“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.
Tag Archives soil health — page 3
Soil report highlights shifting focus on core issues
Opinion: Turn and burn is the name of the game before sunny days turn wet again
Corporate help for soil health is on its way
The importance of healthy soils is attracting the attention of newer private sector partners
Corporate interest in sustainable agricultural practices has grown in recent years, along with money toback it. Why it matters: Food manufacturers say they want agriculture to use more sustainable practices and are helping the industry achieve those goals. In March 2023, PepsiCo made a $216 million, multi-year pledge to study long-term practices geared to improving […] Read more
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
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.
Organic farmers invited to soil health benchmarking study
Organic farmers across the country are invited to measure the benefits of soil management practices on their farms as part of a study led by Prairie organic organizations.
Intensifying cattle operations has less impact than starting new elsewhere
Research shows grain-finished beef has a lower carbon impact than grass-finished beef
A new study by the Breakthrough Institute shows that location of beef production operations can have a significant impact on the carbon footprint of the sector. Intensifying production where it makes most sense has the lowest impact, according to the study, and supports research showing that grain-finished beef has a lower carbon impact than grass-finished […] Read more
Taking a soil deep dive
Soil interactions affect much of plant health so a remedial course can help
Understanding the relationship between nutrient uptake, plant availability and the impacts on yield are a constant research project and growers are in the best position to benefit. John Lauzon provided his insights on the subject during January’s Southwest Agricultural Conference at University of Guelph’s Ridgetown Campus.In his session, Level 2 Nutrient Interactions, he discussed nutrient […] Read more
Ruth Butt was a soil health champion
Proceeds from farm sale donated to Soil Conservation Council of Canada
A recent donation by Woodstock’s Rev. Ruth Butt led to the creation of a Canada-wide committee dubbed “Soil Champions.” The Ontario agriculture community certainly lost a soil health “champion” with her passing on Dec. 15, 2023. She was 96. “It wasn’t necessarily planned out this way, but when you look back on her life, there […] Read more
Expanding knowledge about cover cropping effects
Tour hosted by Soils@Guelph puts current research efforts on display
Cover crops’ effects on water runoff and greenhouse gas emissions were among projects seen by visitors to the University of Guelph’s Soils@Guelph research plots. Why it matters: Soils@Guelph has been building its profile and works with innovative farmers interested in hosting on-farm trials or providing feedback about research priorities. In late September, the Soils@Guelph team […] Read more
Crop monitoring projects yield important data
Continuous monitoring projects aim to provide benchmark and understanding on performance of corn, soybeans and edible beans
The search is ongoing for more information about crop yields and the reasons they change from one year to the next. It’s a bit of a cruel twist that, as science brings more to a field, more questions accompany the findings. Chris Roelands is fine with that. For most of the past two years, he’s […] Read more
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