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By Jeff Henson

GGC

Valhalla-area producer excited as Grain Growers of Canada announce details of “Road to 2050” plan

Mar 31, 2022 | 10:59 AM

The Grain Growers of Canada have announced the creation of a climate solutions plan, to help meet Canada’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.

Grain Growers chair and Valhalla-area producer Andre Harpe says the “Road to 2050” will propose a path forward that focuses on innovation, research and beneficial management practices.

He thinks farmers will have to be more focused on their operations, rather than make a lot of changes under this plan.

“We will have to be more careful of what we use and how we use it. This is not about a reduction of fertilizer use, but this is basically more about how we use fertilizer,” he explained.

“There are always strategies in place, like having the right amount of fertilizer, putting it on at the right time and at the right place.”

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He also stressed that some of that focus will have to be on the entire farm.

“Quite often we talk about the fields that we seed and what we grow. But we have to start talking, especially when it comes to climate change and our Road to 2050, we have to start talking about our whole farm,” he added.

“We have to start talking about our fence rows, the trees we have along our fences. We have to talk about our wetlands, and we even have to talk about plots of trees, because they all count.”

Harpe adds the biggest challenge for farmers moving forward will be controlling their own destiny.

“We need to be able to tell the government not only what we can do, but also what we can not do. Basically what is practical and what is not practical.”

“It gets back to that it is very easy to come up with ideas, but if they are not practical to farmers, one – it is not going to happen, and two – it is not a good solution for farmers because this can not be a costly exercise,” he said.

He says it will also be key for farmers to research data already collected and see where they are currently at, as far as getting to carbon neutrality.

Harpe is in Ottawa to discuss the plan with politicians and says there is excitement on both sides of parliament about what the Grain Growers are proposing with their Road to 2050 plan.