Washington - An eight-month "dialogue" among farmers, regulators and the public has yielded a model set of environmental guidelines for hog producers, the National Pork Producers Council said.
The guidelines have no force unless adopted by environmental agencies. As written, existing hog operations would have five years to comply but new or expanded operations would have to meet them immediately.
Complaints about odor and manure spills from hog operations have mounted in recent years as operations have expanded in size.
Indiana farmer Jim Moseley, who was lead negotiator for hog farmers in the so-called National Environmental Dialogue on Pork Production, said the guidelines "represent a tough road to follow for producers but it is one we are going to have to follow if we are to remain a viable and successful player in U.S. agrilculture."
NPPC said it would work with its members and state and local regulators to familiarize them with the guidelines and how they may be adopted.
The guidelines would lay out rules for permitting of pork operations, including the extent of public participation, location requirements, manure handling, construction and operation rules, recordkeeping, training for workers, and penalties for violations.
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