By Alice McFarlane

Agriculture Roundup for Thursday March 24, 2022

Mar 24, 2022 | 11:07 AM

MELFORT, Sask. — The National Farmers Union (NFU) has released the first report on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from Canadian agriculture and the production of associated farm inputs.

The NFU said in the past most analyses omitted key GHG sources, lacked adequate detail, and spread numbers across several publications and sites.

NFU director of Climate Crisis Policy and Action Darrin Qualman said a clear, detailed, comprehensive picture of emissions is needed to form a foundation for on-farm actions to reduce emissions and for government programs to incentivize and accelerate those actions.

“Until now, a comprehensive picture was lacking. This report helps to fill that gap,” Qualman said.

The report stated emissions from Canadian agriculture and the production of associated farm inputs are rising, the increase is driven by rising rates of nitrogen fertilizer production and use, and cattle and their manure are currently the largest source of emissions.

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The report also indicated emissions from fossil fuel use, both on the farm and in the production of farm inputs such as machinery and fertilizers, may make up nearly one-third of total agricultural-related GHGs.

The NFU report is available here.

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Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been discovered in a wild bird in southern Ontario, bringing the number of provinces with positive cases to six.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) reported HPAI was detected in a sample taken from a red-tailed hawk that was found in the Waterloo region.

Migration season is underway and wild birds infected with the H5N1 bird flu pathotype have been found in all four major flyways of North America in the last four months.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed HPAI in 17 states since the middle of January, with cases involving a total of more than 13 million commercial laying chickens, broiler chickens, and turkeys.

CFIA is not allowing poultry imports from restricted zones in eight U.S. states.

Trucks bringing animals or hatching eggs to Canada are also required to avoid driving through these restricted zones.

Producers are being reminded to immediately report cases of unexplained mortality or flock illness.

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There are just a few days left to submit a nomination for the 2022 Influential Women in Canadian Agriculture (IWCA) program.

Agriculture for Annex Business Media created the program to acknowledge the work of six exceptional women and to connect them with other women in the industry through a mentorship program.

Nominators need to explain how the nominee demonstrated leadership, innovation and creativity.

Past honourees have ranged from farm owners, researchers, veterinary scientists and those in communications and marketing.

The IWCA is in its third year and has already honoured thirteen women in agriculture.

The nomination deadline is Mar. 25 at 11:59 p.m.

Nomination forms and information on the program is available here.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW