Here we are at the sixth and final edition in 2022. It was wonderful to see so many attendees at all the fall events. Alberta Livestock Expo, Red Deer Swine Technology Workshop, MPC producer meetings and last week (from when I am penning this) Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium, all had pre-COVID attendance. Included in this issue is follow up coverage from each of these functions.
Looking ahead to January, Banff Pork Seminar will be the first full in-person one since January of 2020. According to Ashley Steeple, conference coordinator pre registrations are high and they are estimating attendance to be between 700 -750. Some of you might be reading Prairie Hog Country for the first time while attending BPS, as there will be a copy of this most recent edition in every attendee bag. For those that are reviewing for the first time, I hope you enjoy the publication and find it informative. Please reach out if you have any questions or comments on PHC.
As was recently announced Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada launched their ASF Prevention and Preparedness Program. It started on November 21, and eligible organizations can apply for funding under the Government of Canada’s African Swine Fever Industry Preparedness Program (ASFIPP). The $23.4 million program is designed to help Canada’s pork industry prepare for the possibility of African Swine Fever (ASF) entering the country. Applications will be accepted until November 30, 2023. For all the details refer to the AAFC’s website: agriculture.canada.ca .
In addition to coverage on recent fall events also included in this issue is coverage from a multistory research pig barn in China, Rescue Training, Labour Challenges, Public Trust & Image, Economic Reality, Biosecurity and much much more.
Agriculture is a big part of Canada’s economy, accounting for one in every eight jobs and employing over 2.3 million people as per Statistics Canada, 2021. And the hog sector reported a 3.4 per cent increase in the number of hogs and pigs from the previous census (2016). In 2021, there were 14.6 million hogs and pigs in Canada, up from 14.1 million in 2016.
Thinking ahead to 2023 it will be the 27th year for Prairie Hog Country. We are so proud to continue to be your only Independent source of hog news and information dedicated to Western Canada. I want to especially thank those companies that choose to use Prairie Hog Country get their products/services message direct to producers, without your financial support there would be no magazine, so thank you!
I’d like to wish you, your families, barn staff all the very best this holiday season. Take a moment to be grateful for all the true blessings we have. Merry CHRISTmas.
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 February.