Crop production and air quality

Overview

Farming operations on cropland and pastureland can produce airborne emissions such as ammonia, dust, odour, pesticide drift and smoke. Once airborne, these emissions can have undesirable impacts on the health or well-being of humans (for example, farmers, farm workers, neighbours or nearby communities), ecosystems (for example, native plants and animals or water quality), or both.

Alberta government, farmers, rural municipalities and other stakeholders work together to develop and enhance sustainable beneficial management practices (BMPs) farmers can use to protect the environment. Some of these BMPs are designed to minimize airborne emissions from cropping or pasture management operations.

Resources

The resources listed here provide a starting point for Alberta farmers planning to reduce airborne emissions.

Ammonia, dust, odour, pesticide drift and smoke

• Beneficial Management Practices: Environmental Manual for Crop Producers in Alberta (see Section 2.7 – Air Quality)
• Beneficial Management Practices: Environmental Manual for Alberta Farmsteads (see Section 2.2 – Environmental Hazards)

Other resources

• Silo Gas (NO2) Safety

Contact

Connect with the Ag-Info Centre:

Hours: 8 am to 5 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Toll free: 310-FARM (3276)
Phone: 403-742-7901 (outside Alberta)
Email: [email protected]