Economic and environmental evaluation, and adoption of forage rejuvenation in Canada

Forage rejuvenation has the potential to increase forage quality and/or yield and may also increase the ability of soils to sequester carbon. This study examined the potential profitability and environmental benefits of rejuvenation to estimate adoption across Canada. Nine rejuvenation scenarios were tested using Canfax’s Cost of Production Network and inputted into the TIPI-CAL, Holos, and ADOPT models. These models estimated profitability, changes in on-farm greenhouse gas emissions and soil carbon sequestration, and peak adoption, respectively. Seven scenarios resulted in an average reduction in operation profit margins over five years, while two were cost-neutral: no-till and manure on hayland (Mean = 0.04 percentage point increase in profit margin (ppts), SD = 1.13, p = 0.578), and break and reseed with companion crop on hayland (1.38 ppts, SD = 2.33, p = 0.438). All scenarios showed net carbon sequestration, ranging from 158 (SD = 800, p = 0.33) to 1,932 (SD = 1,296, p < 0.001) kg CO2e ha-1 yr-1. Adoption has likely peaked for this practice. Further financial incentives are unlikely to further increase adoption. Producers should seek to maintain productive forages for as long as possible by utilizing low-intensity and low-cost rejuvenation practices such as manure application.