Environment group spreads manure
News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 4, 2002
(OTTAWA) - The Environmental Defence Canada (EDC) report "It's hitting the fan" is an irresponsible collection of half-truths and out-of-context data. "Canadian farmers are justifiably angry about this malicious attack on their industry," said Bob Friesen, President of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA).
The EDC reports notes that, between 1941 and 2001, the ratio of pigs and cattle per farm has risen from 20 to 120 per farm, while the land use for livestock has remained relatively constant. This is true, but fails to take into context the comparative increase in human population. Since 1970 the number of cattle in Canada has increased by 21 per cent and the chicken population increased 33 per cent. The human population of Canada, however, has increased 44 per cent. The ratio of pigs to humans in Ontario has actually decreased since 1950, from .48 pigs per 1 human down to .27 pigs per human. (Dalyrimple, Jim. "The Ontario Pork Industry and Water Resources." Based on Statistics Canada data)
"The livestock industry is growing at a reasonable, rational rate to meet the food needs of Canadians, and the needs of our export economy," stated Friesen.
In terms of land and resource use, the industry is more efficient than ever. Best management practices have increased crop yields, so it takes less land to supply the feed livestock requires. With controlled breeding, livestock have better genetics, and are healthier and stronger. It takes less time to bring a pig to market which means an overall reduction in water and feed consumption, and the resultant waste.
The report makes a big deal of the amount of waste produced by livestock in Canada. But if one compares the total waste produced by livestock and humans, humans clearly produce more total waste than any livestock group. Including waste water, one pig produces 5.8 litres of waste per day. If one considers all the wash water, toilet water, etc. which a person uses in a day, one human will produce 227 litres of waste per day. (The George Morris Centre) In one year, the human population of Canada will produce 2.6 trillion litres of waste. The entire hog population of Canada generates 30 billion litres of waste.
"The EDC gloats that livestock waste will fill the Skydome many times over in a year. This is a meaningless fact, as it says nothing about the sustainability of the industry," argues Friesen. It has been calculated that at the provincial level in Ontario and Quebec, crops require more nutrients than could possibly be provided by livestock manure. (The George Morris Centre)
Spreading manure on land is a highly effective and desirable method of recycling nutrients used in crop production back to the soil. When properly managed, manure not only acts as a source of plant nutrients, but also improves soil tilth, structure, aeration and water-holding properties through the addition of organic matter. "Animals produce manure, manure is spread on the land to grow crops, and animals eat the crops. It's a perfectly natural and beneficial cycle," said Friesen.
Farmers currently undertake many initiatives which promote proper storage and handling of manure including: nutrient management plans, best management practices, and environmental farm plans.
The existence of animal manure does not automatically present a health risk to humans. When it comes to harmful bacteria, a farm of 10,000 hogs produces as much fecal coliform bacteria as a population of 2,300 people. (Professor James C. Barker, North Carolina State University) "There is no basis to claim that people simply living near a livestock operation face any serious health risk," asserted Friesen.
"I think it's time for groups like the EDC to stop spreading these half truths. Providing this type of factually unbalanced information is irresponsible and dangerous."
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Founded in 1935 to provide Canada's farmers with a single voice in Ottawa, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture is the country's largest farmers' organization. Its members include provincial general farm organizations as well as national and inter-provincial commodity organizations from every province. Through its members, CFA represents over 200,000 Canadian farmers and farm families.
Contact:
Kieran Green, CFA Communications Coordinator, (613) 236-3633, info@cfafca.ca
Bob Friesen, CFA President, (204) 724-0824 (cell)
Brigid Rivoire, CFA Executive Director, (613) 236-3633 / (613) 715-3113 (cell)
