Climate Change & Green Initiatives
On the Farm
Agriculture can play an important role in Manitoba's response to the climate change challenge. Through sustainable agricultural practices like reduced tillage, reduced summer fallow, improved grazing strategies and conversion of croplands to annual forages, we can store and absorb carbon, instead of releasing it into the atmosphere where it would contribute to climate change.
Here are just some actions that can be taken on the farm to reduce your environmental impact.
- Carefully manage your use of commercial nitrogen fertilizers. Adjust application rates, application methods, and the timing of application.
- Reduced tillage practices prevent soil erosion, conserve soil moisture and reduce fossil fuel use.
- Increase the use of perennial forages and legumes in crop rotations
- Consider land management practices for carbon sequestration, such as wetland restoration, permanent cover, afforestation and riparian area improvement. Since 2001, the Government of Manitoba has offered an environmentally sensitive area tax credit program to landowners, focusing initially on riparian areas to maximize environmental benefit and the storing and absorbing of carbon.
Additional Resources
Agricultural Soil and Water Management
Energy Development Initiative
This site provides information on Manitoba’s agri-energy sector and Green Building policy.
Covering New Ground – Sustainable Agricultural Initiative
This program provides funding to Manitoba producer groups and provincial commodity organizations to carry out sustainable agriculture demonstration or technology transfer projects throughout the province.
Canada-Manitoba Environmental Farm Program
This program provides free workshops to help Manitoba agricultural producers evaluate their operations, develop environmental action plans and adopt beneficial management practices (BMPs) that will further contribute to a cleaner and healthier environment and enhance agricultural sustainability.
Manitoba Livestock Manure Management Initiative
The Initiative addressess manure management issues by investigating solutions that are scientifically sound, environmentally sustainable and economically feasible.
Manitoba Rural Adaptation Council Inc.
MRAC is a non-profit corporation that funds innovative agricultural projects and acts as a catalyst to stimulate industry and government activity where voids are recognized.
