Dairy Farms are a Key Part of Canada's Sustainability Solution Les fermes laitières - une partie importante de la solution durable du Canada Provided by / Fourni par: Dairy Farmers of Canada / Produceurs laitiers du Canada Canadian dairy farmers are naturally committed to environmental sustainability due to the nature of their work: not only do dairy farmers rely on the land to make a living, but as many farms are passed down from generation to generation, being able to keep thriving on that land is imperative for today – and tomorrow. Along with stringent standards in things like animal care, food safety and traceability, Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC)’s proAction® program provides a solid framework for dairy farmers to work towards environmental sustainability. Because of the ongoing efforts of our dairy farmers, it now takes six per cent less water and 11 per cent less land to produce a litre of milk than it did just a decade ago. Canadian dairy farmers also lowered greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by seven per cent in that same timeframe. Few industries can report this kind of progress. In this spirit, DFC recently committed to a goal of net-zero GHG emissions from farm-level dairy production by the year 2050, sending a clear message to Canadians, consumers, stakeholders and governments alike – dairy farmers are leaders, and we are part of the solution! Our net-zero commitment is also an important step in addressing the concerns of younger consumers who are val-
ues-based decisionmakers. Research has shown that they attribute more weight to factors like animal welfare and the environment, than to things like price or taste, when making purchases. Building on our history of environmental stewardship, dairy farmers will reach net-zero through a combination of emissions reduction initiatives and GHG removal offsets. By forming partnerships with like-minded organizations and leveraging government programs, DFC will provide tools and support to farmers across the country. We are also working with dairy farmers themselves to develop a ‘basket of initiatives’ they can choose from to help achieve this important objective, such as farming practices related to improving soil health, conserving and recycling water, fostering greater biodiversity, reducing and managing waste, promoting renewable energy, and more. This is in addition to the work dairy farmers are already undertaking on their farms as part of the requirements of proAction. Here are a few examples of the sustainable practices that Canadian dairy farms are currently implementing as part of our sector’s continued commitment to environmental stewardship: MCCREA FARMS IS HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE SUN New Brunswick’s McCrea Farms built their 95-kilowatt solar array as part of a
62 JUNE / JUIN 2022 Canadian Jersey Breeder / Eleveur de Jersey Canadien
Photo: McCrea Farms
pilot project through the Smart Energy Company in the summer of 2021. This array of 216 panels is projected to offset all electricity consumption on the dairy operation. They are also taking measures to manage and protect forests and wetlands around their agricultural land. VAUDET DAIRY IS ENHANCING BIODIVERSITY Vaudet Dairy’s addition of beehives, bird boxes and other wildlife habitats to their Alberta farm is helping enhance biodiversity on their land. They also support energy efficiency through the installation of 144 solar panels, which generate 59,000 Kwh/year, and they have increased feed efficiency, too. FERME GALLANT IS FUELING EFFICIENTLY In Prince Edward Island, Ferme Gallant knows the importance of sustainability and takes advantage of incentive programs to help make their dairy farm more efficient, especially around fuel sources. Recently, they were able to heat their entire farm with two naturally dead trees that were otherwise unusable. Ferme Gallant is also helping restore wetlands on their farm with help from Ducks Unlimited Canada. CLOVERMEAD FARMS IS TURNING POOP INTO POWER Ontario’s Clovermead Farms got its biodigester off the ground thanks to grants
