Something completely different

[rockpile]

After the CWB issue resolves itself one way or the
other, we have a new challenge emerging. I am
involved with an institute in Calgary that is devoted
to educating urbanites about the western Canadian
grain industry and its vital importance to our food
supply, global nutrition and its contribution to our
economy. We do it in both a historical and
contemporary format. Recently, more and more
visitors raise questions about environmental issues
and stewardship as they relate to the grain
business. A linkage I'm seeing is that most major
urban centres have banned the use of herbicides in
controlling dandelions for example. Question I've
heard more than once - "if its poison on our soccer
fields, why are chemicals being used on our food"?
For starters, my question is do you as a farmer use
your land base strictly as a business tool to extract
maximum production and profit for yourself or do
you treat your land more as a long term proposition
to which you must provide good stewardship? I ask
this as an introductory question to benchmark a
basic mindset among todays farmers. And don't
sweat Pars, we also cover off on the organic
production as well. PS - we do not present sides of
issues, only the facts and and a snapshot of what is.

[Hopperbin]

For starters, my question is do you as a farmer use
your land base strictly as a business tool to extract
maximum production and profit for yourself or do
you treat your land more as a long term proposition
to which you must provide good stewardship?

My answer would have to be I do both.
Profit and long term stewardship are at the top of the list. They are like one at the same level of importance.

[farmaholic]

If they don't like the way their food is being grown and processed, they should grow it and process it themselves like our forefathers did. Buy a small patch of dirt and raise some livestock, become fully self sufficient with eggs, poultry, milk, beef and pork. And plant a garden.

I, like Hopper, feel both stewardship and profitability are important. As farmers, land is an important asset and I think we have adopted practices to protect it. Over the last 20 years our productivity/profitability has improved because of the new and improved farming methods which has also improved our soil. Things have got better not worse here.(All because of the CWB)

[fjlip]

Less tillage= good stewardship, less fuel but needs chemicals.
Organic= maximum tillage and fuel, no chemicals. Is that good stewardship?.
Society will have to chose.
Our land has never been in better condition, before the 2010/11 monsoons.

[ColevilleH2S]

Absolutely long term sustainability is number one on this farm. I farm as if my grandchildren will be using this land to support their families just as my great grand father did a hundred years ago. And the best part about farming that way on the prairies is that it also is the best way to make a profit.
Since I took over the farm in the late 1990s and incorporated the regular use of herbicides, fertilizer, diverse crop rotations, and no-till field operations the average yields have more than doubled. Soil organic mater levels have gone up, dust storms are a thing of the past, and more tonnes of food are being produced using less labour. This would not be possible without the use of pesticides.
The herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides used in Canada have been through rigorous safety approvals for the health and well being of the consumer, the farmer, and the land. I admit these pesticides, like all things in life, carry risks. But those risks are small compared to the alternative. Which, plain and simple, is the starvation of billions of people. Using herbicides for aesthetics in parks is not even remotely on the same level.

[furrowtickler]

Same here coleville - good post.

[Francksaskfarmer]

Rockpile,
Are you talking about the grain academy? I got a chance to check it out while in
Calgary once, and thought it was very informative a well done. Definitely a must-see for someone interested in knowing where their food comes from and the logistics needed. I would think CropLife Canada would be a good partner to address the issues you are talking about.
We absolutely need to help the urban population understand what we are doing, and how the farmer¡¯s focus of long term sustainability as a steward of the land has not changed from 100years ago to now. We just use the most updated tools to do so just like people do not drive a model T anymore.
We need to use the proper terminology as well, pesticides are actually crop protection products. Just like it is not advisable to use medicine for nothing, it is something that is needed to get over an illness.
The Modern Agriculture exibit at the regina Scince center is very well done as well telling the public about modern agriculture.
I had the privilege to be interviewed for as one of the participants in a special food biotech inset in the National post, you can find here: http://bit.ly/nzJLrd
<a href="http://bit.ly/nzJLrd
"> click here</a>.&nbsp;<br>
Here is the article that I was part of
¡öQuestion: What farming advancements
are creating real change
for processes and products?
¡ö¡öQuestion: methods to preserve
the source¡ªnutrient-rich soil¡ªare
reaping sustainable rewards.
Farmer Franck Groeneweg believes
feeding the world requires
finding a delicate balance
between maximizing
production and maintaining
the long-term sustainability of
a farm¡¯s resources.
In an environment where climates
are shifting and food demand continues
to rise, achieving this means
employing the best farming practices
available.
Caring for the soil
Groeneweg continually feeds his soil
with healthy nutrients. ¡°Growing
food crops like canola and wheat takes
nutrients out of the soil, so farmers
have to replenish the losses. I use
a combination of farming practices
that rebuild soil nutrition and complement
that with commercial fertilizers,¡±
say Groeneweg. He plants a
variety of crops in rotation including
a legume like peas that put nutrients
back into the soil, followed by wheat,
followed by canola.
¡°By changing the crops I grow each
year, I maximize the quality of my soil,
creating an environment less likely
to experience stress from an overabundance
of insects, plant diseases
or weeds,¡±¡ªsomething that can happen
if the same crop is grown year
after year.
Groeneweg employs science on his
farm in many ways. When pests such
as insects, weeds or plant diseases
threaten his crop, Groeneweg utilizes
plant protection products such as fungicides
and insecticides to stop them
from spreading. ¡°It¡¯s like medicine
for our crops; we only use as much as
needed and no more,¡± he says.
Saving the structure
Another farming practice that is advancing
sustainability is farming
without tilling the soil. Canada¡¯s pioneers
tilled the land extensively; and
while it spearheaded food production
in Canada there were some detrimental
effects including soil erosion
from wind and rain.
Today, farmers use specialized
planting equipment that cuts narrow
slices into the soil, places the seed
and fertilizer into a seed row, and then
carefully packs the soil back into the
empty space. ¡°Zero-till farming has
made a tremendous difference in the
consistency and quality of our crop
yields because we¡¯re able to preserve
soil moisture, structure and nutrients
so much better.¡±
Creating more with less
Biotechnology has also dramatically
improved sustainability. ¡°It¡¯s an important
advancement that will helpfarmers meet the challenge of feeding
more people, on less land, in an economical
way,¡± says Groeneweg.
For example, the introduction of
herbicide tolerance in canola has allowed
farmers to economically grow
the crop under zero-till production
practices. In addition to the soil benefi
ts, researchers have also learned that
growing herbicide tolerant canola requires
less herbicide than conventional
canola, resulting in a dramatic
drop in the amount of fuel being
burned so more carbon can be sequestered
by the soil. These types of leading-
edge science is critical to fi nding
solutions to grow more food under
shifting climates such as more heat,
less rain and new plant pests.
Groeneweg sums up the way he
farms. ¡°The tools and practices that I
employ on my farm work together like
a well-performing team so that I can
continue growing affordable and nutritious
food for consumers around
the world.¡±

[Francksaskfarmer]

I guess my link did not work, try copy an paste.

[rockpile]

All great comments and I didn't expect to hear
otherwise. We stress that stewardship and profit are
mutually inclusive. You need profit to provide good
stewardship and good stewardship to to generate
profit. Yes Fsaskf, it is the grain academy. This
week we are installing a brand new soil nutrition
module which will explain the link between soil,
fertility and healthy plant life. And yes we work with
Croplife Can and CFI. I will make one comment.
Urban use of pesticides is not just cosmetic. Calgary
stopped spraying for dandelions this summer and 3
soccer fields were closed due to safety concerns. I
think we need to educate our urban neighbours
before this becomes a political issue in the
countryside.