On April 11, Manitoba Pork held its 59th AGM in Winnipeg, MB., where producers and industry stakeholders heard about Manitoba Pork’s activities.
The banquet included the successful ‘Pledge Pig’ program, which raised over $6,400 for Harvest Manitoba as part of Manitoba Pork’s successful partnership, providing freezers and ground pork to food banks.
“To say that 2023 was a challenging year for the hog industry would be a massive understatement,” said Manitoba Pork chair Rick Préjet. “Higher feed and operating costs and dealing with PED pushed the Manitoba hog industry to the max.”
“The fact that we have survived as we did through 2023 is a testament to the resilience and strength of all sectors involved in our industry and shows that Manitoba is still one of the best places in the world to produce pork,” said Préjet.
Manitoba Pork remains focused on the needs of hog farmers, working collaboratively with producers, industry partners, provincial pork organizations, stakeholders, and international trading partners.
Manitoba Pork focused on the 2023 provincial election, which saw Wab Kinew and the New Democratic Party (NDP) elected to lead Manitoba for the next four years.
“We have had excellent meetings with members of the NDP, including cabinet ministers and senior staff, and we are very confident they will support our industry going forward,” said the Manitoba Pork chair.
A key factor involves board members, district advisors, and staff who are active in building and maintaining relations across the hog sector and province. These areas include disease, labour, trade relations, research, producer outreach and extension, and public relations, to name a few. Attending municipal council meetings, annual meetings in other provinces, and large industry events will be emphasized in the coming years.
“These events include large-scale gatherings in Iowa and Minnesota, where we have been able to continue with trade advocacy. We are also looking to expand this outreach to other states in the coming years,” said Préjet.
Along with trade missions like the one Manitoba Pork participated in Japan, these activities are key in paving the road ahead for the pork industry. Manitoba Pork is heavily involved with the Canadian Pork Council (CPC), working closely with Stephen Heckbert and his team. Scott Peters sits on the executive as vice-chair, while Jonathan Sawatzky is also on the board.
On the disease front, Manitoba Pork saw significant advances in 2023, including the completion and implementation of the PED elimination plan, continuing with the Squeal on Pigs Manitoba initiative, and the African Swine Fever (ASF) response plan. Manitoba Pork also sits on the Canada West Swine Health Intelligence Network (CWSHIN), which works with veterinarians and other swine health professionals to monitor disease activity in western Canada and is proactive in controlling new and existing disease breaks.

Préjet thanked GM Cam Dahl and the staff at Manitoba Pork for their excellent work and leadership. He thanked the district advisors who play a massive role in guiding the board and staff on what is essential to the industry.
Finally, Rick Préjet expressed his gratitude to the board of directors, particularly Claude Vielfaure, saying, “Thank you to Claude for what he brought to the board for so many years. We will miss you around the board table.”
He also welcomed Lyle Loewen, who joined the board over the past year, stating, “We are pleased that the HyLife seat at Manitoba Pork is in good hands with Lyle Loewen. Welcome, Lyle. We look forward to working with you.”
In closing, the MPC chair noted, “The future looks much brighter with lower feed costs. This expense reduction will significantly ease the financial burden on producers, allowing them to reinvest in their operations and improve overall profitability.”
He looks forward to a profitable 2024, as these lower costs will contribute to better margins and more sustainable farming practices.
“This change brings renewed confidence in our hog industry, fostering growth and encouraging new investments and innovations. Together, we can build a more resilient and thriving agricultural sector.” •
— By Harry Siemens