"Potato production on Prince Edward Island continues to increase. Unless this rise in production is accompanied by sound land-use planning and management practices, the sustainability of the agricultural sector and our island environment could be threatened." This quotation is from the opening paragraphs of a new document, Best Management Practices - Soil Conservation for Potato Production, released today by the Prince Edward Island government.
In releasing the document, the Honourable Kevin J. MacAdam, Minister of Fisheries and Environment, and Honourable Eric Hammill, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, stress that the document is a practical guide for farmers to help them avoid long-term damage to the soils they cultivate, and to assist them to reduce conflicts with other resource users.
"Best management practices, (BMPs) integrate principles of production, business goals, sustainability and environmental quality in farm resource management systems. The practical advice offered in this book allows the agricultural community to make business decisions that also involve an understanding and regard for the environment," said Minister MacAdam.
"The future of agriculture on Prince Edward Island rests in the top few centimetres of its soil," said Minister Hamill. "Farmers understand this and the challenge to potato farmers is selecting a set of best management practices that will sustain the long-term viability of the farm, from both a productivity and economic perspective. This approach will also address many of the off-farm environmental quality concerns."
"The Potato Producers Association is pleased this report is being released and that we as directors had input to its contents," said Klass Nieuwhof, President of the Association. "The important thing is to get this report to growers and to show them what a nine percent slope looks like in their fields and for them to realize how steep that is and to think about what kind of erosion problems can occur there. I think this report is yet another tool in the toolbox of soil conservation for Island potato growers."
Soil conservation is an especially important concern for potato producers. Many producers have been following good management practices, especially crop rotation, for years. Despite this, soil losses associated with potato production continue to be of concern, both to farmers and other Islanders. In fact, the Round Table on Resource Land Use and Stewardship considers the maintenance of soil quality as the number one land-use issue on Prince Edward Island, citing reduction in the ability of the land to grow crops and the often detrimental off-site effects, most notably the siltation of streams, ponds and estuaries as major concerns. The Round Table also noted that the potential for degradation is greatest with potatoes.
Soil Conservation for Potato Production offers a basic description of the soil, climate, slope and tenure of land in Prince Edward Island. It then goes on to detail the environmental and agricultural challenges created by these conditions, and that potato farmers must meet as they conduct their business. A large section of the document is devoted to offering soil conservation management strategies of a very practical nature. Tables provide information on maximum slope length that can be farmed up and down the slope, figures are presented on the effects of rotation on potato yield and quality, and general tillage tips are offered. Information on benefits and costs are presented for a number of practices including winter cover, cross-slope farming, and strip cropping. There is also a section that outlines similar information for erosion control structures such as diversion terraces, grassed waterways, surface inlets, hedgerows and watercourse buffer strips.
Copies of Soil Conservation for Potato Production will be distributed to all potato producers in Prince Edward Island. Copies will also be available from the Prince Edward Island Departments of Fisheries and Environment and Agriculture and Forestry as well as Island Information Service.
Designed to be used as a companion document to the Environmental Farm Plan developed by the Atlantic Farmers Council, Soil Conservation for Potato Production encourages integrating a number of soil conservation practices through a well-established farm plan to achieve a least cost solution.
Best Management Practices - Soil Conservation for Potato Production was funded under the Canada-Prince Edward Island Water Annex to the Federal/Provincial Framework Agreement for Environmental Cooperation in Atlantic Canada. Participating agencies included the Prince Edward Island Departments of Fisheries & Environment and Agriculture & Forestry, Environment Canada, and Agriculture and Agri-food Canada.