Farmers hold last-ditch rally to stop ban on expansion of Manitoba hog farms

Pork producers planned to rally on the legislature lawn Wednesday as politicians are expected to debate and vote on the ban for the last time.

The NDP government is proposing a ban on further hog farm development across much of the province arguing the industry has grown so rapidly that it's threatening the water quality of lakes and rivers.

But farmer Karl Kynoch, chairman of the Manitoba Pork Council, said the ban is unnecessary and will devastate some farmers.

"There are going to be some farmers that will lose their entire life savings and everything that they've worked for," Kynoch said. "We're up against a wall."

The government's proposal, which is expected to pass, drove more than 400 people to line up and speak at public hearings on the issue in June.

Hog farmers say they are not opposed to protecting the Manitoba's waterways. Farmers keep manure away from water and use it as fertilizer, they argue. But they say they're being unfairly targeted while other potential sources of water pollution, such as dairy farms, heavy industry and municipal sewage systems are not.

There are ways to allow farm expansion while protecting the environment, Kynoch said. Farmers have proposed ways to ensure all manure that is applied to the ground stays in the ground, including putting an end to applying manure in the winter.

But Kynoch said the government has rejected any proposed amendments.

"Instead of managing construction of buildings, what they need to do is manage the nutrients," he said. "That's what our proposal is all about."

Other critics say the government is driving business out of Manitoba, into Saskatchewan and North Dakota. Ralph Eichler, Conservative agriculture critic, said hog farmers are already bogged down by more regulations than any other industry in the province.

Lumberyards, electricians and many other businesses will be hurt if hog farming suffers, he said. Everyone wants clean water but the burden can't rest solely on the shoulders of hog farmers, Eichler added.

"One sector is being blamed over others," he said. "We all need to do our part."

Hog production has exploded in the province over the last decade with almost 9 million hogs born in Manitoba every year. At the same time, the actual number of farms has plummeted from 14,000 in 1971 to just under 2,000 in 2006. Manitoba has more pigs on its farm on average than any other province.