Soil and the environment will be important factors to consider when forecasting our success, challenges, and opportunities in Ontario agriculture.  The Ontario Soil Network (OSN) is working with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada economists in the Living Lab – Ontario project on a study that will use predictive models to make estimates with which to inform our soil health policies and programs.  This study aims to give us real, tangible estimations and targets for improving how farmers can be supported to take on soil health best management practices (BMPs) and thrive.

Best management practices for soil health and water quality need to do a lot more than build healthy soils and protect water. They need to offer an advantage over the status quo, be compatible with an operation, be simple to try without making too great a commitment and show tangible benefits.  We’re assessing how these practices measure up to these practical requirements and the ways we support their uptake. In this study, we will be using quantitative models aimed to provide us with information on what our trajectory of adoption looks like and what the opportunities are for improving it.  We’ll use the ADOPT model (Developed by David J. Pannell from the University of Western Australia) to estimate the maximum percent of farms likely to adopt cover crops or 4R nutrient management, how long it will take to get there and what (if anything) needs to change to speed it up or increase the predicted peak.

We are distributing the study survey until December 31st, for which the OSN is offering prizes for participation.  We will also extract and compare the results with Statistics Canada data, and collect qualitative information from a focus group of farmers and industry reps.  We need your help in informing this study so that it best represents all of Ontario agriculture and contributes to policy and programs that will better support you!  Take the survey today at: https://soil.typeform.com/soilhealth or by scanning the QR code.

Led by the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA), Living Lab – Ontario (LL-ON) collaborators include farmers, agricultural organizations, conservation authorities, and scientists from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada. With each organization bringing their expertise to the table, the Living Laboratory Initiative collaboration hubs across Canada will help accelerate the development and adoption of sustainable practices and technologies.  The additional organizations collaborating in LL-ON include Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario, Essex Region Conservation Authority, Innovative Farmers Association of Ontario, Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority, and the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority.