Row of pea seedlings in soil with first seedling in focus

Soil report highlights shifting focus on core issues

Opinion: Turn and burn is the name of the game before sunny days turn wet again

“Soil is still at risk in Canada and around the world,” the report says. “The committee heard that while soil management has improved and crop yield has increased with enhanced plant genetics and cultural practices, these gains have also masked the effect of continued soil degradation and loss of agricultural land in every region of Canada.

Les Henry. (University of Saskatchewan video screengrab)

Prairie soil scientist and author Les Henry, 83

Henry's outreach to farmers spanned more than half a century

Glacier FarmMedia — Saskatchewan soil scientist Les Henry, well known for his work on improving Prairie farmland and his outreach to Prairie farmers in the pages of Grainews, has died. Ending a long fight with congestive heart failure, Henry died Friday in Saskatoon at age 83, having continued to write until very shortly before his […] Read more

Photo: Thinkstock

Soil should be a strategic national asset: Senate committee 

The two-year study of Canada’s soils is now complete and recognizes that while conservation efforts over recent decades have been tremendous there is still more to be done 

The Critical Ground: Why Soil is Essential to Canada’s Economic, Environmental, Human and Social Health report said Canada requires an overarching strategy to collect better data. It says a national soils institute database that shares information with provinces, academics and producers should be established.

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At Ag in Motion: New ‘Soil Champions’ team to promote soil health

'Societies live and die by soil'

A new group of “Soil Champions” has been formed to promote the benefits of soil health. This new committee — announced Wednesday at the Ag in Motion farm show at Langham, Sask. — will work to ensure the care and protection of Canada’s agricultural soil through education, knowledge transfer, forums for collaboration and other activities. […] Read more


Soil health is getting more focus on farms.

Soil health gets bigger focus at COFS

Researchers and new technology demos are being featured at the show

There are several new initiatives at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show (COFS) this year related to soil health, including soil researchers, new technology and practices. Soils at Guelph, a new outreach initiative from the University of Guelph aims to bridge the gap between farmers and soil researchers. People involved in the initiative will be at the […] Read more

If a cover crop is to survive after a corn crop in Ontario, it has to be interseeded.

Cover crops: Short-term pain but long-term gain

A U.S. study underlines the benefits, but costs of adoption can be higher north of the border

A new, coast-to-coast study in the U.S. tracks five years of the financial benefits of including cover crops in corn and soybean rotations, but the numbers may not apply in Ontario. Why it matters: One factor that can prevent adoption of cover crops is the effect on bottom line due to additional costs such as […] Read more

Mark Richards has been innovative in using strip tillage in vegetable crops.

Dresden farmer limits tillage in sugar beets and tomatoes to build soil structure

Mark Richards used his experience in strip tilling in other crops to make it work in vegetable crops

  This story was part of Farmtario’s Chatham-Kent Farm Show guide   Mark Richards has worked hard to assess and improve his farming practices over the last 20 years. He began with cover crops, then progressed into no till and strip till, notably in sugar beets and tomatoes, a practice not typically used in those […] Read more


Strip tillage maintains year-round cover on most of the field, with some tillage where the seeds are to be planted.

OMAFRA strip till demo to highlight working units

The live demonstration gives farmers a chance to see strip till machines in the field

OMAFRA is taking soil health action to the field this year at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show (COFS). The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is hosting a live strip tillage demonstration every day at 11:15 a.m. in the Southwest Demo Field at the show. This is in addition to the regular equipment demonstrations […] Read more

Collaboration and industry buy-in are a key theme in the province's soil strategy.

Province lays out soil health strategy

Measures aim to improve soil health over the next decade

The Ontario government’s soil health strategy is a sprawling plan that aims to provide industry guidance on improving soil health out to 2030. It plans to do that by bringing farm groups, government and agribusiness together to provide the drive to make change happen. Why it matters: Crop farming practices have changed in Ontario, with […] Read more