Day 2: Session 3 - Morning
Solutions for Climate Change- Mitigating GHG Production in Agriculture
REYNOLD LEMKE, Research Scientist, Agriculture Agri-Food Canada
“The where, why and how of greenhouses gases associated with farming activities?”
Our planet is warming rapidly, raising important concerns about the resulting risks to, among other things, food security, human health, and biodiversity. Despite evidence that the human-induced build-up of atmospheric greenhouse gases is a primary driver of the rapid warming, emissions continue to increase year-over-year. Activities on the farm can contribute substantive amounts of greenhouse gas to the atmosphere, however, with a clear understanding of the factors that drive emissions it should be possible to devise practical strategies to reduce that contribution. This presentation will provide a synopsis of current understanding of the where, why and how of greenhouses gases generated from farming activities.
ANNE WASKO, Chair, Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef
“Climate Change and Sustainability Solutions from the CRSB Perspective”
This presentation will identify the current state of science on the carbon balance of the Canadian beef value chain from a systems perspective, and will outline the multi-stakeholder sustainability strategy to reduce the greenhouse gas footprint of Canadian beef per unit of product produced. In addition, the presentation will describe an exploratory project being undertaken by the Beef Cattle Research Council, the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association and the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef. The project utilizes stakeholder interviews and a modelling exercise to better understand greenhouse gas-related opportunities for the Canadian beef industry.
TRISTAN SKOLRUD, Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Saskatchewan
“Optimal GHG regulation in agriculture: Mitigating climate change and preserving efficiency”
Canada’s agriculture sector accounts for approximately ten percent of national greenhouse gas emissions, yet the federal climate change strategy does little to incentivize meaningful, efficient reduction. In this presentation, I detail research explaining the implications for greenhouse gas-reducing technical change and discuss solutions to minimize the cost of greenhouse gas abatement in agriculture.
DARRIN QUALMAN, Freelance researcher and Author, representing National Farmers Union
“The Real Source of Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Emissions”
Agriculture does not produce greenhouse gas emissions; agricultural inputs produce greenhouse gas emissions. Farmers farmed for about 9,900 years did not affect atmospheric concentrations of GHGs. But then, starting about 100 years ago, farmers began using ever-greater quantities of petro-industrial inputs. The result has been continuously rising emissions. It is these inputs, not agriculture, that are the source of emissions. The inescapable but provocative conclusion is this: any low-emission agricultural system will be a low-input agricultural system. A recent paper from the National Farmers Union www.nfu.ca points the way to that future.
CLAUDIA WAGNER-RIDDLE, Professor, Ontario Agricultural College and School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph
“Managing greenhouse gas emissions from agro-ecosystems”
Agro-ecosystems contribute significantly to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through farm-scale carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. These emissions can be managed for long-term sustainability of the agricultural sector and to contribute solutions to climate change. An overview of mitigation practices focused on nitrogen fertilizer (4R practices), manure, tillage and crop management will be presented. Integrated assessments of practices considering economic aspects for N2O emission reduction from corn production and GHG emission reduction from milk production in Ontario will be presented as case studies.
Day 2: Session 4 - Afternoon
Solutions for Climate Change: Water Management for Agroecosystem Resilience to Climatic Extremes
JOHN POMEROY, Professor of Hydrology and Director of Global Water Futures, University of Saskatchewan
“Sustainable Water Futures for Agriculture”
Canada’s water resources are changing and this will provide challenges and opportunities for the agricultural community. The climate has warmed and in some areas has become wetter and less snowy over time. These trends are expected to continue for some time to come. Extreme weather as floods and droughts has become more common and more extreme and is expected to become more severe in the near future. This talk will review the changes currently occurring in and expected to occur over the 21st century in water supply for irrigation and local precipitation available on farms. Snowpacks, soils and drainage can be managed to sustain soil moisture and reduce downstream impacts on downstream water supply and water quality – how this can be done will be shown. New forecasting abilities to predict water supply and water quality will help in managing water sustainably on the farm or ranch. Research using UAVs to measure snow depth, wetlands, crop status and water use will be shown. This research is all part of the Global Water Futures program – the largest university-led freshwater research program in the world. It is part of the search for solutions to water threats to sustainable agriculture in an era of global change.
LANA SHAW, Research Manager, Saskatchewan South East Research Farm
“Mixed Grain Intercrops: The Value Proposition”
Mixed grain intercropping is a new popular technique of growing two grain crops simultaneously and separating the grain. There are many possible combinations of crops, but some of the most advantageous pairings have seen commercial success. Mixed grain intercropping seems to be one of those rare situations where improved farmer profitability and environmental sustainability align in an exciting trend. For example, chickpea-flax intercrops reduce the need for fungicide compared with monocrop chickpea, which has benefits for the environment and for profitability. It is likely that there are positive effects of the intercrops on beneficial insect diversity, which might mean less demand for insecticides. Improved economic thresholds are likely for use of seed treatments, fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, and nitrogen fertilizer with intercropping, but research is needed. In wet years, intercrops with pulses are typically more successful and less prone to lodging, disease, and harvest losses. However, we don't know what effect intercrops might have on soil water infiltration or snow trapping but there are indications that it could be positive. Residue from intercrops is often taller and more robust, which could reduce soil erosion and improve retention of moisture over the winter months. Observations of reduced water use and variability in total crop growth across a landscape may present solutions for climate change and improved sustainability but experimental work is still needed.
MITCHELL TIMMERMAN, Nutrient Specialist, Manitoba Agriculture
“Too much and not enough…and in the wrong place, at the wrong time! Manitoba’s setting, experience and aspirations”
Manitoba presents a daunting water management paradox rivaled by few other places in the world. Lake Winnipeg continues to be among the world’s most impaired surface water bodies with a large watershed dominated by agriculture. Excess moisture has been the principal reason for crop insurance claims. Rotations have shifted from short-season, cool-season crops to include long-season crops that have large water demand well into the summer. Livestock production, be it large or small scale, is also vulnerable to big swings in water levels.
Amidst these pressures, Manitoba’s agriculture industry is striving to adapt. How feasible is the adoption of next-level water management practices? Obstacles remain but Manitoba farmers are expressing rising interest in techniques, technologies and infrastructure. Uptake of incentive programming and collaboration with Watershed Districts reflect that interest. Provincial specialists have explored the potential for increased water storage. Buffering against climate change will be critical for the long-term viability of agriculture in Manitoba.
PAUL THOROUGHGOOD, Professional Agrologist, Ducks Unlimited Canada and Board member of the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Crops
“Climate Extremes: A View from the Farm”
There is an urgent need for producers to manage the impacts of unpredictable drought and flooding within crop production systems. Paul will discuss current practices that can help mitigate crop damage and will also explore practices that can help protect water quality on and off farm. The Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Crops is in the early stages of building a Code of Practice for crop production in Canada. This is an important step and he will discuss how the Code can influence adoption of “best” practices or outcomes.
JANE ELLIOTT, Research Scientist, Environment and Climate Change Canada
“Adapting agricultural water management for agroecosystem resilience in future climates.”
Climatic uncertainty will bring challenges to agricultural water management in Canada. Changes in the form, timing, quantity, frequency and intensity of precipitation will impact the quantity and quality of water available for and affected by agricultural production. Management practices will need to adapt to the changing climatic conditions. Some practices that are currently effective in maintaining production while protecting water quality will not be successful in future climates and others may become increasingly effective as the climate changes. Understanding the processes controlling the movement of water and its quality will help us predict the effectiveness of agricultural management practices in future climates. In this presentation we will use examples from the prairies and eastern Canada to illustrate how the suitability of management practices is affected by changing climatic drivers.