Environmental Stewardship

 

JWV plays an important role in the environmental cycle. Local producers plant and grow corn that is fed to pigs, pigs consume and digest the corn, and their manure is utilized as fertilizer on fields to provide nutrients necessary for growing corn. It has always been our goal to produce high-quality products while effectively using our resources and reducing our carbon footprint.

Manure Management

Manure is contained in storage pits under barns and stored until needed. Prior to crops being planted in the spring, and after they are harvested in the fall, manure is applied to the soil as fertilizer. Application rates are determined based on the amount of nitrogen in the manure.

Feed Efficiency

We have many different practices in place to assure that we are feeding the correct amount of feed to optimize growth without wasting nutrients. This includes utilizing modern pig genetics, choosing cost-effective ingredients, creating the right grain particle size, and adjusting pig feeders to achieve a correct flow rate.

Minimizing Our Waste

JWV, along with pork producers across the country, have worked to find the most efficient ways to produce pork. In fact, according to a study conducted by the University of Arkansas and contracted by the National Pork Board, despite pork production nearly doubling in the last 50 years, pork producers have managed to use 78% less land, 41% less water, and reduce their carbon footprint by 35% in the same amount of time.

At JWV, we always are looking for ways to become more sustainable in our day to day operations to help our environment and surrounding community.