Harvest in the MD of Fairview, photo submitted by Michael Rolling

By Erika Rolling

Agriculture

Federal fertilizer reduction and Peace region harvest with Grain Growers of Canada Chair Andre Harpe

Sep 2, 2022 | 5:18 PM

Producers in the Peace are back in their fields taking major crops off thanks to the dry heat over the past two months to catch them back up to speed after a slow start to seeding in May.

A local farmer in Valhalla and Chair of the Grain Growers of Canada, Andre Harpe has been more than busy juggling harvest and the federal government announcing their target to reduce fertilizer emissions by 30 per cent by the end of this decade.

Harpe says fertilizer is usually grain producers’ biggest expense and only use what’s needed.

“There are things we can do, more and better soil testing to see exactly what we need to put on. But some farmers are already doing it, and I think the biggest thing is they (federal government) should talk to us.”

He says producers aren’t being consulted on how the targets should be met and what appropriate to do in times with food shortages globally.

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“I was able to meet with the Deputy Prime Minister last Friday morning (August 26), but you know the interesting thing is, we are seeing a bit of a change in attitude with the federal government. They want us to get there…but not necessarily how.”

Farmers not being consulted is the biggest issue for Harpe.

“What solutions or what could be practical for farmers to do… what makes common sense,” he says about conversations that haven’t been done for producers to potentially cut back on fertilizer emissions.

Politics aside, Harpe says everyone is busy combining in the Peace region.

“I’m seeing crops not being quite as good… everybody is hoping for a good average, and I’m hearing of some not bad yields.”

“For the most part we didn’t get quite as much rain as the Central area of the province got so, our yields are going to be alright. Definitely better than last year but at the same time I think the Central region where I’m hearing reports of good yields down there.”

He says people he has spoken to, including himself is with the heat the Peace got this summer, it pushed growing along, and are having a harvest around the normal time of year.