Skirmishes over the expansion of Manitoba’s hog industry continue to flare, even as the province works on ways to allow the livestock industry to expand while protecting the environment.
In one of the more recent incidents, a gallon-size bucket of hog manure was plunked onto a table during a meeting of the council of the Rural Municipality of Rossburn.
Opponents of a proposed hog barn development in the area insisted that the bucket of manure remain on the table throughout the meeting so council would get a sense of what it smells like.
Read Also
Agriculture ministers agree to AgriStability changes
federal government proposed several months ago to increase the compensation rate from 80 to 90 per cent and double the maximum payment from $3 million to $6 million
“It’s putting a lot of pressure on councillors,” said Wayne Motheral, president of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities, in describing the challenges that some municipal governments face when reviewing proposed hog operations.
“They’re making a decision that could be unpopular in the area.”
The clash of opinions on intensive livestock operations is not being ignored by the province. The Manitoba government has made a number of changes to help balance concerns about the expanding livestock industry with the government’s desire to see the industry expand. More changes are likely.
The province has been meeting with producer groups and other interests this year to review a list of about 40 recommendations dealing with sustainable livestock development.
The recommendations were submitted by a three-person panel, chaired by agricultural economist Ed Tyrchneiwicz, that toured the province last year gathering public views.
“By early fall, we will be able to say which ones we will move on now,” said agriculture minister Rosann Wowchuk.
The province has already rejected a recommendation that would require new or expanding intensive livestock operations to post performance bonds.
However, Wowchuk continues to favour a recommendation that would change the threshold for regulation of an intensive livestock operation from 400 animal units down to 300.
One thing the province will not do, said Wowchuk, is follow Alberta’s approach.
The Alberta government last month said it will assume responsibility for approving and monitoring intensive livestock operations, as well as enforcing environmental standards.
“I don’t think the province should be taking all responsibility over,” said Wowchuk.
Instead, the Manitoba government will continue sharing the approval process with municipalities.
Keystone Agricultural Producers has reviewed the recommendations submitted by the livestock stewardship panel and will present its views to Wowchuk and two other provincial ministers Aug. 21.
KAP vice-president Weldon Newton said all producers should pay attention to the outcome, whether or not they have livestock. For example, tightened regulations on using hog manure as a fertilizer could one day be extended to how much commercial fertilizer grain growers apply to their fields.
Newton said the challenge is not only understanding how regulation changes will affect producers now. They also have to consider what those changes could mean several years down the road.
Among the changes KAP will not support, said Newton, is lowering the threshold for regulating operations to 300 animal units.
