Happy Easter, as I am typing this on Maundy Thursday. I wish you and your families all the very best on this special holiday when we are reminded of a selfless sacrifice to save us all.

Thinking ahead with tomorrow being Good Friday, from when I penned this, and the ultimate death, I have been reminded of one of the certain things in life, Death. In the past seven weeks I have lost both my grandmas and my Godfather. In all three cases they struggled with health however, it still saddens me to lose all three so close together. Another recent loss was Dr. Pearse Lyons founder of Alltech, who has been on top of research for many years. Plus I found out that dear Doug Maschmeyer from Bruderheim passed away too. He was instrumental in promoting Alberta and Canadian pork years ago.

Speaking of promoting Canadian Pork, earlier in the month a delegation representing CPI, CPC including provincial pork boards traveled to Japan. Following the signing of the TPP agreement it was a great opportunity to build on an existing relation with the Japanese market. Pork is the highest consumed protein in Japan second only to seafood. As the cover photos show all three major packers in Western Canada are represented well in Tokyo. Geographically Canada is in a perfect position to get fresh chilled pork delivered to Japan.

Included within this issue is coverage from Manitoba Swine Seminar, once again some strong speakers engaging some important topics.

Mackay Equipment hosted a small information session on a technology new to North America and Cam Hutchinson was onsite representing Prairie Hog Country for said session. With ProGrow you can watch, weigh and check in on your stock from anywhere – using remote cameras. Although interesting technology will take time to introduce to market place, as we all know hard to adapt to change.

I also found it very interesting to learn in Norman Crabtree’s submission in this edition that Vietnam is the fourth largest hog producing country globally, who knew.

Temple Grandin was one of the speakers at the recent Alberta Farm Care Conference, celebrating its 25th year. What started from a neighbour wanting to help a struggling farmer has grown to finding better ways to manage livestock, from pigs to poultry and everything in-between.

In Abbotsford Ed Fast shared his take on the ongoing NAFTA talks. He suggested that a potential change might be in the supply management sector, and reminded those in attendance at the breakfast meeting that NAFTA has been good for Canada over the past quarter century.

Also included in this issue is our annual readership survey, please take the time to share your opinion. It counts and it matters! Producers tell me that they still prefer our regionalized focus, so we will continue with our goal set 22 years ago to be a Western Canadian Hog Magazine.

Even though our focus is Western Canada, I like to share stories from abroad sometimes too. So stay tuned to the June release for a story on Kona Hawk Farm, a place I was fortunate enough to visit on a recent trip to Hawaii.

As always, I am only a phone call or email away. Prairie Hog Country, Box 5536, Leduc, Alberta T9E 2A1, 780.986.0962, fax 780.980.9640 or email: hogcountry@shaw.ca

Talk to you in June.