The past year has been a year of change for the SSCA. Over this time, we were forced to scale back our field programs to reflect our new funding reality. I believe that we have turned a new corner and I am optimistic that SSCA's field programs will continue to evolve and grow.
Over the past few months, SSCA has been working with potential industry partners to develop new programs to continue to increase direct seeding cropping systems within Saskatchewan. At the time of writing, the SSCA is finalizing a new partnership agreement with Monsanto and is in negotiations with a second. The new agreement with Monsanto is to develop both a targeted extension program to focus on areas of low adoption and to promote low cost direct seeding strategies.
While there was no agreement at COP6 in The Hague in November, we are still optimistic that soil sinks will finally be accepted when talks resume. Just prior to the federal election, the federal government released its National Action Plan on Climate Change. Within this plan, the Agriculture Sector is expected to provide 20% of Canada's emission reduction target under the Kyoto Protocol. This means that carbon sinks will play an important role in Canada's greenhouse gas management strategy. The Action plan states that they plan to take advantage of the strengths of soil conservation farm groups like the SSCA to help convert more farms to direct seeding systems and other best management practices that sequester more carbon and/or reduce emissions.
Best wishes for the New Year.