Sustainability is the new watch word for agriculture and grain production.

Four Alberta crop production commissions have hired Ipsos Reid to do a phone survey of producers to see what they're doing now and determine where improvements can be made.

Jolene Noble, Extension Coordinator for the newly formed Farm Sustainability Extension Working Group, says, Canadian agriculture already has a has a very positive image in the global market place and Alberta growers are progressive, innovative, and dedicated to the stewardship of their land.

"Alberta's cropping sector, and for that matter Canadian agriculture have a very good reputation, not only domestically but internationally," Noble says. "What this project will be doing is benchmarking and quantifying what we already do so well, but also identifying areas of opportunity for improvement to continue to strive for excellence."

In mid to late June, growers will be receiving phone calls from Ipsos Reid to answer questions regarding their production practices. Results from this survey will enable the industry to quantify the great work that Alberta growers are already doing on farm sustainability.  Building on the work from the Alberta Crops Sustainability Certification Pilot Project from spring of 2015, the working group will assess the results and provide resources and extension support to continue advancing on farm sustainability production practices in Alberta.