The Impact of Farm Machinery Management on the Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Canadian Agriculture

The impact of proposed changes in field operations and land use on fossil fuel consumption on Canadian farms was analyzed using a computer model of the mechanics of farm machinery. The model predicted tractor/harvester power needs (kW), implement sizes and work required (kW-h) to complete each field operation on model farms in Canada's four farming regions. These predictions were integrated nationally using crop area statistics. Farm fieldwork predictions were converted to volume of fuel (l), consumed fuel energy (PJ) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (Tg of CO2 equivalent). The model was used to assess the sensitivity of GHG emissions to reduced and zero tillage, removal of summer fallow from the Prairies, increased permanent cover (perennial forage), fuel type and timeliness strategies. These practices are all under consideration as carbon sequestration measures. While fossil fuel consumption is small in comparison to other terms in the agricultural GHG balance (such as nitrous oxide and ruminant methane), modeling on-farm fossil fuel consumption in response to these land management measures has a role to play in climate change mitigation strategies. The model and the sensitivity analysis described here can be applied in any country with mechanized agriculture.