What a fall! The only thing good about it is that if we can get past stewing about the weather, it gives us time to think. Sustainability - we hear the word everywhere but what does it mean to you?
When we look to the future, things appear to be very good with lots of opportunities for agriculture. We can look at the yield projections for new genetics in our crops, and the increasing global demand for products of agriculture as food, feed and industrial feedstocks. Although the public doesn't understand farming, they are coming to realize how valuable we are. Technology will make work easier, more accurate and more effective. Wow, I can't wait!
However, we need to come back to sustainability. Sustainability in most people's minds has 3 major pillars - economic, environmental and social. These 3 pillars are dynamic. Although we tend to pay the most attention to economic sustainability, it will become more apparent in the future the need to manage the 3 pillars together.
Soil Health
One measure of agricultural sustainability is the elusive idea of soil health. What is it? Do I have it? How do I get it? Poor soil health leads to reduced productivity through erosion (loss in nutrients and soil), reduction in organic matter which reduces nutrient and water holding capacity, compaction, poor soil structure making it hard to get good seeding conditions and many other detrimental effects. In many cases we know what to do, but we just can't get ourselves there. A good analogy is human health. I don't think there is one of us that doesn't know we would be healthier if we exercised more and ate a healthier diet, but how many of us are doing it?
We know that complex crop rotations, the right amount of tillage, cover crops, ground cover, proper fertility and the right amounts of water are critical to getting the most out of our crops. But how many of us are practicing what we know? In recent years we have seen an increase in primary tillage, such as plowing and discing. We often don't see fields left with a minimum of 30% crop residue to minimize top soil losses from wind and water erosion. More land and fence rows being cleared of trees. Crop rotations have become tighter with more corn and soybeans and less hay and wheat. Continuing with the health analogy - we need to remake our farm diet and exercise program to be truly sustainable.
Water
Genetics has taken production a long way, but at some point the soil resource is not going to be able to allow the genetic potential to express itself. In a conversation with Dr. Jerry Hatfield of USDA-NRCS Soil Tilth Lab in Ames Iowa last December, we discussed what the constraints are to achieving yield potential of current and future genetics. Jerry estimates that to achieve a sustainable 300 bu/ac level of production in the US corn belt, they are going to have to capture 5-8 more inch acres of rainfall, or retain this much in the system. Water is still the critical piece in crop production that we continue to take for granted. Big yields mean big needs for water, and at the right time. Despite the advances made in genetics, the scientific equation of 6 CO2 (carbon dioxide) + 6 H20 (water) molecules = 1 CHO (carbohydrate) molecule is unchanged. Plants may have enhanced abilities to explore soil for more water through more robust root systems, or effectively shut down under low water conditions, or pollinate over a longer period of time, but they have not changed this fundamental equation.
Dr. Hatfield also suggested that climate impact research suggests the future may be a series of wet springs, dry summers, and wet falls. Think about what the implications of that. Crops going into the ground under poor conditions and establishing poor shallow root systems will be followed by dry summers where these compromised root systems will struggle to access limited water. Wet falls will make harvest difficult , with further compaction and soil damage impacting next seasons crop.
SoilSmart 2015
What do we need to do to enhance our soil health to be resilient to climate change and optimize the yield potential of newly available genetics? If you want to have a better handle on this, I invite you to attend SoilSmart 2015. The FarmSmart Ag Conference is again offering a full day, in-depth workshop lead by Ray Archuleta of USDA-NRCS ,Greensboro NC. Ray, better known internationally as "The Soil Guy", is one of the most passionate people I have ever experienced. Ray will spend an entire day with us, along with US and Ontario farmers who have been profitably putting soil health strategies into action. Through lecture, demonstration, workshops, farmer panels and open Q&A sessions, we are going to get to the heart of what it takes to understand soil and soil health enhancing practices. We will be returning to the Manulife Sportsplex at RIM Park in Waterloo at 2100 University Ave. E. on Friday January 23rd, 2015. Keep up with the developing program at www.farmsmartconference.com.
There will be lots on soil health at the major conference events across the province, including the Southwest Ag Conference, FarmSmart, Grey-Bruce Farmers Week, Eastern Ontario Crops Conference, and the Innovative Farmers Conference. See you there!
Source: OMAFRA