| | Alberta Pork
“We live in these places where our farms are, so a healthy environment is important to our families as well,” says Alberta Pork’s Paul Hodgman.
Alberta Pork is the organization representing all pork producers in the province. One of its four major objectives is “to ensure a sustainable, healthy environment for the public and ourselves.” Its other objectives relate to: delivering high quality, wholesome, safe food; caring for hogs; and helping pork producers to prosper.
As assistant general manager, Hodgman’s responsibilities include coordinating Alberta Pork’s diverse activities in research, extension and policy related to environmental considerations in the hog industry.
Alberta Pork supports and participates in research and extension on such important topics as manure management practices to reduce odour and minimize nutrient losses to water bodies and the air. Examples of extension activities include: development and distribution of a Beneficial Management Practices manual with the latest information on environmentally sound practices for hog producers; and demonstration projects under the national Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Program.
As well, the organization has been instrumental in contributing to the development of the Alberta Environmental Farm Plan Company and its voluntary, confidential program that helps producers to identify and address the environmental strengths and risks on their own farms. Hodgman has been part of the initiative from its beginnings and is currently vice-chairman of its board.
Alberta Pork provided input during the recent reviews of Alberta’s Agricultural Operation Practices Act, which regulates confined feeding operations. Hodgman notes, “Alberta is the envy of other provinces in terms of the regulatory control on our industry. We have a body [the Natural Resources Conservation Board] that is responsible for approvals and enforcement, which is independent of industry and the Department of Agriculture. It is now operating in a manner that is serving the needs of both the public and the industry, in a very fair and thoughtful way.”
Alberta Pork’s Ambassador Program for communicating with the public also includes an environmental component. “We think one of the ways you solve problems is to have fair, open and intelligent dialogue on the issues,” says Hodgman. He adds, “We are developing a program called Farm to ForkŪ, which will be the banner to do a lot more issue-oriented activities in the community.”
Participation on AESA Council is yet another way that Alberta Pork is able to play a proactive, leadership role in addressing environmental issues. Alberta Pork is represented on Council by Dennis McKerracher, a hog producer in the High River area. For more information about Alberta Pork, visit www.albertapork.com.
Alberta Beef Producers
“You can’t divorce sound environmental management from sound business management. To effectively manage and sustain the environmental resources they rely on, producers must also be economically sustainable,” says Ron Glaser, Public Affairs Manager for Alberta Beef Producers (ABP).
ABP represents all beef cattle producers in the province. Glaser says, “Our mission is to strengthen the sustainability and competitiveness of the Alberta beef industry.”
Within Alberta, ABP focuses on six main areas: policy, regulatory and legislative issues; animal health and research; issues related to confined feeding operations; promotional and educational programs; member relations; and environmental and animal care issues. ABP also contributes to national and international beef promotion, market development, and research efforts.
Although the BSE issue has been its overriding concern during the past year, ABP is continuing its other work, including its environmental programs.
Glaser says, “One of our flagship programs is our Environmental Stewardship Award.” Each year, a committee of producers and representatives from environmental and non-government agencies selects the producer whose actions best exemplify environmentally sustainable cattle production. The winner is an ambassador on stewardship to the general public and other producers.
Another major accomplishment is the “Cows and Fish” organization, formally known as the Alberta Riparian Habitat Management Society. From humble beginnings around a coffee table over 10 years ago, it’s become a province-wide program funded by various agencies including AESA to improve the health of the “green zone” along the edges of streams and lakes, through extension, riparian health assessments and other activities.
Cows and Fish is founded on a partnership between ABP and Trout Unlimited Canada. Both agencies saw that helping producers to enhance land management and forage production would also result in cleaner water and better habitat for fish and wildlife.
“Many times you’ll see areas where the interests of producers align with the interests of society and other groups,” notes Glaser. Most of ABP’s environmental activities are done in partnership, such as producing extension publications and allocating funds for community-based riparian projects.
The partnership with AESA Council is an important one. ABP represents Alberta’s beef sector on Council. Glaser says, “There are tremendous synergies there. Having linkages with AESA Council is really important in terms of developing programs and policies, as well as interacting with the broader farm/environmental community. AESA Council is … helping to direct, manage and shape how a lot of these types of programs will look in the future. So it’s critical for us to have a voice at the table.”
Alberta Beef Producers is represented on Council by Erik Butters, a rancher in the Cochrane area. For more information on ABP, visit http://www.albertabeef.org/. |
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