A Review and Evaluation of Fossil Energy and Carbon Dioxide Emissions in Canadian Agriculture

Abstract

This paper describes the history of farm mechanization in Canada and the CO₂ emissions from farm energy. Tractor sizes increased steadily from 1920 to 1975, then leveled off after 1981. Canadian farms changed from one tractor for every ten farms following World War I to almost three tractors per farm by 2001. Simulation was used to compare two Canadian model farms. While the larger Saskatchewan farm generated more fossil CO₂ than the Ontario farm, it used energy less intensively. Another simulation showed that tractors vastly out work horses and emit less GHG on a unit of work basis. Roughly four times as many Prairies farmers owned tractors exceeding 75kW as farmers in Quebec and Ontario. Total CO₂ emissions from Canadian agriculture increased 11% between 1981 and 2001. Chemical N-fertilizer rose sharply while machinery-related fossil energy declined.

KEYWORDS:

• farm machinery history
• farm machinery management
• farm field work
• energy
• fossil fuel
• greenhouse gas emissions

The authors are grateful to the Research Branch of Agriculture and Agri-food Canada for the financial support under the Program on Energy Research and Development/Climate Change to carry out this project.

Notes

ICF Consulting, 1999. Methods for estimating methane emissions from domesticated animals. Volume VIII: Chapter 6. October, 1999. Prepared for the Greenhouse Gas Committee, Emission Inventory Improvement Program. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 28 pp.

Kraker, E and K. Longtin (Project leaders). 2005, An Overview of the Canadian Agriculture and Agri-food system. Research and Analysis Directorate, Strategic policy Branch, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada. Publication No. 10066E.