Download Seasonal distribution of runoff and soil loss under four

Impacts of Climate Change in
Agriculture and Possible Adaptations
in Atlantic Canada
Jean-Louis Daigle, Executive Director
Gordon Fairchild, Ph.D., P.Ag., Soils Specialist
Presentation to:
Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Forestry
Ottawa, May 1st, 2003
The ECSWCC is located
in a prime location:
• A highly representative
Potato production area in NB
• Black Brook & Little River Studies
• Groundwater Studies (AAC)
• Habitat Studies (CRI)
• Natural Lab. for Soil and
Water Conservation Education
Upper Saint John River - Grand Falls, NB
Eastern Canada Soil and Water Conservation Centre
(ECSWCC)
Our Mission
To promote sustainable natural resource
management with Atlantic Canada
agricultural stakeholders.
Eastern Canada Soil and Water Conservation Centre
Our Vision
We envision a future where the development
of the Agricultural Industry is :
environmentally sound,
economically viable, and
socially responsible
Eastern Canada Soil and Water Conservation Centre
Our Mandate
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Information and Awareness Services
Networking
Policy Analysis
Technology Transfer
Specialized Advisory Services
Professional Development
(2002 Strategic Plan)
Our Involvements with Climate Change
& GHG in Agriculture
• Agriculture and Agri-Food Climate Change Table
Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emmissions from Canadian
Agriculture Options Report 2001
• Agricultural Awareness Partnership Project
Under the Climate Change Action Fund (CFA, SCCC,
CCA, PFRA-AAFC and ECSWCC)
• C-CIARN Agriculture National Advisory Group
CC - Impacts & Adaptation Research Network in Agriculture
• AAFC Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Advisory Committee
• Soil Conservation Council of Canada
Taking Charge Initiatives & GHG Mitigation Program
Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation
In the Atlantic Region
Overview and special focus areas:
1- Conservation Implications of climate change:
Soil Erosion and Runoff from Cropland
Water Quality Impacts
2- Water Conservation and Management
Irrigation Needs
Flood Control
3- Actions needed for Adaptation in Agriculture
Many Atlantic soils are still impacted by
serious soil erosion and degradation issues
Excess Soil Erosion and Runoff
Soil Compaction
Loss of Organic Matter
Loss of Available Soil-Water
Loss of Crop Productivity
Estimated annual on-farm cost $40 million in
Atlantic region and $10-12 million in NB Potato Belt
alone (1985 estimates by AAFC)
Increased risks of soil erosion & impacts of agricultural runoff
containing sediments, N, P, pesticides & bacteria
Black Brook
6,000 T/yr
Regional Climatic Considerations
from: The Health of our Water. (2000). Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
"A change in precipitation regime also produces a change
in the level of risks to which agricultural land is exposed.
In general, a regime with greater annual precipitation
particularly if increased storm intensity changes more
than storm frequencyhightens the risk of soil erosion, runoff, and related
environmental and ecological damages."
Source: Conservation Implications of Climate Change Report
from Soil and Water Conservation Society
January 2003
Sheet & rill soil erosion are being addressed by:
1. Better Crop Rotation
2. Strip cropping
3. Winter cover crops
Green manures
4. Conservation tillage
& Residue Management
5. Mulching
1,2
3
4
5
Rill & gully erosion (steeper fields) by:
6. Cross-slope & contour cropping
7. Diversion terraces &
grassed waterways
8. Land drainage enhancement
9. Nutrient and Sediment Control Basins
6&7
9
7
8
Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation
2- Water Conservation & Management Needs
•
Increasing requirements for Supplemental Irrigation
Competition for available surface and ground water
Need for water sourcing infrastructures
Feasibility of supplemental irrigation ?
•
Increasing flood risks in sensitive areas or
watersheds:
Coastal zones (NB, PEI, NS)
Floodplains (ex. Lower Saint John River Valley, etc)
Dykelands protection (NB and NS)
Flood and sediment control systems
Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation
Increased moisture deficits & frequency of localized drought may
lead some farmers to consider implementing supplemental irrigation
(PEI, NB and NS)
Access to water
& allocation
Irrigation
Potential conflicts
Water storage
Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation
A. Bootsma1, and all. (2001). Adaptation of agricultural production to climate
change in Atlantic Canada. 1AAFC
Total Land Irrigated in Atlantic Canada
by provinces (ha)
3500
Total: 5562 ha – 2001
or eq. 0.71% of land irrigated
in Canada
3000
2500
NB
PEI
NS
NF
2000
1500
1000
NB 1996 – 3500 ac
500
0
1996
2001
Source: Stats Canada
NWSEP - Agricultural Water Supply Issues
in Atlantic Canada (March 2003)
Key Findings: May not be a net shortage of water for agriculture
on an annual basis however there is competition and substantial
concerns over the allocation of the resource such as:
•
Its availability at critical period
•
Increasing demand for other users
•
Concerns with its water quality for irrigation and livestock
•
Lack of regulatory consistency and efficiency
•
Public perception that agricultural demand for water is
jeopardizing the supply of water (both quantity and quality)
Irrigation vs Integrated Soil and Water Management
In the Atlantic, with rainfall in excess of evapotranspiration,
conserving the water in the soil may be more important than
irrigation in producing high quality crops and preserving the
environment.
• This includes measures taken to:
• increase soil-water holding
capacity with conservation practices
• improve soil drainage
• Improve crop rotation
• reduce agricultural runoff risks
Actions Needed: Riparian Management & Flood Control
Actions Needed for Adaptation to Climate Change
in Atlantic Canada
• Educational and Awareness Initiatives and Tools Development
in natural resource management among all agricultural stakeholder
and the rural community.
• Technology Tranfert & Adaptation including on-farm
demonstration of cost effective and acceptable BMPs.
Actions Needed for Adaptation to Climate Change
in Atlantic Canada
• Research & Development efforts in long term sustainable
resource management solutions (ex. erosion and sediment
prediction models and its interaction with water quality, pesticides,
and nutrients losses)
• Climate Change adaptation in agriculture will need to be
integrated into long term governmental programs and policies
adapted to regional needs under the APF and other initiatives.
Summary
• Climate Change will have significant implications
on soil erosion and runoff from cropland
while increasing environmental pressures.
• Need to develop proactive strategies in soil and
water conservation and environmental farm planning.
• Need to improve communication of cost effective
risk management strategies and technology tranfert at
the farm gate in order to sustain our rural communities.
Web Site: WWW.CCSE-SWCC.NB.CA