Manitoba's pork industry is looking to build new relationships with Iowa's incoming Democratic leaders after the November 3 midterms flipped the state's top offices, according to a report from Yahoo.
Josh Turek defeated Republican incumbent Ashley Hinson in Iowa's U.S. Senate race, and Democrat Rob Sand won the governor's office. Iowa was one of several traditionally red states, along with Kansas, Texas and South Carolina, where Democrats picked up Senate seats in a national blue wave. Iowa processes between three million and six million hogs from Manitoba each year, and Manitoba's trade officials and pork producers say those ties make the state their most important American partner.
Why Manitoba's Pork Industry Cares About Iowa
Manitoba's U.S. trade representative, Richard Madan, called the Iowa result surprising in comments on Wednesday, noting the state has the most direct impact on the Canadian province. Beyond hogs, the Quaker Oats plant in Iowa sources roughly 25 percent of its oats from Manitoba, Madan said.
He added that Manitoba's premier has joked that the province literally brings home the bacon in parts of the farm states and the Midwest, and that there might be positive news ahead for the pork sector.
Cam Dahl, general manager of Manitoba Pork, told CBC News that the focus on Iowa was bang on, calling it a key market that supports a lot of jobs in rural communities across the province.
It's absolutely, critically important that we keep that integrated North American market for pigs and pork moving. We spend a lot of time with our colleagues in Iowa and relationships matter. I look forward to getting to know the new governor and the new senator and to talk about how important we are to each other.
Tariff Uncertainty Has Cost Producers on Both Sides of the Border
Dahl said uncertainty has plagued the industry over the past year, making it hard for producers to plan. The industry was at a point in the cycle where investment and growth should have happened, he said, but that is difficult when producers do not know what their market will look like in four to six months.
The problems extend beyond Canada and the United States. Dahl noted Canadian pork still faces 25 percent tariffs going into China, a burden he said costs the industry more than $100 million a year.
Uncertainty always costs money.
Dahl said Manitoba Pork plans to continue reaching out to states and possibly increase state-level interaction, hoping for a more collaborative environment on Canada-U.S. trade and a return to stability.
Manitoba producers have been watching the midterms closely for relief after tariffs continued to hamper the agricultural industry, according to Global News.
What the New Congress Means for Trade Policy
Even with Democrats taking the House and Senate, President Donald Trump still controls the White House and therefore sets the rules, Madan said. Still, he pointed to signs of encouragement for Canadians.
The incoming finance committee has signalled a desire to remove tariffs, Madan said, and many senators and House members have expressed disagreement with Trump's attacks on allies, including Canada.
That could matter for Iowa, where agriculture remains the backbone of the state economy. Pork processing depends on a steady, integrated supply chain with Canada, and disruptions to that flow affect Iowa plants and the rural communities that host them as much as they affect Manitoba's producers.
Business Leaders Urge Trade Diversification Anyway
Not everyone north of the border is counting on a quick turnaround. Chuck Davidson, president and CEO of Winnipeg Economic Development and Tourism, described the mood as cautious optimism, given how many major Winnipeg employers rely on U.S. trade.
We would hope that that will be the case, but hope is not a plan. What we're focused on is controlling what we can control.
Davidson said the U.S. will always be a key part of the Canadian economy, but businesses need to diversify so they do not go through the same situation again. He noted previous Democratic administrations imposed tariffs too, and some of those stayed in place.
Elisabeth Saftiuk, head of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, said now is the time to renew the conversation about the importance of the Canada-U.S. relationship.
We need to continue making the case that Canada-U.S. trade is mutually beneficial, that our economies are certainly deeply integrated, and that tariffs and trade barriers create costs for businesses and consumers on both sides of the border.
What Happens Next
For Iowa, the immediate question is how Governor-elect Rob Sand and Senator-elect Josh Turek approach trade with one of the state's largest agricultural partners. Manitoba Pork's Dahl said his organization intends to introduce itself to both leaders and make the case for the integrated North American market.
With roughly three to six million Manitoba hogs processed in Iowa each year, the stakes run in both directions across the border.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Manitoba hogs are processed in Iowa?
Manitoba supplies approximately three million to six million hogs to Iowa for processing each year, according to Manitoba's U.S. trade representative Richard Madan.
Who won Iowa's U.S. Senate race and governorship in 2026?
Democrat Josh Turek defeated Republican Ashley Hinson in the Senate race, and Democrat Rob Sand won the governor's office in the November 2026 midterms.
What tariffs currently affect Canadian pork?
Canadian pork faces 25 percent tariffs going into China, which Manitoba Pork general manager Cam Dahl said costs the industry more than $100 million annually.