Sustainability index unveiled for agriculture

May 26, 2023

A coalition of 129 organizations, including agri-food companies, non-governmental organizations, commodity groups and government departments are getting close to defining what is sustainable in Canadian agriculture.

In May, the group unveiled a sustainability index for the country’s agriculture and food sector. The index is a pilot, which will likely evolve into something more permanent.

“The initiative addresses one of the most pressing issues facing humanity: producing food more sustainably — and showing it,” says a news release for the National Index on Agri-Food Performance.

“The work also positions Canada as among the very few nations globally that have developed such a comprehensive approach encompassing an entire economic sector.”

David McInnes has led the effort to create the index since 2020.

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Video: Winter Canola Trial in Mississippi | Can It Work for Double Cropping? | Pioneer Agronomy

Can winter canola open new opportunities for growers in the Mid-South? In this agronomy update from Noxubee County, Mississippi, Pioneer agronomist Gus Eifling shares an early look at a first-year winter canola trial and what farmers are learning from the field.

Planted in late October on 30-inch rows, the crop is now entering the bloom stage and progressing quickly. In this video, we walk through current field conditions, fertility management, and how timing could make this crop a valuable option for double-cropping soybeans or cotton.

If harvest timing lines up with early May, growers may be able to transition directly into another crop during ideal planting windows. Ongoing field trials will help determine whether canola could become a viable rotational option for the region.

Watch for:

How winter canola is performing in its first season in this Mississippi field

Why growers chose 30-inch rows for this trial

What the crop looks like as it moves from bolting into bloom

Fertility strategy, including nitrogen and sulfur applications

How canola harvest timing could enable double-cropping with soybeans or cotton

Upcoming trials comparing soybeans after canola vs. traditional planting

As more growers look for ways to maximize acres and diversify rotations, experiments like this help determine what new crops might fit into existing systems.