Farmers and ranchers face many pressures to farm and lift animals in sure methods to fulfill sustainability-related targets of others, together with meals firms, lenders, and authorities.
Clauses in crop contracts, carbon credit, authorities funds for rotational grazing or utilizing nitrogen loss inhibitors, the federal fertilizer emissions discount goal, clear gas requirements, codes of apply, and Scope 3 emissions reporting necessities are just a few examples of the various insurance policies geared toward driving adjustments in agriculture.
Whether or not firms or authorities take a carrot or stick method, the success of a given coverage in agriculture usually is determined by adjustments on the farm degree, requiring buy-in from producers.
27 per cent of Canadian farmers stated they have been enrolled in non-public or authorities packages encouraging the adoption of sustainable farming practices, based on a Canadian Agri-Meals Coverage Institute examine final yr, primarily based on a survey work by RealAgristudies. Curiously, solely 14 per cent of those farmers stated the incentives supplied have been completely required for adopting the popular apply, which suggests there are others causes for switching to a apply that’s considered as extra sustainable.
So, what motivates farmers to implement or undertake a brand new sustainability apply? That’s the primary query we talk about on this new episode of the Ag Coverage Connection, that includes a panel of producers from Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario (Manitoba, too, should you embody the host.)
What are some examples of profitable insurance policies? What’s the position of the federal government? Is it finally about return-on-investment? These are among the questions we discover with our panelists:
– Fred Lozeman, rancher and farmer from the Claresholm, Alberta space. Fred additionally serves on many research-related trade boards, together with Alberta Beef Producers, Outcomes Pushed Agriculture Analysis (RDAR), the Beef Cattle Analysis Council, and the brand new Western Crop Improvements group;
– Ian McCreary, crop and livestock farmer primarily based close to Bladworth, Saskatchewan. Ian is a co-lead of the Prairie Farmer and Rancher Discussion board, and former taskforce chair for Farmers for Local weather Options;
– Lyndsey Smith, sporting her farmer hat as co-owner of Shady Creek Lamb Co., a family-run farm that raises sheep and produces lamb close to Ottawa, Ont.
The Ag Coverage Connection is introduced by the Canadian Agricultural Coverage Institute and RealAgriculture. As we close to the tip of our second season, you may compensate for all of our previous episodes here.
Ideas or suggestions? Please ship me an e mail at [email protected] or depart a message on the RealAg Listener Line at 1.855.776.6147.
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