Better Farming – September 2016

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Better Farming September 2016 Farm News First > 43
CROPS: YIELDMATTER$
how rates are determined, examining
different application placement
technologies, and assessing a different
timing for application.
At the same time, the farmer
would consider the three
sustainability pillars. What is the
economic impact of making any of
these adjustments? To find the
answer, the farmer would set up
appropriate strip trials to measure the
response.
Environmentally, the goal may be to
optimize N uptake and reduce carry-
over of nitrate nitrogen postharvest.
Again, setting up a testing procedure to
document the outcome will help to
establish the best approach.
Finally, there is the task of estab-
lishing social benefits. This is often
the hardest thing to do, however, of
the three pillars, social sustainability
today carries perhaps more weight
than the other two pillars.
What are the benefits to consum-
ers and the public for a farmer to
improve nitrogen use efficiency? As
an example, one answer might be that
reducing potential movement of
nitrate to groundwater preserves
groundwater quality. The practice
replaces the need for costly infra-
structure expenditures in a munici-
pality that depends on groundwater
to provide safe drinking water to the
public. As a result, the practice could
free up tax dollars to be spent else-
where to improve community living.
The 4R Stewardship approach
goes beyond the farm gate, and the
memorandum that supports the
initiative is an important milestone
in industry and government rela-
tions. Think of the initiative as our
opportunity to voluntarily demon-
strate and document the importance
of production agriculture to the
economy, to the environment and to
the public.
How many of your acres are under
a 4R Stewardship management
program? BF
Dale Cowan is a CCA and a senior agronomist
with AGRIS Co-operative Ltd. and Wanstead
Farmers Co-operative Ltd.