A weekly report prepared by the staff of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). If you require further information, regarding this report, call the Elora Resource Centre at 519-846-0941. Office hours: 8:30am to 4:30pm. For technical information, call the Agricultural Information Contact Centre at 1-877-424-1300 or visit the OMAFRA website: www.ontario.ca/omafra.
DEVELOPMENT OF AN AGRICULTURAL SOIL HEALTH AND CONSERVATION STRATEGY
Healthy agricultural soil is a living and dynamic ecosystem, and one of the foundations of life, agriculture and the agri-food economy. Wise management can ensure the soil is fertile and full of the living organisms that are essential to grow food and other agricultural products, now and for future generations.
It takes many years for natural processes to make healthy soil, and very little time to destroy it, so thoughtful stewardship is a must.
Even being so critical to agriculture production and the environment, Ontario’s agricultural soil is under increasing stress:
– Increasing demands on soils to grow food for an increasing provincial and global population.
– Changes in cropping, tillage and other practices may be affecting soil health.
– Climate change is bringing extreme wet weather and drought events that increase soil erosion. Extreme temperature swings may also increase stress on soil and crops.
– Water quality issues, especially in the Great Lakes, are linked to contributions from farm runoff (e.g. nutrients and pesticides).
Healthy soil is extremely important for all of us.
That’s why Ontario is committed to working collaboratively with farmers, industry and community partners and Indigenous communities to develop a strategy that will sustain and support healthy soil so our land can be productive for us and well into the future.
For full article visit omafra.gov.on.ca.
