In December 2024, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Agribusiness (OMAFA) released the Ontario Topsoil Sampling Project: Soil Health Baseline Study (OTSP) report. This report sets out baseline information for indicators of soil health in Ontario. The study provides valuable insights into how land management and environmental factors affect topsoil, helping farmers make informed decisions to […]
Regular manure applications combined with forage-based rotations are the envy of crop producers when soil organic matter (SOM) levels and soil resilience are considered. What is the actual organic matter benefit from manure to the soil, and how does that vary with different types of manure and organic amendments? Livestock manure is an excellent source […]
Maximizing Rainfall Capture Through Soil Management The amount of rainfall that makes its way into soil, instead of running off, matters to maximize crop yields – especially in dry years. Thunderstorms often bring large amounts of water quickly, and not all soils perform equally in the time it takes to soak in for use by […]
This article was written by Jonathan Sawicki, a summer research assistant with OMAFA assisting with corn research and extension projects during the summers of 2023 and 2024. Jonathan is now an M.Sc. candidate in the School of Environmental Sciences at the University of Guelph. This article discusses the challenges Ontario agriculture faced in 2024 due […]
Soil compaction negatively affects crop health and grain yield. There are many factors that contribute to soil compaction, but what are the biggest contributors and how can their impact be reduced? The simple answer Focus on these five best practices for the greatest impact on minimizing soil compaction: A little more information Since 2017, eight […]
Table of Contents Mandate and 5 Year ThemesMembershipTerms of ReferenceHow to Submit New Recommendations or UpdatesData Requirements to Change RecommendationsFor More Information Mandate 5 Year Themes In particular, the OSMC will concentrate on the following broad themes over the next five years: Membership Membership of the OSMC is comprised of members drawn from government, the […]
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Planting corn directly into a living cover crop before it is killed by herbicide or tillage is not something that would have been considered 30 years ago. However, with advances in planter technology, herbicide options, and a greater awareness of cover crop benefits to soil health, more growers are doing it. According to the 2022-2023 […]
Soils are made up of minerals (sand, silt and clay particles), organic matter and pore spaces that contain water and air. Compaction in its purest sense can be defined as “an applied pressure/force exerted on a landscape that reduces pore space within the soil matrix” (Figure 1). Crops grown in compacted soils often have a […]
SHAP: Soil Health Assessment & Plan In-Field In-Office Match SHAP to your needs Assess Benchmark 5 Key Soil Health Indicators Improve Find Potential for Improvement Adapt Take a Flexible approach Interpret Use the SHAP Score Calculator to compare your test results to a database of results from similar Ontario soils. Use this benchmark to identify […]
Join the OMAFRA Soil Team and the Ontario Soil Network in London for a full day of collaborative learning. Dive deep into diagnosing and finding solutions for real soil health challenges in a real field! Share learnings and experiences with other soil health professionals, and pick up a great new ideas along the way. A […]
Introduction Soil is the basis of agricultural production. A healthy soil is an essential component of a healthy environment; it is the foundation upon which a sustainable agriculture production system is built. Healthy soils are productive, resilient to stressors, and more resistant to degradation. Soil health refers to the soil’s ability “to support crop growth […]
The soil surface is the interface between the soil and the atmosphere. Its quality – roughness, porosity, stability – determines the rates of exchange of water and gases. Visual assessment of soil surface quality (SSQ) can give an indication of soil health and soil function. A soil surface that has plenty of residue cover, presence […]
This article shares the findings from a 2021 on-farm trial that compared fall cover crop termination with planting green. It was conducted near Hagersville, Ontario, as part of an Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association Tier Two project. Highlights To watch a short video with in-season footage from the trial, click below: Background Information on […]
The value from manure comes in the nutrients provided along with other components that benefit soil health. Manure adds a layer of complexity to fertilizer management, but it also provides benefits to crops that commercial fertilizer on its own cannot provide. Research helps with understanding the principles of how nutrients behave in different environments and […]