The Manitoba Pork Council says the provincial government’s efforts to
protect the environment are making it tougher for hog producers to make
a living.
The province plans to put more manure application regulations in place
by the end of the year, adding to the growing list of regulations for
Manitoba’s livestock producers.
“Every time we see a new program come to the industry, it knocks out
more of the family farm operations,” said Karl Kynoch, a Baldur, Man.,
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hog producer and pork council vice-chair.
“They’re getting fed up with regulations. It’s just getting
overwhelming.”
The province wants to amend the Pesticides and Fertilizers Control Act
to ensure individuals applying manure from large livestock operations
are trained, certified and licensed by the province. Proposed
amendments to the act were recently introduced in the Manitoba
legislature.
If implemented, the regulations would apply to custom manure
applicators and large livestock operations hauling manure to land other
than their own.
Agriculture minister Rosann Wowchuk said the changes would better
regulate the transportation and application of manure. They would also
help balance the needs of a growing livestock industry with the need to
protect the environment, she said.
“I don’t see this as a negative. I see it as a positive.”
Kynoch agreed that the proposed changes would offer hog industry
critics added assurances that the manure is being managed properly.
However, the extra regulations would bring additional costs, he said,
which would ultimately be borne by livestock producers.
And Kynoch is concerned that the regulations for larger livestock
operations will eventually be extended to include all livestock farms,
regardless of their size.
“Eventually I won’t be able to haul my own manure without taking
training or sending my employees to take the training.”
Wowchuk said the government will consult with producers and the public
before passing the proposed changes.
Manitoba can either develop its own regulations for manure management
or risk having rules imposed by the federal government through the
concept of farm plans, she said.
Larry Schweitzer, a director of the Manitoba Cattle Producers
Association and general manager of Hamiota Feedlot Ltd., hopes the
province will keep the proposed regulations as straightforward as
possible.
Most cattle producers have enough land to accommodate the manure
produced by their livestock.
However, the proposed changes would still affect the cattle industry,
since there are producers and feedlots that hire custom applicators to
spread manure for them.
Existing manure management rules apply to livestock operations with 400
animal units or more. The province is considering lowering that
threshold to 300 animal units.
Schweitzer said the existing regulations create added paperwork as well
as added cost, because operations with more than 400 animal units have
to file manure management plans and have soil testing done before they
can apply manure to fields.
He said the paperwork isn’t too bad, but the soil testing, which has to
be done at least once a year, costs quite a bit.
Under the legislative amendments, all commercial manure applicators
would have to:
- Be formally certified and licensed.
- Take training in manure nutrient management planning, equipment
calibration, spills and liability issues associated with manure
management, handling, transport and applications.
- Carry insurance spelled out by the regulations.
Inspectors would have the authority to do inspections and examine
records to ensure the rules were being complied with. They could also
stop and inspect vehicles hauling manure.
Small livestock operations and those that apply manure to their own
land would be exempt from the new rules.
According to the province, the procedures for certifying and licensing
manure applicators would be similar to those already required for
commercial pesticide applicators, who must complete a recognized course
and pass an exam delivered by Assiniboine Community College before
being licensed.