Key Conversations: Can Agriculture Keep Governments Alive?

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Agriculture is a risky business, and it is even riskier when bad government policies undermine good agriculture and farming practices.

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Farmer Christian Hebert said, “We can deal with bad years, bad harvests and Mother Nature, but we can’t guarantee against bad policies.”

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He talks about federal plans to use fertilizers to reduce the amount of nitrogen that Canada emits.

The plan calls for a 30% reduction in emissions from fertilizers, and farmers warn it will dramatically reduce food production and dramatically increase the cost of food.

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“It is counterproductive to demonize farmers because they are committed to protecting the environment,” says Hebert, noting that farmers invest heavily in scientific practices, soil testing, crop rotation, nutritional management and chemical use. I’m paying attention to what you’re doing.

In addition, during the crop rotation process, many farmers grow legumes that naturally return nitrogen to the soil.

“It all comes down to taking care of the land and the environment. Farmers do it because the land is their lifeblood.”

Hebert participated in the Conversation That Matters about the myriad ways agriculture benefits the environment and how farmers are constantly striving to improve their best practices.

Join BC Liberal Leader Kevin Falcon at Conversation Live / City Hall at Vancouver Sun on December 13th. Co-produced by Vancouver Sun conversationslive.ca