The Chair of Manitoba Pork says the Manitoba Swine infrastructure Development Corporation is proving helpful to those considering building new swine production facilities.
The Manitoba Swine Infrastructure Development Corporation was created to help farmers considering building a hog barn navigate the permitting and conditional use hearing process.
Manitoba Pork Chair George Matheson told those attending the organization’s Fall Producer Meetings last week in Niverville and Portage La Prairie there’s more interest in building new barns, especially in western Manitoba.
Some of the potential hurdles are the permitting process which is complex and also the conditional use hearing which can be intimidating so we decided to assist producers further to get that concrete in the ground and the beginning of construction. Primarily, let’s start with permitting. It can be lengthy and be complex. To some degree we do offer finance and engineering assistance. I would say, after permitting though, the conditional use presentation has been very valuable to producers.
Sometimes in some municipalities you come across individuals who plain and simply do not like hog farming and they will come up with any reason they can to try and stop them so we do recommend a professional, Peter Mah, to carry the ball and make the presentation on behalf of the producer. He does it in a very clear manner that is very presentable and digestible for the municipal council.
~ George Matheson, Manitoba Pork
Matheson says interest in the services provided by the corporation has been substantial. He says there are lot of questions to be answered and a lot of information to be gathered and, in many cases, producers are happy to get a professional involved.
