The National Farmers Union says Ottawa’s 2030 emissions reduction plan has some flaws.

In some cases, the NFU says the federal government has taken some large strides, including a commitment to work with farmers to reduce emissions from fertilizer use by 30 percent.

However, NFU climate committee Chair Stuart Oke is concerned Ottawa is projecting only a small decrease in total agricultural emissions between now and 2030.

He also sees a misstep by ramping up biofuel production and a focus on speculative agri-technologies that benefit large corporations, risk farmer techno-entanglement, and seem unlikely to reduce emissions.

He says the federal plan appears only to see a slight decrease in actual agricultural emissions, from 73 million tons carbon dioxide equivalent in 2019 to 71 million tons in 2030.

He says farmers want to do more and a 20 percent reduction should be possible by 2030 if there is adequate government
support.

He says farm groups are working out details of effective on-farm actions and government policies that could result in large reductions.

NFU director of climate crisis policy, Darrin Qualman, suggests a need for wetland protection, retention of trees and shelterbelts, set-aside programs, and the transitition of marginal land to protected status.

He sees a pressing need to protect parts of the farm landscape rich in carbon and biodiversity.
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