The federal government’s twin goals of growing agriculture exports and reducing fertilizer emissions seem to be at odds.

Farmers and industry say government’s emissions plans at odds with export goals

Groups ask for goals to be based on emissions per bushel but this may not reduce emissions long-term

The federal government’s goal to reduce emissions from nitrogen fertilizer is at odds with plans to increase agricultural exports by 55 per cent, say agriculture and fertilizer groups. “This 55 [per cent] increase is attainable; however, it is unlikely to be achieved by the shackling of grain, pulse and oilseed farmers through the reduced use

“The experts in this field know that it’s an absolute hairball to measure accurately.” – Don Flaten

Examining the burning nitrogen questions

If you’re confused about nitrogen emissions, you’re not alone. How can the non-scientists among us cut through the noise?

After weeks of fury over federal nitrogen emission targets, the waters are muddy at best. Everyone has their own take and, as I’ve learned in my short reporting career, everyone has data to back up their view, no matter how obscure. I can’t be the only one neck deep in position papers, scientific studies and


Grain groups call for intensity goals, not absolute emissions

The two groups call for support for 4R nutrient management practices in submissions to the federal government

The Western Canadian Wheat Growers and Grain Growers of Canada are calling for the federal government to drop its goal of a 30 per cent reduction in fertilizer emissions in favour of an ‘intensity’ based goal. “With the threat of global food insecurity, we must develop an approach that aligns the imminent need for increased

NFU calls for agriculture to ‘scale back’ nitrogen use, export goals

NFU calls for agriculture to ‘scale back’ nitrogen use, export goals

System transformation, not tweaking, is needed to mitigate climate change, says new report

EMISSIONS System transformation, not tweaking, is needed to mitigate climate change, says new report

Pushing for higher yields and greater exports each year will lead to greater nitrogen greenhouse gas emissions, even if greater efficiency is achieved, says a new report from the National Farmers Union (NFU). “If we do not scale back… if we pretend instead that tweaking our nitrogen-use practices can solve the problem, we may make


(Alexey Rezvykh/iStock/Getty Images)

Editor’s Take: Simmer down

It’s time for everyone to step back, take a deep breath, and tone down the rhetoric around the issue of fertilizer emissions. Because right now it’s being over-politicized, under-scrutinized and devoid of any rational examination. Here’s what we know so far. The federal government wants to see farmers reduce emissions from fertilizer by 30 per

The federal government has set a target to reduce fertilizer emissions by 30 per cent by 2030, but Prairie ag ministers have concerns about the plan.

Manitoba ag minister knocks Ottawa’s fertilizer plan

The federal government faces a wave of criticism at the provincial level over fertilizer emission reduction targets

Manitoba’s agriculture minister is joining a chorus of industry insiders and fellow provincial ag ministers criticizing the federal government’s 30 per cent fertilizer emissions reduction target. The federal target was a last-minute addition to the discussion schedule during the meeting of federal, provincial and territorial agriculture ministers in Saskatoon in mid-July. “The ministers of agriculture


John Heard discusses methods to reduce nitrous oxide emissions through nitrogen management.

New program funds farm emissions reduction practices

Prairie Watersheds Climate Program offers incentives toward control of nitrous oxide emissions; N management field tour coming up July 29

A new program is taking aim at agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. Last month, the Manitoba Association of Watersheds (MAW) launched the first phase of the Prairie Watersheds Climate Program, a part of the federal government’s On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF). That’s a $200 million, three-year fund (from 2021 to 2024) that underwrites 12 different programs

Ultimately for a farm business it will be a balancing act between costs and achieving emission reduction goals.

Comment: Will New Zealand farmers long for the ‘fart tax?’

A New Zealand proposal to reduce agriculture emissions involves a lot of trust – and a lot of uncertainty

After decades of avoiding inclusion in the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), New Zealand’s primary production sector has begrudgingly acknowledged that reducing on-farm emissions of greenhouse gases is an imperative. Charged by the government with developing a pricing mechanism and strategy as an acceptable alternative to joining the ETS in 2025 under the Climate Change Response


Ottawa is advocating 4R as a way to cut fertilizer emissions, but some say the feds need to consult farmers more on the topic, 
since many are already using these techniques.

Ottawa’s bid to cut fertilizer emissions being rushed, say farm groups

Consultation is too short and government reduction plan hasn’t been thought out, say cereal groups

Time is running out for producers hoping to pitch in on Ottawa’s plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions from fertilizer use by 30 per cent. But the June 3 deadline for comments is unfair given seeding is just getting underway, say Alberta’s wheat and barley commissions. “Farmers tend to do seeding right now,” said Shannon

Climate change requires all net CO2 emitters to cut output.

Opinion: Real GHG emissions solutions need open mind

First steps in ag climate fight are honesty and courage, not offsets and credits

[UPDATED: May 19, 2022] Last May, the Canadian National Farmers Union (NFU), submitted a detailed response to the Canadian government’s earlier “Draft Greenhouse Gas Offset Credit System Regulations.” The response, like the government request, went relatively unnoticed in U.S. ag circles. It shouldn’t have because the 23-page reply by the NFU was as shocking in