Ontario Grain Farmer October 2022

Between 1981 and 2011, our land-use efficiency has increased by 39 per cent in corn, 17 per cent in soybeans, and 37 per cent in winter wheat, meaning Ontario’s grain farmers are producing more with less land. Since 1981, Ontario’s grain farmers have reduced their climate impact by 45 per cent in corn, 18 per cent in soybeans, and 36 per cent in winter wheat. Grain Farmers of Ontario continues to make significant investments in research that helps to create win-win solutions for our farmermembers. Some of the key research projects we fund include examining nutrient use efficiency within corn, soybean, and wheat rotations along with cover crops and 4R Strategies to mitigate GHG emissions. Research areas focus on economic and environmental sustainability efforts to 8 maximize productivity while reducing environmental impact. 4R Ontario is a nutrient management framework for the Ontario agricultural sector. It was built as a voluntary industry solution that avoids the need for regulation. Ontario is unique with its climate, soils, crops, and agricultural production system, which requires an adaptive management approach. The 4R Nutrient Stewardship is the framework needed to ensure there is no one-size-fits-all approach for improving nutrient use efficiency in Ontario with farmers. With practices and research in soil health, cover crops, and the 4R Nutrient Stewardship, we are positioning ourselves to better understand our impacts and showmeasurable economic and environmental improvements. EMISSIONS INTENSITY REDUCTIONS Grain Farmers of Ontario want to ensure our farmer-members can continue to use fertilizer in a sustainable way to ensure food security and reduce environmental loss while also maintaining productivity for farmers’ livelihood. Grain Farmers of Ontario is advocating against an absolute emissions reduction target and would like to see an emphasis on emissions intensity reduction. By focusing on nutrient use efficiency and reducing the emissions that it takes to produce a bushel of crop, we can maintain strong yields while working to reduce nutrient loss. Michael Buttenham is the environment and sustainability lead at Grain Farmers ofOntario.l continued from page 6 Land use efficiency in corn ↑39% in soybeans ↑17% in winter wheat ↑37% Climate impact Since 1981, Ontario’s grain farmers have reduced their climate impact. in corn ↓45% ↓18% in soybeans ↓36% in wheat Strong yield increases have led to improved land efficiency.

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