Brad Wall was talking like he was going to the moon. It was Oct. 18, 2016, and I was sardined into a small conference room with the rest of the Regina legislative press corps. Wall, then premier of Saskatchewan, had just released an outline of his climate strategy. He was passionate and clearly believed his […] Read more
Tag Archives climate change
Producers do not need a lecture on climate change
Dried-up crops hurt both your pocketbook and your self-esteem, but what I find particularly irksome is when some armchair quarterback says it’s all because of climate change. Yes, a number of temperature records have been broken. Yes, it’s been abnormally dry in many areas. Yes, there are fields that won’t see a combine. Guess what, […] Read more
Climate change fight hits the ground
The Canadian government has launched a plan called Agricultural Climate Solutions, dedicated to help farming tackle climate change issues. The program aims to do so through a variety of means, including $185 million in grants and a living labs model. The living labs model brings together scientists, farmers and others in the ag industry to […] Read more
Ottawa ties grain dryer funding to emissions reduction
Agriculture minister says the object is to get the best bang for the buck so government investment has real impact
Farmers who hope to get money from Ottawa’s $50 million program for more efficient grain dryers will have to demonstrate that they will cut greenhouse gas emissions. The money was announced in the most recent federal budget as part of the $165.7-million Agricultural Clean Technology Program. Agriculture minister Marie-Claude Bibeau provided more details at an […] Read more
McCain makes commitment to regenerative ag conversion
The company also promises to take steps to reduce carbon emissions from potato farming, storage and freight by 25 percent by 2030
As part of ambitious plans to deal with climate change, one of the world’s largest makers of frozen potato products has pledged it will only be supplied as of 2030 by farms that follow regenerative agriculture practices. McCain Foods Ltd. plans to work with potato producers during the upcoming nine years to meet the target, […] Read more
Climate change could stymie efforts to feed population
Climate change may hamper the ability of the world’s farmers to increase production enough to feed growing populations, according to new research from Cornell University in New York. In a paper published in the journal Nature Climate Change, Ariel Ortiz-Bobea, a specialist in applied economics and policy, found that human-driven climate change has reduced agriculture’s […] Read more
Gov’t urged to do more to help producers reduce emissions
Agricultural greenhouse gas emissions in Canada are projected to rise by 2030 and that should concern the entire sector, said both an economist and a farmer/climate scientist during a post-federal budget webinar. The budget allocated $270 million to agricultural initiatives that can also serve as climate solutions. Karen Ross, director of Farmers for Climate Solutions, […] Read more
Researchers breed barley for climate change
Scientists from the Agricultural University of Iceland have identified genes for height and early maturity to improve northern lines
As climate change creates hotter, drier weather in southern latitudes and pushes agriculture north, a team of barley researchers has harnessed genetic tools to help producers adapt. Magnus Göransson from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences and the Agricultural University of Iceland looked at 84 spring barley lines from northern Europe. Specifically, they were looking […] Read more
Federal Conservatives unveil carbon plan
The Conservative Party of Canada’s climate change plan now includes putting a price on carbon. Party leader Erin O’Toole made the announcement April 15 after a long campaign of vehemently opposing such policy. Backed by credible and professional modelling, the proposed plan forecasts reducing emissions at the same rate as Canada’s current policy. O’Toole is […] Read more
Farming for climate change
When it comes to carbon and climate change, agriculture may have more options than other industries. “Agriculture is a source and a sink of greenhouse gases. It’s really important to know that,” said Ymène Fouli, a consultant on water and soil quality, watershed management and climate change based in Calgary. Fouli was one of three […] Read more
