CANDO - A watchdog group says hog farm expansion here by a Canadian company is driven by environmental concerns in Manitoba.

Two 20,000 hog farms are being built in Towner County. They are being developed by Manitoba-based Elite Swine Inc., and will be locally owned and operated.

Hogwatch Manitoba spokesman Glen Koroluk said the hog population in Manitoba numbers about 5 million.

The group is made up of environmentalists and farmers, he said.

Koroluk said the eastern part of the Manitoba is saturated with manure.

"Citizens of Manitoba have generally had it with the explosion of the hog industry in Manitoba and its impacts to the family farm and the environment," Koroluk said. "They are organizing community by community to rid themselves of this industry."

Koroluk also says production costs and feed are lower in North Dakota.

Roger Johnson, North Dakota agriculture commissioner, said the company is in compliance with state laws.

Johnson said the company's plan to expand its hog operations in North Dakota will have some positive economic impact.