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TABLE OF CONTENTS
HEMS HomeManureNet
INTRODUCTIONEnvironmental issues are one of the greatest challenges faced by Canada’s fast growing hog industry. Through innovation and investment, industry has set out to meet these challenges in a positive, constructive way. Provincial hog marketing boards have been very active, developing codes of practice, promoting better management practices amongst producers and also working with municipalities to increase understanding. Provincial governments have been instrumental in assisting industry in this regard, working both with producers and municipal governments to find solutions. To date, much of the federal activity in this area has been through research related to building design and manure storage, handling and application. Recognizing that continued growth hinges on finding environmental solutions that are acceptable to regulatory bodies, the public, and the industry itself, the Canadian Pork Council, asked Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) to re-examine its role and determine if it could work with industry and the provinces to develop a more comprehensive and coordinated approach on this issue. In response, AAFC is investigating the development of the Hog Environmental Management Strategy (HEMS), proposing the following vision for this initiative:
The Hog Environmental Management Strategy (HEMS) Steering Committee was formed to launch this initiative, bringing together representatives of industry and several branches of AAFC. It defined the following course of action:
This report began as an attempt to assemble information on the current situation (discussed in Step 1 above) and was distributed at the provincial consultations held in December 1997 and January 1998. It has since been updated with comments and revisions from the provinces, in particular regarding regulations, guidelines and industry actions. With its up-to-date information on what is happening in the industry, both on the research side and the regulatory side, this document is now a useful background document for the national workshop.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARYImportance of the IssueThe Canadian hog industry is important because of both the $3 billion in farm income it generates annually and the contribution to employment of the pork-processing industry. Pork and hog exports currently represent $1.5 billion or 8% of all agri-food exports. The hog and pork industries also demonstrate some of the best growth potential of all the agri-food sectors. Fuelled by increasing international market opportunities for pork, expansion difficulties for traditional competitors, and advantageous grain prices, the Canadian hog industry is undergoing considerable expansion. In the prairies in particular, this expansion is seen as an important part of the move to a more diverse agricultural economy. This expansion coincides with a very significant shift in the technology and management organization of the industry. Operations are changing from the traditional farrow-to-finish farms with 100 to 300 sows, to larger units with 1,200 or 2,400 sows (or more), in which piglets are farrowed at one site, raised in a nursery at another, and finished at a third. These larger units require considerably more capital and organizational sophistication than traditional farms, and often draw these resources from outside the family-farm structure. Environmental issues are among the most important factors limiting the expansion of the hog industry. A number of expansion projects have already been delayed or cancelled because of environmental considerations, and there is the potential for this constraint to become more restrictive in the future. The significance of this current expansion is sufficient to warrant a considerable commitment by both industry and governments to ensure that limiting factors are addressed. Environmental issues are among the most important factor limiting the expansion of the hog industry. A number of expansion projects have already been delayed or cancelled because of environmental considerations, and there is the potential for this constraint become more restrictive in the future. Environmental Issues Environmental issues in hog production pertain primarily to the storage, handling and application of manure. The three key concerns are:
Role of Government and Industry The environmental challenges faced by the hog industry invite activity on the part of the industry itself, as well as of federal, provincial, and municipal governments to ensure a proper balance between the interests of farmers and affected community members. Regulation at the provincial and municipal levels is the one of the most powerful instruments used to ensure environmental protection and respect for community standards; however, there is considerable work by government and producer groups to ensure that regulation is complemented with education and technology transfer. Regulation All provinces have environmental protection legislation. The lead role for administration and enforcement of provincial environmental protection legislation usually lies with the provincial ministry responsible for environment, frequently in partnership with other resource ministries, such as agriculture. The degree to which this legislation influences behaviour at the farm level varies from province to province, but in general its goal is to prevent pollution and to hold polluters responsible for mitigating adverse environmental effects. Most provinces also have "right-to-farm" legislation, and many that do not are in the process of laying the foundations to enact such legislation. (This legislation is intended to protect hog producers from unwarranted "nuisance" lawsuits provided that they operate in accordance within "normal farm practices"). Regulations important to the hog industry also exist at the municipal level, with wide variation among municipalities and regions. They affect the industry mainly through the issuance of site permits. Research, Technology Transfer, and Community Education There are a number of excellent examples of work being done by producer organizations and governments to assist producers in complying with regulations and to assist municipalities in implementing their regulations in a consistent and scientifically based fashion. At the national level, the Canadian Pork Council has published the Canadian Code of Practice for Environmentally Sound Pork Production, prepared in consultation with governments, university researchers, and financial institutions. In Quebec, "La federation des producers de porcs du Quebec" has engaged representatives of the provincial and municipal governments and environmental groups in a three-step agro-environmental plan that will use certification as a means to ensure environmental sustainability and thereby overcome resistance to future expansion of production. Ontario Pork is establishing a data base on production practices and technologies and a resource centre to assist municipal governments to draw up reasonable and effective regulations. Many provincial governments have established services to provide technical support to producers investing in the hog industry, particularly in relation to their conformity to environmental standards. Most provinces have developed a code of practice for use by producers to ensure that they conform to environmental standards and also to assist them in proving to municipalities and lenders that they have shown "due diligence". Technical Services Many technical services are, or can be, provided to the municipal officials charged with considering site permit applications and to producers who are required to meet municipal requirements. These services range from providing technical advice to educating communities about the benefits of hog developments. Those individuals or associates who assist or advise producers and municipal officials include federal and provincial governments, private consultants, formal producer organizations (e.g., pork marketing boards) and informal producer or resident associations in a particular location. Such technical services may be offered to, for example:
Incentive and Infrastructure Programs Low-interest loans or tax concessions could possibly be extended to those adopting desired technologies. Community Relations Producer groups are working with individual communities to address concerns over hog expansion, using public seminars and information dissemination. Certification and Recognition In some provinces, new proposals must undergo a peer review process. Certification of producers, either for applicants for new facilities or for all producers, with the focus specifically on environmental considerations, may be carried out by government or industry. Certification under the ISO 14000 program could also include initiatives to enhance the marketability of particular products because of their conformity to particular codes of practice. Awards and recognition could be given to producers who develop new methods or are exemplary in their management practices. Current Knowledge and Ongoing Research Considerable advances in the technologies of hog production, combined with an apparent willingness on the part of producers to adopt these technologies, have improved the industry’s ability to address environmental issues. Current areas of research include:
Gaps to be Addressed Despite government and industry efforts to deal with the environmental constraints on expansion of the hog industry, the challenge remains. Several provincial governments have ambitious targets for expanding their industry, which will necessitate considerable work with municipalities, hog producers, and affected citizens. Areas where further work could be done include:
Bruce
T. Bowman, Archivist |
