The Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA) held its inaugural Annual General Meeting on Thursday, February 11. The following resolutions were passed at the meeting:

NITROUS OXIDE (N2O) - MANITOBA CROP ALLIANCE (MCA) TO ENCOURAGE A REDUCTION OF NITROUS OXIDE (N2O) GAS EMISSIONS FROM SOIL AND FERTILIZER USE THROUGH A FARMER TO FARMER SOIL AND CROP MANAGEMENT LEARNING FORUM

WHEREAS Canada has committed to necessary Green House Gas (GHG) Emissions reduction to meet or exceed the Paris Agreement World wide climate emergency goals;

AND WHEREAS all types of farmers are adversely effected by GHG Emissions including release of Nitrous oxide (N2O) gas from the soil;

AND WHEREAS farmers are concerned about keeping their costs low and to use our living soils properly by careful management goals;

AND WHEREAS scientific research is showing that Nitrogen fertilizer use (a source of N2O gas) can easily be reduced by 20 to 25 percent with little to no crop yield loss, thereby creating a saving for farmers, the soil, and the climate;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

1. Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA) will set up a ongoing Farmer to Farmer Soils and Crops Management educational forum to help farmers implement Best Management Practices aimed to reduce Nitrous Oxide (N2O) Green House Gas (GHG) release from our soils.

2. The Forum would help demonstrate for Farmers the preferred scientific and cost effective ways that are known to help to reduce the release of N2O GHG from our soil, for example Four R Nitrogen Fertilizer use, proper crop rotations, use of cover crops, use of perennial crops and pulse crops.

3. By providing this forum, Manitoba Crop Alliance will assist Farmers to help meet the Paris climate goals while doing so with very modest cost to ensure better soils and climate for us all.

4. This forum could be actual demonstration, or virtual, or printed, or by other means with the MCA in contact with the science community and farmers.

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND EXPERIMENTAL DEVELOPMENT (SR&ED) PROGRAM

WHEREAS Manitoba Crop Alliance represents winter wheat, spring wheat, barley, sunflower, corn and flax growers in Manitoba and funds research and market development for those crop types;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

Manitoba Crop Alliance acts as the agent for producers in all matters relating to Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) tax incentive program in regards to spring wheat, winter wheat, barley, grain corn, sunflowers, and flax.