MBiz

I The Manitoba hog sector is thriving these days. After more than a decade of little growth, recent much-needed capital investment is resulting in significant construction activity and increasing sales. All told, the Manitoba hog sector will see about $375 million in new investment by 2019. "Manitoba hog farmers want to invest in the province where they live and work, contributing to a thriving and progressive lifestyle for everyone, while sustainably producing high quality, reasonably priced protein for the world," says George Matheson, Manitoba hog farmer and chair of Manitoba Pork, the farmer-led organization representing Manitoba's 350 hog farmers. Sustainability focus Matheson believes that one of the keys to maintaining and growing the hog sector is the ongoing focus on sustainability. To that end, the sector has made and continues to make significant environmental and animal care advances, including: • Manitoba hog farmers rigorously follow the 2014 Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Pigs. • In 2019, the new Canadian Pork Excellence program will be launched nationwide. This program will guide hog farmers in the raising and handling of pigs to the highest standards. • Manitoba hog farmers are continually reducing antibiotic use in their herds. • All new barns are engineered and built under a new building code, using improved materials, technologies and techniques. • New sow barns are being built as group-housed facilities. • To prevent runoff, all manure is now injected under the soil surface or immediately incorporated. Hundreds of millions in investment More than $200 million has been invested in two major processing facilities in Manitoba, at HyLife Foods in Neepawa and the Maple Leaf Foods bacon and ham plant in Winnipeg. These facilities, along with the Maple Leaf processing plant in Brandon, employ about 4,800 workers. Providing high quality, safe pork here at home and exporting to over 30 countries worldwide, these companies bring over $1 billion into the Manitoba economy every year. Investment is happening on individual farms, too. Manitoba Pork is currently tracking over 20 recently proposed hog barn sites or expansions, representing an investment of about $145 million. Manitoba Pork estimates there will be an additional 10 to 20 barn site proposals over the next three years, equivalent to an investment of $60 million. Added to this will be the ongoing rebuilding, renovation and modernization of existing hog operations totaling tens of millions of dollars in investment. Creating jobs and economic well-being for future generations As a sustainable activity that allows families to stay in and support the communities they love, the hog sector is one of few that creates new jobs in rural areas. About 13,000 Manitobans currently depend on the sector for their livelihood, a number that is expected to grow along with the building and expansion taking place now and in the future. It just makes sense Andrew Dickson, General Manager of Manitoba Pork, notes that it makes good economic sense to continuously improve our sustainability, update our programs and increase our investments. "Many new initiatives will lower the overall cost of production for the farmer, making it more economically viable to produce pork and giving Canadian pork a worldwide marketing advantage," he says. Demand for Canadian pork is on the rise, and with the recent signing of major trade agreements the Manitoba hog sector is experiencing a level of excitement and optimism that hasn't been seen in years. $200M processing facilities $30M feed mills $145M barns 2017-2019 $375M total current investment in hog sector (2017 & 2018) $60M projected additional investment in barns 2019-2022 $435M total projected new investment in hog sector from 2017 to 2022 (Since January 2017, estimated dollars) NEW INVESTMENTS IN MANITOBA'S HOG SECTOR SUSTAINABILITY IN THE HOG SECTOR MAKES SENSE t's an exciting time

• Cover