Western Grain Transportation Reform and Environmental Impacts

Executive Summary

The extent to which cropping choices impact on the environment depends on variables such as soil type, landscape and climate conditions. The removal of the WGTA subsidy on export grain transportation was expected to increase livestock production, rotation crops, and grains other than wheat, that were previously discouraged by the subsidy; and therefore re-balance the impact on the environment and on the sustainability of agricultural production.

This report assesses how producers have adjusted their land use choices and how key environmental indicators (erosion and salinity) have changed to reflect these choices, and agronomic practices adopted by producers.

The analysis reveals that there have been several shifts towards an environmentally sustainable agriculture system in the period leading up to the end of the WGTA subsidy. These shifts include: an increase of perennial crops and a decrease of annual crops, reduced acres of summer fallow, 60% of crop land remained low risk for soil salinization and 3% shifted from high risk to moderate, and during the period examined the risk of all three types of erosion (wind, water, and tillage) decreased. The trend appears to have continued in the post WGTA period with further decreases in summerfallow acres and increases in perennial crops, in particular acres seeded to tame hay for pasture.

To receive a hard copy of this report or for additional information, please contact:

Denis Tully (tullyd@agr.gc.ca), Chief, Policy Analysis
500-303 Main Street; Winnipeg, Manitoba; Canada R3C 3G7
Telephone: (204) 983-0569; Fax: (204) 983-5300