Tweed Announces Government of Canada Support for Manitoba Hog Industry

Brandon, Manitoba – May 23, 2012 – Manitoba pork producers will be able to improve the
health of their herds and boost their bottom lines thanks to an investment from the
Government of Canada. Member of Parliament Merv Tweed (Brandon–Souris), on behalf of
Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, announced today an investment of over $200,000 for two
projects with the Manitoba Pork Council.

“Our government is committed to the long-term viability of the hog industry in Manitoba and
supports measures that will keep it profitable,” said MP Tweed. “This investment will help
improve animal health in the sector and grow long-term economic prosperity for our hog
producers.”

The first investment of over $150,000 will help improve the air quality of swine barns by
testing the effectiveness of an electrostatic space charge system (ESCS) to reduce and
prevent the airborne transmission of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS),
a highly infectious virus that costs the Canadian industry an estimated $130 million per year.
A second investment of over $57,000 will be used to conduct a comparative study of cropping
systems to promote use of swine manure on Manitoba farms. The study is expected to help
identify sustainable land management practices, which would also reduce waterway pollution
and, in turn, help lessen the environmental impact of the province’s farming practices.

“These are potentially valuable projects for hog producers in Manitoba. As more farmers
move into liquid-solid separation of manure, it is important to increase our understanding of
how we can better utilize the resulting products in an environmentally sound manner,” said
Karl Kynoch, Chair of the Manitoba Pork Council. “As well, we are always looking for ways of
improving air quality in barns and to find better disease prevention techniques. We also need
to meet the provincial government’s regulatory process, and we believe these research
projects can assist us in these goals.”

These projects are being supported by the Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program
(CAAP), a five-year (2009–14), $163-million initiative that aims to help the Canadian
agricultural sector adapt and remain competitive. Eligible CAAP projects could be in the
areas of traceability, environment, climate change, capacity development, pests and
diseases, and more. In Manitoba, the regional component of CAAP is delivered by the
Manitoba Rural Adaptation Council (MRAC).

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For more information, media may contact:

Chris Kennedy
Executive Assistant to
Mervin C. Tweed, M.P.
Brandon-Souris (MB)
Office: 204-726-7600

Backgrounder

Project Title: Electrostatic Space Charge System for Improving Barn Air Quality and
Preventing Airborne Transmission of PRRS Virus

Prior research has demonstrated that PRRS can be transmitted through the propagation of
dust without direct contact. Laboratory experiments will be conducted to verify the efficiency
of the ESCS in removing dust and deactivating pathogens that carry the PRRS virus. In-barn
tests will also be conducted to validate the system’s use in commercial swine and poultry
operations.

Project Title: Nitrate and Phosphorous Movement and Accumulation from Liquid vs Solid
Swine Manure in Annual and Perennial Cropping Systems

This study will compare liquid swine manure with solid manure production systems, in
combination with perennial and annual cropping systems, to understand subsequent loss of
nutrients and pathogens from the soil. This study will directly measure the movement of water
and nutrients in the soil and will be used to make recommendations about the amount of
nitrogen that can be applied to perennial crops. This information could benefit Manitoba pork
producers based on the potential that perennial land has to utilize swine manure that is
produced within the province and also allow producers to help lighten the environmental
burden of their land management practices.