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By Alice McFarlane

Conserving soil

NFU calls for the return of PFRA

Jun 11, 2024 | 12:03 PM

The recently released report on measures to protect soil from the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry contained 160 pages and 25 recommendations.

The report titled Critical Ground: Why Soil is Essential to Canada’s Economic, Environmental, Human, and Social Health recommended reinstatement of the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA) and other measures.

National Farmers union (NFU) Climate Committee member Rick Munroe said PFRA provided exemplary front-line services to farmers starting in 1935 to help Prairie farmers deal with soil drifting, water supply challenges, and other severe problems during the drought.

“As a result of climate change impacts and predicted warming, we anticipate that the need for coordinated, multi-disciplinary federal support will be even greater during the decades ahead than was the case in the 1930s,” Munroe said.

The NFU met with MPs and others to advocate for a new version of PFRA, which would be an expanded and updated version that the NFU is calling the CFRA: Canadian Farm Resilience Agency.

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Munroe said CFRA can work with farmers to help them adapt to climate change, build resilience, and take steps to reduce emissions while maintaining yields and net incomes.

“The NFU advocates for the PFRA model to be adopted nation-wide to help farmers in all regions contend with the challenges that lie ahead. The Senate’s recommendation is a major step in the right direction.” Munroe said.

Protecting soils and supporting farmers as climate impacts intensify are both crucial tasks, according to Monroe.

“CFRA could help do both. The Senate Committee’s recognition of a need for a modern-day PFRA/CFRA is a validation of our work on behalf of farmers. We will continue to work with farmers to establish this kind of agency, for the good of our soils, farmers, and all Canadians,” he said.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

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