Survey shows most farmers do not support reduced fertilizer use, August 2022. (Photo: 65373569 © Oticki | Dreamstime.com)

By Jaryn Vecchio

Survey suggests most farmers do not want to reduce fertilizer use

Aug 18, 2022 | 6:15 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A recent survey suggests the majority of Canadian farmers do not want to reduce their use of nitrogen fertilizer.

That was a question asked by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) to determine how the sector feels about the federal government’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fertilizer by 30 per cent below 2020 levels by 2030.

Over 70 per cent of the respondents said they were against the move.

“Right now, the emissions reduction target is voluntary, and it should stay that way,” said Corinne Pohlmann, senior vice-president of national affairs at CFIB.

“Requiring Canadian agri-businesses to reduce their use of nitrogen fertilizer would add another hurdle and have negative impacts on the industry that is already hard hit by skyrocketing input costs and supply chain delays.”

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The main reason farmers said they were against the plan was the potential hit their overall crop and food production would take. Two-thirds of the respondents also believe this will decrease the profitability of the agri-business.

“Nitrogen fertilizer is an essential crop nutrient and an important input for Canadian farmers. Given the current global challenges to food supply, now is not the time to add policies that threaten to reduce yields even further,” added Taylor Brown, a policy analyst at CFIB.

“The federal government should give farmers more autonomy and provide support if they want to voluntarily improve their nitrogen management and adopt better practices.”

CFIB has since sent a letter to the federal government asking to keep the emissions target voluntary for farmers.

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