The Manitoba Pork Council will consider increasing its producer levy for the first time since the mid-2000s.
The producer group is projecting a deficit for its 2025 budget, board member Margaret Rempel said at Manitoba Pork’s annual general meeting in Winnipeg on April 10. It projects income to remain relatively similar to 2024, while expenses are expected to rise by six per cent.
Rempel said the farm group hasn’t increased its levy since 2006, when a special levy of 50 cents per hog expired.
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That levy was to help the sector defend against allegations in 2004 from U.S. hog producers that Canadian producers were receiving unfair subsidies and were selling hogs in the U.S. at prices below those in Canada.
The council currently levies producers $0.80 per market hog and $0.19 per isowean.
This is the lowest producer levy of all provincial pork producers groups, said Rempel. Nova Scotia collects the highest levy at $2.00 per market hog. The average levy is just over $1.00.
Rempel said producers will be asked for their input on the increase in the coming year.
An increase in levy requires provincial approval to enact.
