The pain of Manitoba livestock producers poured out of the country and into the laps of provincial government ministers at last week’s Association of Manitoba Municipalities convention.
“I think it is going to be a legacy of this government, the demise of the hog and cattle industries,” said cattle producer Tom Dickson of Pipestone during the annual bearpit session with premier Gary Doer and his ministers. “I don’t know if you have a plan for agriculture or not …. We’re getting sick of it.”
Dickson said in his part of southwestern Manitoba about 10,000 breeding cows have been sent to slaughter this fall because of bad conditions, and the same number is likely to follow this winter.
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He also condemned the government’s Bill 17, which banned new hog barn construction in certain parts of the province.
“It wasn’t based on science,” he said.
Dickson’s condemnation of what he perceived as provincial government indifference to the plight of livestock producers drew a hearty round of applause. His criticisms were replied to by agriculture minister Rosann Wowchuk.
“We do value the livestock industry in this province, and they are facing a very significant challenge,” said Wowchuk.
She said producers in the Interlake are suffering from excess moisture that prevented many crops from being harvested, and producers in the southwest are suffering from drought.
The provincial government has offered or expanded a number of programs to deal with these situations.
“We continue to work with the Manitoba Cattle Producers (Association) and the Manitoba Pork producers to address the challenges.”
Wowchuk sees the U.S. country-of-origin labelling legislation as the greatest threat to Manitoba’s livestock industry.
“It will have a devastating impact on our pork industry and have a great impact on the beef industry,” she said. “We are tied to that market because that’s where our animals go.”
Wowchuck said the provincial government understands the pressure being put on the livestock industries by the multiple problems.
“It is no doubt a difficult time for the whole livestock industry.”
