Manitoba’s Minister of Agriculture Addresses Swine Industry

By Harry Siemens

Derek Johnson, Manitoba’s Minister of Agriculture, said managing the pig flow on top of the pandemic and extreme weather events was a real challenge for hog producers in Manitoba. This combined with droughts and suddenly going to excess moisture was a challenge. “But, it’s Manitoba. Where else would that happen?” he said.

Johnson speaking at the recent Manitoba Swine Seminar said the drought of 2021 drove up commodity prices, and the cost of raising a pig was at an all-time high. Also, Manitoba saw one of the longest and most difficult PED virus outbreaks in southern Manitoba.

“Through these challenges, our Manitoba swine industry stood strong and resilient,” said Johnson. “Thank you for enduring those hardships and coming out successful. I know the industry continues working very hard to overcome difficulties in recent times.”

He related how the decent grain crop in 2022 was important and welcome news. This good crop helps to decrease the price of feed and therefore increase profitability.

There’s also good news regarding education efforts underway in the sector. The new swine production program at Assiniboine Community College (AAC) will help train future employees for the swine industry. The program will ensure producers raise pigs in a competent and welfare-friendly manner, fully informed by the best science and experience available.

“Our government contin- ues to work with the swine industry to position it for success and to manage risk,” said Johnson. “We are proud to work in partnership with Manitoba Pork as we develop an African Swine Fever response plan.”

He said it is important meeting with people around the country and other ministers of agriculture and in North America.

“We all have the same fear. If you don’t have a plan in place, we’ll negotiate in times of war and it will never work out too well,” he said.

Johnson said Manitoba relies heavily on trade with other countries. As the pigs head south and feed comes north, it is vital to maintain this supply chain.

“We must look at our zones rather than the 49th parallel being the zone,” he said.

The minister said it’s crucial for Manitoba especially, to be effective, more so than any other province because about 20 per cent of the agriculture GDP comes from the pork industry in Manitoba. Other provinces would have the capability to consume their pork, whereas Manitoba exports 80 per cent.

“As much as I like bacon, I don’t think we could consume it all, so it’s important to have that plan in place,” said Johnson. “This integrated partnership will ensure a successful plan if we have an outbreak of ASF. Although, knocking on wood and crossing our fingers won’t keep it away. We have to have that plan in place.”

Johnson said, linked to this is the Manitoba government’s plan to increase the number of veterinarians able to support the livestock industry.

“ASF is a serious disease and we are responding to these challenges by ensuring that we have the veterinarian support we need in our province,” he said.

Beginning in 2023 the government is increasing the number of dedicated Manitoba veterinary school spaces at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, SK. This increase of 33 per cent over 15 to 20 years will end up supporting 80 veterinarians in any given year as it’s almost a four-year program with 20 new entrants per year. More vet spaces is a real positive for agriculture in Manitoba, not just in the swine industry but in agriculture as a whole.

The other good news is that Manitoba wants to attract graduating veterinarians to practice in support of the livestock industry and has targeted the selection criteria for five new seats.

Federal Government Renews Funding to Expand Plant-Based Foods Innovation

By Elmer Heinrichs

Protein Industries Canada will receive $150 million from the federal government to further develop the plant-based food, feed and ingredient sector.

Protein Industries Canada CEO Bill Greuel said the money will be used to support innovation, scale-up of companies and the commercialization of new products.

“As a global agricultural powerhouse, Canada has the means, resources, and skill to turn crops into food and transform the way the world eats, while also bringing solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges, including global food security, the environment and human health,” Greuel said.

The renewed investment brings the total funding to Protein Industries Canada to $353 million from 2018 through to 2028, including $30 million through the Pan Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy.

Protein Industries Canada has co-invested $173 million into 55 projects. The initial investment leveraged $304 million in private investment, created 303 IP assets, helped companies leverage a further $234 million in follow-on investment, and is expected to contribute $15 billion in GDP and create 10,800 direct and indirect jobs by 2031.

The funding is part of the $750 million investment into the global innovation cluster program announced as part of the 2022 budget.