By Megan Sipos, Greenbelt Foundation

Farmers know healthy soils are key to improving farm productivity and profitability, while at the same time sequestering carbon, improving biodiversity, and supporting ecosystem health. A Greenbelt Foundation report found that the long-term sustained increase in Ontario farm net returns (from increasing no-till, cover crop, crop rotation, 4R practices, manure, and rotational grazing) on only 10% of Ontario’s relevant agricultural land would be approximately $14.6 million per year. Yet today, less than 27% of Ontario’s farmland is managed using the basic soil health practice of cover cropping. By providing the ability to track and measure soil health, farmers can make informed decisions about which practices are right for their farm. This can lead to increased yields, reduced input costs, improved water holding capacity, and increased carbon sequestration, among other benefits.

To bring these on-farm and environmental benefits to scale, we need to provide farmers with the information they need to know when adopting beneficial management practices.

This is where Soil Health Benchmarks come in! The Greenbelt Foundation and soil scientists at the Soil Health Institute are partnering with Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA), Soils at Guelph, and the Ontario Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) Association to advance soil health assessment and management in Ontario with an innovative four-year program. Together we are developing an interpretable, scalable, and locally relevant method for evaluating and monitoring soil health. Benchmarks enable farmers to evaluate their soil health compared to similar soils in their region and quantify how management practices are impacting their soil health over time. Understanding current and soil health potential enables farmers to set goals that are right for them.

How are we doing this?

To compare soils across a range of management systems, it is necessary to evaluate them against similar soils. For example, poorly drained silty clays cannot be compared to well-draining sandy soils because they have varying inherent carbon concentrations. To sample soils and compare them, soil scientists from the Soil Health Institute are stratifying soils in Ontario based on texture and drainage class. Additional datasets, such as climate, eco-regions, and cropland, are also being incorporated to further refine the groupings. Once soil groups are established, we will be sampling soils across the region to establish the ranges within different farming systems including baseline practices (e.g., typical cropping practices), soil health sites (e.g., using cover crops and reduced tillage) and reference sites (e.g., long-term perennial grasses) for each soil group.

For the first two years, sampling will focus on getting enough data to establish benchmarks for the three management systems and soil groups noted. In subsequent years, broader sampling will allow farmers to compare their farms to the benchmarks. Once benchmarks have been established, tested, and accepted, the Greenbelt Foundation will develop and implement social network-based outreach programs, with the support of Ontario partners, that inform and train farmers and their advisors on using soil health tests and benchmarks. We anticipate sampling 300-500 farms in and around the Greenbelt.

Opportunity to Participate:

If you grow grains or oilseeds and would benefit from a FREE-soil health test sample and assessment, we invite you to participate. By participating you will receive several benefits including a comprehensive soil health report that reflects your overall soil function (e.g., data on carbon cycling and storage, water cycling and storage, and nutrient cycling) as well as locally relevant soil health interpretations to understand the results and set achievable soil health goals (i.e., your benchmark). You will also receive one-on-one support from a Soil Health Specialist who can help you set goals and overcome barriers.

Eligibility is not limited to Greenbelt farmers associated with the foundation. This program will be offered to farmers and farmland owners within the Greenbelt counties and regions (e.g., Niagara, Hamilton, Halton, Peel, York, Durham). We are excited to be providing an opportunity for a wider range of landowners to learn about the health of their soil and take steps to improve it.

If you’re unsure about your eligibility, sign up for a short introductory call to determine your eligibility for free soil health sampling and assessment. Register here: www.greenbelt.ca/greenbelt_soil_health

This project is generously funded by the Weston Family Foundation and the Government of Ontario.