could not support the numbers.Korea,China, etc. are all pork eating nations,the pork producers of the Philippines need Govts. to help us secure these markets.Thinking of planting some value added crops on the land ,the sale of the crops would help pay for the production of the hogs,am happy that the wife and I have goats,cattle,turkeys as a back up in case the bottom falls out of the pork market.
Independant Producer Region 7
mikey

is your goats,cattle,turkeys also inside the compound of your pigs?

[genie_ps]

genie_ps
i have read a lot in the internet, journals about researches saying this is a good substitute for this or for that.  The government must realize that we are not a dumb driving  cattle that if they release a study we will just follow it blindly.  They are the ones who must set an example. They must create pet/demo projects so people could see and realize the benefit of this study.

...  The government must realize that we are not a dumb driving  cattle that if they release a study we will just follow it blindly.  They are the ones who must set an example. They must create pet/demo projects so people could see and realize the benefit of this study.

True, Doc,  I cannot agree with you more.

While there are issues like .5M being given to some governors and congressmen (allegedly bribes), the government on the otherhand insists we do not have extra money for ad hoc R&D's and subsidies for farmers.   Many small farmers always end up losing the not so sufficient capital because of inadequate technical assistance.  Farmers also lack the market protection that is always being threatened by meat smugglers and importers everytime our local media sensationalize issues like swine flu.  Though it's alright to publicize it for our awareness and prevention, I think it would be of much help if they do their job by helping us prevent it and intensifying police work so as not to spread double dead meat reaching our makets.

[genie_ps]

Doc, good to hear we are in the top 10 as sow producers,still believe we need a second market,exporting would really help unload our numbers.Look at Canada,if Canada had no export markets,there would not be the numbers being produced,our own in country market place could not support the numbers.Korea,China, etc. are all pork eating nations,the pork producers of the Philippines need Govts. to help us secure these markets.Thinking of planting some value added crops on the land ,the sale of the crops would help pay for the production of the hogs,am happy that the wife and I have goats,cattle,turkeys as a back up in case the bottom falls out of the pork market.
Independant Producer Region 7
mikey

Mikey, we've seen better days in terms of pricing.  Price wise, I doubt if we would be competitive enough against other countries.  Prices of feeds and increasing overheads tend to push the farm gate price.  Before we seek that Govt help in securing those markets, I think farmers should seek their true technical assistance and subsidies first to pull our costs/overhead down so as to enable us pulldown our farm gate price as well.   Then, we would be competitive enough to get a chunk of the export markets.

[mikey]

The hogs are in 2 different locations,the goats and turkeys another location and the cattle is at my father in laws,we have 4 locations spread over the land some of which we own and some is owned by my wifes family.Hog producers here in North America are having a tough time themselves,lucky for us,exports help to unload supply,the problem I see in the Philippines is,farming has no control,anything goes,anyone can set up any kind of farm they want and the Govt. could care less,most countries have a quota system,one buys a quota from the Govt. and is limited to how much one can produce.I agree our production cost are high,related back to the feed cost,how one can lower their production cost,I have no answers,another problem is the white hogs are a high maintance animal,not really suited to tropical conditions.The native hog is a much lower maintance animal to care for,better suited to tropical conditions,some of the factory hog farms in North American grow their own feed,may be this is something to look at,forums like this,help to brain storm ideas and may be just maybe we can come up with something useful to help us all out of this mess we seem to be in.I have red that in about 20 years the Philippine Govt. knows food will be an important resource to feed the masses,in 20 years I will be an old man lol.Food will be an important resource down the road,if we can hang on that long is another question,We are all in this together.
Good Farming Boys/Girls
Independant Producer Region 7:
mikey

[genie_ps]

...I have red that in about 20 years the Philippine Govt. knows food will be an important resource to feed the masses,in 20 years I will be an old man lol.Food will be an important resource down the road,if we can hang on that long is another question,We are all in this together.
Good Farming Boys/Girls
Independant Producer Region 7:
mikey

(lol)... how old r u mikey?  Yup, the future seems bleak.  I see very dim light at the end of the tunnel.  Right now it's deeply rooted with the government agri policies.  Perhaps, We need a discerning politician, a mikey perhaps.  kidding (lol).

[mikey]

Genie Ps:well I am over 50,under 60 lol.Slyfox made a good comment about corn being grown for fuel,this adds to our problems.I have noticed about the prices Slyfox posted,they seem to be all over the place,different regions,different prices,makes no sense to me,usually prices here uniform,producers can get about the same no matter  what part of the country one produces.I agree the Philippine Agri. Dept. needs to take on a much more active role,its too much like a wild west show.Boys one thing to keep in mind is,if the retail price of pork is too expensive for the customer(s) to buy,over supply in the markerplace will drive down the price at the farmgate level.Within the month we should see how were doing,prices up or down,will be interesting.Some farms have a hedge,they produce more than one product line,if one is not doing well,they put more effort into the one that is doing better,vise a versa.Food will become very important in the future,as the masses expand,someone has to feed them.The Chinese are pumping money into farming in the Philippines,do they know something we do not.
Good Farming Boys/Girls:
mikey