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Alberta Reduced Tillage
Initiative (ARTI)
Alberta Agriculture, Food & Rural Development
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erosion was a serious problem in the late 1980's, damaging an estimated
900,000 hectares of agricultural soils in southern and central Alberta. To battle this problem, farmers teamed with a group of concerned
professionals from government, industry, wildlife and educational
organizations, founding the Alberta Reduced Tillage Initiative (ARTI) in
1994.
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It was
determined that the best management practice to reduce soil erosion and improve
soil quality would be to seed directly into soil covered with residue from the
previous crop. During ARTI Phase I
and II (1994-2000), direct seeded acres in Alberta increased from 6.4 to 12.4
million acres (94%). Over the same period, summer fallow acres decreased
by approximately 750,000 acres (21%).
The
Initiative was successful because it developed a broad-based partnership that
shared a common philosophy about reduced tillage and the resulting conservation,
production and economic benefits. The partnership combined resources to hire
staff, and more effectively and efficiently deliver extension information. Commitment by the diverse group of partners was critical to establishing
and maintaining the Initiative.
| Team Leaders: |
John Hermans
Spencer Hilton
Carman Read
Peter Gamache |
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