Adoption Of Environmentally And Economicaly Sustainable Beneficial Management Practices

Ottawa, Ontario - A recent Ipsos Reid survey found that almost all (98%) Canadian crop farmers feel that it is important to manage their farms in a way that protects the environment. Further, 97% of crop farmers in Canada use at last one recommended beneficial management practice (BMP) to manage crop nutrients (fertilizer and manure). Soil testing (used by 75% of farmers) and minimum tillage (used by 73% of farmers) are the most commonly used BMPs . The main reasons for using various beneficial management practices are to: "improve soil quality" (21%) and to "make more efficient use of fertilizer," (13%). Cost of adoption is one of the main reasons cited for not using a specific BMP. This was mentioned by a third (33%) of those who are not using a specific BMP.

Of those who mentioned cost of adoption, eight in ten (84%) feel that it is important for the government to provide some sort of financial assistance for beneficial management practices.

Manure application is a common practice with six in ten (62%) farmers applying manure to their fields. Among those who apply manure, four in ten (38%) follow a formal manure management plan. The main reasons for using a manure management plan are to "maximize yields" (26%), for "more efficient use of manure/fertilizer" (19%), and/or "government mandate" (13%). Only a small percentage (7%) receives any government financial incentive to assist them with their manure management planning. However, the majority (73%) of those using a manure plan support the idea of the government providing financial incentives for manure management planning.

These are findings from a study conducted by Ipsos Reid on behalf of the Crop Nutrients Council. Results are based on responses from 1000 telephone interviews with field crop producers and are considered to be accurate within +/- 3.4%, 19 times out of 20. Fielding of this study was completed between February 21st and March 15th of this year. The data has been weighted to reflect farm distribution according to the 2001 Census of Agriculture.

For more information on this news release, please contact:
Kent Goldie
Senior Research Manager
Agribusiness, Food and Animal Health
Ipsos Reid
(204) 949-3123
[email protected]

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