Environment Committee on May 17th, 2012

[James Lunney, Conservative, Nanaimo—Alberni, BC]

I appreciate that. It was in 2007 when the government invested some $225 million, which groups like Ducks Unlimited and Nature Conservancy and others leveraged by a factor of three, if I understand it, to be able to engage with landowners and advance many of those objectives. But that process is still playing out from 2007.

I think, Mr. Vandervalk, it was also you who made some remarks about the tremendous changes in agriculture from where it was a number of years ago. Technology has changed considerably, and there are advances. You mentioned the tillage, GPS minimizing overlap and so on, minimal use of pesticides and herbicides. That all saves you money, so best practices is certainly an advantage to everybody.

You mentioned that we need more research on best practices and drought-resistant crops. I think I heard a comment that we needed help with drainage solutions, for example. Would you expand on that comment?

[Stephen Vandervalk]

Sure.

I've been fortunate enough to travel around the world, and I've seen what farmers around the world want as far as new genetics go, and it's fairly consistent: drought tolerance, greater yield with fewer nutrients. That's something that is very sustainable going forward if we can have more of that research to allow us to have that technology, that seed technology. If you put it all in the seed you need less pesticide and fewer inputs in the future. It starts right from the seed, so it's very important to have that innovation.

[The Chair, Conservative, Mark Warawa]

Thank you.

I want to thank the witnesses for being here.

Just before we close, Mr. Vandervalk, could you just elaborate a little bit on the no-till policy? I'm trying to get my head around it. Not tilling is a new activity. The seeds are dispersed on the soil and they take root without having—

[Stephen Vandervalk]

No, no. There are a couple of ways to do it. Before you had to have what's called a sweep of 12 inches wide and you actually would cultivate and rip up all the ground and get all the weeds. Now we'll disturb anywhere from a “disc”, which is maybe half an inch on 10 inches. Or if shanks are going into the ground every 10 inches or 12 inches, you only have three inches that actually go into the ground, so you're only disturbing three inches out of 12 inches. So anywhere from 5% to 30% of the field is actually getting tilled where the seed and the fertilizer is put in. That allows the worms and the stubble and the material to stay in the ground, and you get the whole system going with more bugs, more bacteria, and everything. It is far healthier. The organic matter is increasing.

[The Chair, Conservative, Mark Warawa]

Thank you very much.

Again, thank you so much, witnesses, for taking your time to come and share your expertise with us.

In a week and a half we will be in Halifax to continue our tour, and then we'll be providing a report to the government, so your information has been very valuable and much appreciated.

At this time, colleagues, we will adjourn the meeting and then proceed to the bus, because we have rush hour traffic here in Calgary.

The meeting is adjourned.