For those who still take the time to gather at the dinner
table, there may not be much thought about where the food on your plate comes
from or how it is grown. The 4R Nutrient Stewardship Farm Tour on September 20
offered a first-hand look at what Island farmers and the Canadian fertilizer
industry are doing to link environmental action and agricultural sustainability
with improved fertilizer use.
The tour was hosted by the Canadian Fertilizer Institute;
the government of Prince Edward Island (PEI); the PEI Federation of
Agriculture; the Prince Edward Island (PEI) Potato Board; and the Kensington
North Watersheds Association.
The Tour brought more than 50 farmers, government
officials and stakeholders the opportunity to see what the 4R program is
achieving as they toured two potato demonstrations, a watershed nitrate
initiative, a phosphorus saturation study and a panel discussion on sustainable
land management.
4R Nutrient
Stewardship was established in cooperation with government, researchers, farmers,
and the public. The 4R approach ensures that nutrients are applied using the
Right Source at the Right Rate, Right Time and Right Place® through the
adoption of best management practices (BMPs) by producers to achieve economic,
social and environmental sustainability.
“The
4R Program is the way we should all be looking at fertilizer application, and
as an industry, agriculture needs to take a proactive approach to the
environmental practices that we use and then tell consumers what we are doing
and why it is good for a safe food production system,” said Gary Linkletter,
chair of the PEI Potato Board.
PEI
has a long, rich history rooted in farming. Second generation farmers, Shawn
and Corey Birch, of Birch Farms hosted one of the stops on the tour.
“The
goal on this farm is to increase farm profitability while remaining good
stewards of the family’s land to maintain its value for generations well into
the future,” Shawn said. “4R Nutrient Stewardship is a win, win situation for
farmers, consumers and the environment. Everyone benefits when we can make sure
our inputs, such as fertilizer, stay where they are placed.”
The
Canadian Fertilizer Institute is committed to promoting the adoption of 4R
Nutrient Stewardship by producers across Canada and will be working with
farmers and other partners to set targets for bringing thousands of acres of
Canada’s farmland under 4R Nutrient Stewardship.
Check out a video of the 4R Tour Day here.