Western Canada is a great place to live, work and grow, but there’s always more we can do to make our communities healthier and more vibrant.
That’s why Co-op is making investments to brighten urban and rural communities and working directly with farmers and ranchers to promote sustainable agricultural practices.
Here are just a few of the initiatives Co-op is supporting that you might not know about.
Nutrient stewardship
4R Nutrient Stewardship is an important initiative that encourages producers to apply the right nutrient at the right rate in the right place at the right time.
Through Fertilizer Canada, Co-op has received 4R certification, which means Co-op Grow Team agronomists proudly promote best management practices that help farmers reduce nutrient loss and runoff from fertilizer.
When these and other on-farm strategies are put into action, the benefits extend from producers’ wallets to the environment that we all enjoy.
CleanFARMS
Since its inception in 1989, CleanFARMS — a not-for-profit stewardship organization — and its partners, including Co-op, have helped to properly dispose of more than two million kilograms of unwanted or obsolete pesticides and livestock medication.
Over the years, numerous Co-op locations across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba have served as collection sites for CleanFARMS. In Saskatchewan, many Co-op locations also collect fertilizer containers.
The location of these sites varies from year to year. Information about collection site locations in your area is available at cleanfarms.ca.
Community support
Two Co-op programs are bringing a fresh coat of paint — and a whole lot more — to communities across Western Canada.
- Through Communities in Full Colour, Co-op is donating paint to freshen up community facilities, including local rinks and recreation areas.
- Co-op Community Spaces is supporting urban agriculture, conservation and recreation initiatives across Western Canada. Since 2015, more than three dozen projects have received a total of $2.5 million. This includes renovations at the Roblin and Wetaskiwin Agricultural Societies. Another $2 million is available to community organizations in 2017.
Ag awareness
Not everyone knows about the positive contributions our farmers and ranchers make across the country and, indeed, the world.
To help spread the word, Co-op is backing organizations and initiatives that help bring the farm to new audiences and communities. This includes:
- Agriculture More than Ever
- Canada’s Agriculture Day
- Farm & Food Care
- Agriculture in the Classroom Canada
In addition to these provincial and national efforts, local retail co-ops support countless organizations that are on the ground in communities big and small — all of which make our communities better places to live!