Manitoba Pork Chair George Matheson provided an update on the industry during the group's fall producer meetings, held October 18 and 19 in Niverville and Portage la Prairie respectively.

Low pork prices was one of the issues that was discussed.

"You'll be lucky probably to get $100 a hog between now and the next four months and my cost of production is probably around $130-$140 a hog, so you'll see good size losses, that's for sure," commented Matheson. "Coming into March through to June, they're dismal but closer to break even. The latter half of 2017 we're looking at moving into a profitable area of hog production. Producers will have to get through a though time and I wish them the best and hopefully they all come through."

Another topic on the agenda last week was biosecurity and the PED virus. Matheson says their goal is to work with CFIA to allow trucks to wash once they return to Canada, instead of washing at a "marginal" facility in the United States. One of the solutions being discussed is a "Trusted Trucker Program", which would allow the truck to cross the border with a scrape out and then fully wash the trailer once returning to Canada.

Manitoba Pork has also been busy meeting with the new PC government in hopes of streamlining the permit application process to build new pig barns.