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And behold a pale horse, and he that sat upon him, his name was Death, and hell followed him. And power was given to him over the four parts of the earth, to kill with sword, with famine, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
First, let use a bit of science here:
Nitrogen is essential to all living systems, which makes the nitrogen cycle one of Earth's most important nutrient cycles.
Eighty percent of Earth's atmosphere is made up of nitrogen in its gas phase.
Atmospheric nitrogen becomes part of living organisms in two ways. The first is through bacteria in the soil that form nitrates out of nitrogen in the air. The second is through lightning. During electrical storms, large amounts of nitrogen are oxidized and united with water to produce an acid that falls to Earth in rainfall and deposits nitrates in the soil.
Plants take up the nitrates and convert them to proteins that then travel up the food chain through herbivores and carnivores. When organisms excrete waste, the nitrogen is released back into the environment. When they die and decompose, the nitrogen is broken down and converted to ammonia. Plants absorb some of this ammonia; the remainder stays in the soil, where bacteria convert it back to nitrates. The nitrates may be stored in humus or leached from the soil and carried into lakes and streams. Nitrates may also be converted to gaseous nitrogen through a process called denitrification and returned to the atmosphere, continuing the cycle.
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When nitrogen leaves the root zone, it can affect the quality of groundwater and surface water. The key to reducing this is practising efficient on-farm management of nitrogen, so that as much of the available nitrogen as possible is used to grow crops and livestock and maintain soil health. The range of management options available to a producer varies depending on the farm's characteristics. These can be identified through the preparation of a nutrient management plan.
So there's that.
What is happening now:
Cutting fertilizer use to reduce on-farm emissions could cost growers nearly $48 billion over the next eight years, says a newly released report by Meyers Norris Penny (MNP).
Under Canada’s A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy, the Government of Canada is envisioning a 30% absolute emissions reduction target for on-farm fertilizer use by the year 2030. Elsewhere, the European Union (EU) has proposed an absolute emissions reduction target and aims to achieve it through a 20% reduction of fertilizer use compared to 2020 levels.
If Canada adopted the EU model, the potential economic impact of reduced fertilizer use
would be devastating to Canadian farmers. To avoid this, any plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions must be done through sustainable agricultural intensification; an approach that allows for significant reductions in agricultural emissions without risking Canada’s contribution to global supply of food or economic growth within the sector.
Fertilizer Canada commissioned the report by MNP, one of the largest full-service chartered professional accountancy and business advisory firms in Canada. MNP has specialized expertise regarding all aspects of agricultural business – from primary producers through to food and beverage processors.
“When the Federal government announced a 30% emission reduction target for on-farm
fertilizer use it did so without consulting - the provinces, the agricultural sector, or any key
stakeholders - on the feasibility of such a target,” said Karen Proud, President and CEO of
Fertilizer Canada. “This study shows that we need to work together to find practical and
pragmatic solutions for emissions reductions, without causing economic devastation to our
agricultural sector.”
**
The Netherlands is in turmoil because its government is bringing down stringent fertilizer curtailments, which have resulted in a countrywide protest by farmers. Agricultural workers are protesting similar policies in Sri Lanka, to say nothing of Ireland, where farmers are decrying a government plan calling for a 21 to 30 per cent cut in emissions from the agriculture sector.
But surely this stumbling, aimless Liberal government of ours would not attempt something of the same here?
Alas yes. Our federal government has given notice that farmers and ranchers have to cut back their emissions. The government has set a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from fertilizer use by 30 per cent as part of its overall effort to reduce Canada’s emissions by 40 to 45 per cent by 2030.
What kind of madness is this? With so few things (see above) functioning in this country, why is this otherwise indifferent or detached government wandering into a cardinal economic sector — the one that provides food — with its IPCC-driven mandates?
It is impossible to disagree with Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister David Marit, who said, “We’re really concerned with this arbitrary goal … The Trudeau government has apparently moved on from their attack on the oil and gas industry and has set their sights on Saskatchewan farmers.”
Energy and food — the twin essentials of life and security. And this government cannot leave the industries which provide both alone.
Neither can it seem to leave alone the lives and security of Western Canadians.
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Cabinet has minimal control over food prices, says Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau’s office. However the Department of Agriculture acknowledged federal regulators raised wholesale prices for milk and butter at a rate higher than general inflation: “Federal governments deliberately have minimal direct involvement in managing food prices.”**
BREAKING: Gas rationing hits Europe - member states ordered to cut fuel use by 15%. READ: https://t.co/lbqr833cuIpic.twitter.com/wDpcwUOJwq
— Keean Bexte 🇳🇱 (@TheRealKeean) July 20, 2022
There's more:
Ottawa police issued 103 tickets and towed 12 vehicles amid convoy protests held at the city’s downtown area over the weekend.
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Internal documents confirm a federal bank, Farm Credit Canada of Regina, told employees to secretly record the names of customers who supported the Freedom Convoy. The Access To Information records contradict the agency’s public denial it began blacklisting clients “in support of activity related to the Freedom Convoy.” Staff emails showed managers were still compiling names of customers even after cabinet lifted the Emergencies Act: “If you become aware of a customer’s involvement report it immediately.”
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**🚨🚨🚨🚨Breaking news🚨🚨🚨🚨
— Wall Street Silver (@WallStreetSilv) July 20, 2022
Tanks are being put on the streets in China to protect the banks.
This is because the Henan branch of the Bank of China declaring that people's savings in their branch are now 'investment products' and can't be withdrawn.
🔊sound pic.twitter.com/cwTPjGz84K
West Lincoln Councillor and truck driver Harold Jonker has been reprimanded by his town council for participating in the Freedom Convoy protests earlier this year.
The law firm Aird & Berlis LLP published a Jul. 12 report on Jonker’s actions finding him to break the code of conduct on two counts.
Jonker was cited for requiring a duty of loyalty to residents and accepting gifts or benefits. The investigation focused on Jonker’s involvement in leading the Niagara convoy.
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Canada’s CPI ripped higher, largely due to the price of gasoline. Annual growth came in at 8.1% in June, the largest annual growth since January 1983. Despite markets expecting higher inflation and this being a “relief,” it was 0.4 points higher than May. Price growth isn’t just high but still accelerating.
Are people still not convinced that their governments are trying to destroy them?
AVOID!:
A food brand called ActuallyFoods lists Organic Cricket Flour as one of its ingredients. The brand, from Canadian company Entomo Farms, has several new cheese puffs that they say are "actually" good for you.
"We've ditched so-called 'natural' ingredients that are actually not as clean as they claim. Instead, we're making something you can feel good about, using unexpected ingredients that, although surprising, actually boast the health benefits you're looking for: like high-protein cricket powders, fava bean, and more," they write on their site.
Crickets have been in the spotlight as of late. Recently, Canada announced that it has completed its construction of the world's largest cricket production facility.
Actually Foods, claiming they offer "a smarter way to snack," gives the warning that "people who are allergic to shellfish may be allergic to crickets." Cricket flour, listed among the other flours used, is a primary ingredient in Actually Foods' cheese puffs.
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