Sustainability has been the "word du jour" for some time. Still, it can have several meanings – depending on the industry – whether it's heavy manufacturing or agriculture – and then further defined by different agriculture sectors.
What does being sustainable mean to you?
The pork industry is committed to managing operations in the most environmentally responsible way possible. Conservation, recycling, land management, water quality, air quality, and manure management are priority areas for pig farmers for continuous improvement.
Even though U.S. pork production accounts for less than 0.3% of greenhouse gas emissions, the manure and waste of pigs are the most visible to communities. The way this is managed is also the most noticeable aspect of pork production, and one that has the greatest potential for producers to utilize sustainable, environmental practices.
A well-designed manure management system is key to maintaining an environmentally-friendly facility. Each state has its own regulatory body, so producers have to be diligent in following what applies to their operation.
Pork production has many movable parts – from manure management to good accounting software, from a well-designed building on land appropriate for its use to feed formulation.
Find your states regulatory agency that pertains to pork production.