EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

If the question were asked, "Are there manure treatment options currently available to ensure a sustainable hog industry?" The answer is YES. They may not be the final solution, or a complete solution, but there are options.

There are also manure management practices (Best Management Practices - BMP) currently being used which have the ability to contribute immediate economic, social and environmental benefits to producers. This report recognizes the value of incorporating BMP into the inventory and to disseminate that information to Canadian producers

The overall results of this project have led to a global inventory of potential manure management and treatment technologies for the hog industry to address environmental, social and economic issues. The challenge remains to include information from the companies identified and contacted, who for various reasons, did not respond. However, with implementation of the recommendations of this project, it is likely these technology companies will want to be included in the inventory.

Based on the Request for Proposal documentation, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and the Canadian Pork Council (CPC), intend to use the information from this project to serve as a basis for formulating joint initiatives within the Hog Environmental Management Strategy (HEMS). It will allow them to develop and assess technologies that will be useful for farmers to solve manure handling in an environmentally, socially and economic manner.

The results of this study have lead to several conclusions and recommendations. They follow under the four categories identified in the proposal.

 

A. Inventory

Through the course of the project, the manure management and treatment technologies identified, currently available or under development, offer the hog producer a variety and level of sophistication that ranges from:

• improved manure injection systems
• lagoon covers (sometimes called earthen manure storage - EMS)
• lagoon treatment
• specific treatment components such as separation, aeration, composting,
• complete, enclosed treatment systems.

Although many technologies have been documented, their applicability to the hog producer's operation is less easily identified. Of the 291 questionnaires sent to technology developers, 85 (29%) were returned. Of those 85 respondents, 28 (33%) provided operating information. In reviewing the operation information, there is little to suggest any formal or standardized testing protocols have been used for evaluating the technologies.

The technology developers suggest financial assistance (21%) as their greatest need to complete the commercialization of their technology, with testing (20%) and demonstration  (14%) as a close second and third.

B. Classification

A review of manure management and treatment technology classifications indicated the need to take a 'systems' approach to this task. It permits classification of individual components as well as providing for the ability to match compatible, sequential integrated components to create complete or continuous manure management systems.

In order to achieve a classification system that is optimal in terms of utility and accessibility to a diverse range of users:

WE RECOMMEND

• The technology and treatment inventory be incorporated into a database
• The database be robust and user friendly
• The database be capable of multi-tiered data filtering based on the multiple categories for classification identified in this document.
• The integration and communication of current 'best management practices' - to do what is currently being done - better.

 

C. Evaluation

At the present time numerous institutions, agencies and producer organizations undertake the evaluation of hog manure management and treatment technologies. This is usually done in the context of accommodating provincial, regional or municipal (county) requirements.

WE RECOMMEND

• These organizations be coordinated to develop a national core standard for the evaluation of technologies.
• The evaluation process include a technical review according to specific areas of application as well as a comprehensive evaluation to permit comparison of all technologies according to social, economic, technical and other standards.
• A national committee be established as one mechanism through which evaluation standards could be developed and implemented.

 

D. Information Dissemination

Distribution of timely, useful information is a critical factor leading to the implementation of hog manure management and treatment technologies nationally. 36% of those responding stated they use the information they receive to change current manure management practices. 38% share the information with others.

Surveys undertaken to gauge the effectiveness of various information dissemination techniques underscored to producers, the importance of on-farm demonstrations and field trials as a means of communicating the ability, appropriateness, efficacy and net benefit of various technologies.

WE RECOMMEND

• The support for on-farm demonstration of manure management and treatment technologies.
• The information from the demonstrations of the technologies be widely available
• The technology information be integrated into a national coordinated program using Manure Net, Manure Happenings (Alberta), and the Prairie Swine Centre web site as examples.

A multi-stakeholder group of government, producer and private interests would most likely prove most appropriate in generating financing for such demonstrations.

1. PROJECT OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this study were fourfold:

• To compile an inventory of technologies in various stages of development with an application in hog manure treatment and management.
• To suggest mechanisms for classification of these compile inventories in order that information would be easily accessible to a range of potential users, including producers.
• To review mechanisms for evaluation of hog manure management and treatment technologies and to suggest mechanisms for standardized evaluation techniques for these.
• To investigate mechanisms for information distribution pertaining to hog manure management and treatment technologies and to highlight the most effective information distribution techniques.

• Establishment of national priorities in technology development and commercialization in the area of manure treatment and management
• Establishment of a central location to collect, disseminate, sort, update technologies available to producers
• Establishment of a manure treatment and management database
• Extension of a 'Best Management Practices'
• Establishment of a national classification protocol
• Establishment of a national evaluation process
• Establishment of a technology demonstration agenda, including program funding

2. INVENTORY OF TECHNOLOGIES

Of the 291 questionnaires sent and through personal contact, plus questionnaires accessed through CETAC-WEST's website, completed surveys are as follows:

*CETAC-WEST has additional information from 54 contacts through the Western Canadian Hog Manure Management Initiative. They have all been included in the inventory. The information in the inventory does not include operating data from the 34 that did not sign the release form.

• 76% of respondents indicated their technology as beyond the feasibility stage.
• 55% of the respondents identified the need for field tests to verify their technology
• 26% listed demonstrations as necessary to gain acceptance by Canadian livestock producers.

3. CLASSIFICATION OF TECHNOLOGIES

The primary limitation to the proposed classification system will be in terms of identifying technologies that are relevant to the characteristics of a given hog operation and the specific geography (land, water), economic and social conditions applicable to any specific operation. The user of a system will be able to select a fairly detailed subsection of the complete inventory for review. The final decision as to a technology's suitability to specific conditions is beyond the scope of any classification system.

Any classification system must first be able to filter technologies according to regional regulations and regional uniqueness. For example, while soil nutrients are the primary driving force for manure management and treatment in Quebec, odour is the big issue on the prairies and in Ontario. Relevant technologies will be different for these regions.

There is a need for a multi-tiered classification system involving various combinations of categories. Such factors as environmental issues, cost-benefit, capital investment, end products and applicability to a producer's particular operation (e.g. human resources, ability to retrofit existing infrastructure) would be components of a classification system.

In keeping with the recommendation to develop a multi-tiered classification system,

• The development and maintenance of a robust, user-friendly computer database using information gathered through the inventory process.
• The integration and communication of current 'best management practices'

WE RECOMMEND

• The establishment of a committee, with national representation, to receive, screen, review and recommend for demonstration manure management and treatment technologies.
• The evaluation process include an application-specific technical review, and a comprehensive evaluation to compare all technologies to broader standards.
• The committee coordinate the interests and needs of industry stakeholders.

A summary document from that discussion was prepared, sent to participants for comment and revisions and appears in Appendix C.

4. EVALUATION

As a consequence of regional and local needs there are no definitive mechanisms for evaluation, but there are some common themes contained in those protocols and processes reviewed.

• The development and implementation of a standardized evaluation and research process that incorporates both a technical review and a comprehensive evaluation of a technology's economic, social and environmental acceptance / feasibility.

WE RECOMMEND

• A national committee develops procedures to review hog manure technologies for use in Canada.
• That the protocols be developed as required to meet international standards (ETV, etc)

The development of an evaluation process that incorporates the above factors will fill gaps evident in many existing processes that look primarily at technical elements with little or no consideration of other important components. By identifying weaknesses, technology proponents will be encouraged to improve their products accordingly.

5. INFORMATION DISSEMINATION

The first stage of work in this category was to survey 'distributors of information' regarding hog manure technologies and management. The questionnaire was sent to government departments, consulting engineers, universities and colleges, producer associations, hog marketing boards, agriculture and enviro-clubs and stewardship organizations, and various media sources.

From those responses, a list of primary recipients was compiled and a second survey was formulated to target recipients.

As of March 26, 1999 a total of 415 surveys had been sent via fax and e-mail to known distributors of information concerning hog manure management and treatment initiatives. A breakdown by region is as follows:

Part 2 B    Recipients

The second survey targeting recipients of information was prepared and sent to special interest groups such as those identified above as well as to a cross-section of producers from across Canada. This cross-section was identified in conjunction with the provincial pork producers associations. The results of this survey appear in Appendix E.

RECIPIENT / INFORMATION SHARING

* Ontario Pork included 336 questionnaires with payments to producers

When asked the question, "What are your primary reasons for wanting to stay abreast of trends on new methods, approaches or technologies to manage hog manure?", 36% of the respondents stated they used the information to change current management practices. 38% stated they wanted to share the information with others. The majority of the respondents for this question were producers, and it shows they are seeking relevant information for their operations.

There was a strong response for results from on-farm demonstration and awareness for information from other activities. One respondent says, "I believe there is a great deal of research going on, but the industry needs to have a place to go . . . to see what projects are being formulated, being conducted, and being completed (and where to find the results)". Another respondent suggests, "I think farmers are well informed about manure management in general. What is lacking is effective technology". And, " . . . we just don't have enough 'success stories'   yet."

6. CONCERNS AND ISSUES ARISING FROM THE PROJECT

• Hesitancy to sign the Intellectual Property Rights Release form. A number of comments have been received concerning this form. It appears that some hesitation exists over the formality of the procedure. Following discussions with AAFC, a revised form was drafted and was sent when technology firms expressed concern with the original form.
• Difficulties identifying specific persons within large organizations to receive surveys. This is especially true for the information dissemination questionnaire.
• Identification of technologies to add to the inventory. Attempts are being made to ensure the inventory is as comprehensive as possible, but it will be virtually impossible to submit an exhaustive inventory.
• Some technology companies wished to be included in the inventory, but chose not to complete the questionnaire.
• Procurement of contact information for overseas technologies.
• Concerns raised by some companies that an inventory has already been done before, but what's going to be done with the information this time.

7. NEXT STEPS

Identification and evaluation (step 1 and 2) of technologies without demonstration and dissemination of results (step 3 and 4) will prevent the widespread acceptance of new manure management and treatment technologies to hog producers.

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