Farmers question Canada's proposed fertilizer emission reduction target, August 2022. (Photo: ID 127717214 © Kathy (null) Dreamstime.com)

By Alice McFarlane

Canada’s proposed fertilizer emissions reduction target questioned

Aug 23, 2022 | 6:15 AM

MELFORT, SK — Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) has announced the launch of additional consultations to guide the development of an approach to reduce fertilizer emissions by 30 per cent from 2020 levels by 2030.

AAFC Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau has said while the federal government wants to reduce emissions by the end of the decade, it doesn’t mean Ottawa wants to see a 30 per cent reduction in the actual amount of fertilizer used on the land.

A well-know entrepreneur and agrologist is unsure about Ottawa’s final plan.

Rob Saik said the trust level between the Trudeau government and Western Canadian farmers is strained.

“Where did the 30 per cent number come from? I would like to know where the hell the number came from. Why not 25 per cent why not 20. Where did the number come from?” Saik said.

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He said Canadian farmers already have a great track record for nitrogen efficiency use compared to other countries.

“Many farmers around the world in warmer climates broadcast fertilizer and have a nitrogen use efficiency of 50 per cent which means 50 per cent goes into the environment,” he said. “Western Canadian farmers have a nitrogen use efficiency of somewhere between 70 and 80 per cent because of the technology we use, and our climate.”

Saik said there is always room for improvement as new technology is developed.

“You’ve got to take into account sectional shut off, soil testing, variable rate, you’ve got to take into account nitrogen inhibitors, you got to take into account split applied nitrogen, we got to take into account all of those things,” Saik said.

He added if the government comes up with some sort of a program to arbitrarily pressure farmers to reduce the amount of nitrogen that would be punitive to agriculture.

Saik made his comments during the AgSmart field day at Olds College in central Alberta.

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