Agricultural Regions in Manitoba

Manitoba is another prairie powerhouse province that grows a very diverse mix and high percentage of Canadian field crops with cereals and oilseeds leading the way. Hog production, pulses and potatoes account for large production volumes as well. Even with a short growing season and frigid winters, agriculture accounts for 8% of Manitoba’s GDP.

Where is there farming in Manitoba?

1. Southern Manitoba: The majority of Manitoba’s farming acres are in the southern part of the province stretching from the U.S. border northward to south-central areas surrounding Lake Manitoba and Lake Winnipeg and extending as far north as The Pas. Northern Manitoba is a vast region situated on the Canadian Shield. It is filled with waterways carved through the rocks and forests and is not suitable for agriculture.

What Field Crops are grown in Manitoba?

• Oilseeds: Canola is the highest oilseed field crop by volume in Manitoba. Flax is also an oilseed crop grown in the province.
  
• Cereals: Manitoba’s produces the largest volume of Wheat over other field crops by far. Other cereal crops grown in the province include: oats, barley, rye and corn.
  
• Pulses: Manitoba is one of the largest producers of dry beans in Canada. Also grown in the province are soybeans, lentils and peas.
  
• Forage crops: Perennial grasslands in Manitoba include alfalfa, sainfoin, and clover. Various types of hay is produced for winter livestock feed. Corn is grown for both livestock silage and human consumption.

Manitoba Horticulture Industry

• Vegetables: Although red and yellow potatoes are Manitoba’s largest vegetable crop, the province’s next largest crops are carrots, onions, green and red cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli. These vegetables are grown both in the field and in greenhouses.
  
• Speciality Crops: In Manitoba, the horticulture industry contributes to the sector through the cultivation of nursery plants, sod and even cannabis. Numerous large sod farms specialize in growing lawn products, such as Kentucky Bluegrass, adding to the diversity of agricultural activities in the province.

What Types of Livestock Farming are there in Manitoba?

• Swine Farming: Hog farming is a significant component of Manitoba’s agriculture sector, with the province ranking as the third highest provincial producer of hogs in Canada. Commercial hog operations are prevalent throughout Manitoba. These operations contribute substantially to the province’s livestock sector, providing pork products to both domestic and international markets.
  
• Cattle: Manitoba cattle operations raise the third largest beef cow herd in Canada. Ranches and feedlots in Manitoba are scattered across the province making the most of vast pasture land, crown lands, and water resources. Over 75% of cattle are raised on ranches, about 15% on stocker operations and about 7% on feedlots.
  
• Dairy Farming: Manitoba’s dairy production volume ranks near in the middle of the pack in Canada, generating the fifth largest volume of dairy products.
  
• Specialty Livestock: There are over 50 commercial producers raising over 11,000 bison (as of 2021) on the grasslands of Manitoba. Other specialty livestock farmed in the province are: sheep, goats, elk, ostriches, wild boar, and emus. Manitoba accounts for about 4% of total Canadian chicken production. 
  
• Honey: Manitoba is Canada’s second largest honey producer after Alberta, and accounts for 18% of all Canadian honey production

Common Agriculture Jobs

• Farm Worker
• Crop Technician
• Livestock Supervisor
• Agricultural Equipment Operator
• Irrigation Specialist
• Dairy Herdsman/Herder
• Greenhouse Technician
• Poultry Farm Attendant
• Agricultural mechanic
• Agronomist

Manitoba’s agriculture industry provides employment opportunities for nearly 24,000 people engaged in a wide range of farming activities, particularly in the southern region of the province, making it an attractive destination for job seekers.