The Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration is accepting
applications for next year’s shelterbelt trees.
The application deadline is Sept. 30.
“The PFRA Shelterbelt Enhancement Program is a five-year program
designed to capture greenhouse gases through increased shelterbelt
planting on prairie agricultural lands,” said Bob Turnock, at
Agriculture Canada’s Shelterbelt Centre at Indian Head, Sask.
The program aims to plant 8,000 kilometres of shelterbelts by 2006, in
addition to the centre’s annual planting commitment.
Its objective, to reduce greenhouse gases by three megatonnes by 2010,
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is part of Canada’s intention to fulfil the commitment to the Kyoto
protocol.
The enhanced program differs from the regular shelterbelt program in
that it not only provides seedlings but also plastic mulch and access
to mulch applicators.
There is also a minimum number of trees that must be ordered and the
total length of shelterbelts must be at least 800 metres.
Successful applicants will get technical support that includes
workshops on tree species selection, planning and planting, and
demonstrations of the use and application of plastic mulch for weed
control.
“Field research has shown that plastic mulch is an effective
alternative to chemical and mechanical weed control measures, and also
enhances moisture retention and growth rates. In fact, it can increase
the survival rate by 40 percent.”
The polyethylene becomes part of the soil over time.
Those eligible for the program include farmers and producers of primary
agricultural products, and owners of rural holdings larger than 39
acres.
A minimum standard of site preparation, such as weed control and
discing or cultivating, must be met before a proposed planting site
will be approved for plastic mulch.
For more information, contact the PFRA Shelterbelt Centre at Indian
Head, its website at www.agr.gc.ca/pfra/shelterbelt.htm, or a PFRA
district office.
