Deborah Powell
LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE

SHAWVILLE – It was a full house at Little Red Wagon Winery in Shawville on February 26 for a talk about reducing greenhouse gases and promoting biodiversity in beef farming. The presentation was delivered by agronomist Nathalie Côté of Quebec Beef Producers (PBQ).

Before the main speaker, Josée Lortie from the Gatineau Chamber of Commerce thanked local partners, including SADC Pontiac, MRC Pontiac, and Gema Villavicencio of Bristol’s Pure Conscience Farm for her organizing efforts. Lortie then introduced advisors from the Quebec Federation of Chambers of Commerce (FCCQ) who spoke about Visées, a personalized program that offers businesses support through subsidized training.

Côté’s presentation began with an overview of national and provincial goals to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and the shared objective of protecting 30% of the territory for biodiversity. She noted that agriculture is responsible for 10% of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions and said improving efficiency is key to progress. For beef producers, this means tracking indicators such as the quantities of meat per calf or cow, per kilogram of feed, and per hectare, rather than just the average weight of calves. Herd and feed optimization, better manure management, improved pasture productivity, and the use of trees and shrubs for shade and windbreaks are all effective strategies.

On the topic of beef production and biodiversity, Côté discussed sustainable practices promoted by the Quebec Sustainable Agriculture Plan 2020–2030 and other organizations, including the Union of Agricultural Producers (UPA) in partnership with Alternative Land Use Services (ALUS). This program provides incentives for farmers, PBQ, and environmental groups.

Suggested changes to haying practices aimed at protecting two bird species listed as “threatened” under the Canadian Species at Risk Act (SARA) — the Eastern Meadowlark and Bobolink — raised questions from the audience about their importance, particularly since some modifications seemed counterproductive to greenhouse gas reduction efforts.

Two Outaouais farmers who participated in the UPA/ALUS program spoke about the minimal impact biodiversity protection measures had on their operations and the financial benefits they received.

“We need to show we are taking care of nature,” said Stanley Christensen, a cattle farmer from Lac-Sainte-Marie and a member for the Outaouais-Laurentides region on the PBQ board. He emphasized the importance of demonstrating to consumers that farmers are making efforts to protect the environment.

Photo – PBQ agronomist Nathalie Côté speaks on beef production and biodiversity, Feb. 26, at Little Red Wagon Winery. (DP)