Environment
Protecting the natural environment is a priority for the hog sector. The pork industry contributes significantly to long term research to monitor the impact of livestock production on the air, soil and water sources. Sustainable production is necessary to long term viability of the hog industry and producers take this responsibility seriously since they live and work on their land and drink the water. Their businesses depend on it!
Hog operations are regulated under the intensive livestock provisions of Saskatchewan's Agricultural Operations Act, 1995. The Act is designed to ensure livestock operations develop and operate in a manner that protects surface groundwater. All intensive livestock operations, regardless of size, are required to ensure that water sources are protected.
Under the Act, an ILO is required to have plans for manure storage, waste and mortalities management that must include the following information:
- Animal inventory
- Confinement period
- Manure production volume
- Nutrient concentration (from literature or manure testing)
- Soil climatic zone
- Land available for manure application
- Average cropping rotation
- Crop nutrient requirements
- Method of manure application
- Application season
- Frequency of manure application to each parcel of land
In addition to the provincial regulatory requirments, hog production units must meet criteria and approval processes set out by individual rural municipalities where barns are situated. Siting of barns, manure management plans and sensitivity to neighboring communities are all taken into account when production units are approved for construction. An example of community participation in the construction of hog operations is the Spirit Creek Watershed Monitoring Committee established by the Province to provide input into the decision-making process when hog operations were proposed for the Rama district in the vicinity of Good Spirit Lake.
Farmers have long considered neighbors when carrying out necessary agricultural practices. Livestock producers supply neighbouring farms with inexpensive manure fertilizers and further contribute to communities by creating jobs and supporing local events and initiatives. Cultivating goodwill and trust in the community is important for successful livestock farming.
Saskatchewan is also recognized as a leader in the areas of animal care and environmental research with the Prairie Swine Centre, the University of Saskatchewan Agricultural and Bioresources department and Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization all located in Saskatoon. These organizations contribute greatly to the high health status of Saskatchewan's swine herds, world-class genetics recognized around the world and to environmentally sound, long term sustainability of the provincial hog industry.
Links to publications and information on hog industry environmental initiatives: