Here is a quick estimate of some of the benefits Alberta farmers have realized by moving to direct seeding as contrasted to staying in conventional tillage. Using Statistics Canada, research and survey data we estimated what farmers in 2006 either saved or gained on the 8,950,836 acres they direct seeded.
These are preliminary figures and estimates. We are working on other benefits such as soil erosion prevention, moisture management, environmental goods and soil quality. Some of these are what farmers return to society, such as the CO2 reduction which they are not getting paid for.
We have assigned 2008 values to the 2006 acres data to reflect the rising cost of fuel and labour, the increased value of crops, and the introduction of a carbon market in Alberta
Fuel savings of 6 litres/acre = 53,705,016 litres
@ $0.60/li in 2006 that is $32,223,009
@ $1.03/li in 2008 that is $55,316,166
Emissions reductions of 2.7 kg of CO2e per litre of fuel burned = 145,004 tonnes
Equivalent to removing 26,556 cars from the road
Labour saving of 15.7 minutes per acre = 2,342,135 hours
@ $10/hr in 2006 that is $23,421,350
@ $15/hr in 2008 that is $35,132,025
Yield increase of 2 bushels per acres = 17,901,668 bushels
@ an average across all grains and oilseeds of $4/bu in 2006 that is $71,606,672
@ an average across all grains and oilseeds of $6/bu in 2008 that is $107,410,008
Biomass increase of 0.272 tonnes per acres = 2,434,672 tonnes
Carbon sequestered (CO2e) of 0.145 tonnes per acres = 1,297,871 tonnes
@ an estimated selling price to an emitter of $8.50/tonne that is $11,031,903
@ an estimated return to the farmer of $5.00/tonne in 2008 that is $6,489,355
2008 Summary - Value of Direct Seeding to Alberta Farmers:
Fuel Savings = $55,316,166
Labour Savings = $35,132,025
Yield Value = $107,410,008
Carbon Value = $6,489,355
TOTAL = $204,347,554
This total does not account for the large number of acres that would be in summerfallow in the absence of direct seeding.
