Willow Creek council speaks out against federal green ag plan
By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on August 12, 2022.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com
The council of the Municipal District of Willow Creek is speaking out against the federal government’s new green agricultural plan.
In a press release, council says the plan will create financial hardship for farmers, diminish the country’s food security and increase the food for Canadian consumers while having a negative impact on food exports.
The plan calls for the reduction of emissions from fertilizer application by 30 per cent below 2020 levels by the year 2030.
“Canada’s agriculture industry employs 2.1 million people and generates $134.9 billion of Canada’s gross domestic product (6.8 per cent of total GDP). It is an industry where 1.4 per cent of the people in Canada feed the remaining 98.6 per cent efficiently and safely. Canada is recognized as a trusted supplier of safe, high-quality food which is produced ethically, responsibly and in an environmentally sustainable manner,” says Willow Creek council.
“Canada has historically been in the position where it enjoys both food security and the capacity to export food abroad. Food security is a cornerstone principle of national independence. The ‘Green Agricultural Plan’ threatens the ability for Canada to both maintain food security and to be a reliable exporter of surplus, quality produce.”
The council says Canadian agricultural producers have reached historic efficiencies in food production with larger operations utilizing precision farming technologies, while adopting conservation farming practises at a widespread level. They are also planting crop varieties which have been bred to flourish in the country’s different soil and climate conditions.
Council says there would be lower crop yields because of the plan’s required reduction in nutrients.
“The ‘Green Agricultural Plan’ will place a proportionally higher cost on small operations as compared to large ones as the cost of equipment to enhance nutrient efficiency and reduce green house gases cannot be spread over a larger land base. The result will be further rural depopulation and amalgamation of farmland with larger producers,” says the council.
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11-10
Will the contamination of surface water by nitrates and phosphorus weigh the most heavily in the end? Water….blue gold needed for life itself. Will it be protected?
There seems to be the notion of “this is the way we’ve always done it” that is quite entrenched in relation to the chemical inputs in agriculture. I would also argue this is bolstered by the need for an impressive bottom line to be presented to the shareholders of BigAg chemical companies. I have posted elsewhere in this forum on the topic; but, given the circumstances, I think the adage, line upon line…precept upon precept is appropriate. As you point out, Southern Albertan, water is life.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8qTRBc8Bws
https://www.eitfood.eu/blog/can-regenerative-agriculture-replace-conventional-farming