Managing on-Farm Climate Risks Using Decision Support Tools in Atlantic Canada.

Managing on-farm climate risks using decision support tools in Atlantic Canada

Smith, E.^a, Audet, R.^b, and Hardin, R.^c

^aAgriculture & Agri-Food Canada, 361 Pictou Road, Truro, NS, Canada, B2N 2T6

^bAgriculture & Agri-Food Canada, 2560, boul. Hochelaga, Québec, Canada, G1V 2J3

^cAgriculture & Agri-Food Canada, 850 Lincoln Road, Box 20280, Fredericton, NB, Canada, E3B 4Z7

Producers in Atlantic Canada are seeing changes in the climate, and because of this, it is even more important to be able to make informed decisions when it comes to on-farm management. The success of long-term agriculture in the face of climate change depends on local, accurate and good quality weather and climate data, as well as useful on-farm decision support tools.  Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada is currently leading projects which focus on weather and climate reporting, climate adaptation, as well as many on-line decision support tools that are helping agricultural producers with on-farm business risk management.  These tools will aid producers with their cropping decisions, irrigation scheduling, pesticide and fertilizer applications, soil erosion risks, as well as pest management.  Further expansion of these tools will benefit virtually all commodities farmed in the region now and those that will be introduced in the future. 

For more information please contact: Dr. Erin Smith, erin.smith@agr.gc.ca or (902) 896-2810.