Farm-Scape is sponsored by Manitoba Pork Council and Sask Pork Play Audio Farm-Scape is a Wonderworks Canada production and is distributed courtesy of Manitoba Pork Council and Sask Pork.

Farm-Scape, Episode 1525

Manitoba Pork Council has approved the implementation of a special trade levy on all Manitoba pigs to help defend against a US countervail and antidumping action aimed at live Canadian hogs. Delegates representing Manitoba Pork Council's 13 districts have unanimously approved the implementation of a special trade levy of 50 cents per animal on all Manitoba pigs. Subject to provincial government approval, the special levy will become effective July 1st and remain in place for 18 months with reviews planned at six month intervals.

The money will be used to defend against a US countervail and antidumping action on imported live Canadian hogs currently before the US Department of Commerce. Pork Council Chair Karl Kynoch says the organization will be taking the lead in representing producers in Manitoba as well as interests outside of Manitoba which will also contribute to the defense.

"Our bills are probably going to be much higher than we first anticipated due to the fact that the majority of respondents have been chosen here in Manitoba.

On the countervail side six out of the seven respondents have roots in Manitoba and even the seventh respondent has chosen to help fund this and wants to be defended with Manitoba. On the dumping side three out of the four respondents have roots here in Manitoba. I guess our original intent was to make sure that we had a national front on this issue but Manitoba will be taking the lead on the defense.

The majority of the respondents all being from Manitoba has really put Manitoba out front and centre on this issue."

Kynoch says the US trade action is a threat to the entire Canadian industry. He says, although any US countervail and antidumping duties may only be assigned to exporters, past experience show they'll affect the prices received by all Canadian hog producers. He says producers are in this fight to win and the goal is to eliminate this threat completely within a year.

For Farmscape.Ca, I'm Bruce Cochrane.