Saskatchewan producers are asking the federal government to measure fertilizer emissions by examining effective use

The Agriculture Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) has officially submitted a series of comments to the federal government, addressing concerns about the proposed 2030 fertilizer emissions target and urging an “intensity-based” approach to measuring emissions.

The aim of the reduction is to reduce nitrous oxide emissions by 30 percent while maintaining the same yields and using less fertilizer. What APAS said is easier said than done for many producers.

According to Ian Boxall, President of APAS, one of the biggest problems with reducing fertilizer emissions is actually measuring them, as the government currently measures how much fertilizer is bought, not how much is used.

“We’ve seen increased fertilizer use in recent years, but I also think we’ve seen a huge increase in production,” Boxall said. “If you look at the amount of nitrogen used per bushel of grain produced, this correlation would show that we are currently making good use of our fertilizer.

Going forward, he hopes federal government research can tell producers how to actually reduce emissions and keep production at current levels while the world relies on Saskatchewan food.

“We need to make sure producers understand that this is an emissions reduction and not a fertilizer reduction,” Boxall said.

“We are at the forefront of protecting the environment. We see it every day on our land and on our farms and we care more than people give us credit for and we will do what we can to do what is best for the environment,” Boxall said. “At the same time, we need to make sure we continue to produce the products they need to export around the world.”

A report commissioned by Fertilizer Canada and the Canola Council of Canada notes that Canadian farmers may only be able to achieve half of the targeted 30 percent reduction in fertilizer emissions.

According to the government, fertilizer use on Canadian farms increased by 71 percent between 2005 and 2019. In the same period, fertilizer-related nitrogen oxide emissions in Canada increased by 54 percent.

For Boxall, it’s all about how the government is working with producers to create a plan.

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