By Alice McFarlane

Manitoba Pork Producers want its economic contributions made a higher priority

Aug 25, 2023 | 4:53 PM

Manitoba Pork wants all levels of government to make the agriculture sector and the economic activity it generates a higher priority.

General Manager Cam Dahl said the pork sector should be recognized for its economic contributions rather than as a problem to be dealt with.

Dahl said Manitoba Pork hired an outside independent economic firm to look at the economic impacts.

“They are significant. By far the largest value-added sector in agriculture is pork. There are 22,000 full-time jobs in Manitoba that are tied to the hog industry,” Dahl said. “The sector contributes $2.3 billion a year to the economy.”

Dahl said roughly $137 million dollars in taxes are paid by the industry to the provincial government every year and another $87 million is paid to municipalities.

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“So, it is a real critical part of Manitoba’s economy,” he said.

In addition, about 3.5 per cent of Manitoba’s GDP is tied to the pork sector. Dahl said it’s not a minor player.

“I think a really critical important point to really hammer home in this message about the story of agriculture and the story of pork is that it’s not just a rural discussion,” he said. “The jobs and the contribution to the economy and to the community really do impact all parts of the province whether you’re in Neepawa or Brandon or in downtown Winnipeg.”

According to Manitoba Pork, 90 per cent of the eight million pigs produced in Manitoba are exported either as pork or as live animals. Dahl said it’s important for governments to avoid protectionism and stand up for open borders.

“To ensure our regulations remain science-based and to look at collaborating with agriculture when it comes to achieving society’s sustainability goals rather than relying on the regulatory stick,” Dahl said.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW