June 16, 2015
Province Renews Three-year Tri-partner Agreement on Nutrient Management
The Manitoba government, the Canadian Fertilizer Institute (CFI) and Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) have renewed their shared commitment to sustainable agriculture practices and environmental protection through appropriate fertilizer use, Agriculture, Food and Rural Development Minister Ron Kostyshyn announced today.
“This agreement supports the good work already being done by Manitoba’s farmers and many others in the agriculture sector who are focused on environmental and economic sustainability,” said Minister Kostyshyn. “We will continue to support activities that strike the right balance between soil enrichment, crop production and environmental protection.”
The three-year agreement signed today reaffirms support for the Right Source @ Right Rate, Right Time, Right Place approach to nutrient management, commonly referred to as 4R Nutrient Stewardship. As a result, the CFI will fund and implement extension and data-collection projects across the province focused on sustainable fertilizer use in the agricultural sector.
“Farmers in Manitoba are utilizing 4R Nutrient Stewardship to improve agricultural productivity and minimize impact on the environment,” said Clyde Graham, senior vice-president, Canadian Fertilizer Institute. “The fertilizer industry is proud to reconfirm our commitment to sustainable farming over the next three years through this partnership.”
The Manitoba government and these two organizations first signed a 4R Nutrient Stewardship agreement in January 2013. Since that time, partners have reached more than 1,500 people with information about this approach to sustainable agriculture by:
- developing training resources and making presentations to farmers and agronomists;
- creating a YouTube video featuring a farmer talking about implementing 4R Nutrient Stewardship on his farm; and
- creating an interactive learning station used to engage and educate people about water movement and management, water quality protection and farming practices.
4R Nutrient Stewardship was established in co-operation with government, researchers, farmers and the public and ensures nutrients are used in a way that protects the environment while enabling producers to achieve economic success.
“Farmers want to protect the environment and protect the bottom line of their operations, and this stewardship program can help them do both,” said Dan Mazier, president, Keystone Agricultural Producers. “Application using the 4Rs maximizes fertilizer performance and minimizes its effect on the environment.
To learn more about 4R Nutrient Stewardship, visit www.farming4rfuture.ca.
For more information on Manitoba’s agricultural programs and services, follow the Twitter account at www.twitter.com/MBGovAg.
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