Kensington North Watersheds

A Major Step to Improve Sustainability by Potato Industry

Potato growers, processors, grower organizations, and national potato and horticultural councils from across Canada and the U.S. are breaking ground to create a single program to improve the sustainability of potato production.

The Potato Sustainability Initiative uses a survey of 105 questions that over 500 potato farmers are using. The survey addresses the broad categories of:

1. sustainable farming, optimizing inputs and outputs,
2. improving worker safety and impacting the community,
3. ensuring long term financial success for growers, and
4. protecting and improving the environment including soil, water air, and biodiversity.

The survey team has developed means to measure water, nutrient and energy conservation, the rate of reuse and recycling on the farm, worker and pesticide safety, and greenhouse gas reduction. Growers are audited every five years on the survey questions, and must provide rigorous documentation to verify their survey answers. Since the first survey in 2010, the results show a steady increase in performance, and have created a clear message to everyone that potato farmers are making significant, accountable efforts to improve sustainability.

This is a great deal of extra work for farmers, no question. It’s not entirely unwelcome, though. Vern Campbell is a Kensington area farmer, a board member of the Kensington North Watersheds Association, and one of five farmers on the Governance Committee for the Potato Sustainability Initiative.

“Participation in the Potato Sustainability Initiative is a systematic approach to demonstrate to our customers and consumers that the food we are producing is being done in a sustainable manner”, says Vern.

Our local growers and Cavendish Farms deserve hearty congratulations for being part of this bold initiative toward sustainable potato production.

For more information, visit: https://potatosustainabilityinitiative.org

This column is presented by the Kensington North Watersheds Association and the East Prince Agri-Environment Association to inform our communities of the ongoing efforts farmers are taking toward good environmental stewardship.

Growing Sustainable Agr-Environmental Partnerships in PEI

Kensington North Watersheds Association and local farmers are working together for a sustainable agriculture system in PEI. On Monday March 12th in the Crop Insurance building in Kensington local agriculture producers met for the annual Kensington North Farmers meeting. A successful turnout with over 30 growers, agronomy industry experts, research scientists, and other stakeholders in attendance the group gathered to discuss current strategies for understanding and improving soil health and how to incorporate more informed and effective farm nutrient management strategies. The KNWSA has been working with its local producers on a number of projects over the years and has just recently wrapped up a three year soil health study.

From 2015 to 2017 Matt Ramsay and members of the KNWSA have been looking into methods for increasing soil organic matter and researching soil quality in order to gain a better understanding of soil health metrics as they apply to PEI. The group ran tillage trials comparing alternative residue tillage machinery to the more conventional moldboard plow. Data from these trials is showing promising results for the future of the industry with the more environmentally sustainable residue tillage practice outscoring the moldboard plow on pay yield data in all but one trial.

The group indicated that improving soil organic matter is the foundation of a sustainable agriculture system and while Prince Edward Island has shown a shocking decrease in soil organic matter as a whole, they are confident that adopting organic matter building practices such as cover cropping and residue tillage, that over time we will see things start to shift for the better. The group also measured soil quality in a number of fields over the length of the project by collecting soil samples under the Cornell Soil Health Test standardized method.

Along with the discussion on the KNWSA Soil Health Project, there were several guest speakers discussing valuable agri-environmental studies presenting a number of industry challenges and potential resolutions. Guest speaker Rick Peters, a Research Scientist from Agriculture and Agri-food Canada (AAFC) spoke about soil health cropping systems and disease management presenting some interesting insight into the nature of common agriculture diseases such as scab and the impacts residue tillage practices have on them.

Tandra Fraser of AAFC is a Research Scientist in the field of Soil Microbial Ecology. She spoke in length about the role of soil biodiversity in sustainable agriculture systems. She compared the effect a particular crop rotation can have on soil biodiversity and nutrient cycling.

Judith Nyiraneza, another Research Scientist of the AAFC spoke in detail about the results of phosphorous trials she has completed, specifically in the Kensington area with aid from the Kensington North Watershed Association. She proposed that the old methodology of more is better in reference to nutrient management may not always be the case, but rather that there is a critical rate at which you should apply phosphorous on a potato crop before the nutrient input costs the grower more to apply than it does benefit the crop yield.

Another interesting presentation was given by Erica MacDonald, a Nutrient Management Specialist of Paradigm Precision speaking on investigating the practice of fall application of potash and the potential for nutrient leaching from PEI soils over winter. Each of the presenters is actively seeking grower participation to further their studies. For further information on the results of these presentations, visit the KNWSA website listed below.

The KNWSA says they have seen a spike in uptake and adoption of ecologically sound agriculture practices in their area. “We are lucky to work with such a great group of farmers in our area and over the length of this soil health project we’ve seen a remarkable increase in farmer participation in truly exceptional ecological stewardship through cover cropping and utilizing these reduced tillage practices” Barry Murray (resigning Executive Director at KNWSA).

The group admits however, that there are still many unanswered questions and it will take more time and research to have enough data to statistically say what works and what doesn’t when it comes to improving soil health on PEI. “We are eager to continue to learn as much as we can about the agri-ecosystem and how we can plan for the future of farming in PEI” Josh Lindsay (Projects Manager at KNWSA).

Kensington North plans to expand on the research they’ve done into soil health and look into more methods for improving soil organic matter and adopting more informed nutrient management practices.

This column is presented by the Kensington North Watersheds Association and the East Prince Agri-Environment Association to inform our communities of the ongoing efforts farmers are taking toward good environmental stewardship.

The collective knowledge of our soils on PEI has revealed some trends that are causing some alarm and encouraging farmers to review soil management practices. For several years, soil organic matter levels have been decreasing across the province, according to the 2012 Soil Quality Monitoring Report (Link: www.gov.pe.ca/photos/original/af_sw_soilq2012.pdf). Soil organic matter is the foundation of sustainable production systems. This gradual decrease in soil organic matter is being paralleled by gradually decreasing yields. Farmers are taking notice and addressing this challenge on many fronts.

Recently, the PEI Soil and Crop Improvement Association held its annual conference in Summerside in February. A great deal of the agenda was focused on soil health, quality and organic matter building. There was a producer panel that discussed the change in organic matter levels over time from varying rotations across the Island, and many speakers highlighting use of green manures and cover crops; all of which provided timely information for issues and concerns that are often raised by producers. Over 150 people attended the conference, of which the vast majority were farmers.

Also last month in Charlottetown, a Soil Health Workshop was held to discuss soil health basics and soil health testing techniques with a speaker from the Cornell Soil Health Laboratory in Ithaca, NY. The Cornell Soil Health Test is a comprehensive assessment of soil health that provides field-specific information on constraints in biological and physical processes, in addition to standard soil nutrient analysis. This approach is a whole new way of looking at soil health and linking it with profitable yields . This workshop was attended by 30 farmers and many industry representatives. Farmers in the Kensington North Watersheds Association and East Prince Agri-Environmental Association areas are currently involved in piloting the Cornell Soil Health Test on select fields. Within this project, the fields tested will be used to help develop a Soil Health Test that will be more specific to PEI conditions and may potentially be offered as a service by the PEI Analytical Laboratories for Island producers in a few years’ time.

The PEI Potato Board is also organizing the “Enhanced Agronomy Initiative”, which is a collaborative effort between processing potato growers, Cavendish Farms and the provincial government to increase marketable yields and grower returns in an environmentally sustainable way. A better understanding of soil and water dynamics will be one of the three main subjects of this project.

Overall, there is sincere interest from every corner of the agricultural sector in maintaining and building healthy soils. Good soil management is a key component to healthy watersheds, and will require much work to keep progressing forward. Fortunately, Island farmers are clearly demonstrating that they are up to the challenge.

This column is presented by the Kensington North Watersheds Association and the East Prince Agri-Environment Association to inform our communities of the ongoing efforts farmers are taking toward good environmental stewardship.

Improving Soil Health with Oilseed Radish

 Soil compaction is a concern for many farms, as heavy machinery contributes to forming a hardpan that roots have difficulty penetrating. Compacted soil also does not permit sufficient amounts of air to be in contact with roots. Cover crops assist farmers by suppressing weeds, catching nutrients before they leach out, and breaking up the hard pan. Oilseed radish can contribute on all three of these tasks.

Oilseed radish is a common cool season annual plant that, when used in a crop rotation, can develop deep taproots that penetrate soils and help loosen compacted soil.

Oilseed radish has been found to be an excellent weed suppression crop as it can very quickly out compete and smother weeds once it is well established. Some sources note that oilseed radish may have the ability to suppress nematodes and other soil borne diseases.

Oilseed radish has also been found to be a very efficient nutrient scavenger, and readily takes up residual nutrients retained within the soil, thus preventing leaching of nitrates and other nutrients into ground water. This nutrient scavenging trait could be beneficial as a cover crop.

Using oilseed radish within a cover crop mix or with another companion crop may aid in retaining the nutrients until the following season. Some preliminary research in Nova Scotia has found growth with ryegrass has shown great weed control.

Farmers are actively seeking and experimenting with crops such as oilseed radish to improve their soils, improve farm incomes, and to solve problems with ecological solutions. Thanks to Kyra Stiles from the PEI Dept. of Ag. and Fisheries for assisting in research to this article.

This column is presented by the Kensington North Watersheds Association and the East Prince Agri-Environment Association to inform our communities of the ongoing efforts farmers are taking toward good environmental stewardship.

CleanFARMS means a Cleaner Environment

Farmers in the Maritimes are leading the agricultural sector in collecting and disposing of obsolete farm chemicals, livestock medications, and seed bags in a safe manner. The CleanFARMS program was created in 1998 to develop and promote work that had first started in the Maritimes in the early 1980’s. This voluntary program was once sponsored with public funding, but now is paid for by the agricultural industry.

Households around PEI use hazardous materials on a regular basis. Many of us are still learning how to sort and dispose of household cleaners, batteries, and other products that are part of our lives. Farmers are also becoming more conscientious of the materials that they use in farming, and a great deal of effort goes into collecting and recycling products and containers that require special attention.

In 2014, 33,000 kg. of empty fertilizer and pesticide containers were returned on PEI, with an industry leading 70% participation rate, and climbing. Across Canada 4.5 million kg. of similar containers were collected by the CleanFARMS program. Also in 2014, 350 kg. of obsolete (unwanted or unused) livestock medicines were collected and properly disposed of on PEI.

Plastic containers are cleaned and recycled into field tile. Bags are incinerated in Charlottetown in extreme temperatures to destroy trace amounts of product.

“This is a voluntary program, and we are glad to have such a high participation rate, with more farmers joining the movement every year” says David Thompson, who has been working with farmers and industry for many years. “It takes a considerable amount of effort to store and then transport these items back to the dealers, who collect them for proper disposal. It really shows that farmers are putting in a lot of effort to do the right thing.”

The CleanFARMS program is but one example of the effort that farmers are taking to make their operations more sustainable, more in tune with our environment.

This column is presented by the Kensington North Watersheds Association and the East Prince Agri-Environment Association to inform our communities of the ongoing efforts farmers are taking toward good environmental stewardship.

Satellite Technology Assisting Farmers with Environmental Solutions

It’s an impressive site, a potato field with rows perfectly straight from one end to the other. It takes a good operator to run a potato planter, but they have some assistance in achieving those bullet straight rows. The same Global Position Satellites that provides maps for our cars and our location for smart phones is at work for farmers as well.

The straight rows help a farmer use land efficiently. If a potato planter was out by only a few inches a row, it could result in uneven rows and unused land at the far side of the field. GPS technology on the tractors and planters keep the rows square with the field, and reduce wasted space. The same auto-steer technology can then be used on the machines that cultivate and form the hills after planting, resulting in a reduced amount of sunburned potatoes, as both planter and tillage equipment follow exactly the same path. These efficiencies also mean that the amount of fuel consumes by field operations is reduced, and thus so are greenhouse gas emissions.

GPS technology can be used when taking soil samples in a field. The field can be divided up into small sections, each section with its own soil sample, leading to individual recommendations for applying fertilizer and lime. The result is that resources are only used where they are required. When the right amount is applied, the risk of excess nutrients entering our ground water and surface water is reduced.

The same GPS tools can be used in almost every field operation. In every instance, less fuel is burned, fewer resources are consumed, and the environmental impact is reduced.

Those straight rows ultimately mean that the farmer is increasing efficiency and helping the environment, with the assistance of satellite technology!

This column is presented by the Kensington North Watersheds Association and the East Prince Agri-Environment Association to inform our communities of the ongoing efforts farmers are taking toward good environmental stewardship.