Canadian governments support feasibility study

May 15, 2015

Study revolved around soybean crush facility in Manitoba

A recent study concluded that a new soybean crush facility in Manitoba could be a successful venture.

The study, conducted by Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers and Soy 20/20, with funding from the Growing Forward 2 estimates that, among the other benefits the facility could bring, it could contribute around $190 million per year when construction costs and job creation are taken into consideration.

"This new opportunity for Manitoba's agricultural processing industry will have benefits for farmers and the provincial economy as a whole, said Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development Minister Ron Kostyshyn. “Manitoba's soybean sector is now positioned to take the next step forward and this is an exciting time for the industry. The prospect of this new facility should also help spur even more innovation and investment in our province."

Soybeans

The facility, that’s estimated to be between five and seven years away would provide other benefits to Manitoba including an expanded local market for soybean growers, faster and more efficient transportation of soybeans and a new, local protein feed source for livestock farmers.

"We have an opportunity to provide more value to growers in Manitoba and it's always good to have an alternative market that doesn't rely on exports,” said Kyle Friesen, Chair of the Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers. We want to encourage local supply and demand to keep value-added processing in Manitoba to support jobs, the tax base and economic activity."

Manitoba is responsible for producing about 18% of Canada’s soybeans across about 1.25 million acres.

Tell us your thoughts about the possibility of a new soybean crush facility in Manitoba. As a soybean producer does it encourage you to have a local facility for processing?

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.