Prairie Swine Centre Spring Producer Meetings
Prairie Swine Centre along with Zoetis and PIC are hosting their spring meetings.
While Alberta has already hosted two meetings April 8th in Lethbridge and April 9th in Red Deer and Saskatchewan’s in Saskatoon on April 10th.
The Portage la Prairie meeting is on May 2nd will be at the William Glesby Centre (#11 – 2nd Street NE). Featured speakers for the Manitoba installment of the PSC meetings are: Bernado Predicala, PSC; Mauricio Gonzalez, PIC; Jean-Philippe Martineau, Nutrition Partners and Dr. Svetlana Ponsin, Premier SHP.
Registration for all meetings opens at 9:30am program from 10am – 3pm, lunch is provided.
You must pre register for these meetings, please contact one of the following:
Steffen.Klenk@genusplc.com or
jp@gceres.com
The Prairie Swine Centre would like to thank PIC Canada, Zoetis and Nutrition Partners for their sponsorship and promotion of their 2025 spring meetings. •

Montana Livestock Expo
The Montana Livestock Expo will return to Great Falls MT Wednesday April 30th for its 5th annual, at Montana Expo Park show hours are 830am – 530pm.
For details contact Doug Cramer at 306.520.3553. Show is sold out •

Alberta Pork Congress
The 51st annual Alberta Pork Congress will be held at Westerner Park in Red Deer June 11th & 12th.
In addition to the two day trade show Alberta Pork Congress is happy host the awards banquet dinner Wednesday June 11th plus join us for lunch both Wednesday and Thursday before we depart.
Your Alberta Pork Congress board of directors team is finalizing the particulars for the upcoming trade show. More details will be shared soon.
Online registration is now open for booths, to prepurchase Wednesday and Thursday lunch tickets, all found on the website.
Don’t miss out ordering tickets for Wednesdays banquet (sold out by time of trade show), where the Olymel Reach for The Top Awards along with Alberta Pork Congress Industry Awards (Lifetime Achievement – Farm Team – Ambassador and Rising Star) will be presented. In addition a great meal.
Sponsorship opportunities are also listed online check out the website at
albertaporkcongress.com
If anyone is interested in receiving postcards or posters to promote the show please reach out to Kate.
For more details and information contact Kate Kelly, at 403.542.7906 or email her at kate@albertaporkcongress.com •

Animal Health Canada Fall Forum Date
The annual Animal Health Canada Forum is a vibrant meeting place for stakeholders in Canada’s animal health and welfare system. It provides an opportunity for them to collaborate in the work of animal health and welfare in Canada.
Participants engage to learn more about AHC’s activities and priorities, hear from thought leaders on topical issues and to share actions and initiatives in relation to animal health and welfare.
Our AHC Forum 2025 will be taking place on September 23 and 24, 2025 at the Infinity Convention Centre in Ottawa. Stay tuned for registration details in the coming months. •

Red Deer Swine Technology Workshop
Save the date for Red Deer Swine Technology Workshop which will be held Wednesday October 8th at Westerner Park. Agenda and speakers will be confirmed in future issues. •

Alberta Livestock Expo
Keep October 15th and 16th open for the Alberta Livestock Expo in Lethbridge. Booth registration will open in April. •

Saskatchewan Pork Symposium
If marking your calendars for all the events in 2025, another one to pencil in is Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium. The two day event is planned for November 4th & 5th. More details will be available in the months and issues to come. •

Brandon Hog & Livestock Expo Postponed
Please see our announcement regarding the Brandon Hog and Livestock Show this year
For over 40 years, the Brandon Hog and Livestock Show has been a cornerstone event for hog producers and suppliers. Over the decades, the Brandon Hog and Livestock Show has not only fostered industry connections but has also made a significant impact, raising over $$$ in food donations from the hog competition and contributing to Assiniboine Colleges Agriculture Program.
Recently, the committee met to discuss the future of the event. After careful consideration, we have made the difficult but necessary decision to postpone the Brandon Hog and Livestock Show until 2027. Several factors influenced this decision, including venue availability, selecting dates that best accommodate all exhibitors, and ongoing uncertainties within the industry and marketplace.

While this was not an easy choice, we remain committed to delivering a successful and meaningful event when we return. We look forward to welcoming everyone back in 2027!
Brandon Hog and Livestock Show committee. •

Feds Announce $567.16 Million to Guard Against African Swine Fever
The federal government announced on March 7th that it will spend up to $567.16 on measures to keep African Swine Fever out of Canada.
It has devastated the hog industry in China, has spread through Europe’s wild boar population and has shown up in the Dominican Republic.
If it arrives in Canada, hog and pork exports would be stopped in their tracks. About 70 per cent are exported.
Pork farmer leaders have asked the government for greater clarity on compensation if the disease ever breaks out here.
“Farmers need to know they have cash to be able to continue to feed the pigs, to be able to pay their staff, to be able to purchase feed, so on and so forth,” the Canadian Pork Council’s veterinary counsellor, Dr. Egan Brockhoff, said after one ASF readiness test last year.
The federal government offer is conditional on achieving agreements with the provinces and territories on a 60-40 funding split.
Canada has a partnership program called African Swine Fever Preparedness Program. •
— By Jim Romahn

Canadian, Mexican Agri-food Sectors Must Co-operate Amid
Tensions with U.S. Says Ambassador at End of February
Canada and Mexico must build on a strong agricultural trade relationship to secure trade resilience in the face of U.S. tariffs, says Carlos Joaquin González, Mexico’s ambassador to Canada.

“Mexico and Canada share a strong agricultural trade relationship built on complementarity and mutual benefit,” González said. “We are not just trading partners. We are strategical allies.”
González spoke at the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) annual general meeting about how the two agri-food economies can support one another while facing a mutual threat.
Mexico, like Canada, has been threatened with 25 per cent tariffs by U.S. President Donald Trump. While both countries initially avoided the measure, the threat of the measures beginning in early March still looms across both borders.
While Mexico exports commodities like avocados, tomatoes and peppers to Canada, Canada sends wheat, beef and dairy, which González said makes it a critical part of Mexican food security.
The two countries have already collaborated on several agri-food efforts. González said the Mexican embassy organized a special session for agri-food research and development, in which 12 projects were presented.
He also praised the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program, which sees tens of thousands Mexican workers coming to Canada every year.
However, “our agricultural relationship does not exist in isolation. Mexico, Canada and the United States are part of one of the most integrated ag food supply chains in the world,” González said.
He urged cooperation between Mexico and Canada to secure a mutually beneficial outcome from the upcoming 2026 Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) review, which he called “one of the biggest topics on the horizon.”
There has been speculation that Trump’s tariffs are a way of gaining leverage ahead of the review
“Mexico and Canada must work together to ensure fair, open and transparent trade conditions in North America,” he said.
Other areas where González said Mexico and Canada could expand collaboration include through technology transfer, Canadian expertise in precision farming, biotechnology and sustainable practice showcases.
He also mentioned a plan by the Mexican government to create regional agri-business hubs focused on improving exports and cold storage, which he said “represents an opportunity for Canadian businesses to participate in Mexico’s agri food value chain.” •

Extra Support Welcomed For Pork Producers
Canada’s pork producers are pleased to hear the Government of Canada is taking steps to protect producers during these uncertain times.
Additional supports, including increasing the compensation rate for AgriStability from 80% to 90% and doubling the current payment cap to $6 million for the 2025 program year, are a welcome move at this time.
Ag Minister Kody Blois promised producers action when he spoke at the Canadian Pork Council spring meeting recently, and on March 23rd he delivered. •

CPC & CMC Part of Zoning Exercise
Dr. Egan Brockhoff shared that in early February the Canadian Pork Council and Canadian Meat Council participated in a live pig trade table top exercise on implementing zoning in the face of African Swine Fever.
Throughout the day we worked through two different live pig trade scenarios at the federal, provincial, state and industry levels. Valuable insight was gained by all parties.
Thank you to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for hosting this exercise along with the USDA and USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Trade is so important to our two countries, let’s keep a good thing going.
Representatives from USDA, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), CFIA, U.S. State and Canadian Provincial Governments, and industry discussed scenarios to practice the U.S.-Canada Bilateral Zoning Protocol.
Both regulators demonstrated strong knowledge and cooperation.
Minimizing trade disruption while ensuring animal health is a top priority for both governments. CMC gained valuable insights into the discussions that would occur during an ASF outbreak and saw firsthand the trust and collaboration between CFIA and USDA.
Thank you CFIA for organizing this beneficial initiative. •

CPC Visits Washington
CPC’s Stephen Heckbert was in Washington, D.C. on February 25th, accompanied by Minister Lawrence MacAulay, Canada’s Ambassador to the U.S. Kirsten Hillman, and Russ Mallard, Chair of the Canadian Meat Council.
The purpose of this trip is to engage with key industry stakeholders and government officials to develop strategies that safeguard market access, boost competitiveness, and strengthen cross-border collaboration.
CPC is unwavering in its commitment to advocating for the interests of Canadian pork producers, helping them navigate the complexities of current and emerging trade policies. •

National Farmer Crisis Line Is Now Available!
The Canadian Centre for Agricultural Wellbeing (CCAW), in partnership with Farm Credit Canada (FCC), has launched the National Farmer Wellness Network (NFWN) Crisis Line: 1-866-FARMS01 (1-866-327-6701).
The purpose of this crisis line is to provide Canadian farmers, farm families and agricultural workers with access to immediate, no-cost,and confidential mental health support. It achieves this by:

• Providing licensed mental health professionals trained in the Canadian Agricultural Literacy Program (CALP).
• Being designed specifically for farmers and addressing industry-specific stressors.
• Removing barriers to care by providing confidential, culturally informed support.
• An ongoing collaboration with provinces to ensure continuity of care and access to specialized resources.
  Please don’t hesitate to use this number or share it with others who could benefit from it.•

Canadian Top Pork Export Market Trends Continue to Evolve
2024 was a landmark year for Canadian pork! Check out these key trends:

• 2024 Canadian Pork Exports: Nearly CAD 5.5 billion, a 16% increase from 2023.
• Pork Exports to Japan reached CAD 1.5 billion, a 63% increase, with 285,551 tonnes (19.7% of total exports), reflecting a 50% growth compared to 2023. Japan is now Canada’s #1 export market after the United States.
• Pork Exports to South Korea saw a 75% increase to CAD 398 million, with 83,709 tonnes, making it the 5th largest export market.
  Source: Statistics Canada | Statistique Canada. Canada Pork – Porc Canada’s Market Intelligence Report. •

China Hits Canola, Pork and Peas
Announced on March 10th, China is going to apply a 100 per cent tariff to Canadian canola oil, oil cakes and pea imports, and a 25 per cent duty on Canadian pork and aquatic products.
It is retaliation for Canada’s 100 per cent tariff on electric vehicles and 25 per cent on steel and aluminum.
Both of those were imposed to match tariffs imposed by the United States. It keeps Canada from being a back door for China to move products to U.S. customers.
Prime Minister Trudeau said at the time that China has over-capacity in those products resulting in low prices. •
— By Jim Romahn

U.S. Pork Producers Plead for Canadian Mercy
The National Pork Producers Association in the United States on March 24th was pleading for Canada to drop plans to impose retaliatory pork tariffs.
“The tit-for-tat tariff exchanges will disrupt supply chains that have been built up over decades. We request that Canada seeks to preserve the benefits of the integrated North American market to the maximum extent practicable, including by excluding U.S. pork imports from retaliation,” said Maria Zieba, the council’s vice-president for government affairs. It was in a letter to Canadian government officials. “As of this writing, goods originating in North America, including Canadian pork, are exempt from tariffs. While we cannot predict what will happen in the future, NPPC supports continued duty-free trade in both directions,” she wrote.
“A trade war will leave the North American pork sector weaker and more fragmented. While we understand the impulse to impose tariffs on U.S. goods in response to unjustified U.S. tariffs, such duties likely would rupture the integrated supply chain that has been so beneficial to our two countries, especially since the creation of NAFTA,” she wrote. •
— By Jim Romahn

New CWSHIN Website
Recently, the Canada West Swine Health Intelligence Network, or CWSHIN, launched their new website. CWSHIN serves western swine producers, swine herd practitioners and governments to improve swine health, production, and the economic prosperity of the sector.
The new site has been redesigned for ease of use, but continues to house vital information, such as quarterly reports, technical reports, seminars, and archived disease information.
Site can be found at cwshin.ca •

Why Do You Chose Pork – A Recent Engagement by Canada Pork
Canada Pork – Porc Canada recently launched a campaign, wanting to know why families choose pork.
When it comes to sourcing pork, what’s the top factor that influences your decision? These were the suggested options to select from.
• Quality

• Sustainability Practices
• Affordability
• Made in Canada
• Quick and Simple to Prepare
• All options
• Something else?
  As the industry voice of Canadian pork, let’s help our members and partners understand what matters most when choosing Pork. •

All U.S. Pork Facilities Reinstated to Export to China
The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) was pleased to announce on March 18th successful efforts to renew registrations of all 300+ U.S. pork harvesting and cold storage facilities eligible to export to China.
“U.S. pork producers now have maintained access and increased certainty to export their products to the 1.4-billion-person Chinese market,” said NPPC CEO Bryan Humphreys. “NPPC’s leadership and focus on market access for U.S. pork is paying off, and we’re not stopping here.”
Over the past few months, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Trade Representative have actively engaged with China’s General Administration of Customs to renew the registration of U.S. pork facilities that were set to expire or had recently expired. These U.S. facilities have been renewed to export to China for five years.
China remains an important destination for certain types of U.S. pork products, such as offals, that return more value to U.S. pork producers than in other markets. This underscores the continued focus by NPPC on access to as many markets as possible, ensuring high value destinations are accessible for the many different types of pork products produced in the U.S.
Exports account for more than 25% of U.S. pork production and support more than 140,000 U.S. jobs. In 2024, U.S. pork producers exported $8.6 billion of pork products.
Also in 2024, more than 367 thousand metric tons of U.S. pork were exported to China, worth over $1.1 billion. Approximately 55% of pork variety meats (offal) exports go to China.
NPPC will continue to advocate for market access for U.S. pork products and facilities. •
— Swine Web

CPC Excited to Launch Pig Learn
PigLEARN is an online training platform designed to enhance skills and boost productivity in the swine industry.
With PigLEARN, companies have the ability to track their employees’ learning progress and engage in interactive learning dynamics through quizzes, leaderboards, and achievement recognition.
Additionally, all the modules are available in multiple languages, making PigLEARN an accessible and valuable resource for all users.
For more information about PigLEARN, contact your Provincial Pork Organization! •

MacAulay Announces Retirement
Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay has announced he will be retiring because he will not run in the next election which could come within months.
He has been a Prince Edward Island Member of Parliament since 1988 and has twice been agriculture minister and also minister of labour, of veterans affairs and solicitor general.
“With a heavy heart, but no regrets, I have decided that I will not be a candidate in the next federal election,” he wrote.
MacAulay was elected 11 times and served under six prime ministers for more than 36 years. •
— By Jim Romahn

Lawsuit Filed Against Hog Farms
A farmer’s co-operative, Compeer Financial, has included Sunterra Farms of Alberta in a lawsuit alleging cheque kiting.
The lawsuit is against three hog farms in Yankton County, South Dakota—Sunwold Farms, Sunterra Farms, and Lariagra Farms—alleging involvement in a cheque kiting scheme resulting in significant financial losses.
The complaint, filed in the South Dakota District Court, seeks the appointment of a receiver to manage approximately 110,000 hogs and to recover damages totaling $36 million.
According to the complaint, the defendants pledged their pig inventory as colla
Cheque kiting involves creating artificial balances by continuously writing cheques between accounts at different banks without sufficient funds, exploiting the time it takes for cheques to clear.
The entities involved are connected to the Sunterra Group, a multi-state and international swine operation led by the Price family based in Alberta. Sunterra Group manages approximately 500,000 pig spaces across various entities, including Sunwold and Lariagra.
Specifically, Sunwold Farms, a South Dakota corporation, finishes over 62,000 pigs, while Lariagra Farms, also based in South Dakota, finishes approximately 48,725 pigs. •
— By Jim Romahn