31 Pork News & Views Pork News & Views Better Pork | October 2024 Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness Whether your challenges arise from disease outbreak or otherwise, having an established community network can make it easier to navigate tough times and make well-informed decisions. Available Resources: Farmer Wellness Initiative – for immediate support and connec- tion to free counselling. Available 24/7 for any Ontario-based farmers or Ontario-based mem- bers of a farming household/ community at the toll-free num- ber: 1-866-267-6255. The Guardian Network – a volunteer, peer-driven commu- nity of mental health advocates that supports Ontario’s farming community. For more informa- tion visit: https://www.guardian network.ca/. In The Know – a mental health awareness program specifically for farmers and the agricultural community. For more informati on, visit https://agriculturewell- nessontario.ca/in-the-know/. For further details and resources available, visit: https://www. ontario.ca/page/mental-health -resources-for-farmers. For areas outside of Ontario, visit www.domore.ag to find support available Hailey Lewke, OMAFA Summer Livestock Assistant What's in a Contract? Requests for advice from someone considering renting land or barn space usually focus on the determination of a fair rental price. Deciding on the rent is important, but there are other costs and practicalities to consider which may be more critical to a successful business relationship in the longer run. But a handshake over the line fence is good enough between friends and neighbours, right? Well, unforeseen conflicts down the road can make handshake deals risky business. A fair rent can seem expensive once you include other costs which were "assumed" to be your responsibility. Who's responsible if one of the essential utilities should fail? I have a list of things to think about when drawing up a contract such as renting a neighbour's barn. It's not meant to be exhaustive, nor might you want to include everything. You and your prospective business partner should reach agreement on them before reaching out for the handshake. Now here’s a list of “contract caveats” to consider including in a contract: Names and addresses of everyo- ne involved Signatures of the parties invol- ved, and optionally witnesses Description of the building or land, etc. Dates of beginning and termina- tion of the agreement Details of provisions for renewal, or early termination (for example, a 1 year contract reviewed every six months, and requiring 6 months' notice of either party intending to terminate) Details of right of access of both parties to barns and other areas. This includes in normal circums- tances as well as in the case of emergency and should include adjacent buildings which may be occupied by others. There may be biosecurity considerations on your part and privacy issues for others Responsibilities for the costs of maintenance and repair, or reno- vations (including hardware, wa- ter supply, feed system, ventilati on, and so on.) Responsibility for cost of electri city; for example, a separate me- ter is recommended Responsibility for insurance on livestock, and on buildings Responsibility for snow clearance If there are residences nearby, it may be necessary to specify set hours for some operations such as loading of pigs, moving or spreading manure, etc. Responsibility for deadstock disposal, in normal operations but especially in the case of high mortality due to disease or barn fire, etc. Responsibility for spreading of manure, agreements on use of land, use of equipment and so on Agreement on the state of facili- ties at the beginning and end of the contract (for example, if it’s taken on in a poor state, will it be left in poor state, or cleaned up - and at whose cost?) It’s worthwhile spending some time on the details now in order to avoid arguments later. Jaydee Smith, Swine Specialist jaydee.smith@ontario.ca Preventing and Caring for Compromised Pigs Part 1 – Preventing Compromised Pigs When raising pigs, the health and wellbeing of the animals should always be a priority. Unfortunately, some animals may become sick or injured and require additional care. It’s best for both the animals and producer to prevent these complications whenever possible. Proper biosecurity, facility maintenance, and herd health programs can reduce many risk factors before they have a chance to impact your pigs. Observe your operation frequently to identify potential weak points in these areas, and to catch illnesses and injuries early. Pigs should be observed several times a day, with special attention during feeding. Starting in the Farrowing Room Pigs are most vulnerable when they are first born, so this is the first place to watch to prevent poor doers later in life. Some key areas to be mindful of include:
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc0MDI3