We know that the last few months have been, on some level or another, chaos. The daily news cycle is dominated by stories and information that test what we have come to know and trust when it comes to global economic partnerships and our own financial wellbeing. That chaos and instability is felt by everyone.

Farmers, much like any business owner in Manitoba, put capital at risk to run their business. Ideally, the capital used to run the business, including money to pay employees, purchase supplies and inputs, heat barns, and transport pigs to market would be recouped at the end of a production cycle. Uncertainty in the market puts that capital and any profits in jeopardy. More importantly, it puts the livelihoods of those farmers and the 22,000 Manitobans that are employed in the hog sector at risk.

“To keep my barns in operation, I know I need to continuously reinvest in critical needs, as does our province,” said Scott Peters, a hog and grain farmer from southeast Manitoba. “Unpredictablility in the global marketplace threatens my ability to do that, just as it threatens the province’s.”

Statistics compiled by Economic Development Winnipeg show that Manitoba’s hog sector contributes more than two times as much as the provincial aerospace sector to the Manitoba economy, and trails only the transportation, advanced manufacturing, and energy sectors in terms of economic impact. Manitoba’s hog sector contributes over $2.3 billion to the provincial GDP each year, equivalent to 72 new elementary schools in South Pointe, 16 emergency room expansions at St. Boniface Hospital, or 11 new overpasses at the Perimeter Highway and St. Mary’s Road.

Since 2017, over 40 new barn sites or expansions have been approved across the province. This growth represents over 100 new jobs and $200 million in private investment, further increasing Manitoba’s primary agricultural production. Communities like Killarney and Neepawa, as well as cities like Winnipeg, Brandon, Steinbach, and Winkler are growing and revitalizing due to expansions in farming and processing.

Manitoba’s agricultural sector relies on exports. Manitoba exports about $9.3 billion worth of agriculture and food products every year. In 2024, 46 percent of those exports were shipped into the United States. Manitoba’s hog sector exports pork around the world, to countries like the United States, Japan, China, and 23 others. Manitoba is one of the top pork producers in the country, and pork from our province is sought all around the world, in grocery counters and restaurant kitchens alike.

“Owning a business with my partners, employing people who have become our friends and who can afford to do things like put their kids in hockey, or soccer, or dance because of a well-paying job in our barns really means a lot to me,” added Scott. “That financial impact means a lot to communities like mine, because we all know how important jobs can be both to individuals and to local businesses as well.”

During most years, those investments have been steady and predictable. Hog farmers and major companies in our sector have committed to doing their part to ensure that our provincial economy continues to grow in small towns and big cities, helping to pay for the vital services we all rely on, like infrastructure, health care, and education. An unpredictable economic environment threatens those investments, and ultimately, negatively impacts our entire province.

An unpredictable environment also can cause uneasiness among consumers. Data from Probe Research shows that 75% of Manitobans are looking to support the Canadian economy over products from countries like the United States. Supporting the Canadian hog sector is simple – look for a reference to Western Canadian or Western Canada on the package or for the Verified Canadian Pork label when you shop, or support Canadian processors like Maple Leaf, HyLife, and Winkler Meats, to name just a few.

“As a farmer, I’m used to confronting challenges that we can’t control and those we can”, concluded Scott. “I love farming and producing a high-quality protein that’s recognized and enjoyed here in Manitoba and in countries all over the world.”

There is no doubt that supply chains, prices, and trade will be impacted by the chaos, uncertainty and unpredictability that lies ahead. Regardless, Manitoba’s hog sector remains committed to producing safe, high-quality pork for Manitobans, Canadians and consumers around the world.

To learn more, visit manitobapork.com/economy