A grain farmer from Essex County and a professor/researcher in the School of Environmental Sciences at the University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus have been chosen as winners of the 2021 Soil Champion Award. The annual award, which recognizes leaders in sustainable soil management, was presented by the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) to Henry Denotter in the producer category and Dr. Laura Van Eerd in the research/extension category.

Henry Denotter, who is a past President of OSCIA, farms with his family in southern Essex County, growing corn, soybeans, wheat and cover crops. His soil health improvement activities started decades ago when he planted his first crop of no-till soybeans on 30-inch rows. Today, he aims to be 100% no-till every year, all fields are grid soil sampled regularly and fertilizer is applied in-furrow for minimal soil disturbance.  “Sometimes even the smallest thing can improve soil health – every little bit can make a difference,” says Denotter. “Being selected Soil Champion is like the icing on the cake. This has been part of my focus for the last 20 years and I didn’t realize how much I’d done in that time.”

Laura Van Eerd is a professor in sustainable soils management. When she first came to Ridgetown in 2003, much of her work involved nitrogen fertility in vegetable crops. Today, her big focus in on cover crops and how they influence carbon storage and soil health.  In addition to research, she’s also involved in teaching and extension activities.  “When I look at the list of Soil Champions before me, I’m in awe; this is good company and I feel honoured to be part of it,” says Van Eerd, adding she’s also appreciative of the hard work of her research technicians and students who support her research.

This year’s winner of the Don Hill Legacy Award is Buurma Farms. The award is given annually by the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association to recognize a recipient who has applied on-farm innovation and ingenuity to effectively address an identified environmental risk associated with soil, water, air, or biodiversity on their farm.  David and Roger Buurma are Lambton County grain farmers who have perfected an easy-to-use rubber hose dropping system that enables efficient, accurate nitrogen delivery into a taller corn canopy using the 120-foot boom on their self-propelled sprayer. “This innovation reflects the spirit of the Don Hill Legacy Award – it’s a simple, low cost and effective solution to an environmental challenge on the farm,” says OSCIA President Chad Anderson.