Farm-Scape, Episode 2258

Manitoba Pork Council is planning a province wide educational initiative to inform the general public about what the pork industry is doing to protect water quality.

In an effort to address water quality concerns in Lake Winnipeg, the Manitoba government has asked the clean environment commission to review pending environmental protection legislation and to examine the environmental sustainability of the hog industry.

While that review is underway, there will no new permits issued for new or expanded swine operations.

Manitoba Pork Council general manager Andrew Dickson says over the coming months the agency will roll out a major education program to show the general public the hog industry is sustainable while, at the same time presenting its case to the CEC and lobbying for an end to the moratorium.

"We're going to continue to encourage the government to drop the ban or the moratorium, what ever they want to call it, as soon as possible.

We're going to proceed with making a very strong presentation to the clean environment commission in terms of showing how the industry is sustainable and we're going to continue to encourage a maturing of the industry here in Manitoba because of our exposure in terms of the amount of animals we ship into the United States.

We're trying to get through to people that this is a sustainable industry.

There's all kinds of evidence that has been done by third parties including the University of Manitoba and various research stations that indicate very clearly that the hog industry in Manitoba is a sustainable industry in all three fronts, from a social development point of view, from an economic development point of view and from an environmental protection point of view."

Dickson notes pork production only accounts for one percent of the phosphorus problems of Lake Winnipeg and pork producers are doing something about it now and want to get on with doing more.

He adds pork producers would like the government to set a May 1st deadline for the Clean Environment Commission to complete its public hearing process and present its report.

Staff Farmscape.Ca