Alberta Grains teams up with Fertilizer Canada to promote good farming practices with ‘Make Your Acres Count!” campaign.
As is the ever-evolving nature of politics, policies and regulations that affect farmers, it wasn’t long ago that the federal government, under former prime minister Justin Trudeau, came close to implementing fixed fertilizer emission reduction targets of 30 per cent absolute reductions by 2030 on Canada’s agricultural sector.
Lobby groups such as Alberta Grains joined forces with national industry organizations in sounding the alarm on the impact of such an unrealistic target on yields, competitiveness, domestic and global food security, and the very viability of farming into the future.
While the government ultimately walked back the target, stressing that it was voluntary, the proposal undermined the agricultural sector’s long-standing advancements in resource efficiency and the investments Canadian farmers have made in leading-edge technology and efficient practices. These achievements set them apart worldwide for sustainable production.
This issue highlighted two ongoing concerns that farmers and the agricultural sector continue to grapple with. First, as a sector we are not persistent enough in measuring and demonstrating the incremental gains made in lowering both our carbon and ecological footprint. In short, we are not good at telling our story. Second, regardless of whether government regulation is voluntary, markets around the world still demand sustainably produced food and we must continue to demonstrate leadership in this regard.
In response, Alberta Grains began working with Fertilizer Canada to strengthen collaboration and improve communication about the high level of adoption among Alberta farmers of practices that increase fertilizer-use efficiency while reducing emissions, such as 4R nutrient stewardship.
On July 9, 2025, Alberta Grains and Fertilizer Canada, together with Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation and Alberta Environment and Protected Areas, signed a three-year memorandum of understanding (MOU). The agreement aims to work collectively to establish mechanisms in pursuit of shared objectives and priorities related to nutrient management, and to support the tools, metrics and measures that farmers are already using in leading responsible fertilizer practices.
ABOVE: Fertilizer Canada board member Duncan Pottinger, Alberta Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation RJ Sigurdson, and Alberta Grains chair Scott Jespersen signing the three-year memorandum of understanding (MOU).
“As a farmer, I’m always looking for ways to make the most efficient use of my inputs and improve the overall viability of my operation,” said Alberta Grains chair Scott Jespersen. “Alberta farmers are already leading the way in responsible fertilizer use, and this MOU helps build on that by strengthening the tools and metrics we use to continue to measure progress. This commitment is a great example of industry and government working together to support practical tools that benefit farmers in the field and allow us to better demonstrate our stewardship to domestic and global customers who buy Alberta grains and other crops.”
One of the first initiatives resulting from the MOU was the launch of the Make Your Acres Count! campaign on Aug. 27, 2025. The campaign aims to double Alberta’s 2.15 million self-reported 4R acres by the end of the 2026 crop season. Alberta Grains supports Fertilizer Canada’s annual Fertilizer Use Survey, which shows strong farmer adoption of 4R practices. The campaign is designed to better capture and showcase this progress to both markets and government.
Agriculture Minister RJ Sigurdson said: “Alberta’s agriculture sector is known worldwide for its quality and innovation. Expanding 4R nutrient stewardship will build on that reputation, helping our farmers succeed in competitive markets while meeting the highest environmental standards.”
Alberta Grains is urging farmers to Make Your Acres Count! as they plan for the next season. Farmers can work with a 4R-designated agronomist to develop nutrient management plans, which will allow acres grown in the 2026 season to be designated as 4R. Increasing the count in Alberta will further demonstrate the sustainability of farming in the province.
Visit www.makeyouracrescount.ca for step-by-step guidance and resources for farmers and agronomists.