MBiz

14 SPRING 2018 T he new trade agreements between Canada and Pacific Rim countries (CPTPP) and the European Union (CETA) offer new opportunities to the meat sector in Manitoba. The CPTPP alone offers the potential to expand Canadian pork sales by over $500 million per year. Pork dominates the meat sector in Manitoba, with 90% of production exported to other provinces and to the United States, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, China and other countries. The hog sector now has the challenge of increasing production to take advantage of these profitable markets. Our processing plants need to be able to operate at efficient levels to be competitive. Hog farmers want to invest in new or expanded operations, to meet the higher demand and standards that the marketplace requires. Manitoba Pork has estimated that over $2 billion will be invested over the next 10 years by farmers and meat processing companies, creating jobs and raising the economic wealth of all Manitobans. New operations will incorporate emerging technologies – such as computerized feeding systems – to improve animal care, cost competitiveness and further reduce the sector's impact on the environment. The sector is already investing in new facilities in 2018. Some examples are: 1. In southwest Manitoba, HyLife, a large integrated farm and meat processor, is investing more than $170 million in six new barns and a feed mill in the Killarney area, along with expanding the processing capacity at its Neepawa plant. 2. Topigs Norsvin Canada, an international swine genetics company, has invested $15 million in a new boar testing facility in the Woodlands area. 3. Maple Leaf Foods invested over $90 million in new bacon processing facilities in Winnipeg, making Winnipeg the "Bacon Capital" of Canada. 4. Construction is completed or underway to replace at least four existing barns. Hog farmers are modifying their operations to replace older barns and equipment, upgrading electrical systems and adopting new technologies such as group housing of sows and computerized feeding systems. Manitoba Pork and its partners are reaching out to investors, local governments and rural communities to discuss the investment opportunities and benefits for regional economic development. There are numerous areas in agro-Manitoba that could benefit from the development of their livestock potential. The hog sector has already positively transformed communities such as Brandon, Neepawa, Steinbach, Niverville and many others. Manitoba Pork is ready and willing to come to local Chambers of Commerce to discuss how the hog sector can benefit their communities. PORK PRODUCTION AN ECONOMIC DRIVER FOR MANITOBA MANITOBA FACTS • About 220 commercial farm operations on over 600 sites, using the Three Site System (see diagram) • Most barns were built in the 1990s, with an expected lifespan of 25-30 years • Over 2,500 people are employed on-farm as animal care technicians and managers, with almost 13,000 people working in the hog sector • Hog farmers buy 2 million tonnes of feedstuff per year, valued at $400-500 million • Pork farm gate receipts are over $1 billion • Manitoba hog farmers annually produce 4.7 million market hogs for processing in Manitoba and 2.8 million weanling/feeder pigs for export to the U.S. THREE SITE SYSTEM SOW BARN FINISHER BARN Weanlings (3 weeks old) Feeders (9 weeks old) Market Weight (125-130 kg) NURSERY BARN

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