At the Manitoba Swine Seminar in Winnipeg in February Grant Melanchuck director of sustainable development, research, and data management gave the industry update on behalf of the Manitoba Pork Council.  
“Over the next decade or so, I see us entering a renewal phase.” 
Melanchuck said a producer survey in 2022, the first producer survey in about ten years of the respondents, which is well over half the industry, close to 75 per cent foresee their facilities needing a major retrofit or renovation in the coming decade.  
“With that, I think we’ll see a lot of renewal of barns, a lot of upgrading and modernization, and hopefully, a little bit of expansion.” 
With the bygone days of shouting, heated debate, and discussions at community meetings where a producer looked to get a permit from the local municipality, how will that happen today?   
He said producers will still need permits if it’s a new site or a major expansion, expanding herd size by over 15 per cent.  
“If you’re just rebuilding your barn or doing a minor expansion of herd size, 15 per cent or less, there’s no public hearing process involved, no conditional use approval, no technical review. In those circumstances, you need a building permit from your municipality or planning district.” 
Melanchuck said the pork industry in Manitoba is working much closer with the municipalities and all the people that need to be part of that process. Working proactively with the Association of Manitoba Municipalities and meeting with individual municipalities, not on specific barn proposals or anything like that, just doing some proactive outreach and engagement. 
“Getting to know the councils, the administrative officers and development officials, answering any questions that these individuals have about our sector. It’s been a great experience.” 
Those people appreciate the engagement with Manitoba Pork officials and producers meeting with them offering good questions and building a good dialogue with several municipalities. 
The Manitoba pork industry built 40 new barns between 2017 and 2022. Over 40 hog proposals underwent the provincial technical review process and received approval. Some were new sites but many were expansions. Those represent all types of growth and help aid independence in the colonies and the integrators.  
“Much of that growth has occurred in the province’s southwest corner, south of the Trans-Canada Highway and west of the Red River. With 40 approved proposals it means most likely 150 new jobs with about 200 million-plus dollars of private investments. So it’s good to see.” 
Recently, Rick Préjet, the chair of the Manitoba Pork Council, said some people who would like to build the bigger barns are hesitant because there needs to be more staff around to look after the pigs. 
“One of the challenges we’re facing as a sector, and many industries are facing, is the labour shortage. Certainly, when producers consider building a site, they make sure that they build it to a size that they have enough staff to service the new expansion. Manitoba Pork works with the Assiniboine Community College to bridge the labour gap as well as we can.” •
— By Harry Siemens