In a candid interview with Andrew Dickson, general manager of Manitoba Pork talks about the effects of the United States removing M-COOL for pigs and cattle moving from Canada and Mexico into the U.S., and how the new PC government will handle further pig expansion in Manitoba, slow on COOL and positive on pig expansion.
Regarding the U.S. removing M-COOL, are we seeing an increase of hogs going south? “There is a small increase in the number of weanlings going into the U.S.,” said Dickson.
“There is also a high competition for those weanlings from the finishing business in Manitoba as well and there are no new sow barns of any real significance built in the last ten years.”
He says there several producers replacing old and well-used infrastructure, but there’s no large expansion of the sow herd for exporting weanlings to the U.S.
“The previous NDP government was very keen that any new barns be associated with developing finishing capacity for providing slaughter pigs for the Brandon and Neepawa plants,” said the MPC gm. “I think the new PC, Brian Pallister government is to take a more broader view of barns than just that and we’re hoping to get that resolved.”
When asked whether the new PC government will loosen up the regulations that ban hog barn expansion, he says there are significant constraints on government right now, so they’re looking to maneuver without changing the legislation.
“I think it is still early for this government to start changing legislation. I think we will look at some work around how the regulations are actually implemented and interpretation of those regulations,” said Dickson. “We’re not looking so much at the word loosening the regulations, but using the regulations better to achieve positive environmental outcome instead of just focusing on the process.”
The industry doesn’t want to be seen as polluting Lake Winnipeg, or water courses, or such like that. We don’t want to have bad relations with the neighbouring residents, farmers, and so on.
“As far as how the regulations are interpreted, we’re looking at some flexibility and some professional judgement calls being made that reflect good science and the realities of trying to build the barn,” he said. “We hope to be having a meeting with the new cabinet members that are responsible for the different pieces of legislation that affect the industry over the next month. We’ve had very positive feedback in that they want to meet with us, they want to look at a game plan and how we will develop the industry over the next ten years.”
Dickson says they have some good suggestions for them as how they can work with the hog industry to create that development. “… and make sure we are able to explore the advantages that are being thrown at us almost, by the new trade agreements that are coming up,” said Dickson.
“There are actually tremendous opportunities for Manitoba in this.” “We need to build the barns where people want them and more importantly where they are most suited, as well – and not boundaries picked for political reasons,” he added. •
— By Harry Siemens
