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Putting a ‘KAP’ on climate change in Manitoba

Putting a ‘KAP’ on climate change in Manitoba

Keystone Agricultural Producers has developed a program to help farmers address climate issues

By Kate Ayers
Staff Writer
Farms.com

Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) has created the Manitoba Agricultural Climate Initiative to help farmers adapt to the challenges they may face as a result of climate change. 

The program has three main objectives, according to a KAP report released on Monday:

  1. Assess how climate change is likely to change agricultural production conditions in Manitoba
  2. Understand Manitoba farmers’ priorities for managing these changes
  3. Develop ideas on how government can support farmers’ efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change

Three years ago, “the government realized that we had to do something about climate change so, they put some funding in place to do a study on how agriculture would be affected in Manitoba due to climate change,” Dan Mazier, KAP president, explained to Farms.com today.

KAP worked alongside the Prairie Climate Centre in developing the report. The centre allows the public and decision-makers to access the best climate science available, the report said.

By 2080, if greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise on a global scale, Manitoba’s summer precipitation and temperatures are projected to be similar to those of present-day Kansas and northern Texas, according to the Prairie Climate Centre.

While higher temperatures in the province would lengthen the growing season and provide opportunities for new crop varieties, these benefits do not come without risks. Some of these risks include new pests, drier summers, and more extreme and variable weather, the report said.

The government can help farmers manage these challenges, for example, through streamlined water management regulations, making smart investments in natural infrastructure on farmland, and investing in upgraded weather forecasting tools to help producers better prepare for extreme weather. 

Although climate change may present challenges, farmers will continue to be instrumental in reducing and sequestering greenhouse gas emissions, according to the report.

Provincial and federal governments could support farmers’ environmentally conscious efforts by encouraging the adoption of 4R nutrient stewardship (Right Source, Right Rate, Right Time, Right Place). The government could also help Manitoba farmers gain access to offset markets so they can be rewarded for beneficial practices.

Finally, governments can invest in the development of new practices and technologies that promote sound land management practices, the report said.

“The whole idea behind the paper is to offer information (and guidance) for producers and the government,” Mazier said. “Just like agriculture adapts every day, we need to put policies in place that allow us to adapt to climate change.”

The full report is available here.

 


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The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

Video: The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

In the vast prairies of Alberta, Olds College’s Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) stands as a beacon of innovation and research in the agricultural world. The institution has become a key player in advancing agricultural technologies and practices. The FCDC’s commitment to applied research has driven them to seek effective means of disseminating their findings and creating a positive impact on the farming community.

One such avenue that aligns with their mission is AgSmart, an event dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge agricultural technologies. The coming together of the FCDC’s annual Field Day and Ag Smart has proved to be a natural fit, fostering a synergy that benefits both parties and propels the agriculture industry forward. The FCDC Field Day took part in conjunction with AgSmart for the first time this week on Aug. 1-2 in Olds, Alta. FCDC Program Director Kofi Agblor and Olds College VP of Development Todd Ormann sat down for an interview with Marc Zienkiewicz to discuss the significance of the two events taking part together and what the future holds.

The Intersection of Research and Technology The essence of the FCDC lies in its dedication to plant breeding and new seed varieties, particularly barley and triticale. While conducting research is essential, it becomes meaningful when its benefits are shared with the wider community. This is where AgSmart steps in, providing a key venue for the FCDC to showcase their research. This union between research and technology creates a holistic and enriching experience for farmers, ranchers, and industry professionals, the pair said.

Seeds as Technology For the FCDC, the partnership with AgSmart goes beyond mere event collaboration. It is about creating an environment that bridges the gap between seeds and smart technology, Ormann said. The college believes that for technology to truly revolutionize agriculture, it must begin with a strong foundation — high-quality seeds. As the saying goes, “it all starts with a seed.” To demonstrate this critical aspect, the collaboration aims to showcase the seed value chain as an integral part of the smartphone.

The Birth of a Powerful Alliance The idea of joining forces emerged when staff realized the potential synergy between AgSmart and the FCDC Field Day. With just a few days separating the two events, a proposal was put forward to merge them. The marketing and communications teams from both sides worked seamlessly to ensure the essence of both events remained intact, creating a powerful alliance that leverages the strengths of each, Agblor said.

Driving Advancements in Breeding For Agblor, the partnership with AgSmart has tremendous potential to drive advancements in breeding and other technology. With technologies like drones and imaging becoming integral to phenotyping, breeding is no longer confined to vast fields to assess thousands of plants manually. Instead, it benefits from the data-rich insights brought about by smart technologies. These advancements make breeding more efficient, precise, and instrumental in shaping the future of agriculture.

Overcoming Challenges Together While the partnership between Olds College and Ag Smart has been a resounding success, there are challenges on the horizon. Securing stable funding for long-term breeding initiatives is crucial to sustain progress. The college is committed to navigating these challenges and investing in agriculture’s future sustainably, Agblor said.

 

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