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Farmers lead the charge - US agriculture lowers emissions

By Farms.com

The fight against climate change is receiving a boost from an unexpected source - US agriculture. A recent report from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reveals that the sector has achieved its lowest level of greenhouse gas emissions in a decade.

This impressive feat is attributed to the voluntary conservation efforts undertaken by American farmers and ranchers. The report shows a nearly 2% reduction in agricultural emissions from 2021 to 2022, exceeding the decrease observed in any other economic sector. This translates to a significant drop of 12 million metric tons of emissions compared to the previous year.

Analysts at the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) emphasize the importance of these efforts, noting that agriculture contributes less than 10% of total US emissions. The continued decline in emissions showcases the effectiveness of voluntary measures and market-based incentives in promoting sustainable practices within the agricultural industry.


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Alberta Honey: A Day at Molenkamp Honey Farms

Video: Alberta Honey: A Day at Molenkamp Honey Farms

When was the last time you read the label on your honey?

We spent a day at Molenkamp Honey Farms with Michael Molenkamp, who has been keeping bees for 17 seasons and runs three to four thousand hives. In mid-September, he was finishing treatments and getting his bees ready for winter, and he walked us through how Alberta honey gets made.

Alberta has just 150 commercial beekeepers running 300,000 colonies, and together they produce 40% of Canada’s honey. Long summer days and golden canola fields give Alberta honey a light flavour that’s hard to match anywhere else.

Molenkamp calls Alberta beekeepers some of the most resilient farmers he knows. There’s plenty of Alberta honey to go around, but a lot on our shelves isn’t from here, so his ask is simple. Give the label a second look and choose honey made by Alberta beekeepers, or buy straight from a beekeeper near you.