Economics of flex-cropping in southwestern Saskatchewan

Non-Peer ReviewedThe economic returns and riskiness of spring wheat production using fixed sequence rotations were compared to flexible cropping systems wherein the annual crop/fallow decisions are based on the level of available water at or near the time of planting. The study used 25 years of data from a crop rotation experiment at Swift Current, Saskatchewan. Fixed cropping systems included fallow-wheat (F-W), fallow-wheat-wheat (F-W-W), and continuous wheat (CW), while flex-cropping systems included 2YR-IF, 3YR-IF, and CW-IF. The 2YR-IF system permitted the entire farm to be cropped when available spring water in stubble was favorable, but if water was unfavorable, 50% of the area was fallowed. The 3YR-IF system permitted two-thirds of the land area to be cropped whenever spring water was favorable, but only one-third of the area was cropped if water was unfavorable. Under CW-IF, the entire farm was cropped in years with favorable spring water; it was fallowed in years when water was not favorable. Each flex-cropping system was constructed using two decision criteria: (i) available soil water in stubble measured about 1 May (SSW), and (ii) SSW plus precipitation received from date of spring soil sampling up to 31 May (TSW) . Five threshold levels of water were defined for each decision criteria, with SSW ranging between 35 and 95 mm and TSW ranging between 65 and 125 mm. The systems were evaluated at wheat prices of $110,$147, and $184 t-1 , calculated with and without all-risk crop insurance. Expected net returns were generally higher for the flexible systems at all wheat prices. Income variability for flex-cropping systems was usually much lower than for CW, and it was often as low as that of the traditional F-W system which is known for its low income variability. This was particularly true when flex-cropping was combined with all-risk crop insurance. The TSW decision criterion was usually superior to SSW, because it was more highly correlated with final grain yields than was SSW. In all cases the optimum flex-cropping systems used fallow less frequently than is the tradition in this region. The study concluded that wide-spread use of flex-cropping practices by producers in southwestern Saskatchewan could increase farm-level net returns and reduce the risks of financial loss, while potentially reducing soil degradation

Economic and risk considerations of nitrogen fertilizer use in the Brown Soil Zone

Non-Peer ReviewedOptimum use of nitrogen fertilizer requires consideration of factors that influence plant response and those that govern the decisions of producers. The response of spring wheat to soil moisture and N fertilizer was assessed in a 9-yr zero tillage study conducted on a medium texture soil at Swift Current, Saskatchewan. These data were used to assess the economic merit and risk considerations of alternate N fertilizer management systems when combined with snow-trapping to enhance soil moisture reserves. The N fertilizer system included rates from 0 to 100 kg ha-1, spring versus fall applications and deep-banding versus surface broadcasting. The results showed that the optimum rates of fertilizer N (FN) varied directly with spring soil moisture reserves (SM) and the probability distribution for 1 May to 31 July precipitation, and inversely with soil N (SN), the ratio of FN cost to wheat price, and the level of risk aversion held by producers. The optimum FN rates were highest for spring- and fall-banding; they were 3 to 14 kg ha-1 lower for spring broadcasting and 7 to 22 kg ha-1 lower with fall broadcasting. The optimum rates increased 3.7 to 5.7 kg N ha-1 for each 10 mm increase in SM, with the higher rates associated with high SN. The FN rates declined 5 kg ha-1 for each additional year that the land was cropped continuously. For producers seeking to maximize expected profit or those with low risk aversion, the optimum FN rates were considerably higher than those recommended by the Saskatchewan Soil Testing Laboratory (SSTL) . In contrast, the FN rates for producers with high risk aversion were generally lower than those of the SSTL. The SSTL recommended rates were most appropriate for producers with medium risk aversion. The study found no single combination of timing and method of N fertilizer placement to be superior in all cases. Spring- and fall-banding provided higher net margins than broadcasting N fertilizer when SM or wheat prices were high, or if banding fertilizer can be combined with a tillage operation for weed control. The economic benefit from snow-trapping averaged $9 to$32 ha-1 depending on FN rate and wheat price; however, little benefit or a small loss was incurred in some years when infiltration of melt water was low or winter snowfall was minimal

Economics of tillage management systems in northeastern Alberta

Non-Peer ReviewedThe economic returns and riskiness of continuous barley production using four tillage management systems were compared at five sites in three soil zones in northeastern Alberta. The study used five years of data from a tillage experiment in northeastern Alberta. The four tillage systems included conventional one (C1), which leaves 5% standing stubble, conventional two (C2), which leaves 50% standing stubble, minimum-tillage (Min), and zero-tillage (ZT). Economic calculations were based on 1992 input costs and product prices. The systems were evaluated at barley prices of $46,$69, and $92 t-1, calculated with and without all risk crop insurance. Over the five sites the expected net returns were generally higher for ZT at all barley prices. Income variability was usually lower for ZT and C2 depending on the site. The study concluded that use of reduced tillage management systems by producers in northeastern Alberta could increase farm-level returns and reduce the risk of financial loss, while potentially decreasing the amount of soil erosion

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries