Team Alberta 2017 Farmer Survey Results Final Report · 12/18/2017 · Team Alberta 2017 Farmer Survey Results 1 Final Report December 18, 2017. Table of Contents Executive Summary

TeamAlberta2017 FarmerSurveyResults

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FinalReportDecember18,2017

TableofContentsExecutiveSummary 3ObservationsandSuggestions 15IntroductionandResearchMethodology 20RespondentProfile 26AwarenessofandExperiencewithCarbonOffsetPrograms 37AwarenessofandExperiencewithGrowingForward2ProgramsRelatedtoEnvironmental Sustainability

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IncentiveStructure 80ChangesPlannedonFarmRelatedtoEnvironmentalSustainability 86BarrierstoAdoptingEnvironmentallySustainablePractices 96ProgramDesignInput 112AppendixA– VerbatimComments 116

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ExecutiveSummary

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ExecutiveSummaryIntroduction

ThisreportpresentstheresultsofaquantitativesurveyofAlbertagrowers,conductedonbehalfofTeamAlbertainOctoberandNovember2017.Thesurveyprovidesmeasurementandinputregardingtwokeytopicareas:AgriculturalCarbonOffsetprotocolsandtheNextAgriculturalPolicyFramework(NPF),andgathersinputonenvironmentallysustainablepracticesandtechnologiesthatgrowersareinterestedinadoptingorfurtherimplementing.

TheresultswillbeusedbyTeamAlbertatoprovideinputintoandadvocateforprogrammingchangesthatareinlinewithproducerpreferencesandpriorities.Further,theresultswillbeusedasTeamAlbertaconsiderswhatextensionoreducationisneededtosupportgrowersastheyadoptenvironmentallysustainablepracticesandapplyforrelatedfundingprograms.

Themethodologywasanonlinesurvey(telephonerecruittoweb),withafinalsamplesizeof339

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ExecutiveSummaryCarbonOffsetPrograms

Justoverone-thirdofAlbertagrowershaveparticipatedintheConservationCroppingProtocol.Larger-acreagegrowersaremorelikelytobeusersofthisprogramwithalmosthalfofthosewith5000ormoreacresindicatingthattheyhaveusedit.WealsoseehigherusageinnorthernAlbertaandamongthoseaged65yearsorover.

Amongusersofthisprogram,overallsatisfactionappearsmoderate,withaboutthree-quartersbeingsatisfied(mostly“somewhat”satisfied).Afurther22%aredissatisfied,overall.Therearelowerlevelsofsatisfactionwhenitcomestospecificaspectsincludingeaseofparticipating(30%aredissatisfied),adequatecompensationfortimespent(45%dissatisfied),andoverallimpactonthefarm(33%dissatisfied).WhenaskedhowtheConservationCroppingprogramcouldbeimproved,threetypesofsuggestionstopthelist.First,participantsindicatethattheprogramneedsbettercompensation,feelingthatthecompensationreceivedisnotworththetimeandeffortrequired.Arelatedcategoryofneededimprovementsistosimplifytheprogramformsandpaperwork,asrespondentsfeelthepaperworkisonerous.Thethirdmostcommonthemeisthattheprogramshouldincludeawiderrangeofpractices.

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ExecutiveSummaryForthosewhodonotparticipateintheConservationCroppingprogram,themainbarriersare:• Feelingthatthepaperworkistooonerousforthevaluereceived.• Practicesandequipmentdon’tfittheprogram;relatedly,somefarmingpracticesareexcluded.• Lackoffamiliarityandunderstandingoftheprogram.• Theneedtoobtainlandlordapprovals.• Notagreeingwiththepremiseofcarboncredits.• Feelingthattheaggregatorsaretakingtoolargeaportionofthecarboncredits.• Feelingthattheprogramistoocomplicated.

Notunexpectedly,awarenessofNERPisfairlylow,withalmosttwo-thirdshavingneverheardofitand22%justhavingheardthename.However,aboutthree-quartersindicateinterestinthisprogramonceitislaunched.

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ExecutiveSummaryGrowingForward2

Aboutone-quarterofgrowershaveparticipatedinanyGrowingForward2(GF2)program.AbouthalfknowalittleoralotaboutGF2,andaboutonequarterhaveneverheardofitoronlyheardthename.

RespondentsweregivenadescriptionoffiveGF2programs(relatedtosustainability),andaskedabouttheirawarenessanduseoftheseprograms.Theprogramsexploredinclude:On-FarmWaterManagement,On-FarmStewardship,On-FarmSolarPhotovoltaics,On-FarmEnergyManagement,andIrrigationEfficiency.

Participationintheseprogramsrangesfrom4%to14%.One-quarterofthesamplehasparticipatedinatleastoneofthesefiveprograms.Utilizationoftheseprogramsisnotablyhigheramonggrowerswith$2millionormoreingrossfarmsales.Outsideofprogramparticipants,awarenessoftheseprogramsvaries.ForOn-FarmWaterManagementandOn-FarmStewardshipprograms,aboutone-thirdofproducershaveneverheardoftheseoronlyknowthename.ForOn-FarmSolarPhotovoltaicsandOn-FarmEnergyManagementprograms,theportionwhoareunawareoronlyknowthenamerisestotwo-thirds.TheIrrigationEfficiencyprogramappearswellknownamongthosewithirrigation.

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ExecutiveSummaryParticipantsineachGF2programwereaskedtorateseveralaspectsoftheprogramtheywerein.Followingaresomesummarycommentsaboutthegeneraltrends.Notethatbecauseofthesmallnumberofcases(participantsineachprogram),theseconclusionsaredirectionalversusstatisticallysignificant.• SatisfactionishighestfortheIrrigationEfficiencyprogram.Thisappearsdrivenbystrongerratingsof

applicationprocessingtime,overallimpactonthefarm,easeofparticipatingandeligibilityrequirements.

• TheOn-FarmStewardshipprogramalsohasrelativelyhigherpositiveratings,andfewerparticipantsgivenegativeratings.

• Theattributesgarneringthelowestrelativeratingsacrossallprogramsareapplicationprocessingtime,cost-sharingallocation,andeaseofparticipating.Note,however,thatforallattributesandprograms,positiveratingssignificantlyoutnumberlowratings.

• Theattributeswiththemostpositiveratingsareoverallsatisfactionandimpactonthefarm.

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ExecutiveSummaryParticipantswereaskediftheyhaveanysuggestionsforimprovementofGF2.Themostcommonthemeistosimplifytheprocess– less“redtape”andpaperwork.Secondmostcommonly,respondentssuggestspeedinguptheprocessingtime.

ForthosewhoknowaboutbutdidnotparticipateinGF2programs,themainreasonsfornotparticipatingvarybyprogram,butthemostcommonreasonsincludelackofrelevancetotheirfarm,lackoffamiliaritywiththeprogram,theprojectstillbeingtooexpensiveevenwithfundingassistance,notbeingabletogetapprovalretroactively,theprogramranoutofmoney,andtheapplicationprocessistoocomplicated.

IncentiveStructure

OverhalfofrespondentsagreethattheincentivestructureofGF2programsworkswelltoencourageinvestmentininnovative,energyefficient,orsustainabletechnologiesandpractices.Only1in10feelitdoesnot,whileone-thirdarenotsure.

Thelargestportionofgrowersthinkthatcostsharingisthebestformatforincentives,with6in10choosingthisasthetopranked-option.Rebatesarenextinorderofpreference(one-quarterrankthisastop),followedbytaxincentives(20%rankastop).

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ExecutiveSummaryWhenaskedforsuggestionsforimprovementspecificallyrelatedtotheincentivestructure,thelargestgroupofresponsesfallunderthethemethattheprogramsshouldcovermoreofthecostsorhavemorerealisticcaps.Asecondthemeisthatthereshouldbemoreinformationandadvice.Thirdly,somerespondentsfeelthattheprocessneedstobemadesimpler,withless“redtape”involved.Respondentsalsowouldliketoseemoremoneyintheprogramssotheydonotrunoutasquickly,orfundsallocatedbetterbetweenprogramssothatthemorepopularprogramshavegreaterfundingallocation.Somealsonotethattheprogramsseemtobemoreaccessibletolargerproducersandthosewithmoreexpendable/availablefunds,andwouldlikemoreaccessibilityforothers.

Atvariousotherplacesinthesurvey,growerswereaskedwhattypeofsupporttheywouldprefertoencouragethemtoadoptenvironmentallysustainablepractices.Thesefindingsshowthatfundingisthepreferredformofsupport,thoughthereisalsostronginterestininformation,supportandadvice,aswellasappliedon-farmresearchdemonstrations.

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ExecutiveSummaryChangesPlannedonFarmRelatedtoEnvironmentalSustainability

Anopen-endedquestionrevealedthatgrowerswouldliketoadoptawiderangepracticesthattheyconsidertobegoodcandidatesforfundingprogramsthatencourageenvironmentalsustainability.Itisnotablethatthesechangesspanawiderangeofpractices,andnoonetypeofchangehavingmorethan9%unaidedmention,andmosthavingintherangeof2%to6%.Thosewithmorethan5%unaidedmentionsincluded:sectionalcontrols/autosteer/GPS-related;improvedfertilizertechnologies/practices/equipment;variablerateapplicationoffertilizer;andbetteron-farmenergymanagement.

Respondentsweregivenalistofenvironmentallysustainablebestpractices(aided)andaskedwhichtheywouldliketoadoptorfurtherimplementontheirfarm,iftherewerenobarrierstodoingso.Respondentscouldselectasmanyitemsastheyareinterestedin.Themostcommontypesofchangesthatgrowersareinterestedin,withover50%selectingthem,include:improvedfertilizertechnologies,practices,equipment;betteruseofGPSdatasuchasyield,soil,as-applied,topography(datamanagement,use,analysis,storage);andimprovedpesticidetechnologies,practices,equipment.Othercommonareasofinterestareon-farmsolarpower,variablerateapplicationoffertilizer,increasedplantingofnitrogenfixingcrops,betteron-farmenergymanagementandimprovedwastemanagement.

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ExecutiveSummaryWhenaskedtoselecttheirgreatestpriorityorinterest,thetopitemsinclude:improvedfertilizertechnologies/practices/equipment,solarpower,GPSdatause,andimprovedpesticidetechnologies/practices/equipment.

Whenaskedtoindicatethemainbarrierstoadoptingthoseitemsthattheyselectedintheaidedquestion,followingaresomeofthemainthemes(note,thesebarrierswereselectedfromagivenlist).• Costoreconomicconsiderationsarethemostfrequentbarrierforeverypractice.• Theleastseverebarrier,isrelatedtolandownershiporlandlordconsiderations.Theonlypracticewhere

thisisseentobemuchofabarrierisconversionofmarginallandfromannualcropstogroundcover.• Threepracticeshaveconsistentlyhigherportionsofgrowersidentifyingcost,uncertainROI,and

complexityaskeybarriers.Theseinclude:on-farmsolarpower,betteruseofGPSdataandon-farmenergymanagement.Thefirsttwoarealsohigh-interestchangesforaconsiderableportionofgrowers.

• Thepracticeswiththelowestlevelofbarriersinclude:increasedplantingofnitrogenfixingcrops,lesstillage/moredirectseeding,andimprovedwastemanagement.

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ExecutiveSummaryProgramDesignConsiderations

Respondentsvalidatedtheimportanceofseveralprogramdesignattributesthathadbeenpreviouslyidentified(qualitatively).Forallofthedesignattributes,abouthalfconsiderthemtobeveryimportant,andmostoftherestconsiderthemsomewhatimportant.Theattributesaddressedincluded:applicationprocessingtime,abilitytofindoutapplicationprogress,takingawholefarmapproachtoavoidfarmshavingtoworkbetweenmultipleprograms,flexibilityindesigntoaccommodateinnovativeideas,andretroactiveapprovals.Applicationprocessingtimeistheonlyattributethatstoodoutwithanevenhigherportionofgrowersratingthisveryimportant.

PrecisionFarmingRespondentswereaskedabouttheiruseofthreeprecisionfarmingpractices.Currently,35%doyieldmapping,22%dovariableratefertilizerapplication,and6%usesensorsonequipmenttoapplycropinputsmoreaccurately(suchasGreenSeeker).Overallalmosthalfofthesample(44%)indicatethatadoptionofprecisionfarmingpracticesisofmediumpriorityforthemoverthenextfiveyears,whileabout1in10indicatethatprecisionfarmingisahighpriority.Aboutone-thirdconsiderittobelowpriority.

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ExecutiveSummaryTillagePractices

Thereisaslighttrendtowardsmorezero-tillfarming.Currently,18%ofrespondentssaytheyhavenoacresontheirfarmthatarezero-till.Inthreeyears,thatfiguredropsto13%.Further,theaverageportionofzero-tillacreshasrisenfrom73%threeyearsagotoacurrentlevelof75%,andgrowersexpectthistoriseto79%threeyearsfromnow.

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ObservationsandSuggestions

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ObservationsandSuggestionsWeofferthefollowingobservationsandsuggestionsbasedonthesurveyfindings.

• WithrespecttotheConservationCroppingprogram,growerswouldliketoseehighercompensationfortimespent,combinedwith(orresultingfrom)thirdpartyaggregatorstakingasmallercut.Somealsocallforasimplerapplicationprocessthatismoreaccessibletoallowproducerstoapplyontheirown(werecognizethatthismaynotbefeasible,andisthereasonaggregatorsexist).

• AparticularissuethatgrowershavewiththeConservationCroppingprogramisthatitasksforthesameinformationeveryyear– ifnothingchanges,growerswouldliketonothavetore-submitthesameinformationyearafteryear.

• SomefocuscouldbeputonpromotionoftheConservationCroppingprogramtosegmentsthatuseitless– smalltomid-sizedfarms,youngerproducers,andthoseinsouthandcentralregionsoftheprovince.

• Generally,theGF2programshavebeenusedmorebylargerproducers.ForCAP,perhapsconsiderationcouldbegiventohavingsomequotasonawardingfundingbyfarmsizeorgrossrevenuecategory.

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ObservationsandSuggestions• Forfutureprograms,growersarelookingforareasonablelevelofcostsharingallocationandappropriate

caps.Whenweconsiderthescopeandcomplexityofchangesthatsomewanttomake,thisisunderstandable.AbarrierformanyintheGF2programwasthatevenwithfunding,thechangestheywantedtoundertakewerestillnoteconomicallyfeasible.

• Someofchangesgrowerswanttomakehavesignificantbarriersintermsofcost,uncertainROIandcomplexity.Inparticular,solarpowerandmakingbetteruseofGPSdataareofhighinterestbutareseentohavethesesignificantbarriers.Fundingmayhelpgrowerstakeaction,butthereisalsoahighneedforinformationandassistanceinadoptingthese(andother)practices.

• Theissueoftiming,andabilitytogetprojectsthathadalreadystartedapprovedretroactivelydoesappeartohavebeenanissueforsome– thisstoodoutmoreintheOn-farmStewardshipandOn-FarmWaterManagementprograms.

• Fundingisthemostpreferredtypeofsupport,thoughinformation,assistanceandadviceandon-farmdemonstrationsarealsoofinterest.Asfarashowthefinancialassistanceisdelivered,costsharingisseenaseffectiveandisgenerallypreferredovertaxincentivesorrebates.

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ObservationsandSuggestions• Withmanyperceivingtheapplicationprocesstobecomplicatedandalotofwork,perhapsthereis

potentialtoofferassistancewiththeapplicationprocess.Thismayalreadybeavailable,butitappearsthereisroomformoreawarenessoraccessiblehelp,sincesomanybringitup.

• Wealsoseeagenerallackofawarenessofsomeoftheprograms,aswellasrespondentscitinglackoffamiliarityorinformationasareasonfornotparticipating.Communicationscouldbereviewed,toensurethatappropriatemessagingisbeingconveyedeffectivelyandthroughappropriatechannels.Itisnotablethatthereisreasonablyhighinterestamongthoseunawareorunfamiliar,inknowingmoreabouttheseprograms(CAP,ConservationCropping,andNERPwhenitislaunched).

• Thoughthereishighinterestinsome“bigticket”typepractices,therearealsosomepracticesthatarelativelyhighportionareinterestedin,wherecostisnotasgreatabarrier(e.g.wastemanagement,conversionofmarginalland,increasedplantingofnitrogenfixingcrops).

• Relatedtoadoptionofenvironmentallysustainablepractices,thissurveyhasshownsomeparticularareasofinterestamongproducers,whichperhapswillbeusefulinputastowherefundingisallocated.

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ObservationsandSuggestions• Withimprovedfertilizertechnologies/practices/equipmentbeingthetop-ratedtypeofchangegrowers

areinterestedin,therecouldbeincreasedemphasisonthisinfundingallocationandonrelatedextensionactivities.

• Givenvariousfindingsofthisresearch– growerswantingtomakebetteruseoftheirGPSdata,planningtoadoptfertilizertechnologyandequipment,andinterestinadoptingvariablerateapplication,thiswouldsupportsomeattentiontoprogramsthatsupportgrowersintheiradoptionofprecisionfarmingpractices.

• Respondentsendorsedtheimportanceofseveraldesignconsiderations.Mostimportantiseaseofapplicationandspeedofprocessingtheapplication.However,alltheotherdesignconsiderationstestedwerealsoofkeyimportance,suchasprogramflexibilityandconsiderationofprojectsthatareoutsidetheprogramboxes,abilitytoobtainretroactiveapproval,andsmoothingtheprocessforgrowerswithlargeprojectsthat“ticktheboxes”ofmorethanoneprogram.

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ObservationsandSuggestions• Relatedtorespondents’concernsabouttheprogramsrunningoutoffunding,thismayberelatedto

awareness(theyfindoutaboutaprogramtoolate),orperhapscouldalsoreflectapotentialimprovementofstagingtheavailabilityoffundingovertheyearstheprogramisineffect(perhapsthisisalreadydone).ConsiderationshouldalsobegiventocontinuingprogramsunderCAPthatwereover-subscribedinGF2.

• Ifnotalreadyinplace,perhapstherecouldbeaconcisepre-approvalprocesstohelpapplicantsdeterminetheextenttowhichtheirprojectqualifiesandwhetheritisworththetimeandefforttogothroughthefullapplicationprocess.

• ItisrecommendedthatTeamAlbertareviewalltheverbatimcomments(providedinanappendix).Whilethesearecategorizedandsummarizedinthereport,areviewofallthecomments,particularlythesuggestionsforimprovement,wouldaddincreaseddepthofunderstanding.

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IntroductionandResearchMethodology

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IntroductionThisreportpresentstheresultsofaquantitativesurveyofAlbertagrowers,conductedonbehalfofTeamAlbertainOctoberandNovember2017.Thesurveyprovidesmeasurementandinputregardingtwokeytopicareas:AgriculturalCarbonOffsetprotocolsandtheNextAgriculturalPolicyFramework(NPF),andgathersinputonenvironmentallysustainablepracticesandtechnologiesthatgrowersareinterestedinadoptingorfurtherimplementing.

TheresultswillbeusedbyTeamAlbertatoprovideinputintoandadvocateforprogrammingchangesthatareinlinewithproducerpreferencesandpriorities.Further,theresultswillbeusedasTeamAlbertaconsiderswhatextensionoreducationisneededtosupportgrowersastheyadoptenvironmentallysustainablepracticesandapplyforfundingprograms.Themethodologywasanonlinesurvey(telephonerecruittoweb),withafinalsamplesizeof339.

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ResearchObjectives• ForcarbonoffsetprogramandGF2(aspectsrelatedtoenvironmentalsustainability),assessawareness&

familiaritywiththeseprograms,participationrates,inputfromgrowerswhohavedirectexperience,barrierstoparticipation,participants’recommendationsforimprovement,etc.

• Obtaingrowerperspectivesonincentivemechanisms• Assessgrowers’interestinmakingchangesontheiroperationsandadoptingpracticesortechnologies

relatedtoenvironmentalsustainabilityandclimatechanges,andbarrierstomakingthesechanges.

• Obtainideasregardingwhatisneededforfutureprogrammingtoassistgrowers(andtheprovince)inachievinggoalsforenvironmentalsustainabilityandclimatechange.

• Obtainprofilinginformationonextentofadoptionofprecisionfarmingpractices,zero-till,developmentofplans(certificationetc.)relatedtoenvironmentalsustainability.

• Basedontheabove,assesswhattypeofextensionandeducationmaybeneededtoovercomebarriers,encourageparticipationintheprogramsandultimatelyadoptionofbestpracticesandclimate-smarttechnology.

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MethodologyThefarmerquantitativesurveywasconductedviaarecruit-to-webmethodology,usingarandomfarmerlist.Growerswerefirstcontactedbyphoneandaskedafewshortscreeningquestions,andthensentalinktoanonlinesurvey.Thescreeningquestionsensuredthat:

• Respondentsareoneofthemaindecisionmakersontheirfarmoperation• Theydon’tplantoretireorgetoutoffarminginthenextfiveyears• Theiroperationderivesatleasthalfitsrevenuefromacropoperation• Theyhaveatleast640acresundercropinatypicalyear• Mustgrowatleastoneofwheat,canola,barleyorpulsecrops

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MethodologyDatacollectionoccurredbetweenOctober24andNovember27.Anincentiveof$10wasoffered,andthiswasraisedto$15duringthelastweek,inordertomovemorequicklytowardsthetargetedsamplesize.

Comparedtoothersurveys,thisonehadasomewhatlowerlevelofengagement(evidencedbyalowerthannormalresponserateandasomewhathigherlevelofdrop-off).Possibly,thesubjectmatterisnotofhighinteresttosome.Further,basedonsomeopen-endedcommentsinthesurvey,thereisasegmentoffarmerswhodisagreewithgovernmentprogramsingeneral,soitmaybethattheserespondentsstartedthesurveybutdecidedtheydidnotwanttospendthetimetoprovidedetailedinput.

Thefinalsamplesizewas339.Asampleofthissizeprovidesamaximummarginoferrorof+/- 5.3%atthe95%confidencelevel.ThesurveytargetedarepresentativedistributionbasedonfarmercountsbyCensusAgriculturalRegion.Theanalysislookedforstatisticaldifferencesbyageandfarmsizeandregion(North,CentralandSouth)atthe90%and95%confidencelevels.Wherenotableandmeaningful,thesearedescribedinthereport.

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RespondentProfile

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RespondentProfile

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16%

55%

17%12%

<1000 1000-2999

3000-4999

5000+

CroppedAcres

9%

22% 23% 21%

9%16%

Under$250K

$250K-$499K

$500K-$999K

$1M-$1.9M

$2M+ Prefernottoanswer

GrossFarmReceipts

Averageacres:2676

RespondentProfile

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6%13%

27%

39%

15%

<35 35- 44 45- 54 55- 64 65+

Age

34%41%

25%

SouthernAB CentralAB NorthernAB

Region

69%

31%

Cropsonly

Mixedcropsandlivestock

FarmType

9%

91%

Yes

No

AcresunderIrrigation

CropsGrown

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Percentwhogrow

Averageacres

Canola 96% 1026

Wheat(any) 94% 1039

Barley 56% 507

Pulsecrops- any 49% 636

Peas 47% 557

Lentils 5% 822

Drybeans 1% 326

Faba beans 2% 165

CompletionoforPlanstoCompletePlansRelatedtoEnvironmentalSustainability

30

Asseenonthefollowingslide,almost7in10respondentshaveanEnvironmentalFarmPlan(EFP),whileanother16%plantodeveloponewithinthenextfiveyears.

Othertypesofsustainabilityplansarelesscommon– 4%havea4Rnutrientstewardshipplanand7%haveaLongTermWaterManagement(LTWM)plan.Howeverifintentionspanout,thiscouldriseto26%havinga4Rplanand21%havingaLTWMplaninthenextfiveyears.

SegmentDifferences:

• TheportionwhohaveanEFPrisesasincomerises– from53%whogrossunder$250,000to90%ofthosewithover$2millionrevenue.

• Thosewithunder1000croppedacresarelesslikelytohaveanyoftheseplans,with43%nothavingany.However,theyaremorelikelythanaveragetoplantodevelopanEFPinthenextfiveyears.

• ThosewithmixedfarmsaremorelikelytohaveaLTWMplan,andmorelikelytoplantodeveloponeinthenextfiveyears.

• ThoseinNorthernAlbertaaremorelikelytohavecompleteda4Rplan,with10%havingdoneso,versus3%inotherregions.

CompletionoforPlanstoCompletePlansRelatedtoEnvironmentalSustainability

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4%

68%

7%

31%

22%

16%

14%

4%

44%

4RNutrientStewardshipPlan

AlbertaEnvironmentalFarmPlan

LongTermWaterManagementPlan

Anyothersustainabilitycertificationplans

Noneoftheabove

Havecompleted

Plantocompleteinnextfiveyears

Haveyoucompletedanyofthefollowing?Ifnot,doyouplantodevelopthemwithinthenextfiveyears?

Base:Allrespondents(N=339)

Othersustainabilitycertificationplansinclude:AlbertaPesticideApplicatorLicense;BattleRiverWatershedAlliance,CowsandFishes;Carboncredits;CertifiednutrientdensefoodprogramwithRogersFoods;NRCBapprovalforfeedlot;VerifiedBeefProduction;fuelstorage;andorganiccertification.

Familiaritywith4RNutrientStewardship

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4%

12%

28%

27%

28%

Alreadycompleteda4Rplan

Veryfamiliar

Somewhatfamiliar

Onlyheardthename

Neverheardofit

Whichofthefollowingbestdescribeshowfamiliaryouarewiththeconceptof4Rnutrientstewardship(rightfertilizer

source,rightrate,righttime,rightplace)?


Morethanhalfofrespondentshaveneverheardof4Rnutrientstewardship,orhaveonlyheardthename.About3in10aresomewhatfamiliarwiththe4Rconcept,while12%areveryfamiliarwithitand4%havea4Rplan.SegmentDifferences• Thoseunderage45andthosewith$2M+

grosssalesaremorefamiliarwiththe4Rconcept(21%and33%,respectively).

• Thosewithunder1000croppedacresaremorelikelytohaveneverheardofthe4Rconcept.

AdoptionofSelectedPrecisionFarmingPractices

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Aboutone-thirdofrespondents(35%)doyieldmapping,and22%usevariableratefertilizerapplication.Just6%usesensorssuchasGreenSeeker.Fourintenuseatleastoneofthesepractices.

SegmentDifferences:

• VRfertilizerapplicationandyieldmappingaremorecommonamongthoseunderage45,thosewith3000+croppedacres,anduseincreasesasgrosssalesincrease.

• Theonlydetectablesegmentdifferenceforuseofsensorsisamongthosewith$2Mormoreingrosssales(17%usethistechnologyversusthe6%average).

Thelargestportionofgrowers,(44%)consideradoptionorfurtherimplementationofprecisionfarmingpracticesofmediumpriority.Justoverone-thirdconsideritlowpriority.Aboutoneinten(12%),considerprecisionfarmingtobeofhighpriority.Segmentdifferencesinclude:

• MorecentralAlbertafarmersplaceahighpriorityonprecisionfarming(18%vs.6%- 9%inotherregions).

• Thoseinthe3000- 4999acrecategoryarealsomorelikelytoplaceahighpriorityonprecisionfarming,asarethoseinthe$2M+revenuecategory.

12%

44%

35%

9%

High

Medium

Low

Notsure

AdoptionofSelectedPrecisionFarmingPractices

34Base:Allrespondents(N=339)

Doyouconsideradoptionorfurtherimplementationofprecisionfarmingpractices(suchasthoseaboveoranyothers)tobeofhigh,medium,orlowpriority,inlightof

allyourfarmprioritiesinthenextfiveyears?22%

6%

35%

41%

Variableratefertilizerapplication

Sensorsonequipment(suchasGreenSeeker)

Yieldmapping

Atleastoneoftheabove

Doyoucurrentlydoanyofthefollowingonyourfarm?(PortionsayingYes)

TrendinNo-Till

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Whatpercentageofyourcroppedacresareno-till /zero-till?

3yearsago Currently

3yearsfromnow

Noacresarezero-till 19% 18% 13%Someofacresarezero-till(10%- 89%) 15% 16% 19%Vast majorityorallarezero-till(90%+) 66% 66% 68%


73%75%

79%

72%

77%

82%

3yearsago Currently 3yearsfromnow

Averageportionofacresthatarezero-till

Thereisaslighttrendtowardsmorezero-tillfarming.Currently,18%ofrespondentssaytheyhavenoacresontheirfarmthatarezero-till.Inthreeyears,thatfiguredropsto13%.Further,theaverageportionofzero-tillacreshasrisenfrom73%threeyearsagotoacurrentlevelof75%,andgrowersexpectthistoriseto79%threeyearsfromnow.

TrendinNo-Till– ByFarmSizeandAge

36

Averagepercentagezero-till

3yearsago Currently

3yearsfromnow

< 1000acres 55% 57% 68%1000 - 2999 74% 76% 79%3000- 4999 87% 86% 86%5000+ 78% 81% 78%

<45 74% 77% 80%46- 64 70% 73% 76%65+ 86% 85% 91%


• Growerswith<1000acresarelesslikelythanotherstopracticezero-till.However,theiraveragezero-tillacreshavebeenrising,fromanaverageof55%oftheiracresthreeyearsagotoanexpected68%threeyearsfromnow.Anincreasingtrendisalsoseeninthe1000– 2999acrecategory.

• Thetrendinthe3000+categoriesisfairlyflat,thoughthesegrowersalreadyhaveahighportionofzero-tillrelativetotheloweracreagesegments.

• Growersaged65andoverhaveahigherportionofzero-tillacres.

• Theaverageportionofzero-tillacresshowsanincreasingtrendforallagecategories.

• Therearenonotabletrendsbyregion.

AwarenessofandExperiencewithCarbonOffsetPrograms

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Awareness– ConservationCropping/ConservationTillageProtocol

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RespondentswereaskedabouttheirawarenessanduseoftheAlbertaConservationCropping/ConservationTillageProtocol.

Overone-third(35%)haveparticipatedinthisprogram,whileanotherquarterknowatleastsomethingabouttheprogram.Thisleaves4in10whohaveeitherneverheardofit(21%)orhaveonlyheardthename(18%).

Thosewhohaveonlyheardthenameorneverheardofitweregivenabriefdescription,andaskedhowinterestedtheywouldbeinknowingmoreaboutthisprogram.Thereismoderateinterest,withoverhalf(54%)indicatingtheyaresomewhatinterestedandanother19%beingveryinterested.Lessthan20%arenotinterested,while10%arenotsure.

19%

54%

13%

4%

10%

Veryinterested

Somewhatinterested

Notveryinterested

Notatallinterested

Notsure

Awareness– ConservationCroppingProtocol


TheConservationCropping/ConservationTillageprogramgivesproducersfinancialcreditforadoptingorincreasingno-till.Howinterestedareyouinknowing

moreaboutthisprogram?21%

18%

24%

2%

35%

Neverheardofit

Onlyheardthename

Knowalittleaboutit

Knowalotaboutit

Haveparticipated/usedit

Whichofthefollowingbestdescribesyourpriorlevelofawareness,experienceorfamiliaritywiththeAlbertaConservationCropping/ConservationTillageProtocol?

Base:Thosewhohaveneverheardofprogram,oronlyheardthename(N=133)

SegmentDifferences– AwarenessandUseofConservationCroppingProtocol

40

AwarenessandusageoftheConservationCroppingprogramvariesbyagegroup.Thoseaged45andunderarethemostlylikelyagegrouptohaveneverheardoftheprogram.Asageincreases,awarenessincreases.Correspondingly,usageoftheprogramincreaseswithage.While31%ofthoseunderage45haveusedit,thisrisesto46%ofthoseaged65andover.Usageoftheprogramincreasesbytheamountofcroppedacres,from25%ofthosewithunder1000croppedacresusingit,toalmosthalf(48%)ofthosewith5000ormorecroppedacres.

Thereisalsoaregionaldifference,withahigherportionofthoseinnorthernAlbertausingtheprogram.Awarenessoftheprogramislowestinthesouth.

31%

20%15%

31%34%

46%

<45 45- 64 65+

Neverheardofit Haveusedit

SegmentDifferences– AwarenessandUseofConservationCroppingProtocol

41

ByAgeCategory

25%

34%40%

48%

<1000 1000- 29993000- 4999 5000+

Croppedacres– Percentwhohaveusedtheprogram


28%21%

13%

27%32%

52%

South Central North

Neverheardofit Haveusedit

ByRegion

ConservationCroppingProtocol– YearsInWhichGrowersParticipated

42

Between55%and60%ofprogramparticipantshaveparticipatedintheprograminanygivenyearfrom2012to2016.Thereappearsaslightdipin2017,with51%ofprogramparticipantsinvolvedthisyear.

Aboutone-thirdofprogramparticipantshaveonlybeeninvolvedinoneyear,aboutone-thirdhavebeeninvolvedfortwotosixyears,andone-thirdhavebeeninvolvedforsevenormoreyears.Segmentdifferences:

• ThoseinsouthernAlbertawerelesslikelytobeenrolledin2017.

• Smallerfarmersaremorelikelytohavebeenenrolledin2011orbefore,andlesslikelytobeenrolledin2017.

• Crop-onlyfarmersmorelikelytobecurrentlyparticipating.

33%

16%

17%

34%

1year

2- 4years

5- 6years

7ormore

ConservationCroppingProtocol– YearsInWhichGrowersParticipated

43Base:Thosewhohaveparticipatedintheprogram(N=120)

Numberofyearsparticipating(counting2011orbeforeasoneyear)

77%

55%

58%

57%

58%

56%

51%

2011orearlier

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

InwhichofthefollowingyearsdidyouparticipateintheConservationCropping/Tillageprogram?

ParticipantSatisfactionwithConservationCroppingProtocol

44

Overall,satisfactionappearsmoderate,with22%beingverysatisfiedoverall,and54%beingsomewhatsatisfied.Afurther22%arenotveryornotatallsatisfied.Satisfactionwithspecificaspectsisless,however.• Sixty-eightpercentaresatisfiedwiththeeaseofparticipating,while30%arenotsatisfied.• Fifty-threepercentaresatisfiedwithcompensationfortimespent,while45%arenotsatisfiedwiththis.• Fifty-ninepercentaresatisfiedwiththeoverallimpactontheirfarm,while33%arenot.Weseethesesegmentdifferences:• Thosewithcroponlyoperationsaremorelikelytobemoresatisfied,overall.• Thoseoverage65+lesssatisfiedwitheaseofparticipation(25%notatalland21%notvery).Theyare

alsolesssatisfiedwithcompensationfortimespent(29%arenotatallsatisfiedvs.avg.15%).• Thosewith$2Mormoreingrossreceiptsalsolesssatisfiedwithcompensationreceivedfortimespent

– 53%arenotverysatisfiedvs.the30%average.• Intermsofoverallimpactonthefarm,thoseagedunder45arelesssatisfied– 26%arenotatall

satisfiedvs.theaverageof10%.

ParticipantSatisfactionwithConservationCroppingProtocol

45

7%

12%

15%

10%

15%

18%

30%

23%

54%

50%

43%

46%

22%

18%

10%

13%

3%

2%

1%

7%

Overallsatisfaction

Easeofparticipating

Adequatecompensationforyourtimespent

Overallimpactonyourfarm

Notatallsatisfied Notverysatisfied Somewhatsatisfied Verysatisfied Notsure

Base:Thosewhohaveparticipatedintheprogram(N=120)

PleaserateyoursatisfactionwiththefollowingaspectsoftheConservationCropping/Tillageprogram.

ParticipantSuggestionsforImprovementinConservationCroppingProtocol

46

Participantswereaskedfortheirsuggestionsforimprovement.Thiswasanopenendedquestion,andtheverbatimresultswerereviewedandcodedintocategoriesseenonthefollowingslide.

Threetypesofsuggestionstoppedthelist.First,participantsfeltthattheprogramneedsbettercompensation,feelingthatthecompensationreceivedisnotworththetimeandeffortrequired.Arelatedcategoryofcommentswassecondmostcommon– thatthepaperworkisonerousandtheprogramformsandpaperworkneedtobesimplified.

Thethirdmostcommoncategoryofsuggestionwasthattheprogramshouldincludeawiderrangeofpractices.

Anothercommoncommentwasthataggregatorstaketoolargeacutand/orthatitshouldbemadesimplerforgrowerstoapplyontheirown.

Manyalsocommentedonthedifficultiesinvolvedinhavingtohavelandlordapprovals.

PleaseseetheopenendedverbatimresponsesinAppendixA.

ParticipantSuggestionsforImprovementinConservationCroppingProtocol

47

BasedonyourexperiencewiththeConservationCropping/Tillageprogram,whatsuggestionsdoyouhaveforimprovement?

Bettercompensation,doesn'treallypay,notworththeeffort,priceforcarbontoolow 21%

Onerouspaperwork,difficultforms,simplify 19%

Additionalinclusions,doesn'tcoveralltheneeds/practices 17%

Redundantinformationgatheringeachyear 14%Aggregatorsshouldtakelessofacut,aggregatorsinefficient,makeiteasierforgrowerstoapplythemselves

12%

Landlordagreementsareahurdle 11%

Workingwell,fineasitis 7%

Noteffective,wasteoftime,don’tagreewithcarboncredits 5%

Inawetyearmoretillageisrequired 4%

Other 13%

Base:Thosewhohaveparticipatedintheprogram,whohadanycomments(N=84).Percentagesaddtomorethan100asmultipleresponseswereallowed.

SampleComments– SuggestionsforImprovementofConservationCroppingProtocol

48

Forusasalargerfarmitbarelypays,forsmallfarmit’snotworththeeffortforfewbucks.

Programpaymentlevelbarelyworththeeffort.Doesn’trewardenoughtochangefarmingpracticestoreducetillage.

Makeverificationslessonerous;makenetreturnsworththetimeforapplication.

Streamlineprocess.Reduceredundantinformationgathering.

Shouldincludeallforagecropsandimprovedpasture.Shouldbeasimpleformulaforeachcroppingpracticeimplemented.Aggregatingonallrecordsthatneedtobesuppliedistimeconsumingandnotworththetrouble.

Toincludeturfandforageseedacresinprogram.

Whyaretherenocarboncreditsfortamepastureandevenmorefornativepasture?

Makeiteasiertoapplydirectratherthanhavetousethirdpartieswhoareonlyinitformoney.

Ifinditdifficultandtimeconsumingtogetlandlords’signatures,andthenisapresumptionbythemthattheyshouldshareinthereturn.

Shouldallowmoretillageinwetyears.Manyfieldshaveextensiverutsandweedissuestorepair.

ReasonsforNotParticipatinginConservationTillageProtocol

49

ThosewhoknowabouttheConservationTillageProgrambutarenotparticipatingwereaskedwhytheyarenotparticipating.Theywereaskedtoselecttherelevantreasonsfromagivenlist.

Keybarriersinclude:

• Feelingthatthepaperworkistooonerousforthevaluereceived.• Practicesandequipmentdon’tfittheprogram;relatedly,somefarmingpracticesareexcluded.

• Lackoffamiliarityandunderstandingoftheprogram.

• Theneedtoobtainlandlordapprovals.

• Notagreeingwiththepremiseofcarboncredits.

• Feelingthattheaggregatorsaretakingtoolargeaportionofthecarboncredits.• Feelingthattheprogramistoocomplicated.

ReasonsforNotParticipatinginConservationTillageProtocol

50Base:Thosewhoknowalittleoralotabouttheprogrambuthaven’tusedit(N=86).Other– seeAppendixA

22%

15%

14%

9%

8%

7%

6%

4%

2%

2%

2%

1%

7%

23%

11%

8%

19%

19%

28%

13%

19%

28%

13%

7%

12%

Paperworktooonerousforthevaluereceived

Mypracticesorequipmentdon’tfittheprogram

Notfamiliarenoughwiththeprogram

Landlordapprovals

Don’tagreewiththebasicpremiseofcarbonoffsets

Aggregators/companiestaketoolargeaportion

Toocomplicated

Don’tthinktheprogrammotivateschangingfarmingpractices

Don’tagreewithexcludingcertainfarmingpractices

I’veheardfromfriends/neighboursthatit’snotworthwhile

Don’tagreewiththepracticesthatarepartoftheprotocol

Changesinpracticesaretooonerousforthevaluereceived

Other,pleasespecify*

Mainreason

Secondaryreasons

Awareness– NitrousOxideEmissionReductionProtocol(NERP)

51

Notunexpectedly,awarenessofNERPisfairlylow,with64%havingneverheardofitand22%justhavingheardthename.Just14%knowanythingaboutit.

WhengivenabriefexplanationofNERP,interestismoderate,with55%sayingtheyaresomewhatinterestedand18%beingveryinterested.Just16%arenotinterested,and11%areunsure.Therearenonotabledifferencesbetweensegments.

18%

55%

12%

4%

11%

Veryinterested

Somewhatinterested

Notveryinterested

Notatallinterested

Notsure

Awareness– NitrousOxideEmissionReductionProtocol(NERP)


Althoughnotyetoperational,inthefuture,theNitrousOxideEmissionReduction(NERP)programwould

providefarmerswithfinancialcreditformoreefficientpracticesfornitrogenapplication.Basedonthisbriefexplanationandanythingyouhaveread,seenorheardaboutthisprogram,howinteresteddoyouthinkyou

willbeinthisprogram,whenitislaunched?64%

22%

12%

2%

Neverheardofit

Onlyheardthename

Knowalittleaboutit

Knowalotaboutit

WhichofthefollowingbestdescribesyourpriorlevelofawarenessorfamiliaritywithAlberta’sNitrousOxideEmission

ReductionProtocol(NERP)?


AwarenessofandExperiencewithGrowingForward2ProgramsRelatedtoEnvironmentalSustainability

53

Awareness– GrowingForward2

54

RespondentswereaskedabouttheirawarenessanduseofGrowingForward2.Atfirst,theywereaskedthisonagenerallevel,priortobeingaskedabouttheenvironmentalsustainabilityprograms.

Aboutone-quarter(23%)haveparticipatedinaGrowingForward2program.AbouthalfknowalittleoralotaboutGrowingForward2,andaboutonequarterhaveeitherneverheardofit(10%)orhaveonlyheardthename(17%).

ThosewhohaveonlyheardthenameorneverheardofGF2weregivenabriefdescription,andaskedhowinterestedtheywouldbeinknowingmoreaboutfuturegovernmentsupportandfundingprogramsthatfocusonenvironmentalsustainability.Thereismoderateinterest,withjustoverhalf(52%)indicatingtheyaresomewhatinterestedandanother23%beingveryinterested.Seventeenpercentarenotinterested,while8%arenotsure.

Awareness– GrowingForward2


10%

17%

45%

4%

23%

Neverheardofit

Onlyheardthename

Knowalittleaboutit

Knowalotaboutit

Participatedin/usedaprogramunderGrowingForward2

Whichofthefollowingbestdescribesyourfamiliarityandexperiencewith

GrowingForward2programs?

23%

52%

13%

4%

8%

Veryinterested

Somewhatinterested

Notveryinterested

Notatallinterested

Notsure

Theseprogramsarecost-sharingprogramsforproducerswantingtoundertakevariousprojects.Theymaybechangedordifferentonesmaybeaddedforthenextfiveyears.In

general,whatisyourlevelofinterestinknowingmoreaboutfuturegovernmentsupportandfundingprogramsthatfocus

onenvironmentalsustainability?

Base:thosewhohaveneverheardof,orhaveonlyheardthename(N=75).

SegmentDifferences– GrowingForward2

56

Awarenessandusage:

• AwarenessofGrowingForward2islowerforthoseunderage45.

• TheportionwhohaveusedtheGrowingForward2programincreasesascroppedacresincreases,andasgrosssalesincrease.Forexample,asseentwoslidesforward,only13%ofthosewithunder1000acreshaveusedtheprogram,versus31%ofthosewith5000+acres.Itisalsonotablethat40%ofthosewith$2Mormoreingrosssaleshaveusedtheprogram,comparedtothe23%average.

Levelofinterest,iftheywerepreviouslyunawareofGF2:

• Thoseunderage45aremoreinterested– 33%areveryinterestedversusthe23%average.

• Further,thevastmajorityofthosewith>$1Mingrosssalesaresomewhatorveryinterested.

31%

20%15%

<45 45- 64 65+

SegmentDifferences– AwarenessandUseofGrowingForward2

57

ByAgeCategory– Percentwhohaveneverheardoftheprogram

13%

24% 26%31%

<1000 1000- 2999 3000- 4999 5000+

Croppedacres– Percentwhohaveusedtheprogram


13%

24%

40%

<$250K $250K- $2M $2M+

ByGrossRevenue– Percentwhohaveusedtheprogram

AwarenessandUseofGrowingForward2ProgramsRelatedtoSustainability

58

RespondentsweregivenabriefdescriptionoffiveGF2programsthatarerelatedtosustainability,andthenwereaskedabouttheirlevelofawarenessanduseoftheseprograms.Theprogramsthatwereaskedaboutinclude:On-FarmWaterManagement,On-FarmStewardship,On-FarmSolarPhotovoltaics,On-FarmEnergyManagement,andIrrigationEfficiency.Participationintheprogramsrangesfrom4%to14%.One-quarterofthesampleparticipatedinatleastoneofthesefiveprograms,while7%participatedinmorethanone.Outsideofprogramparticipants,theportionwhoknowalittleoralotabouteachprogramranges,fromjust11%(IrrigationEfficiency)tooverhalf.ThereisrelativelyhigherawarenessoftheOn-FarmWaterManagementprogramandtheOn-FarmStewardshipprogram,eachwithoverhalfofrespondentsknowingalittleoralotabouttheprogram.ThereislowerawarenessoftheOn-FarmSolarPhotovoltaicsandOn-FarmEnergyManagementprograms,withaboutone-thirdknowinganythingabouteither.ThelowestgeneralawarenessisoftheIrrigationEfficiencyprogram(just1in10knowsomethingaboutit).However,lookingjustatthosewithirrigationontheirfarm,44%haveusedthisprogramandafurther38%knowsomethingaboutit.

AwarenessandUseofGrowingForward2ProgramsRelatedtoSustainability

59

17%

15%

34%

37%

58%

18%

19%

29%

28%

26%

47%

46%

29%

28%

10%

6%

7%

4%

4%

12%

14%

4%

4%

4%

On-FarmWaterManagementprogram

On-FarmStewardshipprogram

On-FarmSolarPhotovoltaics

On-FarmEnergyManagementprogram

IrrigationEfficiencyprogram

Neverheardofit Onlyknowthename Knowalittleaboutit Knowalotaboutit Haveparticipated/utilizedit


Priortothissurvey,whichofthefollowingbestdescribesyourpriorlevelofawareness,experienceorfamiliaritywitheachoftheseprograms?

SegmentDifferences– GrowingForward2ProgramsRelatedtoSustainability

60

• Asgrosssalesincreases,sodoeslikelihoodofusingOn-FarmWaterManagementprogram– 19%ofthosewith$1M– $2Mingrosssalesand20%ofthosewithover$2Mhaveusedthisprogramcomparedtotheaverageof12%.

• ThetrendisthesamewiththeOn-FarmStewardshipprogram– amongthe$2M+segment,30%haveusedthisprogramversusthe14%average.

• TheOn-FarmSolarPhotovoltaicsprogramwasusedbyahigherportioninsmallestacreandrevenuecategories,butalsobyahigherportionofthoseinthehighestrevenuecategory-- 13%inthe$2M+categoryusedthisprogramversusthe4%average.

• Similarly,theOn-FarmEnergyManagementprogramusewashighestinthe$2M+revenuecategory,at17%vs.1%- 4%inotherrevenuecategories.

• UseoftheIrrigationEfficiencyprogramwashigheramongthoseundertheageof45– 11%ofthisgrouphaveuseditversusthe4%average.Further,thosewithover$2Minrevenuearealsomorelikelytohaveusedthisprogram,at17%.

StatusofGrowingForward2Projects

61

Wasyourprojectunder[nameofprogram]completed(i.e.fullyimplemented)?

Yes NobutIexpecttocompleteit

No,Iabandonedtheproject

Other

On-FarmWaterManagementprogram(N=31) 84% 7% 7% 3%*

On-FarmStewardshipprogram(N=33) 88% 12% - -

On-FarmSolarPhotovoltaics(N=8) N=6 N=2 - -

On-FarmEnergyManagementprogram(N=5) N=4 - N=1 -

IrrigationEfficiencyprogram(N=8) N=8 - - -

Itappearsthemajorityofprojectsundertakenwerecompletedorareexpectedtobecompleted.TheonlypossibleexceptionistheOn-FarmWaterManagementprogram,where2ofthe31participantssaidtheyabandonedtheirproject,and1saidtheirprojectwascompletedbuttheywerenotcompensated.OneoftheOn-FarmEnergyManagementprogramparticipantssaidtheyabandonedtheproject,butwiththesmallsampleitisnotpossibletoextrapolatethismoregenerally.

SatisfactionwithGrowingForward2Programs

62

Participantsineachprogramwereaskedtorateseveralaspectsoftheprogramtheywerein,includingoverallsatisfaction,easeofparticipating,cost-sharingallocation,overallimpactontheirfarm,eligibilityrequirements,termsandconditions,applicationprocessingtimeandeaseofunderstandingtheapplicationprocess.Iftheyparticipatedinmorethanoneprogram(7%ofthesample),theywereonlyaskedaboutone,randomlyselected.

Thefollowingslidessummarizeeachmeasureforallprograms.Followingaresomesummarycommentsaboutthegeneraltrends.Notethatbecauseofthesmallnumberofcases,theseconclusionsaredirectionalversusstatisticallysignificant.

• SatisfactionishighestfortheIrrigationEfficiencyprogram.Thisappearsdrivenbystrongerratingsofapplicationprocessingtime,overallimpactonthefarm,easeofparticipatingandeligibilityrequirements.

• TheOn-FarmStewardshipprogramalsohadrelativelyhigherpositiveratings,andfewerparticipantsgavenegativeratings.

SatisfactionwithGrowingForward2Programs

63

• Theattributesgarneringthelowestratingsoverallwereapplicationprocessingtime,cost-sharingallocation,andeaseofparticipating.

• Theattributeswiththemostpositiveratingswereoverallsatisfactionandimpactonthefarm.

• Itisinterestingthatoverall,participantsratedtheprogramshighly,butmorenegativelywhenitcametothinkingaboutspecificaspects.

SatisfactionWithGrowingForward2Programs– OVERALLSATISFACTION

64

36%36%50%

80%

25%

52%61%37%

20%

75%

On-FarmWaterManagementprogram(N=31)

On-FarmStewardship

program(N=33)

On-FarmSolarPhotovoltaics(N=8)

On-FarmEnergyManagementprogram(N=5)

IrrigationEfficiencyprogram(N=8)

Verysatisfied

Somewhatsatisfied

Notsatisfied

Base:Thosewhoparticipatedineachprogram.CAUTION:smallsamplesizes

13%3%

10%

SatisfactionWithGrowingForward2– EASEOFPARTICIPATING

65

48%67%63%

20%

42%24%25%

40%63%


On-FarmStewardship

program(N=33)




Verysatisfied

Somewhatsatisfied

Notsatisfied


25%40%

13% 10%9%

SatisfactionWithGrowingForward2Programs– COST-SHARINGALLOCATION

66

48%61%25%

40%50%

42%33%

38%20%

38%


On-FarmStewardship

program(N=33)




Verysatisfied

Somewhatsatisfied

Notsatisfied


13%40% 38%

10%6%

SatisfactionWithGrowingForward2Programs– OVERALLIMPACTOFTHEPROGRAMONYOURFARM

67

35%49%25%20%

38%

48%39%

50%40%

63%


On-FarmStewardship

program(N=33)




Verysatisfied

Somewhatsatisfied

Notsatisfied


40%25%

10%9%

SatisfactionWithGrowingForward2Programs– ELIGIBILITYREQUIREMENTSTOACCESSTHEPROGRAM

68

48%52%63%40%38%

32%33%38%

20%

63%


On-FarmStewardship

program(N=33)




Verysatisfied

Somewhatsatisfied

Notsatisfied


40%16%15%

SatisfactionWithGrowingForward2Programs– PROGRAMTERMSANDCONDITIONS

69

52%52%50%60%38%

32%30%50%20%

50%


On-FarmStewardship

program(N=33)




Verysatisfied

Somewhatsatisfied

Notsatisfied


13% 20% 16%15%

SatisfactionWithGrowingForward2Programs– APPLICATIONANDPROCESSINGTIME

70

39%58%

38%20%25%

39%24%

38%40%

63%


On-FarmStewardship

program(N=33)




Verysatisfied

Somewhatsatisfied

Notsatisfied


13%40%

26% 20%18%

SatisfactionWithGrowingForward2Programs– EASEOFUNDERSTANDINGTHEAPPLICATIONPROCESS

71

55%67%63%60%38%

26%21%25%20%

38%


On-FarmStewardship

program(N=33)




Verysatisfied

Somewhatsatisfied

Notsatisfied


25% 20% 13% 19%9%

ParticipantSuggestionsforImprovementinGrowingForward2Program

72

SuggestionsforImprovementofGF2 ProgramsSimplify,lesspaperwork N=8

Improvespeedofprocessing N=5

Moreinformation,clearerdefinitionsandterms N=3

Increasethemaximumlimit,coverahigherpercentage N=2

Makemoreaccessibleandrelevantforsmallerfarms N=2

Morefundingforoversubscribedprograms N=2

Timingofapprovalversusundertakingtheprojectandspendingthemoney

N=2

Specificprogramsuggestions- typesofprojects,itemscovered

N=4

Other N=6

Base:Participantsinanyofthefiveprogramswhoprovidedcomments(N=31).CAUTION:Smallsamplesize

ParticipantswereaskediftheyhaveanysuggestionsforimprovementofGF2.Thiswasanopenendedquestion,andresponsesweregroupedintothecategoriesshownhere.Amongthe85participants,only31offeredsuggestions.Themostcommonresponsecategorywastosimplifytheprocess– less“redtape”andpaperwork.Secondmostcommonly,respondentssuggestedspeedinguptheprocessingtime.Othersuggestionscoverarange,allofwhichareworthwhileconsiderationsforfutureprogramming.

Forverbatimcomments,pleaseseeAppendixA.Samplecommentsareprovidedonthefollowingslide.

SampleComments– SuggestionsforImprovementinGrowingForward2Program

73

Keepthepaperworktoaminimumandgetthematerials/approvalprocessasfastaspossible.Manyifnotallprojectsaretimesensitive.

Needtostreamlinetheapplicationprocess.

Sometimestakestoolongtoknowifanymoneywillbeleftsoyoucandoproject.

Abitmoredetailwhenadvertising.Makedefinitionsclearer- highpressurevslowpressure.AlsoextrafundingforVRIwouldbevaluable.

Itwouldbeniceifthewatermanagementhadbeena50%program.

Thebasicprogramsareokjustdon'tmakethemtoodifficultforthesmalltomediumsizedfarmers.Wherethemostchangecouldoccur.

Alwaysseemtofocusonlargefarmswithlotsofhelp andlabour.ContinuationornewfundsforsomeoftheprogramsthatgotoversubscribedinGF2.

Idonotthinkthatfullapprovalbeforestartingisuseful.Thereshouldbeacomponentinplacewheretherewouldbecreditavailableforupgradingbusinessmanagementcourseswhichwillallowtheproducertomanagehisoperationmoreefficiently.Weconcentratesomuchontheexternalfactorsthatquiteoftentheinternalandmostoftenthemostimportantparts,beingbusinessmanagementaspectsareignoredorforgotten.OtherprovincessubsidizetheseandIfeelAlbertashouldaswell.

BarrierstoParticipationinGrowingForward2Programs

74

Respondentswhohadheardofandknewsomethingabouteachprogram,buthadn’tparticipated,wereaskedtoindicate,fromalist,themainandsecondaryreasonstheydidnotparticipate.Fromthese,wecanidentifybarrierstoparticipation.Thesereasonsareshownonthefollowingslides,andthemainreasons(givenbymorethan10%)areshownbelow.

ReasonsforNotParticipating(Main ReasonGivenby>10%)

OnFarmWaterManagement Notrelevant tomyoperation(27%),Notfamiliarenough(18%),Projectstilltooexpensive(14%),Couldn’tgetretroactiveapproval(13%)

OnFarmStewardship Notfamiliarenough(26%),Notrelevant tomyoperation(14%),Projectstilltooexpensive(13%),Programoutofmoney(12%)

OnFarmSolarPhotovoltaics Projectstilltooexpensive(29%),Notrelevant tomyoperation(20%),Notfamiliarenough(16%)

OnFarmEnergyManagement Notrelevant tomyoperation(24%),Programoutofmoney(18%),Projectstilltooexpensive(18%),Applicationprocess toocomplicated(14%)

Irrigationefficiency Couldn’tgetretroactiveapproval(N=2)

ReasonsforNotParticipatinginON-FARMWATERMANAGEMENT

75Base:Subsetofrespondentswhoknowalittleoralotaboutthisprogrambutdidn’tuseit(N=119)

27%

18%

14%

13%

8%

5%

4%

2%

2%

2%

5%

10%

18%

15%

9%

11%

17%

9%

17%

2%

Notrelevantto/noapplicationtomyfarmoperation

Notfamiliarenoughwiththeprogram/notenoughinfo

TheprojectIwouldliketoundertakewasstilltooexpensive

Couldnotgetretroactiveapproval

Theprogramwasoutofmoney

Applicationprocesstoocomplicated/toomuchwork

Thelistofapplicabletechnologiesorequipmentwastoolimited

Flexibility- Projectrequirementstoostrict/wasn'teligible

Don’tlikegovernmentprograms

Haven’thadtimetoapply,stillplanto

Other,pleasespecify

Notsure

Mainreason

Secondaryreason

ReasonsforNotParticipatinginON-FARMSTEWARDSHIPPROGRAM


26%

14%

13%

12%

10%

6%

5%

2%

2%

10%

10%

11%

12%

12%

9%

10%

16%

8%

0%

4%






Flexibility- Projectrequirementstoostrict/wasn’teligible




Other

Notsure

Mainreason

Secondaryreason

ReasonsforNotParticipatinginON-FARMSOLARPHOTOVOLTAICSPROGRAM


29%

20%

16%

9%

9%

4%

4%

2%

2%

2%

2%

2%

13%

6%

15%

11%

13%

9%

11%

9%

2%

9%







Haven’thadtimetoapply,stillplanto




Other

Notsure

Mainreason

Secondaryreason

ReasonsforNotParticipatinginON-FARMENERGYMANAGEMENTPROGRAM


24%

18%

18%

13%

8%

8%

3%

3%

3%

5%

10%

11%

8%

27%

21%

18%

10%

15%

2%









Other

Notsure

Mainreason

Secondaryreason

ReasonsforNotParticipatinginIRRIGATIONEFFICIENCYPROGRAM

79

Reasons fornotparticipatinginIrrigationEfficiencyProgram Mainreason Secondaryreason

Notrelevantto/noapplicationtomyfarmoperation N=1 -

Notfamiliarenoughwiththeprogram/notenoughinfo - N=1

Couldnotgetretroactiveapproval N=2 -

Theprogramwasoutofmoney - N=1

TheprojectIwouldliketoundertakewasstilltooexpensive N=1 -

Flexibility- Projectrequirementstoostrict/wasn’teligible - N=1

Thelistofapplicabletechnologiesorequipmentwastoolimited - N=2

Haven’thadtimetoapply,stillplanto N=1 -

Other - N=1

Notsure N=2 -Base:Subsetofrespondentswhohaveirrigationontheirfarmandwhoknowalittleoralotaboutthisprogrambutdidn’tuseit(N=8).CAUTION:Smallsamplesize.

IncentiveStructure

80

IncentiveStructure

81

Respondentswereaskedseveralquestionsaboutthemosteffectivewaytoprovideincentivesthroughgovernmentprograms.First,theywereaskedthefollowingquestion:

“GrowingForwardprogramshaveusedcost-sharing,withtheprogramgenerallycovering50%- 70%ofthecostsofeligibleprojects,uptoaspecifiedmaximum.Doyoufeelthatthiscost-sharingsystemworkswelltoencourageinvestmentininnovative,energyefficient,orsustainabletechnologiesandpractices?”

Asseentwoslidesforward,overhalf(57%)sayyes,theydofeelthissystemworkswell,while12%donot.Almostone-thirdarenotsure.Therearefewdifferencesbetweensegments,exceptthatthoseunderage45areevenmorelikelytofeelthesystemworkswell,with76%indicatingthis.

IncentiveStructure– SuggestionsforImprovement

82

Whenaskedforsuggestionsforimprovement,thelargestgroupofresponses(27%)fellunderthethemethattheprogramsshouldcovermoreofthecostsorhavemorerealisticcaps.Anotherthemewasthatthereshouldbemoreinformationandadvice(16%),andthirdly,thattheprocessneedstobemadesimpler,withless“redtape”involved(16%).Manyresponsestothisquestionweregeneralsuggestions,notnotstrictlyrelatedtoincentivestructure.

Otherlesser-mentionedthemesincludedtimingandtheneedfortheprogramstoallowforretroactiveapprovals,havingmoremoneyintheprogramsorallocatingfundsbetterbetweenprograms.Somealsofeltthatprogramsshouldbemoreavailabletodifferenttypesofgrowersorthatthelistofactions/itemsbebroadened,alongwithmiscellaneousothersuggestions(seechartonnextslide).AppendixAprovidestheverbatimcommentsthatfellintoeachcategory.

Thosewithunder1000acresaremuchmorelikelythatlargergrowerstoseeaneedformoreinformation,assistanceandadvice,with42%makingthissuggestionversus16%overall.Otherthanthis,therearenosegmentsthatdifferintheirsuggestionsforimprovement.

Samplecommentsareincludedtwoslidesforward,andfullverbatimcommentsareinAppendixA.

IncentiveStructure

83

Whatimprovementswouldyousuggest,specificallyrelatedtocost-sharingprograms?

Covermoreofthecost,haverealisticcaps 27%

Needmoreinformation,clearerinformation,advice 16%

Paperwork cumbersome,redtape,complicated 16%Beretroactive,differenttimingofbudgeting,notimetowaitforapprovals

9%

Havemoremoneyintheprogram,allocatefundsbetter 8%

Disagreewithprograms 6%

Seemstargetedatlargerfarms,doesn'tworkeverywhere 5%

Wouldratherreceivetaxcredit 4%

Broadenitemscovered,lessrestrictions 4%

Suppliersinflatecosts 3%

Other 13%


57%

12%

31%

Yes

No

Notsure

Doyoufeelthatthecost-sharingsystemworkswelltoencourageinvestmentininnovative,energy

efficient,orsustainabletechnologiesandpractices?

Base:Respondentswhoofferedsuggestions(N=110)

SampleComments– SuggestionsforImprovementofCost-SharingAspect

84

Costshareportionbygovernmentshouldnotbejustapercentage,butshouldbesettoensurethatthereisareturnoninvestmentbytheproducer.

Don'tlimittheprogramtosmallamounts,alargerfarmmayqualifyononefieldbutmightbeinterestedinupgradingmultiplelocationinoneyearbutthendoesn'tqualifyforfunding.HighercostshareforslowerROIprojects.

Iftheprogramboastsapercentageofthecostshared,itshouldnotbecappedtoadollarlimit.Oneortheotherbutnotboth.

Developteamsofpeopletogooutanddocompleteorpartialauditsoffarmssothatbothpartiesknowthebestdirectiontogoin.

Manyoftheimprovementsarestilltooexpensiveat50%,needtobe70to75%.

Clearerinformationpriortoapplicationonwhatexpensesareeligible.Notenoughinformationonwhatqualifies.

Ifeelthatsuppliersraisethecostsimplybecausethegovernmentisfootingthebill.Shouldincludesometaxincentives.

Beretroactiveifwehavealreadybeenproactiveinintroduction.

Ihavedoneprojectsthatwouldqualify.SomeIdidnotknowfundingwasavailableandthereisnoretroactiveapplications.AndothertimesIjustcan'taffordthetimetodotheapplicationsandthenwaitforapproval.Fundsshouldbere-allocatedfromlowdemandareastohighdemandareas.

PreferencesforGovernmentFundingPrograms

85Base:Respondentswhogaveananswer(N=273- 282)

61%

23%

20%

22%

49%

27%

17%

28%

53%

Cost-sharing

Rebates

Taxincentives/taxrelief/taxbenefits

Topchoice

Secondchoice

Thirdchoice

Whattypeofgovernmentfundingprogramdoyouthinkworksbesttoencourageadoptionoftechnologyorpractices?Pleaserankthefollowingfrom1to3,

with“1”beingtheoptionyoufeelisbest.

Thelargestportionofgrowersthinkthatcost-sharingisthebestformatforincentives,with6in10choosingthisasthetopranked-option.Rebatesarenextinorderofpreference,followedbytaxincentives.

Thetrendtoprefercost-sharingisgreateramong5000+acregrowers,with78%optingforthisastheirtopchoice.Cost-sharingisalsopreferredbymixedcropandlivestockfarmers(69%).Taxincentivesweremorelikelytobechosenasnumberonebythoseaged65+(33%)orwithunder1000acres(29%).

ChangesPlannedonFarmRelatedtoEnvironmentalSustainability

86

ChangesPlanned– Unaided

87

Thissectionofthesurveystartedwithanopen-endedquestionaboutchangesplanned,withwordingasfollows:

“Itisrecognizedthatmanyproducersalreadyextensivelyimplementbestpracticesrelatedtoenvironmentalstewardship.Governmentsupport(programs,funding,education)– willbeavailableoverthenextfiveyearstoencourageevenmoreadoptionoforchangestopractices,technology,equipmentthatcontributetothepriorityareaofenvironmentalsustainability.Intheboxbelow,pleasedescribeanychangesthatyouaremakingorconsideringonyourfarm,orpractices,technologiesorequipmentyoumightadopt,thatyouthinkwouldbegoodcandidatesforthiskindofsupportandfunding.”

Justunderhalf(44%)describedspecificchangestheyarelookingat,while56%declinedtocomment.Theopenendedresponseswerecodedintocategories(similarcategoriestothoseaskedinasubsequentaidedquestion).Itisnotablethatthesechangesspanawiderangeofpractices,andnoonetypeofchangehavingmorethan9%fallingintothatcategory,andmosthavingintherangeof2%to6%.

VerbatimcommentsineachcategoryareprovidedinAppendixA.

Open-EndedQuestion– ChangesPlannedonFarmRelatedtoEnvironmentalSustainability

88Base:Allrespondents(N=339).Percentagesaddtomorethan100asmultipleresponseswereallowed.

ChangesPlannedSectionalcontrols,auto-steer,GPS-relatedimprovements 9%

Improvedfertilizertechnologies,practices,equipment 6%

Variablerateapplicationoffertilizer(GPSorsensorbased) 5%

Betteron-farmenergymanagement 5%Bettermanagementofon-farmwatersupply,drainage,wetlandsmanagement 4%

On-farmsolarpower,solarpanels 4%Livestockrelated 4%Improvedpesticidetechnologies,practices,equipment 3%

Moreefficientirrigationsystems,solar,variablerate 3%Improvedormoreefficientgrainandpesticidestorage,dryingandaerationtechnology 3%

ChangesPlannedLesstillage/moredirectseeding 2%

Improvedwastemanagement(e.g.plastic,oil,etc.) 2%Emissionsmodificationstoequipment,orusemodernequipment,reducefuelconsumption 2%

Improvedseedingtechnology 2%

Fuelstorage 2%

Rotations,differentcrops,organic 1%BetteruseofGPSdatasuchasyield,soil,as-applied,topography,etc.(datamanagement,use,analysis,storage) 1%

Improvedharvestingequipment,improvedharvestpractices 1%

Other 8%

None/nocomments 56%

Open-EndedQuestion– ChangesPlannedonFarmRelatedtoEnvironmentalSustainability–SampleComments

89

Sectionalcontrolfordrilltoeliminatefertilizeroverlap.

GPSinstallationonequipment.IwouldliketoadoptGPSandsectionalcontrolonmyairseeder,butthecostisprohibitiveforasmall-mediumsizedoperationlikemine.Moreefficientuseoffertilizer.

Adaptingsomeformoffundingtooffsettheextracostofnitrogenproductsthatallowfornitrogentobeplacedandutilizedasneeded,i.e.ESNetc.

VRfertilizing.Sectionalcontrolforfertilizer,StabilizedNsources.

Implementationofhighefficiencylights,heating,andinsulationtoafarmshop.

Installedledyardlightsforreducedenergyuseandgreatersafetyandsecurity.

Biologicalcontroloptions-methodsforcropproduction.

ChangefromcentrifugaltoturbinepumpssothatwecanuseVariablefrequencydrivesandsaveenergycostsofpumping.

Updateburnerongraindryerformoreefficientenergyuseusingmorefoliarfertilizer.

Reducedtillage.Responsiblemanagementofpesticidesandfertilizers.

Recyclegrainbags.

Anyequipmentthatwouldreducecarbonimprintonmyfarm...i.e.higherefficiencymotors,loweremissions.

Upgradeseedingtooltoreducedisturbance.RTKbaselineGPS,dataloggingandanalyzing,limingtoincreasesoilph.

EnvironmentalFarmPlan.

WhatKindofSupportisNeeded,ToMakePlannedChanges

90

64%

11%

7%

2%

8%

45%

29%

Funding

Information,education,technical…

Appliedon-farmresearch

demonstrations

Other

Topchoice

Secondchoice

Whatkindofsupportwouldbemostlikelytomakeyouproceedwiththesechanges?

Pleaseindicateyourfirstandsecondchoice.

Givenachoiceoftypesofsupporttohelpthemproceedwiththesechanges,mostchosefundingastheirfirstchoice(64%)overinformation/support/advice(11%)oron-farmdemonstrations(7%).

Thoseunderage45wereevenstrongerintheirchoiceoffunding(84%),asweremixedcropandlivestockfarmers(85%).Therewerenoothernotablesegmentdifferences.

ChangesPlanned– Aided

91

Respondentswereasked:“Iftherewerenotanybarriers(suchascost,information,time,complexity,etc.)whichofthefollowingpractices/technologies,ifany,wouldyoubeinterestedinadopting(orfurtherimplementingonyourfarmifyouhavealreadyadopted)overthenextfiveyears?”Respondentscouldselectasmanyitemsastheyareinterestedinfromagivenlist.Themostcommontypesofchangesthatgrowersareinterestedin,withover50%selectingthem,include:improvedfertilizertechnologies,practices,equipment;betteruseofGPSdatasuchasyield,soil,as-applied,topography,etc.(datamanagement,use,analysis,storage);andimprovedpesticidetechnologies,practices,equipment.Alsoquitecommon(37%to49%)wereon-farmsolarpower,variablerateapplicationoffertilizer,increasedplantingofnitrogenfixingcrops,betteron-farmenergymanagementandimprovedwastemanagement.Theleastcommonchangesindicatedwereemissionsmodificationstoequipmentandmoreefficientirrigationsystems(eachselectedby9%).Whenaskedtoselectjustonepracticetheyfelthadthemostinterestorpotential,thetopchoicewasimprovedfertilizertechnologies,practices,equipment.Thiswasfollowedbyon-farmsolarpower,betteruseofGPSdataandimprovedpesticidetechnologies,practicesandequipment.

AidedQuestion:InterestinAdoptingorFurtherImplementingCertainPracticesorTechnology(Slide1of2)


68%

53%

53%

47%

45%

41%

39%

37%

Improvedfertilizertechnologies,practices,equipment

BetteruseofGPSdata

Improvedpesticidetechnologies,practices,equipment

On-farmsolarpower

Variablerateapplicationoffertilizer(GPSorsensorbased)

Increasedplantingofnitrogen-fixingcrops

Betteron-farmenergymanagement

Improvedwastemanagement(e.g.plastic,oil,etc.)

Iftherewerenotanybarriers(suchascost,information,time,complexity,etc.)whichofthefollowingpractices/technologies,ifany,wouldyoubeinterestedinadopting(or

furtherimplementingonyourfarmifyouhavealreadyadopted)overthenextfiveyears?

AidedQuestion:InterestinAdoptingorFurtherImplementingCertainPracticesorTechnology(Slide2of2)


28%

23%

16%

9%

8%

2%

2%

Lesstillage/moredirectseeding

Conversionofmarginallandfromannualcropstogroundcover

Bettermanagementofon-farmwatersupply

Moreefficientirrigationsystems

Emissionsmodificationstoequipment

Other(seeappendixA)

Noneoftheabove

Iftherewerenotanybarriers(suchascost,information,time,complexity,etc.)whichofthefollowingpractices/technologies,ifany,wouldyoubeinterestedinadopting(or

furtherimplementingonyourfarmifyouhavealreadyadopted)overthenextfiveyears?

ChangesPlanned– Aided– SegmentDifferences

94

• LowerrevenuecategoryfarmsaremorelikelytobeinterestedinincreasedplantingofNfixingcrops(50%versusthe41%average).

• Mixedcropandlivestockfarmsmorelikelytobeinterestedinconversionofmarginallandtogroundcover(32%vs.23%avg.),bettermanagementofon-farmwatersupply(26%vs.16%avg.),andon-farmsolarpower(56%vs.47%avg.).

• Thoseinthe$2Mandovercategoryaremoreinterestedinon-farmenergymanagement(56%vs.39%avg.),improvedfertilizerpracticesandtechnology(83%vs.68%),improvedwastemanagement(57%vs.37%),moreefficientirrigationsystems(23%vs.9%)andbetteruseofGPSdata(67%vs.53%).

• Thoseinthelowestrevenueandacrecategoriesaremoreinterestedinon-farmsolarpower.Thismaycorrelatewithlivestockfarms.

• Thosewith5000+acresaremoreinterestedinemissionsreductionmodificationstoequipment(16%vs.8%avg.).

• Thoseunderage45aremoreinterestedinmoreefficientirrigationsystems(17%vs.9%avg.),betteruseofGPSdata(63%vs.53%)andemissionsmodificationstoequipment(15%vs.8%).

PracticeorTechnologywithMostInterestorPotential

95Base:Allrespondents(N=339).Includestopselectionofthosewhochosemorethanone,andsingleselectionofthosewhochoseone.

22%

13%

12%

10%

9%

8%

5%

4%

4%

3%

3%

3%

0

2%

2%

Improvedfertilizertechnologies,practices,equipment

On-farmsolarpower

BetteruseofGPSdata

Improvedpesticidetechnologies,practices,equipment

Variablerateapplicationoffertilizer(GPSorsensorbased)

Increasedplantingofnitrogen-fixingcrops

Lesstillage/moredirectseeding

Conversionofmarginallandfromannualcropstogroundcover

Improvedwastemanagement(e.g.plastic,oil,etc.)

Betteron-farmenergymanagement

Bettermanagementofon-farmwatersupply

Moreefficientirrigationsystems

Emissionsmodificationstoequipment

Other

Noneoftheabove

Ofthoseyouselected,whichonewouldyousayholdsthemost interestorpotentialforyoutoadoptorfurtherimplementoverthenextfiveyears?

BarrierstoAdoptingEnvironmentallySustainablePractices

96

BarrierstoAdoption

97

Forthepracticetheyweremostinterestedinadoptingandoneotherpracticetheyhadchosen,respondentswereaskedtoindicatethemainbarrierstoadoptingthesepractices.

Thefollowingslidesshowthebarrierstoadoptionforeachpractice;theslides/practicesaresortedinorderoftheportionwhoselectedthemastheirtopchoiceofinterest.Somethemesseenonthefollowingslides:

• Costoreconomicconsiderationsarethemostfrequentbarrierforeverypractice.

• Theleastseverebarrier,ofthoselisted,isrelatedtolandownershiporlandlordconsiderations.Theonlypracticewherethisappearstoamounttoanyextentofbarrierisconversionofmarginallandfromannualcropstogroundcover.

• Threepracticeshaveconsistentlyhigherportionswhoseecost,uncertainROI,andcomplexityaskeybarriers.Theseinclude:on-farmsolarpower,betteruseofGPSdataandon-farmenergymanagement.Thefirsttwoarealsohigh-prioritychangesformany.

• Thepracticeswiththelowestlevelofbarriersinclude:increasedplantingofnitrogenfixingcrops,lesstillage/moredirectseeding,andimprovedwastemanagement.

BarrierstoAdaptingImprovedFertilizerTechnologies,Practices,Equipment

98Base:Subsetofthoseinterestedinadoptingthispractice(N=112)

71%

27%

21%

13%

16%

7%

53%

23%

4%

28%

60%

59%

56%

54%

31%

40%

50%

5%

2%

13%

21%

31%

31%

62%

8%

28%

9%

Cost,economics

Complexity

Compatibilitywithcurrentoperations

Availabilityofinfo/knowledge/advice

Lackoftime

Landownership/landlord

UncertainROI

Ongoingmgmt.time,specializedpeople

Other

Majorbarrier Minorbarrier Notabarrier

Mainbarriers:Cost,economicsUncertainROIComplexityMgmt.time,people

Lesserbarriers:OperationcompatibilityInfo/knowledge/adviceTime

Notaproblem:Landlordissues

Totalwhoselect:68%Portionselectingastopchoice:22%

BarrierstoAdaptingOn-FarmSolarPower


89%

38%

18%

24%

24%

7%

70%

27%

3%

11%

48%

56%

59%

54%

21%

23%

54%

14%

25%

17%

23%

72%

7%

20%

6%

Cost,economics

Complexity



Lackoftime


UncertainROI


Other






BarrierstoAdaptingBetterUseOfGPSData(DataManagement,Use,Analysis,Storage)


76%

37%

23%

18%

28%

6%

49%

44%

9%

20%

52%

61%

63%

61%

37%

42%

51%

6%

11%

17%

18%

11%

58%

9%

6%

9%

Cost,economics

Complexity



Lackoftime


UncertainROI


Other


Mainbarriers:Cost,economicsUncertainROIMgmt.time,peopleComplexityTime

Lesserbarriers:OperationcompatibilityInfo/knowledge/advice



BarrierstoAdaptingImprovedPesticideTechnologies,Practices,Equipment


69%

29%

19%

22%

16%

14%

45%

24%

5%

28%

47%

50%

64%

52%

26%

52%

50%

3%

24%

31%

14%

33%

60%

3%

26%

7%

Cost,economics

Complexity



Lackoftime


UncertainROI


Other


Mainbarriers:Cost,economicsUncertainROIComplexity

Lesserbarriers:OperationcompatibilityInfo/knowledge/adviceTimeMgmt.time,people



BarrierstoVariableRateApplicationofFertilizer


68%

22%

17%

15%

14%

7%

51%

22%

27%

59%

52%

64%

59%

31%

37%

68%

5%

19%

31%

20%

27%

63%

14%

10%

10%

Cost,economics

Complexity



Lackoftime


UncertainROI


Other


Mainbarriers:Cost,economicsUncertainROI

Lesserbarriers:ComplexityOperationcompatibilityInfo/knowledge/adviceTimeMgmt.time,people



BarrierstoIncreasedPlantingofNitrogenFixingCrops


42%

7%

17%

10%

13%

10%

45%

15%

7%

50%

57%

55%

53%

40%

25%

43%

43%

8%

37%

33%

37%

47%

65%

12%

43%

7%

Cost,economics

Complexity



Lackoftime


UncertainROI


Other



Lesserbarriers:ComplexityOperationcompatibilityInfo/knowledge/adviceMgmt.time,people

Notaproblem:LandlordissuesTime


Barriers– LessTillage,MoreDirectSeeding


53%

18%

15%

9%

9%

9%

32%

6%

6%

32%

41%

50%

35%

41%

29%

35%

59%

15%

41%

35%

56%

50%

62%

35%

35%

6%

Cost,economics

Complexity



Lackoftime


UncertainROI


Other



Lesserbarriers:ComplexityOperationcompatibilityMgmt.time,people

Notaproblem:Info/knowledge/adviceLandlordissuesTime


BarrierstoConversionofMarginalLandfromAnnualCropstoGroundCover


49%

24%

30%

16%

22%

24%

37%

19%

43%

57%

51%

65%

68%

30%

49%

60%

8%

19%

19%

19%

11%

46%

14%

22%

4%

Cost,economics

Complexity



Lackoftime


UncertainROI


Other


Mainbarriers:Cost,economicsUncertainROIOperationcompatibility

Lesserbarriers:ComplexityInfo/knowledge/adviceMgmt.time,peopleTime

Notaproblem:Landlordissues(thoughamajorbarrierforsome)


BarrierstoAdaptingImprovedWasteManagement


38%

20%

10%

28%

20%

8%

30%

14%

2%

46%

48%

54%

56%

48%

20%

40%

50%

4%

16%

32%

36%

16%

34%

72%

30%

36%

Cost,economics

Complexity



Lackoftime


UncertainROI


Other


Mainbarriers:Cost,economicsUncertainROIInfo/knowledge/advice

Lesserbarriers:OperationcompatibilityComplexityTimeMgmt.time,people



BarrierstoBetterOn-FarmEnergyManagement


78%

36%

17%

28%

25%

3%

58%

31%

17%

53%

61%

50%

53%

25%

33%

47%

6%

11%

22%

22%

22%

72%

11%

25%

Cost,economics

Complexity



Lackoftime


UncertainROI


Other






(None)

BarrierstoBetterManagementOfOn-FarmWaterSupply

108

MajorBarrier

MinorBarrier

NotaBarrier

Cost/economicfactors N=14 N=2 N=1Complexity N=3 N=11 N=3Compatibilitywithcurrentoperations/practices - N=13 N=4Availabilityofinformation/knowledge/advice N=3 N=9 N=5Lackoftimetoadoptormakethechange N=6 N=9 N=2Landownership/landlordconsiderations N=1 N=7 N=9Uncertainaboutthereturnoninvestment N=4 N=12 N=1Ongoingneedforalotofmanagementtimeorneedforspecializedpeople/expertise N=1 N=13 N=3

Other N=1 - N=1

Base:Subsetofthoseinterestedinadoptingthispractice(N=17).CAUTION:Smallsamplesize.

Mainbarriers:Cost,economicsTime

Lesserbarriers:OperationcompatibilityInfo/knowledge/adviceUncertainROIMgmt.time,peopleComplexity



BarrierstoMoreEfficientIrrigationSystems

109

MajorBarrier

MinorBarrier

NotaBarrier

Cost/economicfactors N=12 N=2 -Complexity N=5 N=4 N=6Compatibilitywithcurrentoperations/practices N=2 N=10 N=3Availabilityofinformation/knowledge/advice N=2 N=8 N=5Lackoftimetoadoptormakethechange N=2 N=8 N=5Landownership/landlordconsiderations N=2 N=4 N=9Uncertainaboutthereturnoninvestment N=5 N=6 N=4Ongoingneedforalotofmanagementtimeorneedforspecializedpeople/expertise N=3 N=7 N=5

Other - - N=2

Base:Subsetofthoseinterestedinadoptingthispractice(N=15).CAUTION:Smallsamplesize.

Mainbarriers:Cost,economics

Lesserbarriers:OperationcompatibilityInfo/knowledge/adviceUncertainROIMgmt.time,peopleComplexityTime



Summary– MajorBarrierstoAdoption

110

Reading downeachcolumn,thisistheportionwhothinkeachbarrierisamajorbarriertothepractice

Cost,economics

Complex-ity

Compat-abilitywith

currentoperations

Availa-bility ofinfo/advice

Lackoftime


UncertainROI


Other

Improvedfertilizer technologies,practices,equipment 71% 27% 21% 13% 16% 7% 53% 23% 4%

On-farm solarpower 89% 38% 18% 24% 24% 7% 70% 27% 3%

BetteruseofGPSdata 76% 37% 23% 18% 28% 6% 49% 44% 9%Improvedpesticide technologies,practices,equipment 69% 29% 19% 22% 16% 14% 45% 24% 5%

Variablerateapplicationoffertilizer 68% 22% 17% 15% 14% 7% 51% 22% -

IncreasedplantingofN-fixing crops 42% 7% 17% 10% 13% 10% 45% 15% 7%

Lesstillage,moredirectseeding 53% 18% 15% 9% 9% 9% 32% 6% 6%Conversion ofmarginallandfrom annualcropstogroundcover 49% 24% 30% 16% 22% 24% 37% 19% -

Improved wastemanagement 38% 20% 10% 28% 20% 8% 30% 14% 2%

On-farm energymanagement 78% 36% 17% 28% 25% 3% 58% 31% -

Bettermgmt.ofon-farmwatersupply N=14 N=3 - N=3 N=6 N=1 N=4 N=1 N=1Moreefficientirrigationsystems N=12 N=5 N=2 N=2 N=2 N=2 N=5 N=3 -

WhatKindofSupportisNeeded,ToMakePlannedChanges

111

79%

55%

39%

3%

Funding

Information,education,technicalsupport,advice

Appliedon-farmresearchdemonstrations

Other

Forthesepracticesyouaremostinterestedinadoptingorfurtherimplementing,whattype(s)ofgovernmentsupport,if

any,doyouthinkismostneeded?Pleaseselectanythatapply.


Aftertheaidedinterestquestion,growerswereagainaskedwhatkindofsupporttheyfeelisneeded.Similartoresponsefortheunaidedquestion,thethemeofinterestinfundingisseen.However,thereisalsostronginterestininformation,supportandadvice,aswellasappliedon-farmresearchdemonstrations.

Segmentdifferences:• Asseenelsewhere,thoseunder45years

ofagearemoreinterestedinfunding(88%).

• Those65andoverappearmoreinterestedininformationandadvice(68%).

ProgramDesignInput

112

ProgramDesignInput

113

Respondentswereaskedtheextenttowhichvariousfactorsareimportanttothem,inprogramdesign.Weseethatallthefactorsaskedaboutareimportant.Formostfactors,abouthalfconsiderthemtobeveryimportantandbetween33%and40%considerthemsomewhatimportant.Onlyasmallportionconsideranyofthefactorsunimportant.

Applicationprocessingtimestandsoutastheonefactorwithslightlyhigherimportanceratings.

Segmentdifferences:

• Applicationprocessingtimeisevenmoreimportanttothosein3000- 4999acrecategory(69%indicateitisveryimportantversusthe56%average),andmedium-largeincomegrowers(67%).

• Abilitytofindouttheprogressoftheirapplicationisevenmoreimportanttothoseearning$2M+ingrossrevenue(70%indicateitisveryimportantvs.the48%average).

• Flexibilityindesignisalsomoreimportanttothosewith$2M+grossrevenue(56%vs.46%avg.).

• Retroactiveapprovalsaremoreimportanttothoseunderage45(59%vs.48%avg.).

Therewereasmallnumberofopen-endedcommentsaboutotheraspectsimportantinprogramdesign;theseareprovidedtwoslidesforward.

ProgramDesignInput

114

2%

3%

3%

3%

6%

7%

4%

5%

7%

33%

37%

40%

40%

38%

56%

48%

44%

46%

48%

4%

4%

9%

8%

4%

Applicationprocessingtime

Abilitytofindouttheprogressofyourapplication

Whenaprojectspansmorethanoneprogramormultipletechnologies/practices,takeawholefarmapproachtoavoid…

Flexibilityindesigntoaccommodateinnovativeideasthatdon’tfitaparticularprogram

Retroactiveapprovalsallowingtimingofprojectsoutsideofwhenprogramisopen

Notatallimportant Notveryimportant Somewhatimportant Veryimportant Notsure

Base:Thosewhohaveparticipatedintheprogram(N=120)

SomequalitativegrowerfeedbackfromAlbertaproducershasindicatedthatthefollowingareimportantindesignoffuturegovernmentprograms.Pleaseindicatehowimportanteachaspectistoyoupersonally.

VerbatimCommentsAboutProgramDesign

115

Govt.peopleneedtobeopen-mindedaboutreallyout-thereideasi.e.,completelyeliminatinguseofglyphosateandfoliarinsecticides.Thisiswheredemonstrationsitesaresoimportant.Havingadiscussionwithapplicantbeforerejectingaclaim.IhadaclaimrejectedbasedonaerrorandnowprogramisclosedandIcan’tgetfunding.Havingasufficientamountoffundingsoaprogramisavailableforseveralseasons.InthepastbythetimeIwasawareofaprogramitwasnolongerfunded.Icansaythefundingreallyadvancedourprojectandaftercompletingwesawhugebenefitsandwishedtheywerecompletedsooner.Informproducer,demonstrate,givetimeframeforproducertogohomeanddoowndecision,assistinapplication.

Itwouldbeniceifyouknewyouwouldgetfundingpriortoexpendingabunchoftimeandmoney.Wehavedoneaprojectbeforeandthengotrejectedbecauseprogramranoutofmoney.Makeprogramsinfomoreoutinthepublic,andnottoocomplicated.Makesurethereisalotofinformation.Someoftheprogramsoffered.Iamnotsureiftheadminisfacingtherealityorunderstandshoweachfarmcanadaptthoseideas.Thewholefarmapproachisimportant.Whatplanfitsmyfarm.Whatshouldbelookedatandimplementedfirst.Howtogetthere.Steps.

AppendixA– VerbatimComments

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SuggestionsforImprovementofConservationCroppingProtocol

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Additionalinclusions,doesn'tcoveralltheneeds/practices• 1.Weshouldbecompensatedforourstandsoftrees&pasture.2.Lessadministrationfees.3.Moremoneygoingtotheproducer,

lessmoneygoingtoaggregate.• doesnotproperlycoverproperlyalltheneedsofgoodfarmingpractices• Haylandandseededgrasslandaswellasnativepastureandbrushlandshouldbeincludedinpackageforcompensation.• Moreworkneedstobedoneoninter-rowseedingwithRTKguidanceandtheyieldandsoil/rhizospherebenefits.• shouldbebasedonwhatagrowerisgrowingnotontillageprogram• Shouldbemorecreditgiventothosethatuselessdisturbanceseedingtools.Orshallowseedingtoolsversusanhydrousopenersthat

movewaymoredirt.• Shouldincludeallforagecropsandimprovedpasture.Shouldbeasimpleformulaforeachcroppingpracticeimplemented.

Aggregatingonallrecordsthatareneedtobesuppliedistimeconsumingandnotworththetrouble.• Toincludeturfandforageseedacresinprogram• Weshouldgetmoreforhaylandandtrees.• Whyistherenocarboncreditsfortamepastureandevenmorefornativepasture.


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Aggregatorsshouldtakelessofacut,aggregatorsinefficient,makeiteasierforgrowerstoapplythemselves• Givemostoffthemoneyto3rdparty’stodotheapplication• Haveminedonebyacompanyseemstometheygetalittlemorethanafairshare• Makeiteasiertoapplydirectratherthanhavetousethirdpartieswhoareonlyinitformoney• Thecompaniesinvolvedinaggregationareoftenslowandinefficientwiththeiradmin.• Thepaymentisnotsatisfactoryastothebenefitforcompaniestouseourcarboncredits• Youshouldbeabletofillintheapplicationandotherformsyourselfinsteadofhavingtouseacompanywhichtakepartofyour

proceeds.Bettercompensation,doesn'treallypay,notworththeeffort,priceforcarbontoolow• bettercompensationnothavingtoreneweveryyear• Betterprice.• carboncreditshouldbeworthalotmoreconsideringnewtaxes• Currentvaluesforcarbon• Forusasalargerfarmitbarleypays,forsmallfarmitnotworththeeffortforfewbucks• Increaseremunerationperacre.Createincentivestoencouragenon-conservationfarmerstoconverttoconservationmethods.• Moremoneyforcarboncredits?• Needtopaymore.Hardlyworththeeffort• notadequatelycompensated


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• notcompensatedverywellfortimespentinfillingoutallpapers• PaidonedollarperacrenotsufficientExcessivepaperworkLandlordswantedmajorityofpaymentHavenotparticipatedsincethat

first• paymore• Programpaymentlevelbarelyworththeeffort.Doesn’trewardenoughtochangefarmingpracticestoreducetillage.Smallerfarmer

sowasn'talotofdollarscomingoutoftheprogramtomakeitworthit• Theapplicationprocesshasbecomeeasierovertheyearsbutisstillverytimeconsumingfortheamountpaidforthereports.• thecarboncreditsarenotworththetime&efforttocollectthem.• thereistoomuchpaperworkforthecompensationreceivedandi believethethirdpartydoingtheapplicationmaybemakingmore

thantheproducerOnerouspaperwork,difficultforms,simplify• Bemoreuserfriendly• Cutdownpaperwork.Usecropinsuranceonly..• Difficulttoparticipate,forageshouldbeincluded,Chem fallowshouldbeincluded,protillnot!!!!!• Formsneedtobeeasiertoreadwithregardtoland• Havesomeonedoitforus.Theyaskforalotofinformationandpicturesofequipmenttoqualify• makeverificationslessonerous;makenetreturnsworththetimeforapplication• paperwork


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• ParticipatingintheCarbonProgram.Itisanightmareandverytimeconsuminglandownersignatures.• ProbablyjustthecompanyIwasdealingwithbutseemedtoneedtoredotoomanyformsandphotos.Otherwisetheprogramwas

easytomakeapplicationfor.• Simplifyit• simplifytheprocess• Streamlineprocess.Reduceredundantinformationgathering.• Thepaperworkandtimerequiredtocompleteapplicationsalongwiththecommitmenttoconservationpracticesgivenextraordinary

circumstancesthatcomealonginthecourseofchangesinclimateorfieldconditionsmadeitnotworthwhileforouroperation. Thosefillingoutthepaperworkweremakingmorethanus.

Redundantinformationgatheringeachyear• beabletocarryequipmentforwardifnochanges.everyyearthepeopleinchargeappeartotrymakingitmoredifficulttoparticipate,

apparentlycreatingjobsecurityforthemselves• continuityfromyeartoyearwhentillageequipmenthasnotchanged• Don'tknowwhytheyneedtheserialnumberofftheairseedereveryyearifitthesameastheyearbefore• Equipmentshouldstayonfileandifthereisnochangesinequipmentthanwejustfillinacresandgoodtogo• Keepaskingforalotofsameinformationyearafteryeardrillspecksetc.• relaxtherequirementsforphotosofnh3andseedingequipmenteveryyear.IfthereisonephotoonfileandIsignoffthatthereisno

changethenthatshouldbesufficienttoestablishtheequipmentstillqualifies


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• Thegovernmentwantsproofofequipmentweatheritwasthesamelastyearornot.Minestaysthesame.• tomuchredundantpaperwork• Wekeepgettinge-mailstosubmitinformationalreadyrequested&submitted,plusit'sannoyingthatwe'recontinuallyaskedfor land

ownerssignatureswhenwegotthemtosigninpreviousyears.Inawetyearmoretillageisrequired• 2017wasverywetforseeding.Thereforeseedingconcludestosomesurface/structuredamage.Needmoreroomfortillage• Duetoextremewetconditionsmoretillagewasrequiredtofillinrutsinfieldsandtoblackensoilsowoulddryandwarmupforspring

plantingsomyopenerswheretowideanddisturbedtomuchsoil• Shouldallowmoretillageinwetyears.Manyfieldshaveextensiverutsandweedissuestorepair.Landlordagreementsareahurdle• gettinglandlordagreementssignedaretheonlyproblem• havingthelandownersignoffonthecarboncreditsispointless.Theycan'tcollectanycarboncredits.AndassoonastheythinkIam

gettingany"free"money,theywanttoraisetherent.ItisforthisveryreasonthatIrefusetoevenmentiontheprogramtoabouthalfmylandlords

• Ifinditdifficultandrimeconsumingtogetlandlordssignatures,andthenisapresumptionbythemthattheyshouldshareinthereturn

• Itisalotofhassletogetsignaturesfromlandlords• landlordssignatures- shouldnotneedthisaggregators- keeping1/3ormoreofmoney• toolongagotorememberbutdorememberit'snotworththehasslewithrentedland


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Workingwell,fineasitis• Allgood• itisprogressingwell• Itworksgreatasis• Justkeepitrunning!• Notreallyexperiencinganyproblems• Theprogramworkswellnotsurewhywehavetotakepicturesofourequipmenteveryyearevenwhenit’sthesame.Noteffective,wasteoftime,don’tagreewithcarboncredits• Idon'tagreewiththecarbonprogram.Goodfarmingpracticesshouldbeprofitablewithoutsubsidies.• Ireallydon'tbelieveinthewholecapandtradenonsense...nobody...nobodyatallinthisareachangedhowwefarm(singlepassdirect

seeding),sonothingchanges,andwegetpaid??...itsjusttransferofwealth...nothingmore• ItseemslikeawasteoftimeformeandtheGovt.Ithasnoimpactonthedecisionmakingonmyfarm.awasteoftime.• NosuggestionsWasteoftimeandresourcesAccomplishesnothingOther• Isoldcarboncreditsviaa3rdpartycompanythattakescareofthataspect.Perhapsinformationcouldbemoreavailabletoproducers

astowhatthereoptionsare.Ibelievefarmersingeneraldon'tgolookingforinformationontheprogram.Theyjusttakeit as itcomes.• Ithinkfarmersingeneralusepracticesthatarebestformaximizingproduction.Carboncreditprogramsarejustaweebonus forother

companiesthatneedoffsets.


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• I’mnottooknowledgeableabouttheprogramasacropinputproviderdidthepaperworkforme.• Myanswersmaynotbequitetheanswersrequested.TheQuestionis."WhatisConservationCropping"?Ihaveseededallofmy

acresthroughDirect-One-Pass-Seedingfor20plusyears.• neededmorehelpandinfointheearlydaysofprogram• Needsmoreconsistency,lesschanges,morecertainty/stability.• Rainmakesgrain!Justbecausethelanddoesnotblowanymoredoesnotmeanithasnotbeendrierthanthe30’s• takesalongtimetogetthemoney• Usfarmersusesolarenergytogrowcrops,dryingcrops,weshouldbepaidforeverybushelandeverypoundofmeatweproduce.But

theflipsideweasCanadiansdon’thaveanyimpactontheworldspollutingproblems.Weneedcarbondioxideforourplantstogrow• Youneverknowthemarketprice

ReasonsforNotParticipatinginConservationTillageProtocol– “Otherspecify”

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Other• Aggregatordidnotreturnemailorcalls• Doesnottakeotherchangesinpracticeintoconsideration,onlypre-existingpractices.Rewardsanexistingpracticebutnoother

evolvingchanges• havenotresearchedintoit• notallofthelandisgoodfornotill.Havetospraymorethen.Youhavetoworkinthemanure• talkwithpeopleatthefarmshowandtheredidn'twanttotalkwithsomeonewithonly800acres• Wehaveparticipatedinthepast• Wewillusetillagewhennecessaryandgrowsomecropswherewecannotusezerotill

GF2– SuggestionsforImprovement

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Simplify,lesspaperwork• Formsmadealittleclearer• Keeptheapplicationformsassimpleandstraightforwardaspossible• Keepthepaperworktoaminimumandgetthematerials/approvalprocessasfastaspossible.Manyifnotallprojectsaretime

sensitive.• lesspaperworkandeasierapplications• lesspaperwork• Needtostreamlinetheappprocess• simplifyapplicationsandtiming• ToomuchpaperworkMoreinformation,clearerdefinitionsandterms• Abitmoredetailwhenadvertising.• Makedefinitionsclearer-highpressurevslowpressure.AlsoextrafundingforVRIwouldbevaluable.• Morespecificdefinitions.Ididn'trealizesomeofourpivotswereconsideredhighpressure,andlostoutonsomefunding.Increasethemaximumlimit,coverahigherpercentage• Augmenttheallowablemaximumlimitforprojects.Irrigationequipmentandmaterialshaveincreasedincost.• Itwouldbeniceifthewatermanagementhadbeena50%program.Howeverbecauseitwasavailablewedecommissionedtwopit

wellsandduganewwell.Itwaswellworththeeffort.


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Makemoreaccessibleandrelevantforsmallerfarms• alwaysseemtofocusonlargefarmswithlotsofhelp,labour.• Thebasicprogramsareokjustdon'tmakethemtoodifficultforthesmalltomediumsizedfarmers.Wherethemostchangecould

occur.Morefundingforoversubscribedprograms• ContinuationornewfundsforofsomeoftheprogramsthatgotoversubscribedinGF2• Werecentlyappliedforenergyefficiencymanagement,butwereturnedawayasprogramhasrunoutoffunds.Programfavours

thosewithexpendablecash.Improvespeedofprocessing• extremelyslowtoprocessapplicationsNeedstoBemoretimely• fasterturnaroundonapplications• sometimestakestolongtoknowifanymoneywillbeleftsoyoucandoproject.Timingofapprovalversusundertakingtheprojectandspendingthemoney• Iambuildingafarmshopusinghighefficiencylights,insulation,windows,heatingetc.Ispentconsiderableextramoneyfor

construction.Thenwastoldtheprogramwasoutofmoney.Iamwaitingfornewfundingfornewprogramfundingbuthaveheardnothingyet.

• Idonotthinkthatfullapprovalbeforestartingisuseful.Maybemoreaccountabilitywouldbebetter..AlsoImissedadeadlineonetime..notgood.


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Specificprogramsuggestions- typesofprojects,itemscovered• moreoptionsnotmuchfornewbuildings• needtoexpanditemscoveredsuchasairexchangers• Thereshouldbeacomponentinplacewheretherewouldbecreditavailableforupgradingbusinessmanagementcourseswhichwill

allowtheproducertomanagehisoperationmoreefficiently.Weconcentratesomuchontheexternalfactorsthatquiteoftentheinternalandmostoftenthemostimportantparts,beingbusinessmanagementaspectsareignoredorforgotten.OtherprovincessubsidizetheseandIfeelAlbertashouldaswell

Other• Ithinkthereissomeabuseofthesystem,whichisdisappointing.• Nospecificinput.Itwaseasytoparticipatein.• Ratesarenotsetbytheretailerbutbythedistributor.theapplicationspecificallyasksforverificationfromtheretailer. The

perceptionisthattheAgadministratorsdon'tunderstandthesystem.• stopchangingtheprocesstoqualify.• werentalotoflandandiftitleisnotinournamewedon'tqualifyeventhoughwearestillupgradingsystems.verycumbersomefor

usandlandlordtodoalltheworkinlandlordsnameandthenhavetosortoutcostsafterthefact• Wouldbeniceiftheprogramrewardedearlyadoptersofthesetechnologies.Seemsthatsooftentheseprogramsrewardthe

followers,notthepioneers.Manyofthequalifyingprojectsweredoneonthisfarm5-10Year’sbeforeanyonethoughtofpublicfunding....retroactivecompensationwouldbenice.

SuggestedImprovementstoCost-SharingAspectofGF2Programs

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Covermoreofthecost,realisticcaps• Alotofthisstuffdoesnotworkinallareas.Thanitstillcoststomuch.• Clearerestimatesofoverallcosts.• Costshareportionbygovernmentshouldnotbejustapercentage,butshouldbesettoensurethatthereisareturnoninvestmentbythe

producer• covermoreofthecost• Doesn'tmatterhowmuchcostsharingifthereisstillacost.Ifyoudon'thavethemoneynowayyouareparticipating.• Don'tknowthedetailswellenoughtocomment.Fundinglevelsseemacceptablebutdependingontotalprojectmightstillbetoomuchofarisk.• don'tlimittheprogramtosmallamounts,alargerfarmmayqualifyononefieldbutmightbeinterestedinupgradingmultiplelocationinoneyear

butthendoesn'tqualifyforfunding• farmersneedmorefortheirproductstobeabletoafford• Fund100%!!• generallycoveringthe50-70%percentisastretchandinsomecasestheamountissuchasmallportionofthecostithasmadeadoption

prohibitive• Governmentcanpayalargershare.• Haveaplanlayoutandapplyformorefundingtodomorecostsharing.• HighercostshareforslowerROIprojects• Iftheprogramboastsapercentageofthecostshared,itshouldnotbecappedtoadollarlimit.Oneortheotherbutnotboth


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• Iftheywantsomethingdoneforthegoodofeveryone,payforit.• Increasecostsharingto80%andaddtaxincentives.• Increasedincentivesfortheenergyefficiencyandphotovoltaicprogramswouldmakeitmorefeasibletoimplement.Someofthose

technologiestakequiteawhiletopaythemselvesoff• Ithastobeaffordabletowork.• Manyoftheimprovementsarestilltooexpensiveat50%,needtobe70to75%.• maximumneedstoberaised• Morefunding.ThecountyI'minsubmitstheapplicationforfundsfortheconstituent.Perhapsifpeopleweremademoreaware of the

programstheywouldpursueitmore• moremoneyforparticipant• Moremoneyfortheprogramsandawareness.• Placearealisticcaponindividual/corporationeligibility• Projectsofanykindarejustgettingveryexpensivethegovt maycoversomeofthecostbutthebalancecanbesohigh• Raisethecaps• thebenefitsarenotsufficienttooutweightinvestment• Thecapshouldbehigher,sothatwecangetthebestqualityofequipmentavailable• Theproducershouldhavetoputinlesstheprogramdoestomakeitmoreofanincentiveforpeopletohavetofilloutalltheforms

thegowiththeprogram


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Needmoreinformation,clearerinformation,assistance,advice• Advertisemore• Clearerinformationpriortoapplicationonwhatexpensesareeligible• Developteamsofpeopletogooutanddocompleteorpartialauditsoffarmssothatbothpartiesknowthebestdirectiontogoin• educationforfarmers• Evolvementfromthegovernmentsidesetoutsimplyandplainlybeforethestartoftheprogram.• Helpcompletingapplicationsandplanning• Ihaven’theardofanyoftheprogramssoadvertisingmightneedtoberampedup• Increaseawarenessandamountsavailable• Informationregardingtheavailabilityoftheprogramsandwhentoapply.• letproducersknowaboutprograms• Makingusmoreawareofwhat'soutthere• Moreeducation• Moreinformationaboutprogramsandassistanceforproducers!• moreinformativeaboutprograms• morepublicityabouttheprogramwouldhelp• notenoughinformationonwhatqualifies


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Suppliersinflatecosts• Assoonasthecompanyfindsoutyouwanttousegrowingforward,thecostsgoup30to50%• Ifeelthatsuppliersraisethecostsimplybecausethegovernmentisfootingthebill.• Theyraisethepriceequivalenttothegov'tsubsidyandtheymaketwiceasmuchmakingit.Waytocostly!!!Wouldratherreceivetaxcredit• BasicallyIthinkthesegranttypeofprogramsareunfairbecausenoteveryonecantakeadvantageofthem.Iwouldratherreceivea

taxcreditforimplementingsomeofthesemeasures.• shouldincludesometaxincentives• Taxablesavingsareanincentive.IdonotbelieveGovernmentsshouldbeinthebusinessofgrantingdollarstopromoteprograms.I

believethatprivatebusinessinvestmentshouldbeencouragedthroughtaxablesavingprograms.Thiswouldencouragemoretargetedprojectsthathaverealeffectivebusinessplans.

Beretroactive,differenttimingofbudgeting,notimetowaitforapprovals• Beretroactiveifwehavealreadybeenproactiveinintroduction.• Ididnotliketheideaofhavingtoshowthewholebudgetbeforeyougetaccepted.Sometimesdealscomeupandyoucansavemoney

foryouandtheproject.• Ihavedoneprojectsthatwouldqualify.SomeIdidnotknowfundingwasavailableandthereisnoretroactiveapplications. Andother

timesIjustcan'taffordthetimetodotheapplicationsandthenwaitforapproval


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• MakeitretroactiveonlargepurchaseslikeanairdrillorselfpropelledsprayerwithGPSsectionalcontrol.Variablerateetc...Sometimesfarmsgetcaughtupinthepurchaseofthesebigticketitemsandforgettheymaybeeligibleforsomecostsharing.

• Providemorefunding.IchangedallmyyardlightsovertoLEDlightingandIwasdeniedfundingafterworkwascompletedb/ctheprogramwasoutoffundsandIcompletedtheprojectwithoutpriorapproval.

• ThatifyouhavespentthemoneyyoushouldbeabletogettheMaxofthecostbacknothavetogothoughallpreapps.• Tooexpensiveaninvestmenttobeabletowaitforgovt participation-especiallyifonedoesnotqualify-notwillingtoriskthatkindof

investment• toolongatimebeforeyougetthemoney.shouldapplyandgetthemoneyfirstthengettheprojectespeciallyinthepastyearandthis

yearwhenmajorityofcropsweresnowedunderandcropinsuranceisnothelping.• Whenyouneedanewwellitsnotaprioritytohaveabureaucratokit.Broadenitemscovered,lessrestrictions• broadenitemscovered.Laborismainissue• lessrestrictionsontheproject• widerscopeofprojectsthatcanbeapproved/Qualifyundertheprogram• Windowsanddoorsinhouse


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Disagreewithprograms• broadenitemscovered.Laborismainissue• lessrestrictionsontheproject• widerscopeofprojectsthatcanbeapproved/Qualifyundertheprogram• Deregulation......keepgovernmentsmall• Doawaywithprogram• Letpeoplekeeptheirownmoneyandinvestinthingstheywant• Removeallcostsharing.Itisabusedandnotnecessary.• Tobesustainable,theyshouldnothavetobesubsidizedatall.Havemoremoneyintheprogram,allocatefundsbetter• Don'trunoutofmoney• Fundsshouldbere-allocatedfromlowdemandareastohighdemandareas.• lotsoftimesmoneyfortheseprojectsrunsoutbeforeyoucangetapproved.• Mostprogramsrunoutofmoneywithindaysofopening.• Programfundsranoutbeforeallwhoappliedcoulduseit.Thereneedstobemoreflexibilitytoallowtransferoffundsfrom under-

subscribedtoover-subscribedprograms• Thegovt iscuttingbackinsomanyareassothisprogramshouldbebetterfundediftheytrulybelievedinit


134

Paperworkorrequirementscumbersome,redtape,complicated• Clarityandeffectiveness/costbenefit• formsfartoocumbersomeprogramisoutofmoneywhenyou

apply• Foundtheprogramstobecumbersomeinthepastand

sometimeitseemsthegovernmentismoreinterestedinfindingswaysyoudon'tqualifyratherthanencouragingparticipation.

• IhavefoundGrowingForwardprogramsinvolveanincredibleamountofredtapeThereforeIquitlookingatitLessredtapeplease

• Keepitsimple• lesspaperwork• Makeitasuserfriendlyaspossible• Makeiteasiertoaccessprograms

• Maketheapplicationprocesseasier• Makethemsimple• Overlycomplicatedprocess• Projectformsshouldallbeelectronicwithabilitytocheckon

status.Shouldbeabletostarttheprojectbeforepaperworkisreturnedaslongasallrequirementsaremet.

• Removeallthebureaucraticlanguagefromapplicationsandmaketheprogramsaccessibletofarmerswithouthavingtohireaccountantsorlawyerstointerprettheforms.

• seemsbitmuchhassleandlongprocess• Simplicity• Simplifyeverythingaboutalltheprograms.• Simplifytheprocess.


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Seemstargetedatlargerfarms,doesn'tworkeverywhere• I feeltheprogramsaregenerallyforthewellofffarmerse.g.Idonothave$200,000forasolargridalthoughitmightbeagoodidea.I

alsofindthattheprogramsrequirethatubuybrandnewequipmentwhichthelargefarmerscanbuyandI endupbuyingthereusedequipment.wealsoappliedtobuyastocktrailerbutthefundsweregonethesamemorningtheAlbertagovernmentshouldnotbebuyingtrailersforthefarmers

• interestedinirrigationprojectswhichwouldaccommodatesmallindividualfarmsondrylandprojects.• Maybeitbenefitsthelargefarmmore.Shouldbemoreincentiveforthesmallertomediumfarms.• programsonlyforlargeproducers• Shouldbedependentontypeofprojectandtypeoffarm,coloniesshouldbeexcluded.Other• Consistencyintheapplicationprocess,stopchangingwitheverynewprogram• D8ntchangeamountspartwaythroughprogram.• Fasterreimbursement• Increasecarboncreditlevel• Infrastructure(base,stands,etc.)formysolarprojectwasnotcoveredwhichwasalargeportionoftheprojectplusmyruralcounty- is

notsupportiveofsolarprojects.Alsothemajorityofmypowerbillisnotofthepowerused,it’salltheextrafeesaddedonsoswitchingtosolarpowerandstayingongridIstillhavebigpowerbillsevenifI’mnotusingpower.


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• Insideofpayingconsultantsandredtapepaydirecttofarmerwhoismakingtheactualinvestment• Moreprograms• PayingthecostofastocktrailersupposedlyforBiosecurityisjustplaintheft.Goodaccountant,goodwindfall,• shouldbeconsideredwithcostjustification• Someoftheprogramsdon'tmakesense.I.e.solarisexpensiveamaynotprovidegoodROI.Sundoesn'tshineatnight.Nostorage.Still

needfullbackupifpower.Waterworksbest.• Thegovernmentshouldallowproducerstoinstallequipmentthemselves,bythetimeathirdpartyinstallsitmostofthefunding is

usedup.• Therulesaboutlabour costsbyparticipantshouldbeincluded.Itwasincludedinthefueltankprogrambutnotthewater

management• Waterwells,andsomedecommissionofwells

Pleasedescribeanychangesthatyouaremakingorconsideringonyourfarm,orpractices,technologiesorequipmentyoumightadopt,thatyouthinkwouldbegoodcandidatesforthiskindofsupportandfunding.

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Lesstillage/moredirectseeding• Buyinganotillairdrill.• Ihaveadoptednotilltoimprovesoilandsavetimeandfuel.Othersmaybetooexpensiveforthesizeofmyfarm.Ie sectionalcontrol

etc.• MinimaltillUseGPStechnology• Reducedtillage.Responsiblemanagementofpesticidesandfertilizers• zero/minimumtillagesystemsVariablerateapplicationoffertilizer(GPSorsensorbased)• Continuedworkonmakingprecisionsprayingandseedingmoreefficientin• GPSbasedratecontrol,autoboomcontrol,autosteer,mappinganddatastorage• GPSforfertilizerapplicationandseedingspraying.Trytofarmthesmalllowspotsinsteadofgoingaroundthem.Powerlessaeration

bins.• greenseeker• Possiblyvariableratetechnologies.• Sprayersthattargetweedssowecanstopblanketspraying,theylookjustaheadofsprayerandturnnozzlesonwhenweedsare

detected• Variableratefertilizer


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• VariableratefertilizingSectionalcontrolforfertilizerStabilizedNitrogensources• Variablerateseeding/fertilizing&spraying.GPSSectionalcontrol.Enhancedsoiltesting.Grainstorageupgrades,I.e.Biggerbinswith

hoppersorcentralloadout.Intercropping.• VRandsectionalseedingequipment• WearetryingoutvariableratefertilizeronsomeofourlandBettermanagementofon-farmwatersupply,drainage,wetlandsmanagement• Landqualitydrainageoflandwithsalinityissues(surfacewaterbringingupsalts)• RiparianprojectcouldbedoneonmyfarmIthinkfencingisatleast$7000.00amile• seedgrasslookafterwater• waterharvestingandwetlandbuilding• Watermanagement• watermanagement,GPStechnology,fertilizerplacementOn-farmsolarpower,solarpanels• Amconsideringinstallingsolarpanels• Consideringsolarpanels• Iwouldlikesolarorwindpowerandbeabletosellelectricitybacktothecompany.• solarenergygridconnected


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• Solarenergy,energymanagement,nutrientutilization• solarpower• Solarpower,sectionalcontrolsonseeddrill,pesticidecontainerdisposal• Solarpower,GPSguidance• Solarpower.Safefuelstorage.• Solarvoltaicinstallation.Perhapsthenitratecaptureincentiveoncemoreinformationisreleased.• Solar,splitapplicationsforfertility,waterstorage,grass/cloverbordersonfields,landscapespecificmicronutrient/macronutrients

application.• Thinkingaboutsolarpower.Tryingtouselesspesticidesherbicidesetc.• Wanttoputsolarpanelsandgeothermalheating.Betteron-farmenergymanagement• energyefficiency.• energyefficient,waterprojectsrelatedtolivestock,biosecurity• energyefficient• Energysavingtechnology.• Implementationofhighefficiencylights,heating,andinsulationtoafarmshop.• Installedledyardlightsforreducedenergyuseandgreatersafetyandsecurity.


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• LEDlightinginyardandshop.ExpandingmysolarPVsystem.IncreasingmyuseofESNvsurea.Reducingoreliminatingpesticide use.FoliarinsecticidesmustbeeliminatedReducedieselfuelconsumption

• LEDlighting.Lessuseofgridservices(electricgasinternet)• lookingatledconversiononthefixturesonourfarm.AlsotheuseofmoreWirelesstechnologytobeabletoremotemonitordifferent

aspectsoftheoperationsowearenotdrivingaroundalloverphysicallycheckingthings• Makingexistingbuildingsmoreenergyefficient,highefficiencygraindryers,• Moreenergyefficient• PowerandwaterupgradesImprovedfertilizertechnologies,practices,equipment• Adaptingsomeformoffundingtooffsettheextracostofnitrogenproductsthatallowfornitrogentobeplacedandutilized as

needed,i.e.ESNetc.• Amendmentsthatcanbeaddedtosoilsoitcanpreformbetter,programtoleavetreesinthefields,tomanyarebetakenout• Alreadyusesomesectionalcontrolmachines.WouldbehelpfultohavehelpwithslowreleaseNas thatclaimstohavelessleaching

thanurea• Liquidfertilizer,sectionalcontrolforseedingandfertilizerplacement.• moreefficientuseoffertilizer• nitrousoxidereductions• Upgradingnitrogenapplicationequipment.


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Improvedpesticidetechnologies,practices,equipment• biologicalcontroloptions-methodsforcropproduction• Exactapplyspraytipssectionalcontrolvariablerateapplications• glutenfree,properchemicaluse,generationofaproperchemicaldisposallocationforextrachem fromsprayingoperations• hiringmysprayingdonewithamoreefficientsprayer.• Individualtipcontrolsprayernozzles• lowdriftsprayingequipmentvariableratetechnologynotillseedingequipmentImprovedwastemanagement(e.g.plastic,oil,etc.)• ImprovedprovincewidecollectionssystemforrecyclingonFarmplastics.Baletwine,silageplastic,netwrap,plasticoilcontainers.An

onFarmbinsystem.• RecyclegrainbagsMoreefficientirrigationsystems,solar,variablerate• addingsolarsystemstoirrigationsites,upgradingirrigationsystemstobemoreefficient.investmentinVRtechnology,investmentin

moreefficientgrainaerationandpotatoventilationtechnology• ChangefromcentrifugaltoturbinepumpssothatwecanuseVariablefrequencydrivesandsaveenergycostsofpumping.• includesubsurfaceirrigationintheirrigationefficiencyprogram


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• irrigation• Irrigationefficiencyenhancementprojects• Irrigationenergycost• Irritationchanges• Somesolarwateringsystemsonourfarm• VRIirrigationSprayingtechnologyBetteruseofGPSdatasuchasyield,soil,as-applied,topography,etc.(datamanagement,use,analysis,storage)RTKbaselineGPS,dataloggingandanalyzing,limingtoincreasesoilphEmissionsmodificationstoequipment,orusemodernequipment,reducefuelconsumption• Anyequipmentthatwouldreducecarbonimprintonmyfarm...i.e.higherefficiencymotors,newerequipmentthathasloweremissions• InmyfarmingoperationIamtryingtokeepmodernequipmenttoreduceemissions,Iworkwithneighbouring cattlefarmerstospread

manureonmylandtoreducefertilizer,Ileavewetland/forestareasaround/withinmyfieldsforwildlife• moreefficientequipment• offsetsforthecostoftier4emissionsonnewunitsorsomeformofdirecttaxrebatesorcreditsforextracoststoagtorecoversomeof

thecostsincurredbyustopurchasemachinestomeetCaliforniastandardsnotusedelsewhereintheworld,whichplacesus at ahugedisadvantagetoothercountriesandagproducers.

• thepurchasingoftierfourengines


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Improvedseedingtechnology• AddingcoulterstomyairdrilltoincreasetoughresiduehandlingsituationssoIcansellmystupidheavyharrows.• Improvingcropseedingequipment• Upgradeseedingtooltoreducedisturbance.• Wearechangingourseedingtoolandcombineheader.Thiswillmakeourfarmmorefuelefficientandleavemorestubbleontheland

topreventerosion.Thesechangesshouldbepartiallyfundedbythegovernment.Improvedormoreefficientgrainandpesticidestorage,dryingandaerationtechnology• GrainDryingEquipment,• Iwouldliketoupgrademygraindryertouselessfuelandlessoperationalcoststome.Itwouldsavemesomecarbontaxonthe

propanethatIusefordryinggrain.• purchasegraindrierandelectricalgeneratorforbinyard• updateburnerongraindryerformoreefficientenergyuseusingmorefoliarfertilizerSectionalcontrols,autosteer,GPS-relatedimprovements• Anythingthatshowsapositivereturnoninvestment.SectionalControlZerotillDrainingsloughsandwetlands• Autosteer,variableratecontrol• Consideringsectionalcontrolfordrilltoeliminatefertilizeroverlap• GPSinstallationonequipment


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• GPSrelatedstuff• IwouldliketoadoptGPSandsectionalcontrolonmyairseeder,butthecostisprohibitiveforasmall-mediumsizedoperationlike

mine.• removalofsmallbrushpatchesandwaterdrainswhichcausedeviationsinthestraightlineGPSfarmingpatterns.Thisallowsreduced

overlapandlessturningandduplicationaroundobstacles.Needbetter(cheaper)technologytoallowelevationcontrolwhendrainingwaterholes.

• Sectionalcontrol• Sectionalcontrolandvariableratetechnologyforseedingandsprayingequipment• sectionalcontrolofinputs,yieldmappingtouseforinputapplication,aerial/satelliteimaging,dronescoutingtechnology• SectionalcontrolonAirDrills,Pesticidestorage,MoreenergyefficientGrainDryers,Fuelstorage,Solarpowersystems,On-farm

Chemicalhandling,WaterManagement• Sectionalcontrolonairseeder.Newcombines.Replaceequipmentasneeded.• sectionalcontrolonseeddrills• SectionalcontrolonsprayersandseedersLEDlightingonbuildings• Sectionalcontrolseeding• Sectionalcontrolseeding,fertilizerandCPPproducts,andtimedfertilizerapplicationstomidigateoverapplications


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• Sectionalcontrolseeding,prescriptionfarming• SectionalNH3• UpgradingtoasprayerwithGPSsectionalboomcontrolImprovedharvestingequipment,improvedharvestpractices• Consideringupdatingthecombinesandpartofthepotentialbenefitisstrawmanagement...incentivestoadoptnewharvesting

equipmentwouldbebeneficialwithenvironmentalbenefits.• Straightcuttingratherthenswathingandthenharvesting.Fuelstorage• Differentfuelstorage• fueltankRotations,differentcrops,organic• Betterrotations.• I'mtransitioningtoorganicproduction• Wearetransitioningtoorganic/regenerativefarmingbutthedecreaseinincomeforayearortwohurts.Aswellsomecostsharingfor

specificequipmentwouldhelp.


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Livestockrelated• Bettercattlehandlingfacility,GPSguidedequipment,zerotillifgrounddriesup• calvingfacilities,improvingwaterqualityfromdugouts• Cattlehandlingequipment• Consideringchangingmywateringpracticesinpasturesforcattle.Alsoconsideringchem,fuelandusedoilstorage• Corrals• Diggingsomedugouts• fundingtohelpputsolarpumpsandwatertroughstokeeplivestockawayfromwaterdugoutsandsloughs• Livestockhandlingfacilities.Conservationtillage.• possiblyanosepumpforwinterwatering• raisinghogsoutside• Wehavemadechangesinourfarmingpracticesandequipmentthataremoreefficient,suchaszerotill,straightcombining,sectional

controlonseedingandsprayingequipment,manureapplication,andreturnofusedchemicalcontainersandusedoil.


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Other• ChangingthewayIdothingsonthefarmtobemoreaffective.• cropinsuranceshouldonlybeavailableeveryfourthyearoncanolagrowingonanyparticularfield• dependsonourfunds• don'twantanyfunding,Growingforwardhasbecomeaprogramthatsupportsasecondaryindustrythatprovidesnosupporttoag

industry• EnvironmentalFarmPlan• Environmentalsustainabilityisaverybroadtermtotospeakon.• expandingthesizeofequipment• Farmershavealwaysbeengoodstewardsofourland.Werealizethatitisimportantforthesustainabilityofourfarmsthatwemust

adapttoourchangingenvironment.Governmentsarejuststartingtounderstandthis.Farmersarewayoutinfrontonthisand wedon'tneedGovernmenttellingushowtodothis.WehavemadetheinvestmentsonourfarmstoadaptwithoutGovernmentincentives.Myadvice,wedon'tneedyourhelp.Wearealreadydoingit.

• Governmentsupportshouldnotberequiredtodothesustainablething.Educationshouldbetheextentoftheircontributiontosustainability.

• Ifindconventionaltillageconservesmoreenergythananythingelseandproducesmoreforless• Ineedtoupgradeallmyequipment!


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• Iwillfundmyownchangesinpracticesbasedonmarketdecisionsandrealworldreturnsnotonsomebureaucrat’sdecisiontospendmoneyonsomequestionableoruneconomicpractice.IfitmakessenseIwilldoitonmyown.

• Keepingbadweedsdown,maintainexistingnaturalhabitatfertilizermanagement• Moreguvfunding• Newtechnology• Numericacidtrials• Promotingagriculturaleducationtotheyoungerpopulation.Maybeeveneducationcoursesforallagesinagriculture.• thewayIfarm• time• TiredofridiculousprogramsputonthroughAlbertaagriculturereps!Theyarebehindthetimesandredundantandtiredofpaying

theirwagesjustlikeAlbertabeefproducers!Getyourhandsoutofourpockets-wepaywaytoomuchtaxandfollowtoomanyprogramsasitis

• Wearealwayslookingforwaystobemorecosteffective,betterstewardsoftheland,efficientinbothcropandcattleproduction.• WehavebisonandanythingthataddssafetytostaffandanimalswhenhandlingProperfacilitiesmakesahugedifferenceforusthe

programmovedustocompletealotfencingandupgradesallthroughthefeedlot• westrivetobeenvironmentallyfriendlyalwaysandthrowingmoneyatwillnotnecessarilyhelp• Willberetiring

Aided– PracticesorTechnologiesInterestedinAdopting– “Otherspecify”

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Other• Drainmoresloughsandgetridofextremenumbersofwaterfowl• FarmSafetyCattleHandling• Improvetillagetechniquetoenrichlandseedbase- removehardpanlayer.• MoreefficientGrainDryers• Trees• windpower,

BarrierstoAdoptingPractices– “Otherspecify”

150

• Goodinformationthatverifiesresults• Governmentregulation• Governmentregulationsregardingdrainage• Highclearancesprayersmakeitsomewhateasier• internationalmarket• longtimeeffect• Manyofourfamilymembersarenotexpertsinthetechnology

areaandthatcombinedwiththecostofbuyingtheequipmentandthetechnologywouldresultinalossoftimeandmoney.

• marketingofothernitrogen-fixingcrops• Theabilitytopickgoodproducts,andnotgood• beingchargedcarbontax• discretionarytillage• Efficiency• IdonotuseorplantoincorporateGMOplants

• Ihavealreadyinvestedinandimplementednearlyallofthematmyownexpense.Iftheymakesensemanagerswilldoitthemselves.Quittaxingusandletusdoit!

• Isthetechnologyreliable• Moreefficient• Shortgrowingseason,notenoughglobalwarmingyet• Shortseasoninthenorth• TheIndiatariffsonPeasandourinabilitytogrowsoybeansin

Alberta• Togetpowercompanytopayonoverproducts

Forthepracticesthatyouwanttoadopt,whattypesofsupportareneeded?”OtherSpecify”

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• centralizedsupporttoaccessprogram,timesaving• erosioncontrol(water,runoff)support• Landleases• Landsubsidy• Lessregulations• limitcropinsuranceontightcroprotations• rebatesthatareeasytoapplyforwithamaximumsobigfarms

don'tuseupallavailablefunding• researchintonewproductsandinnovations

FinalComments

152

KeepitSimple• Advertisingorprovidingupdatesregardingtheprogramsto

producerswhocanqualifyfortheprogramsbutdon'tnecessarilygetoutofthedailygrindoffarmingtobemadeawareoftheprograms.

• Easeofuse,flexibility,andPRACTICALITY• Keepgovernmentprogramssimpleandeasytoparticipate.• Keepitsimple(5)• keepthemsimpleandinformative• KEEPTHINGSSIMPLEANDEASYFORFARMERSTODOAND

UNDERSTAND.• Makeitcleanandcrisp,andactuallyhappen,notlotspromises(

lookslikelotsfreemoneytononfarmers)thenpilesredtapeandminorcashattheend.

• programmingshouldbesimpletounderstand,relevanttomixedfarmingoperations.

• Simplifytheprocess• Tomakeiteasytouse.

Awareness,promotion• getnewinfoouttome• moreinformation• Pleasegettheinformationoutinatimelymatter.Oftenwedon't

knowabouttheprogramsavailableastheyseemtogetoutwhenit'sthebusiesttimesoftheyear.

• Requireincreasedcommunicationwithfarmers.• Wedonothearaboutprogramsbeforetheyareexpired-ie

differentcommunication

FinalComments

153

Don’tlikefundingprograms• Donottradeitforanything.Iwouldprefermorefreedomtogettingafewdollarsforprojectswhichdonotmakeanysensewithout

governmentfunding.• Goodfarmingpracticesareabenefit,bothenvironmentallyandfinanciallyanddon'tneedtobesubsidized.• IhaveverylittlefaiththatanythingteamAlbertacomesupwithwillbelistenedto,byourcurrentgovernmentinAlberta• Iwouldratheryouallquitcateringtogovernmentbureaucratsandtellthemtotakeawaythecarbontax,thefueltaxesandallother

manipulativetaxesandjusteducateusonbestpracticesandtrustustobegoodstewardsoftheenvironment.Idorealizethiswouldseriouslydecreasethecivilservicebuttheywouldsoonadjustandfindproductivejobs.

• Letusfarm,weknowwhat'sbestforourland.• Pleaseconcentrateyoureffortsonencouraginglessgovernmentinterferencewithfarming,notadditionalprogramswithassociated

restrictionsandregulations.• Thewholeideaofcarboncreditsisthegovernments'wayofincreasingtaxationwithoutmeaningfulenvironmentalresults.We livein

aglobaleconomy,marketourproductsglobally,andarepenalizedbyourgovernment,ensuringCanadianfarmersarenotcompetitive!

• Thesegroupsstealmoneyfromfarmersandhelpnoonethatneedsit!Wewantourmoneyback.Theyshouldrequiresignuptogetfunding!!!

• Tobeselfsustaining,theprogrammustbeofbenefittothegrower'soperationwithoutgovernmentfunding.• weshouldnotbeforcedtopayintotheseprogramsifgovernmentwantstheseprogramstheyshouldfundthemontheirown

FinalComments

154

Positivereprograms• Costsharedfundinghasworkedverywellinthepast.Theadoptionofnewtechnologiesi.e.:GPSwasadefinitesuccessinpastGF

programming.Thiscanhappenagainwithtodaysnewtech.On-farmenergyefficiencyhashugepotential,moreefficientgraindryers,solarpower.OnFarmenvironmentalprojectssuchasFuelorPesticidestoragewouldbebeneficial.

• Good• Itisalwaysnicewhensomethingcanbedoneanditworksforeveryone• Keepofferingprograms• Keepupthefight• Twas fun............• Veryinterestinganditwillbenicetoseewhatthefutureholdsforallofus.Thankyou• WereceivedagrantfromGrowing.Forwardin2012underOnFarmFoodSafetyProducerProgrampurchasingaSilencerhydraulic

squeeze.Thishasbeenagreatassetforourcattleoperation.Specificprogramsuggestions• drainageprogramstocuresaltbuildup• IamaglutenfreefarmasIamhighlyallergictoglutenbasedprocessedproducts,anyhelpavailableformetofurtherthis cause• I'mexperimentingwithgreenmanuretechniquestoimprovethelandbasequality.• Makesureprogramsapplytosmallerfarmersi.e.thoseunder1000acres.• Morefunding/subsidies.Farmisbecomingveryhardtomakealiving,thecostofequipmentandinputsisridiculous.

FinalComments

155

• needtohavelowerpricedGPSElevationequipmenttoaccommodatedrainage.Needtohavelowcostirrigationsystemstoutilizewatercollectedbydrainagesystemstoprovidewaterirrigationduringprolongeddryperiodsindrylandfarming.

• Notalllandisgoodfornotill.Neighbours whotrieditstoppedwithitagain.Yourlandwarmseasierwhenyoudoaspringtillandyoucanworkinyourfertilizer.Youalsoworkuptheearlyemergingweeds,soyoudon'thavetospray.Notillismostlymorespraying.Therewillbetimes,thatesp.sprayingwithRoundupwillbeforbidden

• PleaseensurethatgovernmentfriendlyfirmslikeKPMGandMNPdonohaveapplicationsloadedinthesystemreadytosubmitallatonce.ThishappenedwithBiodiversityprograms,whereeveryonethathadanylivestockgotanaluminumstocktrailerbecausethecriteriawaswellunderstoodandalltheearlyapplicationsfitthesamepatternandusedupthemoneyallocatedinthefirst grouping.

• Programstohelpproducersdealwithmanagementofincomingdiseaseslikeclubroot,blackleg,fusarium,andweedresistance.Alsolookatmulticroppingasawaytobuildsoilhealthandproductivity.

• Sectioncontrolonsprayernozzlewise,smallunitsonseedingequipmentareimportantasVR• Solarpowerwouldbemytoppriority- pleaselobbygovernmenttochangeregulationsregardingmicro-generationsothatwecan

generatemorethanweconsume!• Yieldmappingtechnology

FinalComments

156

Taxincentivesratherthancost-sharing• Governmentprogramsleadtogovernmentbureaucracywhichishighlyinefficientandhasnegligibleeffects.Encouragepractices

thoughtaxincentivesbutquitspendingothertaxpayersmoneytogivetofarmerssotheycanfarmprograms.• Iwouldrathernothavegovernmentfundingorinvolvementasitwillrequirevastamountsofrecordkeeping,inspectionsandtimeto

justgetafewifanydollars(whichwillbetaxedback)andisviewedbythepublicasahandout.AsubstantivetaxcreditoninvestmentsrelatedtoGHG'sandenergyefficiencywouldbetheleastintrusiveintothefarmoperationsandprovidethemost benefittoencourageupgradingandinvestinginequipmentandtechnologytoimprovebestfarmingpractices.Taxincentivesprovidethefarmerthegreatestadvantagewiththeleastgovernmentinvolvement,isnotviewedasagovernmenthandout,isnotanexpenseonthegovernmentbudget,andencouragesupgradingequipmentandtechnologywhichisgreatfortheeconomy.

• Important:KeepGovernmentgrantingofmoney]outoftheplan.AsIstatedearlier,taxincentivesworkwell.Governmentgrantscreateinequalitiesinouragriculturecommunities.Wehaveseenthishappenforexampleingrantsforgrainstorageexpansion.Somefarmersreceivedgrantsandsomedidnotbecausethegrantdollarsfortheprogramranout.Governmentsshouldnotbeinthebusinessforgrantingmoneyforcapitalinvestments.Thatiswhattaxincentivesarefor.

Makeprogramsattainable,practical• Makesureprogramsarerealisticandattainableanddon’trestrictfarmingpracticessotheyaren’tviable• Programsneedtoworkforthemajorityofoperations.Theyshouldworkforthewayfarmsworkandnothavetochangemajorlyto

qualify

FinalComments

157

Makeavailableandaccessibletoall• Willitbenefitthelargefarmersonly?Howaboutthingsforthesmall?• workforallproducersnotjustthespecialinterestgroupsOther• Agristability programhashelpedusalot• Canadianfarmerswanttoleadtheworldinnutrient-dense/superfoodproductionalongwithCanadianplantbreedersandcrop

nutritionists.• Cost• costofcarbonleviesonfarmnetreturn• GetBill6repealed• Herbicidecompanyloyaltyprogramsarenotinthebestinterestofenvironmentalconsiderations,herbicideresistanceconcernsor

overalllongtermsustainablygoalsandshouldbedoneawaywith.Thelowestpossiblepurchasepriceforperformancepesticidesisthebest"loyaltyprogram"available.Useit

• Ididnotknowthecommission'swereinchargeofthegovernmentmoney?Iaminaareathathasbeenforgottenabout.Ineed todriveatleast2hourstoameetingbuthavelivestocktotendtoeveryday.IhavenohelpandwithBill6,IguessIwillnevergetanymorehiredhelp.

• morehelpwithnewlawsextaxchangesbill6etc lobbymoreforproducerstostopandimprovesomeofthenewlegwearefacing

FinalComments

158

• NAFTAandothertradeagreementsareveryimportanttobeabletomarketourcropsmorefreelyaroundtheworld.• Needaconsistentfundingforcropsresearchandbreeding.• Ourfarmismintillandisneededforourhighorganicpeatsoils• Overregulationkillsefficiency• Programhasneverfitme.TheywereeitheroutofmoneyorbythetimeareplywasavailabletheseasonIhadtodothejobhad

passedsoIjustboughtwhatIneededonmyown.• pulsedevelopment• ROIisdifficulttospreadoverfutureyearswhenIdon'thaveenoughcashtopayupfront.• takeintoconsiderationtheeconomicchallengesyoungproducersfaceinthistimewherelandpricesandequipmenthaveskyrocketed

andmanycurrentprogramstoaccessfundinghavenotchangedin10yearsandareessentiallypointlessintodayseconomicreality• Theconsiderationthatbestpracticesarenotuniversal;thatareasthathaveexperiencedexcessivemoistureforthelastthreeyears

arehavingtocopewithconditionsthatcausedustoreturntomoreconventionalmethodsfromwhatwewouldotherwise.• Theimpactofoveruseofchemicalsonourfood(sprayinguptofivetimes)hasyettobedetermined.No-tillisamyopicpracticethatis

championedandlobbiedbybigpharmawhichinturndirectsgovernments.• Thenotillideaworksgreatuntilyoumeetupwithweedresistanceandenduphavingtomakeatillagepasstoworkonendingthe

resistance.Thenofcourse,weaddintheconceptofdeeptillageandheavyharrowingandsuddenlythenotillidea/carboncreditprogramsseemalotliketheemperorsnewclothes.

• Thereneedstobeaccountabilityinusingtheseprogramsiftheyarepartialfundedbythegovt.• Togetgrainsoldfaster.Theworldisstarving.Sellthegrain.

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Team Alberta 2017 Farmer Survey Results Final Report · 12/18/2017 · Team Alberta 2017 Farmer Survey Results 1 Final Report December 18, 2017. Table of Contents Executive Summary

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