The hog industry may have to work harder to get new barns approved.
But industry spokespeople say those who oppose hog barns haven’t slowed the pace of development in Manitoba.
Gary Plohman, an agricultural engineer with Elite Swine Inc., said opposition “has probably resulted in more detailed, up-front reports and information going to councils.
“There have been some projects which have not gained approval, but for the most part, the majority of the proposals … are marginally affected by that kind of involvement.”
Plohman said much of the information presented by people who oppose hog barns is from other countries, and is taken out of context.
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Manitoba’s soil, climate, industry and regulations are different from those in countries where there have been problems, he said.
“Most people don’t realize what kinds of things we’re doing at present to try to ensure that we don’t pollute or cause damage to the environment,” he said.
His company has worked out a procedure for designing lagoons with Manitoba Environment. It prepares manure management plans, and tests soil and manure to ensure it’s applied at proper rates.
The company shares information with people who have questions about a proposed barn, even taking them on tours.
But “if people are opposed to an operation and are not open to information, there’s not much you can say to change their mind,” he said.
Facts are flowing
Ted Muir, a spokesperson for Manitoba Pork, said the industry
is “bending over backwards” through publications and advertising to explain how it cares for the environment.
“There have been some problem areas in the past, but those areas are few and far between in terms of incidents, and the industry has moved to address them,” he said.
Revised regulations and guidelines in the province are some of the most progressive in the world, he said. And in the past year, the industry has done a better job talking to neighbors of proposed barns.
Muir said he doesn’t know much about The Organization, a new group of hog barn opponents, but would like to meet with members to talk about their concerns.
He has read about Harold Taylor, an environmental adviser who specializes in battling hog barns, in community newspaper articles, but hasn’t met him either.
Muir said Taylor seems to be prone to fear-mongering and making statements that are difficult to substantiate.
“These people have their own agenda, and I don’t know what it is, but it’s out of touch with reality more often than not,” said Muir.
