Icelandic pig farmers are suffering financially due to the ongoing vets’ strike and some no longer have money for animal feed and to pay bills.
One pig farmer in Grímsnes says her farm, and therefore her family, is on the line and that she fears the smaller pig farms in the country will not survive the strike.
Since the vets’ strike began, domestic producers of poultry and pork have not been receiving income.
While vets are on strike, animals are not going to slaughter—but there is no let up on bill payments.
Farmer Guðný Tómasdóttir says the problem could well be compounded by a future surplus of frozen meat, and consequent price drop, once the strike is over.
“Now every day is important, because we are used to receiving income every week, but now it has been four weeks without any takings” she told Vísir. Money from the limited slaughter last week, when vets were given an exemption to work during the strike for welfare reasons, will likely bring in some money—but not much, Guðný says.
“These small farms, we have our debts and everything else. We are not big enough to be interesting to the bank. I would be very surprised if they all survive, that’s just the way it is,” says Guðný.
