A new study shows that five Manitoba-grown crops are providing the province with a major economic boost.
Commissioned by the Manitoba Crop Alliance and carried out by GlobalData, the study found the total economic impact of the crops - wheat (excluding durum), barley, grain corn, sunflower and flax - averaged roughly $6.9 billion over the past three years, including more than 28,000 Manitoba jobs and $2.5 billion in wages.
The crops, which are represented by the Manitoba Crop Alliance, account for a large part of Manitoba’s agriculture industry. Several of the crops are also the foundations for important food industries, both within the province and beyond.
“This study shows the major role our crop types play in the economic well-being of the province and the country,” MCA chair Robert Misko, who farms east of Roblin, MB, said in a release.
“As farmers, we have long known our position in the system and how we contribute to the province’s success, but it is heartening to see those contributions laid out in a measurable way that anyone can understand.”
This economic assessment was modelled after work done last year by Cereals Canada on wheat, barley, durum and oats. That study showed the Canadian-grown cereals had an estimated total impact of $68.8 billion, including more than 370,000 Canadian jobs, and $27 billion in wages.
For a full breakdown of the Manitoba study, including summary data and in-depth reports for each crop type, visit mbcropalliance.ca/economic-impact.
