How do I find a hog farm for sale in Canada?

Hog farms change hands quietly. An owner who is ready to step back often tells a few people first: a lender, a feed supplier, a veterinarian, the buyer from the processor. That means a search works best when it runs on several tracks at once, with listings as one track and relationships as the others, and when you can explain clearly what kind of operation you want.

Listings and agricultural brokers

Business-for-sale sites and farm real estate listings both carry hog operations, and they are filed under different headings, so search both. Some brokers specialize in agricultural sales. When one calls you back, ask whom they act for on that file. A broker who represents the seller is a good source of information, but their summary is a starting point for your own checking.

Lenders, advisers and producer networks

Farm lenders, agricultural accountants and veterinarians know which operations are for sale or soon will be. Introduce yourself, say what you can finance, and ask them to keep you in mind. Producer meetings, supplier events and the people who haul animals or deliver feed are also worth a conversation. A direct, polite letter to an owner can work too, as long as it asks for a chat and not for a decision.

Screening a lead quickly

Before you spend time on a lead, find out what is actually included: the barns and their condition, the land base, the equipment, the animals and the manure storage. Then ask how the hogs are marketed and whether the processor relationship is something that passes to a buyer. Your lawyer can tell you what a buyer needs to have in place before taking over.

• Ask whether the sale is the business, the land, or both.
• Ask who the operation sells to and whether that arrangement transfers.
• Ask what staff, if any, would stay on.
• Ask why the owner is selling and how long the operation has been on the market.

Once you have a promising lead, our answer on getting a loan for a farm business is a useful next read.