An increasing number of farmers say they are considering adopting environmental practices on their farm, according to a recent farmer survey by Farm Credit Canada.
“More than 60 percent of individuals surveyed by FCC say they are considering environmental stewardship and the use of environmentally friendly management practices to reduce their environmental footprint and provide financial value for their business,” FCC said in releasing the results of its December 2009 Vision Panel survey.
“The results suggest that environmental impacts are gradually becoming a factor of day-to-day business for many producers and agribusinesses.”
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The survey said producers are considering a range of environmental responses, including improved resource stewardship and resource management, conservation and reduction in byproducts produced from the farm.
Thirty-seven percent said they were considering use of alternative energy sources on the farm.
Beef producers were the most enthusiastic about the potential for alternative energy while crop producers were less inclined to experiment.
In Ontario, where wind turbines are becoming a popular on-farm feature, producers were the most likely to embrace alternative energy sources. Forty-three percent of Ontario respondents said they are considering it.
However, the same survey showed that between five and seven percent of producers identified the environment as “the greatest challenge in agriculture.”
