b'Theres also a concern about whether or not you would bother spending the time and money on something if its not going to be enough when all is said and done. And theres never a guarantee that what youre doing will work.The approach Im using for potatoes in P.E.I. helps to remove some of that uncertainty. I look at what the external pressure points the farmers are facing, using climate projections to determine when they might trigger a need for adaptation action, and then lay out the different adaptation options so that growers can choose and sequence them in a way that makes sense for them.SS: What can potato growers do on their farms to help with the impacts of climate change?Ryan Barrett (RB): One thing that weve learned over the last number of years is that reducing nitrous oxide emissions is probably one of the major ways that farmers can reduce their impact on their impact on climate change. Nitrous A cover crop of radishes in Prince Edward Island which helps improve soil organic matter. oxide is many times more serious as aPHOTO: RYAN BARRETTgreenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. So were doing what we can to reduce nitrous oxide, whether it be reducingthat increasing the organic matter level ofcan be things like daikon radishes or nitrogen or using a protected nitrogenour soil is associated with increasing thealfalfa crops that have deep tap roots that source, like say ESN or Super U orwater holding capacity, helping to buffercan help to break up the soil. Agrotain, something that maybe haschanges in soil temperature and keepI think that cover cropping is a key way a more of a slow-release process to it.soil cooler. It also helps foster a healthythat we can introduce more resiliency Maybe its also planting a cover crop tomicrobiome that suppresses diseasein our systems. Not only do they reduce make sure that youre sequestering someand cycles nutrients. And of course, itssoil erosion, but they also reduce nitrate of that nitrogen rather than having it lostsequestering carbon at the same time asleaching and nitrous oxide emissions. So to the system.building soil health. that retains that nitrogen for the next year, Then its also things like convertingWhat are we doing to do that in Princewhich means that hopefully, we can reduce non-productive land or sensitive areasEdward Island to build resiliency in ourthe amount of nitrogen that we have to to permanent grass or permanent treessoils? Were evaluating different cropsapply for the next for the next crop. which sequesters carbon. Reducing tillageand different mixtures that maximize passes, which not only reduces fuelroot growth and maximize carbon consumption, but also carbon releasedsequestration. Were evaluating crops from the soil. So, its a kind of a doubleand mixtures that feed the soil and build whammy. that soil organic matter, while at the same time suppressing diseases, thatFor more information on climate change visit https://SS: How can improving soil organicmany of which are soil borne. And thenspudsmart.com/climate-change-and-what-matter help with climate change? were also evaluating crops and mixturesit-means-for-potatoes-a-spud-smart-retail-RB: One big one is improving soil organicthat naturally break up soil compactionroundtable-webinar-podcast/ and watch our latest matter. It should not be news to anybodywithout the need for deep tillage. So thatwebinar about it.SPUDSMART.COM Winter 202251'