Over the past few months, SSCA has been very active either working to secure funding to continue delivering our field extension programs or working to develop sound policy related to climate change and carbon sequestration.
At the end of March, SSCA's three-year funding arrangement with the provincial government ends. This funding played an important role in helping SSCA maintain its Staff resources allowing SSCA to lever additional funding from other sources. We are still hoping to continue this arrangement into the future but nothing has been finalized to date.
2002 was a challenging year for the entire prairie agriculture sector. We had some concerns that we could lose some support from our industry sponsors. However, Monsanto is still committed to supporting SSCA's programs for 2003. Several other companies continue to support SSCA through sponsorship of the Direct Seeding Conference.
Over the past two years, Ducks Unlimited Canada has contracted SSCA to deliver part of their efforts to promote winter wheat production. We are currently in the process of developing a new winter wheat program starting in April.
In mid-December, the Soil Conservation Council of Canada rolled out the national Greenhouse Gas Mitigation program for soil and nutrient management. This program will promote a variety of agricultural best management practices that either sequester carbon or reduce nitrous oxide emissions. I described some of these BMPs in the previous Prairie Steward. The SSCA is taking a lead role to develop and implement this program in Saskatchewan.
With the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol behind us, industry and various levels of government are working to develop their implementation plans. These plans will likely focus on two main areas: emission reductions and emission removals through carbon sinks. In both cases, management practices are being developed to help address these issues.
Agriculture is expected to contribute 20% of Canada's emission reduction target with half of this made by Saskatchewan farmers. This is a very large contribution considering primary agriculture only contributes approximately 1.7% of Canada's GDP (Source: AAFC). However, as John Bennett's article states, there are many roadblocks, like the question of ownership with "business-as-usual" sinks that may prevent the agriculture sector from achieving its emission reduction potential.
Producers should also keep an eye on some of the other industrial sectors that affect agriculture. The most prominent is the transportation sector. Policies in this sector affect the potential for new developments like ethanol and biodiesel, and selecting modes of transportation (road vs. rail).
In addition to promoting farmer ownership rights on carbon credits, SSCA will continue to monitor and keep you informed on the climate change issue as it develops. Best wishes for the 2003 season.