• Thanks to Greg Nesbitt – MLA Riding Mountain
• Similar Presentations:
• RMBR Dauphin – soil health
• Ag Days Brandon – using diversity to rebuild degraded soil
• ARBI Conference Regina – water is a symptom of degraded soil
• Organic Conference Brandon – nutrient management
MANITOBA OPPORTUNITIES
•
Agriculture
•
Climate and Green Plan
•
Carbon Market
•
ALUS
•
AMCP
•
MBFI
•
EFP
•
MHHC
•
Crown Lands
1. Profitability
THE
PROBLEMS
IN
AGRICULTURE
2. Modern Agriculture and
Climate Change
3. Degraded Soil
The 100th Anniversary of Modern Agriculture
GREEN REVOLUTION
Tractors and horses on farms in Canada, 1910 to 1980
- Darrin Qualman
Soil science on the Canadian prairies – Peering into the future from a century ago
H. H. Janzen
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Lethbridge Research Centre - August 2000
Site
Date
%N
Portage la Prairie
Saskatchewan District
Fort Ellice
Niverville
Brandon
Selkirk
Winnipeg
Maple Creek (a)
Maple Creek (b)
Walsh Flats (a)
Walsh Flats (b)
Tilley (a)
Tilley (b)
Vermillion Hills (a)
Vermillion Hills (b)
Yorkton
Saltcoats
Moosomin
Calgary
Brandon
Yorkton
Saltcoats
Moosomin
Calgary
Tilley
Vermillion Hills
Red River Valley
1882
1882
1882
1883
1883
1883
1883
1889
1889
1890
1890
1890
1890
1890
1890
1891
1891
1891
1891
1891
1897
1897
1897
1897
1897
1897
1897
0.247
0.303
0.25
0.261
0.187
0.618
0.428
0.125
0.114
0.14
0.135
0.179
0.389
0.346
0.159
0.477
0.538
0.454
0.425
0.281
0.501
0.571
0.479
0.447
0.398
0.354
1.005
%OM
%C
Notes
Lawes, J.B. and Gilbert, J.H. (1885)
3.42
2.66
7.58
5.21
5.16
5.57
4.95
5.28
4.66
10.87
10.2
4.42
13.27
12.74
11.18
11.63
8.55
14.01
13.54
11.79
12.23
11.13
10.43
26.29
Soils were uncultivated %C
cultivated for only a few years. Sampling depth: “surface” %C
depth 1 to 12 inches %C
%C
Shutt, F.T. 1890. In Experimental Farms Reports for 1889.
Brown Chamberlain, Ottawa. p. 43. Uncultivated.
1890 0.140 4.95 Shutt, F.T. 1891. in Experimental Farms Reports for 1890
Brown Chamberlain, Ottawa. p. 108.
Shutt, F.T. (1892). in Experimental Farms Reports
S.E. Dawson, Ottawa
“organic and volatile matter”. Uncultivated.
Shutt, F.T. (1898). in Experimental Farms Reports
S.E. Dawson, Ottawa. p. 164.
LOCATION
YEAR
%OM
YORKTON
1897
14
SALTCOATS
1897
13
RED RIVER VALLEY
1897
26
NEWDALE CLAY LOAM – PROVINCIAL SOIL
2.2%
Loss of Diversity – hundreds of species to
monoculture
Loss of Organic Matter – loss of carbon
SOIL TO
DIRT
Loss of Soil Structure – no pore spaces for air
and water
Loss of Water Holding Capacity – the sponge
(compaction, tillage layer)
Loss of Resilience – too wet, too dry, too hot
DO WE NEED
REGENERATIVE AG?
DO WE HAVE A PROBLEM
IN
PRAIRIE AGRICULTURE?
DO WE NEED AN
ECOLOGICAL
INTERVENTION?
What would the evidence suggest?
PRINCIPLES
• Minimize Tillage – tillage damages soil structure and biology
• Keep Ground Covered – no bare soil, keep soil cool
• Grow Something Green – maximize solar capture
• Diversity – diversity equals resilience
• Integrate Livestock – soil building tool
MIMIC NATURE
MADE-IN-MANITOBA
SOLUTIONS
RYAN BOYD FARM
Capturing Early Spring Sunlight
> Photosynthesis = > Yield
2016
WINTER WHEAT
CONVENTIONAL
WINTER WHEAT
INTERCROP
YIELD
75
PRICE
$5.50
WW - 30 bushels
Peas - 22 bushels
Vetch 900 lbs
WW - $5.50
Peas - $8
Vetch - $0.75
EXPENSES
$173
$208
GROSS
MARGIN
$240
$800+
IS THIS THE FULL ACCOUNTING?
BRIAN HARPER
PASTURE PROJECT
Results 2014-2017
Commission for Environmental Cooperation and Ducks Unlimited
Carbon, Organic Matter –
starting at 3-4% OM
Soil Biology – bacteria and fungi
(total living microbial biomass)
Nutrients
Benchmark
Soil Testing
Control
Genus Map
Treatment
High Stock Density
Short Grazing Period
ADAPTIVE
GRAZING
Long Recovery Period
Mimic Nature
THIS IS REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE – the future of
prairie farming and conservation
High Stock Density Grazing
Prior to 2014 stock density
was 6500 lbs beef/acre
Comfortable with
management Brian has
increased stock density to
almost 200000 lbs
beef/acre
Increased stock density to
78500 lbs beef/acre
2014
2013
2016
2015
Starting in 2014 with 67000
lbs beef/acre
2017
Increased stock density to
80000+ lbs beef/acre
R
E
S
U
L
T
S
Increased soil carbon
7.5 tons / acre / year
Carbon Farming
R
E
S
U
L
T
S
• Doubled pounds of beef produced per acre (the only way to
increase Manitoba cattle herd)
• Increased wildlife habitat (2x species and 5x total numbers
birds)
GRAZING MANAGEMENT
TO
ACCOMPLISH
AGRICULTURAL
AND
ECOLGICAL GOALS
Systems Thinking and Regenerative Philosophy – Dr. Richard Teague
July 2014
July 25 / 2017 – Brian Harper
Brian Harper - 7.5 tons/acre carbon (0-40 cm)
CARBON
MARKET
POTENTIALS
Carbon Credit Solutions – currently pays
$1.46/acre/year for Conservation Cropping in
Alberta (estimated carbon sequestration
0.113 tonnes/acre/year)
Approximate value $100/acre/year
Soil Carbon - #1 Determinant of Farm Profitability
ASSOCIATION OF MANITOBA
COMMUNITY PASTURES
• 350000 Acres
• 20 Community Pastures
• Demonstration Projects 2018?
• 50000 Acres x 7.5 tons carbon / acre / year x $100 =
$5 Million!!
Incentivize sequestration
of soil carbon
CARBON
MARKET
Establish protocols
(cropland, grassland)
Producer innovation
Carbon
ALUS
MANITOBA
Water
• Integrate carbon capture
program into ALUS Manitoba
• A symptom of land use
Agriculture
• Rebuild soil, resilience and
profit
Wildlife
• Build a healthy Ecosystem
MBFI
•
Opportunities to demonstrate Regenerative Agriculture to producers
•
Trip to North Dakota 2015
•
•
•
Be ahead of the producer
Be willing to fail
Be innovative
•
I sit on the Research Advisory Board
•
MBFI needs to direct research
•
Does MBFI need to do research or demonstration?
A FARMER
IS A
MANAGER OF ECOSYSTEMS
- Dwayne Beck (SDSU - Dakota Hills Research Farm)
Energy Cycle – capture sunlight
(photosynthesis)
Water Cycle – how to deal with wet?
ECOSYSTEM
FUNCTIONS
Mineral Cycle – carbon, nitrogen
Diversity – monoculture ag
WHAT IS THE GOAL OF AGRICULTURE?
• Make a Living
• Raise a Family
• Grow Good Food
• Improve the Resources (Soil, Water, Air, Wildlife)