The Reeve of Hanover says there is a chance the municipality could have room for livestock expansion. Stan Toews says a moratorium remains in effect for Hanover and La Broquerie in regards to the construction or expansion of livestock operations.

The Planning Committee for the RM of Hanover met with Manitoba Sustainable Development and Manitoba Agriculture to discuss the current capacity for livestock within the RM of Hanover and potential options to facilitate future growth within the agricultural sector.

Toews says livestock inventory numbers are based on information from Statistics Canada's agricultural survey taken during the 2011 census. He notes updated information from the 2016 census will be released in 2017 or 2018.

"We may be open for business, but we don't know till two years from now," says Hanover Chief Administrative Officer Luc Lahaie.

"We met with the province and according to their numbers we're still over the phosphorous allowable limit that we're supposed to be," says Toews.

The Planning Committee was informed that even though multiple barns have been depopulated in recent years, until the manure management facility has been certified as decommissioned, the province continues to count those livestock numbers. The reason for that is that barns can be repopulated at any time without notice.

According to Toews, if Hanover would choose to obtain more accurate livestock information, a detailed survey would need to be undertaken.

"But most studies cost a fair bit of money," says Toews. "At this point, we're not sure if we'll wait or if we're going to spend money."

Toews says Hanover has not received many requests for livestock operation expansions. However, he says the sheep industry is growing and could become attractive in Hanover.