2024 Rural Landowner Workshop Well Received in Embro

A very successful Landowner Workshop was held this year in Embro on Thursday, March 21st. Paul Mitchell, Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) Board Member and Zorra Township Councilor, welcomed everyone to the event.

The speaker line-up included:

• Dave Green from Greenholm Farms who spoke about his nearby dairy operation, highlighting cover crops, soil health, minimum/strip tillage, crop rotations, and erosion control structures as vital to maintaining soil health, productivity, and environmental protection. Dave also explained how an on-farm methane digester uses farm and commercial inputs to provide green power to Ontario’s power grid. The farm, in fact, produces enough electricity to power approximately 350 homes a year. 
• Phil Holst from Ducks Unlimited Canada spoke about the organization’s ongoing efforts and wetland projects in the Oxford County area. Phil stressed the importance of partnerships and landowners finding challenging areas on the farm to restore or create wetlands. 
• Beth Wrona, UTRCA Agricultural Stewardship Technician, provided details on our Thorndale Demonstration Farm, sharing preliminary results from fall 2023 through to early March 2024. Beth explained the wide range of best management practices being used on the farm and the activities planned for 2024. The controlled drainage project remains a main focus, and this summer a new project using ADS StormTech underground chambers will be installed at the site. Learn more from our online Thorndale Demonstration Farm Fact Sheet. 
• Rob Davies, UTRCA Forestry and Restoration Supervisor, concluded the evening by outlining the UTRCA’s forestry programs and services. Rob explained the value of proper site planning, species selection, and maintenance to those thinking about tree planting on their properties.

Thanks to all involved in making the night very informative and enjoyable! For more photos, visit the Flickr album.