One producer at a time: pork industry works to reduce GHG emissions

Nov 28, 2017

Manitoba farmers find ways to increase efficiency of swine operations

Staff Reporter

Farms.com

Pork producers want to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to a recent FarmScape interview with George Matheson, chair of Manitoba Pork.

While the organization has not yet coordinated a program targeted to this goal, a number of swine producers have already taken action to become more efficient and reduce production costs, Mike Teillet, manager of sustainable development for Manitoba Pork told Farms.com yesterday.

One of these actions “is deep injection — or immediate incorporation — of manure with the use of long drag hoses and … precision application (technology),” said Teillet.

“Over 80 per cent of manure in Manitoba is applied this way.”

Farmers are also increasing the efficiency of their barns by using more insulation. This step can lower heating costs and the use of electricity, Teillet stated.

Another way that producers are lowering their carbon footprint is through the production of pigs themselves.

“Pigs are larger, grow faster and use relatively less water and feed than previous (breeds),” said Teillet. This improvement “lowers our environmental footprint per kilogram of pork.”

Producers might also look to renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, to reduce their impacts on the environment.

“We are aware of at least one producer in Manitoba who recently installed a large solar array for his farm,” said Teillet.

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