ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER INDUSTRY NEWS 13 restored. Land is then purchased from the farmer, or other land is acquired in exchange for parcels designated for restoration. A combination of the two compensation methods is also possible. Farmer representatives, appointed by their regional peers, participate in the process by, in part, establishing the value of land to be acquired and traded. Kronvang, who has been involved in wetland restoration projects across Denmark’s agricultural landscape, says the inclusion of farmers in land valuation and acquisition will be vital to the success of what is a very ambitious and complicated Tripartite initiative. His experience and observations over the last several decades indicate that widespread water quality and biodiversity improvements can be achieved if landscape restoration efforts are also beneficial for farmers. Denmark has already recorded significant improvements in both inland and coastal waters, including a reduction in nitrogen loading between 1991 and 2018. While Kronvang considers such water quality improvement a dramatic success, he believes the country’s 140,000-hectares by 2030 goal impossible due, in part, to a lack of experts— specifically, those available to help farmers and local governments identify what lands ought to be acquired, traded, and re-wetted in a manner equitable, and ecologically effective, for both the farming and non-farming community. This extension gap exists despite the massive hunger among regional administrations and members of the farming community to support the country’s overarching strategy. Kronvang doesn’t believe more extension professionals would solve every challenge in meeting Tripartite Agreement goals, but such individuals are nonetheless a critical element in the ability of local officials to plan, apply for, and navigate what he refers to as Denmark’s “very complicated” bureaucracy. MITIGATING NUTRIENT RUNOFF In addition to nature restoration, Danish farmers also contend with a variety of operational requirements focused on reducing nutrient loss. This includes limits on the volume of nitrogen fertilizer they can use and mandates that a certain percentage of acres be planted with cover crops each year, both being examples of how water quality is top of mind for the Danish government. For his part, Kronvang continues working with farmers to establish practical natural infrastructure projects, within farms and at field edges, that mitigate nutrient loss to waterways. This includes strategically placed buffer strips, constructed wetlands of varying designs, more controlled drainage systems, restored wetlands, and other ideas trialled and evaluated over the last 15 years. The idea, Kronvang says, is to improve water quality through “bottom-up” approaches that make sense for each farm’s unique topography, soil structure, and other factors within the production system. • Built on trust. Strengthened through generations. Your mutual partner—here for what matters most. The Commonwell. Find a Local Broker at thecommonwell.ca/find-a-broker individuals. together. River Skjern Photo courtesy of Matt McIntosh
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