WINNIPEG – The new president of Manitoba’s general farm lobby group found out first-hand last week that environmental regulations he helped draft really work.
Les Jacobson, president of Keystone Agricultural Producers, was charged for not properly disposing of dead hogs. He received a ticket from the environment department after angry neighbors took a Winnipeg newspaper reporter and photographer to a pile of about 30 pigs on his property near Arborg, Man.
The regulations have been in place since last spring. They state that in the winter, dead hogs must be kept frozen. At the very least, they must be fenced in and kept away from animals like coyotes. In the spring, they must be buried, incinerated or hauled to a rendering company.
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Jacobson’s dead hogs were not fenced off and despite the ticket, he said he supports the rules that got him into the predicament.
“We’ve got to abide by the legislation,” he said. “I helped to create the legislation on behalf of KAP. I’m glad that it’s able to work. It’s just unfortunate that I had to have first-hand experience.”
Neighbors were upset because the pigs smelled and attracted coyotes. They were also worried about environmental effects because the site was close to the Icelandic River.
However, Andrew Dickson, who’s in charge of the Eastern/Interlake region for Agriculture Canada, said: “We’re sure that there’s little or no impact on the environment as a result of these dead pigs.”
Environment officer Donna Smiley said the site was more than 50 metres from the river. Jacobson said this is within the regulations.
The day after he was charged, Jacobson hauled away the hogs. He publicly admits that he made a mistake.
Mac McCorquodale of Keystone said the executive had a conference call with Jacobson Monday morning and encouraged him to continue as president of the organization.
McCorquodale said that while KAP does not condone what happened, the incident was over-blown by reporters. Dickson and Smiley agreed.
Smiley will visit the site this week to ensure it has been cleaned up. Jacobson’s ticket does not have a set fine. Like a speeding ticket, the value will be determined by a judge.
Dickson said many farmers have not yet changed their practices to meet the regulations.
“There’s a lot of people out there saying, ‘There but for the grace of God, go I,’ ” he said, encouraging farmers to learn from Jacobson’s mistake.
