Canada commits over $500 million to protect hog producers from African Swine Fever threat

Mar 13, 2025

The Canadian government is taking significant steps to protect rural communities and the pork industry from the threat of African Swine Fever (ASF).

Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), Lawrence MacAulay, revealed a funding commitment of up to $567.16 million to support hog producers if key export markets for Canadian pork and live pigs are closed due to an ASF outbreak in the Canada or the U.S.

Although Canada is currently ASF-free, even a single case would trigger international trade restrictions, severely impacting the pork sector, which relies heavily on exports. This could lead to substantial costs for hog producers and force them to consider drastic measures like herd depopulation.

AAFC will collaborate with provinces and territories to develop agreements, potentially increasing the funding to reflect a 60:40 cost-sharing arrangement with regional partners.

This funding is part of a broader strategy to prevent and manage ASF outbreaks. Key initiatives include:

The African Swine Fever Industry Preparedness Program (ASFIPP), which has allocated $15.5 million to 28 recipients for 44 projects aimed at early detection and emergency response.
Enhanced measures at ports of entry, such as additional detector dog teams and increased scrutiny of goods from ASF-infected countries, to prevent the virus from entering Canada.
Ongoing awareness campaigns targeting travelers and small-scale producers.

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Video: You Be The Judge: Evaluating 8 Breeding Rams!

It's time for some honest feedback here at Ewetopia Farms! Today, we’re showing you all eight rams we used for breeding this year. Instead of just presenting them, we thought it would be fun to create a “Ram Report Card” — where we point out both their strengths and areas for improvement.

But here’s the twist: you be the judge! In the comments, let us know what you like about each ram and what you think could be improved. No ram is ever perfect, but every one of them brings something valuable to the flock. By sharing perspectives, we all learn more about what to look for in good breeding stock.

At Ewetopia Farms, we raise registered Suffolk and Polled Dorset sheep, focusing on high-quality genetics, structure, and friendly temperaments. Evaluating breeding rams is part of the bigger picture of building stronger flocks — and we’re excited to share the process with you.

If you enjoy seeing how we evaluate our animals, follow along by subscribing to our channel. We share daily insights into the joys and challenges of sheep farming here in Canada.