Saskatchewan Soil Conservation Association (SSCA)
What is new on the horizon? Restoring the soil horizon! The general farming practices used since the prairies were settled, such as summer fallow and frequent cultivation, have degraded carbon rich organic matter in the soil horizon. These practices are now changing due in significant part to the efforts of the Saskatchewan Soil Conservation Association (SSCA).
A non-profit organization, the SSCA was formed in 1987 by a group of farm producers who saw the need to promote conservation-production systems that improve the land for future generations. The SSCA currently has approximately 1000 active farmer members.
In 1990, the SSCA secured funding from the provincial government to launch its extension program to promote soil conservation practices to farmers across the province. The most notable accomplishment over the past decade has been its success in helping Saskatchewan farmers adopt low disturbance direct seeding (no-till) systems. These allow seeding into the stubble of the previous year's crop without any cultivation.
According to the 2001 Census of Agriculture, Saskatchewan has the highest adoption rate of low disturbance direct seeding in Canada, with 39% of the seeded area in 2001. This high level of adoption has been achieved through such activities as field demonstrations and tours, producer meetings, equipment field days, one-on-one consultations, and publishing a newsletter (Prairie Steward) three times a year.
The SSCA also developed Project SOILS, which is an activity-based soil conservation education program for youth. The Activity Guide was first published in 1993, with a second edition in 1995. A French edition was published in 1997. To date, over 1500 educators have been trained to use Project SOILS activities. Project SOILS is a joint project with the Agriculture in the Classroom (Sask.) program.
Since 1994, the SSCA has been actively promoting the concept of using agriculture soil 'sinks' as part of Canada's greenhouse gas management strategy. A sink is defined as a process or an activity that removes a greenhouse gas from the atmosphere. The widespread adoption of low disturbance direct seeding allows soils to build up organic matter and thereby store CO2.
SSCA took a lead role with other agricultural organizations, provincial soil conservation groups, and the Soil Conservation Council of Canada to actively promote the importance of agricultural soil sinks as a strategy to address climate change. The objective of this lobby effort was achieved in 2001, with the acceptance of agricultural soil sinks within the Kyoto Protocol.
The SSCA played a crucial role in implementing the Prairie Soil Carbon Balance Project. It also participated in the National Climate Change Consultation Process as a member of the Sinks Table.
More recently, the SSCA has been working to develop carbon market mechanisms for farmers, such as carbon credits and carbon leasing. An emitter of greenhouse gases can lease a carbon sink, created and maintained by a farmer to offset their emissions. Farmers are thus compensated for maintaining this sink. A pilot carbon trade for farmers was launched by SSCA in 2005 through Environment Canada's PERRL initiative.
The work of the SSCA over the last 15 years in promoting soil conservation practices has enhanced Saskatchewan's environment. The near elimination of soil erosion by wind and water on participating farms has greatly reduced the amount of soil in the air, rivers, lakes and creeks.
For additional information visit http://ssca.usask.ca/ and Agriculture in the Classroom (Sask.)
Submitted by Gordon Hultgreen, Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute, Humboldt
"A zero-till crop emerges through a protective layer of residue from previous years."