Grainswest - Spring 2023

Spring 2023 grainswest.com 39 FEATURE INROADS AND NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS Based on farmer self-assessments of 4R Nutrient Stewardship adoption, the Fertilizer Use in Canada 2021 survey contains predominantly good news but also indicates room for improvement. Fertilizer Canada promotes the 4R Framework as a decision-making guide for responsible and efficient fertilizer application. The guiding principles of this voluntary initiative are increasingly well-known: choose the right source at the right rate at the right time and in the right place. The framework also aims to improve on-farm economics, crop productivity and fertilizer efficiency in a way that benefits the environment. 4R awareness has grown to 63 per cent, up 11 points among western Canadian farmers since 2015, according to Cassandra Cotton, Fertilizer Canada vice-president of policy and programs. Also impressive, 4R principles are being practiced on 9.3 million spring wheat acres or 58 per cent of the total Prairie crop. Across Canada, farmers representing an estimated 25.4 million acres said they implemented 4R principles in 2021. According to Fertilizer Canada, 90 per cent of spring and durum wheat acres across Western Canada utilize banding, mid-row banding or seed-placed nitrogen fertilizer, a practice shown to reduce losses by up to 60 per cent. Nearly all farmers surveyed follow basic 4R right-time practices when applying nitrogen in the fall after soils have cooled or in the spring. Wheat farmers fall short in soil sampling, though. A crucial component of the 4Rs in that it helps determine crop needs, Greater adoption of the 4R Nutrient Stewardship Framework is central to the federal government’s 30 per cent fertilizer emissions reduction target for Canadian agriculture. According to the most recent 4R Nutrient Use Survey, familiarity and uptake have increased, yet barriers to improvement exist. Ongoing research indicates field practices can effectively curb nitrogen emissions. GrainsWest spoke with industry experts who all emphasized the benefits of 4R principles. 4 R AWARENESS AND ADOPTION Farmers put fertilizer guidelines into practice BY MELANIE EPP PHOTOS: ADAM FAST Research plots under irrigation near Lethbridge are part of a study of 4R practices.