Let’s talk soil health! (UTRCA weekly, November 4, 2022)

Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) stewardship staff recently met up with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) Soil Team as well as local farmers, Jeremy O’Shea and Belinda Bowman, to discuss all things soil.

The morning began at one of the water sampling stations in the upper Medway Creek subwatershed. UTRCA staff discussed an initiative to improve soil health within the watershed by focusing on one specific agricultural Best Management Practice (BMP): cover crop trials. Between fall 2018 and spring 2022, the UTRCA received funding for landowners in the upper Medway to take part in cover cropping trials which resulted in a surge in the adoption of this farming practice. These trials aimed for farm fields to have approximately 60% residue cover throughout the nongrowing season, to reduce nutrient losses and soil erosion while promoting soil health and structure. While staff are still analyzing the water quality data, we are optimistic about the beneficial potential of this BMP and are always appreciative of local landowners that are interested and willing to try new things.

Speaking of willingness to try new things, Jeremy and Belinda gave a quick tour of their farm and shared their agricultural goals. Their aim is to improve soil health by incorporating both cover cropping and rotational grazing into their farm operation. Rotational grazing has enabled them to cut 5 some farming costs while promoting soil fertility and forage production. Of course, the OMAFRA Soil Team could not resist grabbing a shovel and taking a look at their soil! Thank you to Jeremy and Belinda for being so welcoming and sharing your farming practices and goals with us. All in all, it was a very interesting and informative morning to share ideas about soil health and the many ways it can be achieved.