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A foot of snow fills a bucket of challenges for Illinois hog farmer
An Illinois farmer is working through challenges on his 1,000 head feeder to finish hog operation after receiving about a foot of snow in single digit temperatures.
Newly elected president of the Illinois Pork Producers Association Alan Kollmann tells Brownfield snow drifted roads make it harder for trucks to get to buildings to haul pigs.
“We have added two cancellations this week allowing the road crews to do their jobs. We don’t want to be in their way, and they don’t want to be in our way, so if we allow them to do their jobs it ensures our pigs can be taken to the plant safely.”
He says the weather also makes it more difficult to increase biosecurity measures needed during the winter months.
“A lot of the bugs our pigs can get are susceptible to heat and to be able to be all in and all out and disinfect properly in our buildings- we need that heat. It is hard to heat buildings to the right temperature when it’s 10 degrees out.”
The Altamont, IL farmer says little things like tightening curtain cables and fixing shutters can go a long way in keeping pigs healthy in winter conditions.
