Environmental Initiatives at the Canadian Pork Council. FarmSmart Agricultural Conference January 17 th, 2004 Guelph, Ontario

Transcription

1 Environmental Initiatives at the Canadian Pork Council FarmSmart Agricultural Conference January 17 th, 2004 Guelph, Ontario

2 Outline Hog Environmental Management Strategy Livestock Environmental Initiative Environmental Management System Environmental Management Guidebook

3 Hog Environmental Management Strategy Spring 1997, AAFC created a multidisciplinary task force to develop effective and economically viable solutions to the environmental issues arising from hog production Release of a report entitled Research Strategy for Hog Manure Management in Canada in 1998 $1.9 million $745,000 from CARD I $745,000 from the industry $560,000 from universities, provincial governments 22 projects funded Symposium held in December 1999 Another $1 million of CARD I allocated to 7 projects conducted in AAFC research centres

4 Livestock Environmental Initiative $1 million announced by Former Ag Minister Lyle Vanclief in December 1999 Continuation of HEMS, but included other national livestock groups Dairy Farmers of Canada Canadian Cattlemen s Association Canadian Poultry Research Council Canadian Sheep Federation Canadian Pork Council

5 Livestock Environmental Initiative Delivery agent: Canadian Pork Council 2 ex-officios of AAFC on LEI Committee All proposals championed by one of the five national livestock organizations Peer-review process Proposals reviewed every 3 months

6 LEI Research Priorities Waste and manure management Impact on soil and water quality Odour control Carcass removal and disposal, hides and abattoir waste Air quality Greenhouse gas production

7 LEI: Approved Projects 28 projects approved : 9 projects and one activity : 7 projects : 13 projects Results of projects presented at a symposium planned in late 2004 or early 2005 For More Information

8 Environmental Management System Standard for Hog Operations Fund allocation by AAFC in December 99 Options study realized in Spring 2000 Decision by the CPC to develop a national, consensus-based, voluntary, ISO based EMS standard which would include performance objectives

9 Environmental Management System CSA has been chosen as the leader for development of the standardization process Technical Committee composed of 30 members Governments Services Universities Environmental Protection Groups Industry

10 Environmental Management System Draft EMS Standard approved August 02 Pilot studies conducted on 15 farms from September 2002 to March 2003 Technical Committee endorsed the EMS Standard October 2003 Scheduled for launch by March 2004

11 Environmental Management System System goals and applicability 1. Develop longer term environmental goals 2. Evaluate current system practices 3. Identify needs for obtaining goals 4. Evaluate and choose BMPs to implement

12 for Canadian Agriculture Funded under Climate Change Action Plan 2000 $21 million over 5 years Inform agricultural producers how to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions of their operations $8.8 m for soil and nutrient management $6.6 m for livestock management $2.7 m for BMPs measuring and verification $1.6 m for program activities

13 Agri-Sector GHG Emissions Crop Nutrient 24% Diary 13% Pork 9% Crops 12% Beef 42%

14 for Canadian Agriculture Communication and demonstration activities Mandated program in place til March 2006 Delivery agents: Soil Conservation Council of Canada Canadian Cattlemans Association Dairy Farmers of Canada Canadian Pork Council

15 Guidebook for Environmental Management in the Hog Industry GHG Program funded project All applicable environmental beneficial management practices evaluated Scientific and economic evaluation BMP factsheets to be used as a platform for the EMS Early April 2004 launch date Free copy for ALL Canadian pork producers Available as hard cover binder, CD-ROM or website See April edition of Better Pork for mail-in request Contact Canadian Pork Council in Late April

16 Chapter 10 Ventilation DESCRIPTION Ventilation is the process that moves clean air through the barn airspace to dilute and remove the contaminants and replenish oxygen levels. Air born hazards on farms are found in barns and manure storage that may accumulate to dangerous levels. Ventilation systems also control heat and moisture to create an optimal environment for health and weight gain. Environmental: Epidemiologic studies have shown that swine confinement workers are at increased risk of developing respiratory symptoms. Acute changes in lung function have been reported among swine confinement workers and healthy workers after four to 8 hours of work. The Health and Safety Act of Ontario (1996) has established the following maximum safe gas concentrations. Threshold limit values have not been established for animals, many researchers suggest that animal responses are similar to humans. 1 Ventilation Technologies Gas Classification TWAEV STE Hydrogen Chemical Sulphide (H 2S) Asphyxiant Ammonia Irritant (NH 3) Methane (CH 4) Non-Toxic 1000 Carbon Dioxide Creates ,000 (CO 2) oxygen deficiency Nitrogen Chemical 3 5 Dioxide (NO 2) Asphyxiant Grain Dust 4 mg/m 3 na Total Dust 10 mg/m 3 na Respirable Dust 5 mg/m 3 na TWAEV: Time Weighted Average Exposure Values STE: Short Tem Exposure Tunnel Ventilation 2. Feeder pigs finished in facilities with tunnel ventilation and wet/dry feeders exhibited significantly higher daily feed consumption and more efficient feed conversion than pigs finished in facilities with natural ventilation and dry feeders. The effectiveness and efficiency of tunnel ventilation lowers as the outside temperature cools because the number of fans turned on drops. Therefore tunnel ventilation is a warm weather ventilation solution that can augment the primary ventilation system during warm weather. Ventilation for Warm Confinement Livestock 3. Ventilation influences animal dunging habits, and keeps the pig within its thermal comfort zone which in turn impacts growth rate. Air requirements vary with animal size and outside environmental conditions. Based on experience, the recommended ventilation rates for pigs in warm confinement buildings are shown below. Fans selected should deliver the required volume of air against 1/8-inch or 1/10-inch of static pressure. This is not much pressure but it is not

17 Finding Efficiency in Pork Production A fit for GHG management? FarmSmart Ag Conference January 17 th, 2004 Guelph, Ontario Cedric MacLeod Canadian Pork Council

18 GHG Mitigation Program Canadian Pork Council Goal: Promote GHG mitigation options Focus: Easy/cost effective implementation Target: Correct production inefficiencies

19 Pork sector GHG Where? Flow through carbon and nitrogen cycles Feed input GHG output 1. Barn management 2. Feeding strategies 3. Manure handling and storage 4. Cropland manure application 5. Manure treatment technologies

20 Greenhouse Gases On the Farm Barn Management Manure Storage Management CO 2 CH 4 *NH 3 CH 4 *NH 3 N 2 O Manure Application Management N 2 O N 2 O *NH 3 Indirect GHG contribution

21 1. Barn Management Climate control systems Heat source and usage efficiency Water management Example: 30% manure volume reduction = 600,000 gal 600,000 $0.01 gal -1 = $6,000 annually $10,000 retrofit on 2000 head finisher barn 1.7 year return on investment GHG benefit?

22 2. Feeding strategies Reduced feed crude protein Phytase enzyme supplementation Liquid feeding systems Split-sex feeding Phased feeding By-product nutrition evaluation Examples: Prairie Swine Center Research Wet/dry feeders: 29% manure volume reduction Low protein diets: 26-40% manure nitrogen reduction Phytase supplement: 6.6% manure nitrogen reduction

23 3. Manure handling and storage Rapid transfer to storage Scraper systems Synthetic storage cover Methane capture and flare Ammonia emission reduction Significant odour reduction Reduced rainwater dilution* Agitation systems Example: Toronto: 33 in. total precipitation 120 ft manure storage = 231,000 gal $ annual application cost savings

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25 4. Cropland manure application Soil & manure nutrient analysis Nutrient management planning Match application rate to crop requirements Equipment calibration In-crop application Reduce fall manure application Manure Urea Nitrogen Rate a Gallons/acre Price/acre b Price/acre c $25.50 $ $51.00 $ $76.50 $ a Manure 30 lbs-n/1000 gallons b $0.0085/gallon c $425.26/ton

26 5. Manure treatment technologies Anaerobic digestion Partnerships for electrical generation Direct methane marketing Liquid/solid separation

27 Ontario GHGMP Activities Better Pork Articles University of Guelph Manure storage cover Feeding efficiency Reduced feed crude protein Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Manure nitrogen management

28 Motivation for Mitigation Simple concept: Carbon and Nitrogen GHGs = product of inefficiencies Efficiency = Profitability Something to take home three easy steps 1. Carbon and nitrogen are purchased as feed inputs 2. GHG production are a result of these nutrients not being used as intended, to produce meat/milk 3. Keeping C & N in the animal keeps it out of the atmosphere and more money in your pocket