Transcript Slide 1
Slide 1 Agriculture, the cottage and us… Agriculture, Our Cottage and Us: How We Can Make A Difference Photo Credit: Saskatchewan Watershed Authority Photo Credit: Saskatchewan Watershed Authority The Economic Importance of Agriculture In Saskatchewan Saskatchewan Agri-Food exports made up 35% of total Saskatchewan exports in 2002. Slide 2 Agriculture, the cottage and us… Crops Livestock Processed Products Source: SK Ag, Food and Rural Revitalization Partners Helping Producers Slide 3 Agriculture, the cottage and us… Saskatchewan Watershed Authority Ducks Unlimited Canada Saskatchewan Network of Watershed Stewards Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada PFRA Nutrients Slide 4 Agriculture, the cottage and us… Phosphate and Nitrogen Plant and animal nutrients Create algal blooms Blue-green algae blooms can be toxic to humans and livestock Sediments Slide 5 Agriculture, the cottage and us… Occurs naturally; our activities speed it up. Suffocates fish, their eggs and their habitat. Reduces storage capacity in lakes and reservoirs. Sediments carry always carry nutrients and may carry toxins and other pollutants Clogs dams and ruins machinery. Pathogens Slide 6 Agriculture, the cottage and us… Infectious diseases that are transmitted through animal and human feces. Pathogens can make humans very ill. Also destroy invertebrates that are a part of fish diets. Pesticides Slide 7 Agriculture, the cottage and us… Move through water, air and soil to reach our water Non-specific herbicides kill native vegetation as well as weeds Non-specific insecticides kill invertebrates that fish feed on How Producers Are Helping Slide 8 Agriculture, the cottage and us… Zero-till or conservation tillage: reduces or eliminates tilling crop land Grazing Management: keeps shorelines green, reduces erosion and protects water quality Volunteer water monitoring: keeps track of substances entering the water Photo Credit: Saskatchewan Watershed Authority A Buffer Zone- The Best Idea Slide 9 Agriculture, the cottage and us… Buffer Zones can remove between 70-96% of pollutants entering your water Keep your septic systems in check Avoid using pesticides and fertilizers Photo Credit: Saskatchewan Watershed Authority Slide 10 Agriculture, the cottage and us… It All Boils Down To… Photo Credit: Saskatchewan Watershed Authority With Thanks Agriculture, the cottage and us… Slide 11 Canadian Nature Federation & Government of Canada Voluntary Sector Initiative, Agriculture and AgriFood Canada Fish Habitat Stewardship-in-Action Program- Fisheries and Oceans Canada Saskatchewan Watershed Authority Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada PFRA