decade as interest and knowledge has increased . The focus is on organic matter in topsoil , increasing biodiversity , improving the water cycle , increasing resilience to extreme weather and climate change and enhancing the ecosystem . Advocates are championing a reduction in synthetic fertilizer use , which means cost savings for the producer and tastier , healthier food for the consumer , all while being better for the environment .
Another fix is to move away from monoculture ( which can make crops more vulnerable to disease and pests ) and practice intercropping , growing more than one crop on a field at once . This reduces the need for fertilizer as different plants draw from and give back different nutrients to the soil .
Legumes such as soybeans and pulses like peas produce their own nitrogen , and their roots work with the microbes in the soil fixing nitrogen naturally back into the land . Introducing these crops to fields reduces or even eliminates the need to add fertilizer .
Breathing easy
While we may think of agriculture as being firmly rooted in the ground , farmers are also exploring sustainable and regenerative methods that pay special attention to the air-particularly , the emissions and pollutants being released into it as greenhouse gases . Carbon dioxide , methane and nitrous oxide are the sources , and farmers are rolling up their sleeves to tackle the problem .
Emissions don ’ t just come from farm machinery , but can be affected by farming methods as well . Consider , for instance , cattle grazing . Grazing cows on grassland stimulates plant growth and photosynthesis and contributes to a bio-rich environment of wildflowers , pollinators , birds and animals . In turn , restoring microbial diversity makes the land more resilient to flooding and drought . Meanwhile , manure and other natural fertilizers work their way into the soil , adding carbon to pasture soils . Healthy soil traps carbon dioxide , keeping it from rising into the atmosphere .
As an added bonus , grass-fed cattle are consuming food that represents very low GHG emissions , as grasses are perennials , and don ’ t need fuel to produce . These tactics might seem revolutionary , but on a literal level farmers are not stirring things up ! More farms are practicing zero tillage , leaving stubble from last year ’ s crop in the field to catch snow and reduce soil disturbance and erosion all at once . After harvest some farmers plant a cover crop into the soil , which also helps to keep the carbon
foodsources within the soil . Zero tillage adds organic matter , improves soil structure , reduces pest populations , helps manage soil moisture , and ultimately reduces the need for fertilizers .
Healthy Waterways
Keeping lakes , rivers and creeks healthy and free of contamination is an important priority for farmers as they manage their livestock and crops . Well managed grasslands capture rain and reduce run off . They also allow for water infiltration into the soil and provide clean water to our rivers and lakes through the soil .
In Manitoba , livestock barns must be located more than 100 meters away from a water source , and there must be a buffer zone of grass or other plants growing between the areas to further protect the water source . Farmers use elaborate watering systems on pastures so cattle can drink from troughs .
20 years ago , soybeans were not grown in Manitoba in any significant way . Now 9.5 million acres are grown annually . Moreover , 200,000 acres of peas are grown in Manitoba now too — further reducing the environmental footprint .
Pigs are big in Manitoba . The largest pig producing province , Manitoba accounts for 30 % of the country ’ s production and 60 % of the national live pig exports . Manitoba pork is exported to 30 countries worldwide . Phenomenal growth in the late 1990s and 2000s lead to new regulations in 2013 governing phosphorus . Now , third party audited manure management plans are in place to prioritize the environment in the industry .
In Manitoba , 90 % of the industry uses manure injection technology . This simple action of injecting manure several inches below the surface of the soil not only delivers the most nutrients to the plants , it also reduces odour on the farm . The equipment for manure distribution has become so highly advanced it can take a satellite image of a field and calculate the exact amount needed in each section of the field . This increased accuracy reduces and even eliminates waste entering the waterways .
Pasture to plate
As the health of our environment becomes a critical priority , earth-friendly growing techniques are not merely an added bonus for food producers . Practicing sustainable agriculture is simply becoming a farm ’ s license to produce .
For those of us that love to eat , it ’ s important to know not just where our food comes from but how it ’ s produced . And in Manitoba , that means through a system shaped by innovation and looking towards future sustainability . ciao ! / may / jun / two thousand twenty-two 21