Media Centre
Environment
Stewards of the Land
Hog manure is a valuable organic fertilizer that enriches the soil of crop farmers, helping them grow healthy and nutritious food. Injecting hog manure well below the soil’s surface protects Manitoba’s waterways from run-off. It is one of the best management practices Manitoba hog farmers have adopted to lessen environmental impact.
Manitoba hog farmers regularly invest in research and adopt new and emerging nutrient management methods, technology, and best management practices to further lessen the environmental impact.
Hog farmers lead with environmental best practices, making my job easier to protect the natural resources we enjoy as Manitobans.
Manager
Technical Services (Environment) at Maple Leaf Foods
Download our Pigs and the Environment factsheet to learn more about our focus on environmental sustainability.
Carbon Footprint
As a result of increased efficiencies, the total of all natural resources used to raise pigs has decreased significantly in recent decades. For every kilogram of pork produced today, farmers use less water, less feed, and require a smaller land base.
Manure Management
Sustainable manure management is essential for minimizing greenhouse gas emissions caused by microbial activities during manure decomposition. Every year, farmers file manure management plans with the provincial government (Manitoba Environment and Climate Change). Following annual soil testing, the manure is applied to farmland based on what nutrients currently exist in the soil, what nutrients are in the manure, and the nutrient requirements of the crop. Manure is only applied at predetermined rates and certain times of the year to prevent runoff.
Manure - Organic Fertilizer
Pig manure is a valuable organic fertilizer that has been used by farmers for over 10,000 years to help build and maintain soil health. Using manure as fertilizer is nutrient recycling at its best! By using manure to enrich soil, there is much less need for synthetic, imported or non-renewable fertilizer.
Manure Injection and Incorporation
Manitoba’s hog producers are leaders in sustainable manure application to lands. Currently, over 90% of pig manure in Manitoba is either injected about 15 centimetres (6 inches) into the soil of cropland or incorporated into the soil with a till immediately after application. These methods of application ensure that valuable nutrients are not lost through runoff into our lakes and waterways but remain firmly in the soil to help crops grow.
Manure injection has several advantages:
- Greatly reduces odour, because the manure is minimally exposed to the air;
- Reduces greenhouse gases, again because the manure is minimally exposed to the air;
- Is better for the crops because it gets the manure down to the root zone;
- Lessens the loss of nutrients, because of minimal handling and exposure to the air; and
- Almost entirely eliminates runoff: this is very important, since one of the main concerns about manure application is that it might run into waterways.
Carbon Footprint
As a result of increased efficiencies, the total of all natural resources used to raise pigs has decreased significantly in recent decades. For every kilogram of pork produced today, farmers use less water, less feed, and require a smaller land base.
Manure Management
Sustainable manure management is essential for minimizing greenhouse gas emissions caused by microbial activities during manure decomposition. Every year, farmers file manure management plans with the provincial government (Manitoba Environment and Climate Change). Following annual soil testing, the manure is applied to farmland based on what nutrients currently exist in the soil, what nutrients are in the manure, and the nutrient requirements of the crop. Manure is only applied at predetermined rates and certain times of the year to prevent runoff.
Manure - Organic Fertilizer
Pig manure is a valuable organic fertilizer that has been used by farmers for over 10,000 years to help build and maintain soil health. Using manure as fertilizer is nutrient recycling at its best! By using manure to enrich soil, there is much less need for synthetic, imported or non-renewable fertilizer.
Manure Injection and Incorporation
Manitoba’s hog producers are leaders in sustainable manure application to lands. Currently, over 90% of pig manure in Manitoba is either injected about 15 centimetres (6 inches) into the soil of cropland or incorporated into the soil with a till immediately after application. These methods of application ensure that valuable nutrients are not lost through runoff into our lakes and waterways but remain firmly in the soil to help crops grow.
Manure injection has several advantages:
- Greatly reduces odour, because the manure is minimally exposed to the air;
- Reduces greenhouse gases, again because the manure is minimally exposed to the air;
- Is better for the crops because it gets the manure down to the root zone;
- Lessens the loss of nutrients, because of minimal handling and exposure to the air; and
- Almost entirely eliminates runoff: this is very important, since one of the main concerns about manure application is that it might run into waterways.
