Karl Kynoch, chair of Manitoba Pork Council, at least until April when he officially steps down sat in that chair during some of the best and most difficult years of the hog industry in Manitoba. It still isn’t anything to write home about, especially here in Manitoba where government regs are stripping the industry of its potential when others are doing quite well thank you very much.
If one was to sum up the hog industry in Manitoba in a cliche, it reminds one of someone trying to suck and blow at the same time. On one hand, hog farmers are coming out of deep holes caused by things not in their control. On the other hand, hog prices skyrocketed upwards, feed prices fell through the floor, which should help them fill some of those deep holes and move forward with a vibrant industry.
Not so fast because the infrastructure, meaning the barns that Manitoba hog producers use go back to the ‘90’s and the Manitoba government moratorium banning anyone from increasing production by even one hog on their farm, doesn’t make for good investing, whether farmers, banks, and anyone with money.
Karl keeps doing a great job, taking the organization and the industry through the ups and downs, and especially the deep downs of the last five to seven years.
Yes, there are those who positioned themselves just right, mixed with a thriving grain farm to help pay the hog losses keeping the black holes from going too deep, and those today are making some good money.
Karl says looking back over the last 11 years as chair, and another four years as a director, one could tell he’s a little tired directing producer organization that keeps riding the rollercoaster. In talking to other producers in the industry, one of his biggest assets was his patience to listen to hog producers facing totally devastation and bankruptcy because Lady Luck had served them not just one lemon but many rotten lemons so they couldn’t even make lemonade.
The toughest time appears to be right now, knowing the rest of the industry outside of Manitoba has a fighting chance to move their industries forward, while here the industry lavishes on the altar of radicals who in some instances still think hog manure runs uphill in January.
Knowing the industry is shrinking every day, knowing upwards of 3,000 direct jobs in the processing industry are at stake, not to mention the billion dollars plus the industry adds to our economy each and every year, hurts this deeply caring man.

For the past five years, MPC directors and staff have spent so much time, in essence wasting it and money, trying to convince these radicals what damage they’re doing with a total lack of flexibility and turning a blind eye, a deaf ear, a stubborn shoulder to an industry that just wants the same rights as every other industry in Manitoba.
Kynoch gave his stepping down a lot of thought and discussion with his wife. “I’m going to really miss Pork Council. I’m very proud of that organization and the opportunity to be able to represent the pork producers. So yeah, it’s a tough decision but I think at the end of the day it will be the right decision.”
He admits that it is nice to finally see prices turn around for hog producers. The last number of years, especially the last four years, farmers lost tremendous amounts of money.
“We’ve hit some record high prices, so producers are managing to put some funds back onto their balance sheets, which is really good to see and much needed,” he says.  •
— By Harry Siemens