Saint-Pierre's agricultural producers mobilize
What is it?
The PAAR Saint-Pierre project was launched in 2023 with funding from MAPAQ’s Prime-Vert program. This project aims to mobilize 15 agricultural businesses along the Saint-Pierre River to join a collective movement in favour of adopting new agri-environmental practices. These will help improve water quality and soil conservation, as well as promote biodiversity in the watershed’s agricultural ecosystems.
What do we do?
In 2023, OBV SCABRIC launched the PAAR Saint-Pierre project in collaboration with its partners on the territory. Collective mobilization has been maintained and the recruitment of agricultural producers is underway. This approach aims to strengthen the commitment of the farming community and foster close collaboration to achieve the objectives set in terms of sustainable resource management and environmental preservation.
OBV SCABRIC is responsible for:
- Encouraging farm businesses to participate;
- Assisting agricultural producers along the Saint-Pierre River in planning and implementing agri-environmental practices;
- Maintaining collective mobilization;
- Contributing to the medium- and long-term improvement of water quality in the Saint-Pierre River.
What are the best agri-environmental practices?
1. Widened riparian buffer strip
This practice is an effective strategy for reducing runoff from agricultural soils into watercourses. These strips along the banks create a natural barrier that retains and filters soil particles and contaminants, thereby reducing water pollution. It also helps protect riverbanks from erosion, provides essential habitat for local flora and fauna, and helps preserve the biodiversity of riparian ecosystems.
2. Cover crops and intercrops
Cover crops are planted after the main crop has been harvested. Intercropping consists of planting a cover crop between the rows of the main crop. These techniques maintain a cover that protects against erosion, thereby reducing the loss of agricultural soil and the input of sediment into watercourses.
Other useful practices
Crop rotation, riprap around drain outlets and the rational use of pesticides are other practices that help protect the health of soils and waterways.
The showcase project is currently under development.
Other ongoing agri-environmental projects in the region:
- Les producteurs de la Saint-Pierre se mobilisent (PAAR Saint-Pierre – 2022-2025)
- Saint-Rémi – Utilisation efficace de l’eau souterraine en milieu agricole (PAD Saint-Rémi – 2023-2024)
- Collaboration avec la MRC de Roussillon : Développement agroalimentaire – PDZA Roussillon 2019-2024 – Enjeu 5 – Agroenvironnement (PDZA Roussillon – 2022-2024)
Overview and background
The PAAR St-Pierre is the continuation of the collective mobilization carried out in the Rivière Saint-Régis watershed from 2018 to 2022. This is the neighbouring sub-watershed.
OBV SCABRIC supports a collective project funded for the coming year by MAPAQ’s Prime-Vert program, component 2.
The main partners are:
- Groupe PleineTerre
- Agriconseils Network
- MAPAQ
- Roussillon RCM
- Jardins-de-Napierville RCM
- DataSol
- UPA Montérégie
- City of Saint-Constant
- City of Saint-Rémi
For more information!
Contact our project managers at projet@scabric.ca.
