Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced this week the development of a risk management strategy being undertaken by the Manitoba Pork Council for pork producers to recover from the devastation caused by potential outbreaks of diseases, such as porcine epidemic diarrhoea.

The Manitoba Pork Council will receive an investment of $482,158 towards a two-year project that aims to create an effective, affordable, and self-sustainable risk management programme, that responds to periods of financial instability in the Manitoba hog industry. This could also include measures to assist producers with costs associated with cleaning and disinfection, so the producer is able to recover as quickly as possible.

It follows on the success of provincial poultry sectors in Canada that have established a reciprocal insurance system to guard against the impacts of Avian Influenza and other diseases.

While still at the early stages of development, if successful, the risk management strategy could expand to incorporate pork sectors in other provinces, with the understanding that the bigger the pool of participants, the more affordable it would be to individual producers.

“Producers need to know that they have the tools and supports available to them if the worst happens," says Bibeau.

"I’m excited by the potential of this project, not just for Manitoba, but for the pork sector across Canada.

"Our Government is working closely with the sector on many measures that deal with disease outbreaks before, during and after they occur."

Canada is a world leader of pork production and the Government stands shoulder-to-shoulder with its pork farmers. The Government is fully engaged in maintaining the stability of our pork farmers, evidenced by the many measures being taken to prevent African swine fever from entering Canada.