A Snapshot of the Western Canadian Pork Industry

The prairie provinces of Western Canada are blessed with large amounts of space and relatively low populations. Although the agricultural culture varies province to province generalizations are commonly accepted – Alberta beef, Saskatchewan wheat and Manitoba pork. The removal of the Crow Rate in 1995 has forced farmers within the prairies to look at their production options and how best to use their grains at home. Livestock production utilizes feed grains produced locally, diversifies the agricultural base, and provides employment opportunities. Like all agricultural commodities, livestock prices fluctuate cyclically. Short-term price downturns are not uncommon and those producers that now make up the industry continue to see the advantages of producing pork in the prairies. Globally, the outlook remains strong with the expectation that meat consumption, particularly pork, will continue to increase