The Pork Industry at a Glance - National Pork Board

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Quick Facts Quick Facts Introduction Table of Pork Did You Pork The History FAQ Contents Checkoff Know Facts of Pork Timeline U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emission Sources Swine 0.33% Other Livestock 2.44% All Other Sources 94.58% Source: Data from EPA GHG Report 2007. Human Waste Systems 2.65% According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in 2007 only 2.8 percent of U.S. GHG emissions came from animal agriculture and pork production contributes even less--a mere one-third of one percent (0.33%) of total U.S. GHG emissions. 1 Unlike some other livestock species, pigs with their single stomach don’t produce much expellable gas during digestion, which according to the United Nations’ Framework Convention on Climate Change, is ranked as second among the top four main sources for non-CO2 GHG emissions. The other main sources, in order, are soils, manure management and rice cultivation. In GHG emission terms, producing pork is easier on the environment than are people. In terms of waste handling, humans generate 2.65 percent of total GHG emissions just from municipal sewage treatment plants and solid-waste landfills. Meanwhile, pigs only create 0.3 percent in total. Reference 1 http://epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ downloads09/Agriculture.pdf Where Can GHG Emissions Come from on a Hog Farm? Carbon emissions can come from a variety of areas of a pork operation. Manure Storage Manure lagoons represent one of the biggest opportunities to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions. The reason anaerobic lagoons are a good re duction source is that they can be a source of significant amounts of methane (CH 4 ). Methane has an impact potential 21 times higher than carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). There may be various options for controlling emissions from manure storage and handling. One option is to cover manure storage structures and capture the emissions. The gases can then be flared or used as a fuel source to drive power generators or equipment. Fuel Use by Facility Vehicles Depending on the size of the facility and complexity of the facility processes, a facility’s tractor and vehicle fleet can make up a sizeable portion of a pork operation’s GHG emissions. Measures to reduce GHG emissions from vehicles Percent of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Per Million Pounds of Pork % Total U.S. GHG / Million Lbs. Pork Product .000000175 .000000165 .000000155 .000000145 .000000135 .000000125 1990 1995 2000 2005 2006 2007 Source: Data from EPA GHG Report 2007; Pork Quick Facts, 2009. 64 Environmental Stewardship
Pork Production Public Pork Names and Environment Stats Glossary Today Health Safety Numbers Quick Facts Quick Facts can be as simple as putting in place rules against idling, more efficient routing or multi-purpose single trips. Focusing on tractor and vehicle efficiency also may result in significant savings. Hog Building Energy Consumption Reductions of GHG emissions from hog facilities can be achieved in different ways. These reductions arise from energy efficiency measures such as lighting upgrades, improved temperature regulation (heating and cooling) in buildings, upgrades on fan motors, the use of natural light and onsite fuel for power production. An additional benefit from these emission reductions is money saved from lower electricity and fuel bills. Feed Production and Delivery GHG emissions from feed crop production generally are the result of nitrous oxide emitted from fertilizer application and from nitrogen volatilization after application. Emissions savings in this area can be achieved primarily by increasing the use of natural fertilizer such as pig manure and through injection application of fertilizer. These general categories can begin to give ideas for reducing GHG emissions on pork operations. Community and Neighbors The distinction between “country” and “city” living used to be pretty clear. However, the lines between urban and rural areas are becoming increasingly blurred. Today’s neighborhoods can include retail centers, business parks, housing developments expanding into traditionally agricultural landscapes. U.S. pork producers realize the importance of being good neighbors and active, responsible citizens in their communities. Many of today’s pork producers, or their family members, also are teachers, coaches, community leaders, etc. While concern is sometimes expressed about quality-of-life issues near pork production operations, communities in North Carolina have experienced rapid growth in pork production while at the same time tourism has increased. A study paid for by the Minnesota Legislature and conducted by researchers at the University of Minnesota found that new, large livestock facilities were strongly Environmental Stewardship 65
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