The Western Canadian Wheat Growers says it's shocked by the depth of the impact of the federal government’s proposed 30% reduction in fertilizer emissions.

Fertilizer Canada has completed an independent analysis of the effects of the proposed emissions reduction. The analysis was done by Meyers Norris Penny (MNP).

The calculations show that by 2030, the Prairie provinces will have the following losses:

- Alberta – $2.95B loss in their Canola and Spring Wheat crops
- Saskatchewan – $4.61B loss in their Canola and Spring Wheat crops
- Manitoba – $1.58B loss in their Canola, Corn and Spring Wheat crops

“This analysis shows the proposed Canadian changes have the possibility of devastating our agriculture value chain. Farmers don’t need the government to tell them how to properly use fertilizer. We engage crop consultants, soil tests and use the latest technology available to us. Our government should be strongly supporting the agronomic techniques that we have put into practice,” said Wheat Growers President Gunter Jochum.

In a news release, the Wheat Growers state that calculations show that Canadian prairie farmers are net-zero emitters. The group adds that with the many agricultural and technological advances that have been made over the past two decades, Canadian farmers have been leading the charge around healthy soils and carbon sequestration.

An Executive Summary of the MNP Economic Report is available here.