Farming & Agri-Food in Manitoba: 15 Facts

Farming & Agri-Food in Manitoba: 15 Facts

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farming and agri-food in manitoba facts statistics

Farming in Manitoba has a proud and longstanding history. For several centuries before the arrival of European settlers, agriculture was practiced by Indigenous Peoples across the province's soil-rich landscapes.

Today, Manitoba is a leader in agricultural innovation, as well as in agri-food production and processing. An example of this leadership is that it, along with Saskatchewan, invented canola! Not only did farmers in Manitoba play a key role in developing the crop, but they also continue to be a dominant force in its cultivation to this day. The sector stands as a significant economic driver for the province, employing 34,385 people as of 2024 and contributing $5 billion to the province's gross domestic product (GDP).

Here are several additional facts about farming in Manitoba that highlight the importance of the province's entire agriculture industry to Canadians.

15 Facts on Manitoba Agriculture & Agri-Food

farming in manitoba facts - number of people directly employed by agriculture

#1 - Manitoba’s agriculture and agri-processing sector is a significant economic driver for the province, directly contributing 7% of the provincial GDP and 4.5% of provincial jobs [3]

#2 - Manitoba is home to the highest proportion of young farmer operators in Canada, at 11.5% in 2021 [3]

#3 - More female farm operators are emerging in Manitoba; in 2021, 26.6% of farmers were female up from 24% in 2016 [3]

#4 - Manitoba is home to 17.1 million acres of farmland, 11.6 million – or 68% of which – was used for crop production in 2021 [3]

#5 - Manitoba is home to 14,543 farms, which averaged 1,177 acres in 2021 – equivalent in size to several hundred Canadian Football League fields [3]

#6 - Manitoba has a reputation as a reliable supplier of safe, high-quality grains, oilseeds, livestock, and agri-food products, with the province’s total AG sector reaching $9.28 billion in international sales in 2024 [3]

#7 - Manitoba’s agriculture sector added $3.28 billion to GDP, supported 18,020 jobs, saw $9.79 billion in sales, and exported $4.76 billion of products in 2024

farming in manitoba facts - number of pig farms

#8 - Manitoba’s agri-processing sector added $1.71 billion to GDP, supported 16,365 jobs, saw $8.95 billion in sales, and exported $4.53 billion of products in 2024 [1]

#9 - Manitoba’s agri-processing sector has grown steadily in recent years; in 2024, total sales accounted for 6% of Canada’s total food manufacturing sales [3]

#10 - Manitoba’s agriculture and agri-food sector supported nearly 34,400 jobs in 2024, showing its importance to local employment and economic opportunities [1]

#11 - Manitoba exported nearly $9.3 billion in agri-food products in 2024, with its largest markets being the United States (~46%), China (~15%), Japan (~10%) and Mexico (~5%) [1]

#12 - Manitoba’s top three crop and livestock commodities by average farm cash receipts between 2020 and 2024 included Canola ($2.1 billion), wheat ($1.6 billion), and hogs ($1.4 billion) [2]

#13 - Manitoba’s most produced crops in 2024, in metric tonnes, included wheat (5.5 million), canola (2.8 million) and tame hay (1.9 million) [1]

#14 - Manitoba’s largest farm crops by harvested area in 2024, in acres, included canola (3.3 million), wheat (3.2 million), and soybeans (1.4 million) [1]

#15 - Manitoba was home to approximately 381,000 cattle and calves, and 8.6 million hogs in 2024 [1]

farming in manitoba facts - Number of farms

Manitoba’s Farming Future

Manitoba's agri-food sector is actively expanding its global footprint, building on a strong export foundation in the United States, China, and Japan by pursuing new markets in Southeast Asia and the EU. The sector’s growth is supported by a young, innovative workforce and a thriving value-added processing industry, which provides the capacity and talent needed to meet rising international demand for high-quality food products.

To deliver these goods to the world, Manitoba is making critical investments in its trade infrastructure. Canadian National Railway is upgrading key rail lines to accelerate shipments, while a strategic push is underway to establish a northern trade corridor to the Port of Churchill, creating a direct gateway to European markets. New infrastructure enhancements are essential for scaling up exports and securing a prosperous, globally connected future for Manitoba’s farmers and processors.

Let’s build Manitoba’s agriculture sector up through new railways, roads, and ports – and secure a stronger future for our families!

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