Conservation Archives - Country Guide

In the farmland area of Canada’s Prairies, wetlands are being drained to increase crop production and expand urban development. Photo: Getty Images Plus

OPINION: Draining wetlands produces substantial emissions in the Canadian Prairies

By The Conversation via Reuters Connect February 20, 2026

Reading Time: 4 minutes While wetlands sequester carbon, they also naturally release greenhouse gases (GHG) into the atmosphere. Our new study has found that widespread wetland drainage on Prairie farmland releases 2.1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂-eq) per year.

“There’s always going to be 10 per cent on either end we don’t agree on. We try to focus on the 80 per cent in the middle.”

Guide Business

Farmers, climate activists share a love of the land

Farmers and conservationists say they want the same thing – a healthy environment. And it’s beginning to look like they might be able to get along while they pursue that goal

By Gabrielle Mueller April 4, 2022

Reading Time: 6 minutes When it comes to climate activists and farmers, the story can be a lot like a daytime soap opera. On the one hand there are the farmers who have been stewards of the land for such a long, long time. They’ve got this undeniable, fiery passion for the landscape they call home and for keeping […] Read more

Crops, Reuters

U.S. aims to double cover crop planting to address climate change

Farmers in 11 states to be eligible for program

By Karl Plume January 10, 2022

Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — The United States aims to double the country’s cover crop plantings to 30 million acres by 2030 under a new Department of Agriculture (USDA) conservation program launched on Monday. The agency’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will spend US$38 million to help farmers in 11 states plant crops at a time […] Read more

Trade lawyer Peter Clark has studied the level of subsidies available to U.S. dairy farmers. (John Greig photo)

Dairy Cattle, Livestock

Report pegs U.S. dairy support levels

By John Greig February 13, 2018

Reading Time: 2 minutes U.S. dairy farmers continue to benefit from broad agriculture supports, a study shows. Dairy Farmers of Canada has had Grey, Clark, Shih and Associates regularly study the effect of U.S. government policy on dairy farms in that country. The latest version of the project was released at the Dairy Farmers of Canada policy conference held […] Read more

One of the monitoring stations used for the Upper Medway Creek Priority Subwatershed Study (PSP).

Crops

From field to stream

Conservation authorities are working more closely with agriculture on watershed management. Have they found a model that will work?

By Ralph Pearce December 7, 2017

Reading Time: 5 minutes It’s no secret that agriculture is focused more than ever on the management of soil fertility as well as on balancing inputs with crop demand, which means keeping nutrients where they belong. Phosphorus usage in particular has become a favourite topic of discussion, both on conference agendas and around the tailgates of pickups on the […] Read more

What isn’t known for now is the cost and administration levels that will affect farmers as well as drainage contractors.

Crops

Endangered species versus drainage

Farmers, contractors and municipalities are trying to cope with Ontario’s new Endangered Species Act

By Ralph Pearce November 22, 2017

Reading Time: 7 minutes From time to time, farmers can find themselves caught by a development or issue that sneaks up on them. At first, it can seem trivial, even ridiculous. But it’s like ignoring a train in the distance: before you know it, it’s speeding up on you and it’s too late to react. Changes to Ontario’s Endangered […] Read more

This earthen “tank” is 100 feet above the Coen farmyard and provides gravity pressure for livestock watering, irrigation and fire protection. For more photos and videos of the Coen farm, visit YouTube.com and search for “Takota Coen — Grass Roots Family Farm.”

Crops

‘Farmscaping’ for profitability, sustainability

Applying some of the same principles from kitchen design can improve the environment and the workflow on the farm

By Julienne Isaacs June 27, 2017

Reading Time: 5 minutes “Farmscaping” might be a new term for many western Canadian producers, but it’s shorthand for a familiar set of ideas: building features like shelterbelts and perennial strips into the farm landscape to best utilize their ecological goods and services. In other words, taking a “whole-farm” approach, with the goal of maximizing profitability and sustainability. Joanne […] Read more

Palmer amaranth. (United Soybean Board photo)

Corn, Crops, Reuters

Palmer amaranth threatening U.S. corn fields

By Renita D. Young, Tom Polansek April 5, 2017

Reading Time: 3 minutes Winterset, Iowa | Reuters — A U.S. government program designed to convert farmland to wildlife habitat has triggered the spread of a fast-growing weed that threatens to strangle crops in America’s rural heartland. The weed is hard to kill and, if left unchecked, destroys as much as 91 per cent of corn on infested land, […] Read more

A young commercial date palm planting in California’s Coachella Valley. (RF Lee photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Crops, Reuters, Weather

California rules led to near 25 per cent cut in water use

By Sharon Bernstein April 4, 2016

Reading Time: 2 minutes Sacramento | Reuters –– Residents and businesses in drought-stricken California cut back water use by nearly 25 per cent from June 2015 through the end of February 2016 — enough to supply nearly six million people for a year, officials said Monday. The state’s first ever mandatory cutbacks in water use were imposed by Democratic […] Read more

Daily Network News

Canadian trade tribunal to examine imports of frozen, canned vegetables

Pay more attention to South American corn

Board appointments hint Richardson Int. may rejoin canola council

Tag Archives Conservation

OPINION: Draining wetlands produces substantial emissions in the Canadian Prairies

Farmers, climate activists share a love of the land

U.S. aims to double cover crop planting to address climate change

Report pegs U.S. dairy support levels

From field to stream

Endangered species versus drainage

‘Farmscaping’ for profitability, sustainability

Palmer amaranth threatening U.S. corn fields

California rules led to near 25 per cent cut in water use

A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor

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