On the Farm

Source of Emissions

Primary agriculture is responsible for about 10 per cent of Canada's overall greenhouse gas emissions (not including transportation or food processing). Agriculture emits a unique set of greenhouse gas issues, and is responsible for an estimated 61 per cent of Canada's nitrous oxide emissions and 26 per cent of methane emissions, but only one per cent of carbon dioxide emissions. Nitrous oxide and methane are very potent gases with large atmospheric warming effects.

Strategies for Crop and Livestock Producers, Saskatchewan's agricultural sector, will play an important role in meeting Canada's international commitment to the Kyoto Protocol for reduced emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) to the atmosphere. The climate change issue presents both challenges and opportunities for prairie agricultural producers:

Challenges

To reduce emissions of greenhouse gases
To adapt to a changed ecology, changed climate and one with greater climatic variability

Opportunities

The sequestering of carbon in agricultural soils
Research leading to better understanding and development of technologies that can be used here and in other parts of the world