A-FAN Commentary
Producing pork in harmony with the environment
By Terry O’Neel | 9/11/2007
In recent years, the Nebraska Pork Producer Association (NPPA) has developed a program called the “Nebraska Model.” NPPA’s Nebraska Model encourages existing and particularly the next generation of young producers to construct new swine finishing facilities in order to grow more pigs in Nebraska instead of sending them out of state to be fed, then trucking them back to be processed at one or more of our three major pork processors. The Nebraska Model provides an opportunity for rural economic development.
Environmental responsibility is one of the core values of the Nebraska Model. Other core values are economics and community. In the last year, NPPA began to work with the newly formed Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska (A-FAN) to extol these important core values of the Nebraska Model. A-FAN helps producers with establishing site plans, neighbor relations and zoning regulations, and explains the Department of Environmental Quality permitting process.
Environmental responsibility starts with first talking to neighbors about your plans and then maintaining good communications in order to avoid hard feelings of someone not understanding why you are building. A proper site plan that includes well drained, high ground with adequate distances from neighboring residents is imperative.
Today’s modern swine facilities can be part of the recycling process, which is good for the environment. Organic swine manure is an effective source of nutrients for Nebraska’s crops. It reduces the need for commercial fertilizers that depend heavily on expensive natural gas to be produced. The Nebraska Model encourages concrete floor slats with deep pit storage under the slats to collect manure so nutrients are less diluted for application and crop availability. Compared to an open lagoon, deep pit storage also results in less of an odor challenge to neighbors. When nutrients are applied, injection evenly throughout the field below the soil’s surface is preferred to reduce odor emissions. Using cup or pan type waterers in these barns helps conserve water, which promotes good environmental responsibility.
Pork producers can also go the extra mile towards environmental responsibility by planting trees and shrubs nearby the swine facility. Landscaping is aesthetically pleasing to passersby and provides habitat for wildlife. Buffer strips of trees helps improve air quality by filtering dusts and odors.
A producer may also opt to install biofilters, which can reduce air emissions dramatically. Biofilters allow building exhaust air to pass through a woodchip medium that filters out dust particulates that cause odors.
Many incentive programs are also available to help producers with the sometimes added economic costs of protecting the environment. These are the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP), Conservation Security Program (CSP) and other cost-share programs that can be used to help protect the environment. A local Farm Service Agency office can help with more information. The University of Nebraska Biological Systems engineers also have the Odor Footprint Model, which can serve as a tool when determining the environmental impact of a future swine facility.
Our farm operation is even involved in reducing carbon emissions that are harmful to the ozone. By using no-till cropping practices, we qualify for what is called “carbon credits” offered through Iowa’s Farm Bureau.
So you see, unlike the faded sign on my mailbox post, today’s pork producer has many fresh new methods to preserve and improve our environment. However, just like my old sign, environmental responsibility is nothing new to today’s pork producer. Good environmental stewardship has always been on the minds of Nebraska pork producers. New technologies and incentives, along with proven practices, will continue to provide pork production in harmony with the environment.
Terry O’Neel, of Friend, Nebraska, is president of the Nebraska Pork Producers Association.