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October 2005 |
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About Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives |
Proud of Our Agri-Food Sector and Our Rural Communities
Our province's farm population represents a relatively small
proportion of the total population. Nevertheless, our farmers affect
the lives and pocketbooks of Manitobans far out of proportion to their
numbers.
Our Food -- The Best There Is
We are very proud of the high quality, abundance, and safety of
Manitoba's agricultural products -- which are among the best found
anywhere in the world. This province's agri-food products are known
world-wide for their high quality and their reliability of supply.
Our Low Food Prices
Food prices have not increased as much as wages in Manitoba, so a
consumer only has to work one third of the time now as he or she did
60 years ago to buy Manitoba produced meat, milk, eggs, bread and
vegetables. In great part these relatively low food prices are the
result of increased productivity by this province's technically
up-to-date farmers. These low prices are available not only to
Manitobans but also to exporters and consumers outside this province.
Our Food -- As Safe as it Gets
Manitoba benefits through Canada having the highest food safety
standards in the world -- as a result of regulations and an inspection
system developed by both federal and provincial governments. For
example: dairy farms, dairy processing plants, hatcheries, and egg
grading stations are regularly inspected for cleanliness;
veterinarians and meat inspectors are present at packing houses;
provincial health inspectors regularly inspect food processing plants;
animal health and crop protection products must go through a lengthy
testing process to ensure that human health and environmental safety
are assured prior to licensing; and the federal government has a
testing system to ensure no harmful residues remain in our food.
Sustainable Agriculture -- We Work with Nature
In Manitoba new farming methods and equipment now allow our
producers to reduce the frequency of cultivating their fields. By
doing so, they are decreasing soil erosion caused by water and wind.
Many Manitoba farmers recognize the value of planting shelterbelts and
forages (grass and alfalfa) on land that erodes easily. Plant breeding
research and new biotechnology approaches have been and continue to be
used in developing crops that are environmentally friendly as well as
resistant to insects and diseases.
Our Family Farms
About 21,000 farm units form the backbone of Manitoba's agri-food
industry. Nearly all of these units -- 98% -- are family operated.
Families own and work on these farms -- parents and grown children or
the families of brothers or sisters who grew up on farms. Manitoba
farms come in all sizes but average about 361 hectares. Strong and
prosperous family farms are very important for maintaining a healthy
and viable agri-food sector in this province.
Our Farmers -- The Best Anywhere
Manitoba is proud of its farmers who are amongst the most efficient
and technologically advanced producers found anywhere in the world. In
the 1940's, one Manitoba farm fed about 50 people. Today one Manitoba
farm feeds about 350 people. This province's producers have earned a
solid reputation for their high quality, abundance, and reliability of
supply. They can compete against other farmers in a global marketplace
significantly free of government imposed trade distortions and
barriers.
Creating Jobs
Although farmers represent approximately 2.6% of the province's
population, they have an enormous effect on the jobs and incomes of
many others. In 2002, about 32,000 people were directly employed in
Manitoba’s agricultural industry. An estimated 17,000 people were
employed in other areas of the farm economy as a direct result of the
agricultural industry. In 2003, about one in eleven jobs in the
province was the result of agricultural production.
On Manufacturing
Food and beverage processing is the most important manufacturing
industry in Manitoba, producing more than $3 billion worth of goods
and services, or over one-quarter of the province's total
manufacturing output. Most of the agricultural inputs used by the
industry are produced in Manitoba. In 2002, there were 42 agricultural
implement manufacturing companies in Manitoba employing almost 1760
workers and producing close to $360 million worth of equipment.
On People's Spending
In 2000 Manitobans spent $2.34 billion at grocery stores -- a
considerable portion of this amount was for food purchases. That's
over one-quarter of the value of the province's retail trade. Of each
livestock product dollar, farmers got anywhere from 29 cents (for
chickens) to 81 cents (for eggs). Grain farmers got significantly
less. The remainder went to packagers, transporters, processors,
wholesalers and retailers.
Our Export Contribution
Farm exports are a big boost to Canada's balance-of-trade. Total
Canadian agriculture and food exports amounted to approximately $26.5
billion in 2004. Manitoba's share of these exports amounted to
approximately $3.4 billion in 2004, just under thirteen percent. A
national farm trade surplus helps Canada to offset trade deficits in
other products and services.
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