Marcel Hacault will soon step down as a leading voice and advocate for Manitoba’s hog industry.
Hacault, who has chaired the Manitoba Pork Council for almost five years, said for personal reasons he will not stand for re-election when the council holds its annual meeting in Brandon this April.
“It was getting to be more like work,” said Hacault, a producer from Niverville, Man.
“If you’re going to do it, you have to enjoy it and hope you’re making a difference.”
He said he accomplished a lot of the things he set out to do as chair, including building consensus among the province’s hog producers, which are of diverse size and kind of operation. He believes the council now represents a good cross section of producers.
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The pork council was formed in 1999 to address issues in the hog industry that are outside the realm of the Manitoba Pork Marketing Co-op.
Hacault said his main regret is that the Manitoba government still has not provided producers with a clear and consistent planning process for hog barn development, which makes it hard for farm families to expand or improve their farms without going through an approval process that can be difficult, divisive and uncertain.
He did not reveal whether he has other political ambitions, but did not rule out the possibility.
“I don’t know, and if I do, I’ll let you know.”
Manitoba’s hog industry grew rapidly during the past five years, although the expansion is now cooling off due to financial challenges.
The “heady times,” as Hacault called them, included construction of Maple Leaf’s hog slaughter plant in Brandon, which has a weekly capacity of 45,000 head.
Council vice-chair Karl Kynoch said Hacault never lost sight of his desire to improve the livestock industry. While bringing humour to the boardroom table, he also brought ideas to help work through issues facing the industry, Kynoch added.
“He’s a real pusher. He’s always trying to move things forward.”
The council will choose a new chair during its annual meeting.
