We have had a busy few months with Quinte Farm Research and Stewardship Collaborative (QFRSC)’s partner projects well underway Attached is a brochure detailing QFRSC’s projects and objectives.
This spring and fall Karen Thompson’s Trent University students began soil sampling and testing, specifically for soil microbiology. They sampled several farms around the Quinte area and are ready to start analyzing the raw data they have collected. Catherine Eimers and her students (also Trent University) have been sampling and testing soil and water samples related to tile drain outlets. One of her students, Rochelle, has been busy comparing Bay of Quinte water quality and land use trends.
The Bay of Quinte Remedial Action Plan (BQRAP) conducted a successful webinar this past year and looks forward to organizing an agricultural demo day in the future. The stewardship team has been busy providing free soil sampling and testing for farmers engaged with the BQRAP soil sampling program. There is still availability to engage in the free soil testing program, as well as with the agricultural best management practice (BMP) grant program! Please reach out to Jason Jobin for more information at Jason.jobin@ltc.on.ca.
Maria Dittrich from the University of Toronto (U of T) has completed her rounds of sampling for the time being. She will continue to work on the developing her bioreactor project and will be researching watershed phosphorous budgets. Carlos Arnillas (U of T) has been working on the modelling portion of his watershed modelling project and has received positive initial feedback. He has been looking to obtain parameters and values for data and calibration from local producers. The objective of this modelling program is to create on-farm and watershed wide predictions based on localized farming and land use practices.
If you are interested in engaging in Carlos research please reach out to Lindsay Nash at QSCIA.farmresearch@gmail.com.
The Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority (GRCA) has been working to transition data into a mapping tool and will be ready to present the project to the public soon. This soil erosion and nutrient loss vulnerability assessment is projected to reduce soil and nutrient loss from farm fields into locate rivers and Lake Ontario.
QFRSC is looking forward to the winter months, which gives partners the opportunity to evaluate the results of the past field season. We are hoping to continue to engage with local groups within the Bay of Quinte community to share about QFRSC’s research and stewardship efforts. If you have any questions or would be interested in engaging with the QFRSC, please reach out to Lindsay Nash at QSCIA.farmresearch@gmail.com