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.
SOIL HEALTH
OMAFRA is rolling out a total of 21 new soil health publications. These publications provide best management practices to help you preserve and conserve soil while improving soil health and crop production. Check out these five new titles on our Soil Health in Ontario web page:
– Adding Organic Amendments;
– Erosion Control Structures;
– Cropland Retirement;
– Field Windbreaks; and
– Soil Health in Ontario.
You know that high quality, healthy, productive soil is the foundation of a strong, sustainable agri-food system. These publications, part of our Best Management Practices series, can help you plan and implement practices to improve soil health and increase yields. Unfortunately, the health of Ontario’s soils is on the decline. While many farmers practice good land management practices, there is much more that can be done to improve soil health and protect soil for long-term productivity.
The five titles above are just the beginning. Check our web page ontario.ca/c6lr regularly for future publications, which will include:
– Cover Crops and Manure;
– No-Till for Soil Health;
– Perennial Systems;
– Subsurface Drainage;
– Soil Erosion by Water; and
– Plus many more.
Our soil health publications were developed to support the upcoming Agricultural Soil Health and Conservation Strategy. We’re working in partnership with stakeholders and experts to develop the Strategy with the goal to sustain Ontario’s strong agricultural production while protecting the environment and adapting to a changing climate.
All of the titles can be ordered through ServiceOntario publications.serviceontario.ca/pubont/servlet/ecom/ once published. You can find the ordering information on the Soil Health in Ontario web page.
Do you have soil health questions? Contact our Agricultural Information Contact Centre at 1-877-424-1300 or ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca.
COMING EVENTS
June 7 and 14 – Listowel, Day 1 and 2 – Canada-Ontario Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) workshops and webinars for Growing Forward 2 (GF2). Visit ontariosoilcrop.org or call 519-955-3139.
June 12, 19 and 26 – Fergus, Day 1 and 2 – Growing Your Farm Profits (GYFP) – Planning for Business Success workshops and webinars for Growing Forward 2 (GF2). Visit ontariosoilcrop.org or call 519-955-3139 for location of workshop or more information.
June 17 – Waterloo Rural Women’s 22nd Annual Children’s Farm Safety Day, Heritage Hill Farms, 967192 Oxford Waterloo Road, New Dundee, Ontario. For more information and to register, call Susan Martin 519-669-8066, email florahills2416@gmail.com or Donna Rogers 519-576-1933, email dmrogers@sympatico.ca.
