An old cliché tells us that “the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.” There’s a lot of plain truth to it, and planting trees can create many benefits for dairy farms in the short and long term. That is why Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) has partnered with the nonprofit organization Tree Canada to help more farmers along their sustainability journey.

DFC is assisting farmers interested in these projects to connect with this nonprofit to receive tree-planting and caring services at no cost.

Who is Tree Canada?

Tree Canada is our country’s only national nonprofit organization dedicated to planting and nurturing trees in rural and urban environments. Their programs, research and engagement efforts have helped restore tree cover across the country under many different conditions: areas hit by natural disasters, communities managing urban forests and even supporting over 700 schoolyard greening projects and organized urban forest conferences.

With their community partners and sponsors, Tree Canada assisted in the planting of more than 2 million trees in 2023.

DFC is making it easy for dairy farmers to welcome these types of projects on their farms and join in on the innovative ways Tree Canada and the dairy sector are working to build a greener future for all Canadians.

What are the benefits of planting and nurturing trees on your farm?

Trees are a natural means for achieving many different benefits to the farm and surrounding community. Farmers don’t need to put in a forest to make an impact – planting new trees or conserving existing trees and shrubs does so much more than beautifying a landscape. For example, trees naturally protect topsoil against wind erosion, while cycling essential nutrients and microbes that may enhance plant growth.

The wind protection offered by the natural barrier of trees can have healthy effects on crop production. By reducing wind flow, trees help reduce physical damage to crops. The natural changes trees bring to air and soil temperature, as well as relative humidity and plant water use, all can positively impact plant growth. The wind barrier also reduces blowing and drifting snow on roads and driveways, meaning farmers have less work removing snow in winter.

Planting native species of trees also helps diversify and restore other types of native vegetation. These trees help create habitats and corridors for wildlife, providing protection and sustenance for all kinds of animals throughout the year. Trees also capture and store carbon and protect against pesticide drift, meaning cleaner air for everyone.

How can dairy farmers get involved?

Dairy farmers are naturally committed to sustainability and the environment. Through this program, DFC and Tree Canada are on the way to planting 25,000 trees across the country, and your farm could be part of it. The opportunity includes assessing, planting and long-term monitoring services, all at no cost to farmers.

Canadian farmers take great pride in producing milk under some of the most stringent standards in the world. Small, strategically placed tree plantings can help farmers manage the unique environmental challenges on their farms. Trees enhance natural infrastructure and generate ecosystem goods and services that support resilient communities and help reduce the effects of climate change.

If you’re interested, find out how you could qualify for a planting project by contacting Tree Canada.

Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) is the national policy, lobbying and promotional organization representing Canadian dairy producers. DFC strives to create stable conditions for the dairy sector in our country. It also seeks to maintain policies that promote the sustainability of Canadian dairy production and promote dairy products and their health benefits. Visit DFC’s website for more information.