Photo Karen Graham.
Pictured is a pollinator hedgerow established as a buffer between the road and crops to boost biodiversity on the farm. Sponsored by Syngenta Canada in partnership with the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association, Operation Pollinator helps restore pollinators in agricultural settings. Among the seeds provided are four types of clover, Birdsfoot Trefoil, common milkweed, groundbreaker radish, Phacelia, sunflower and timothy.
Approximately 50 visitors attended the ONFARM presentation in early September held in a field at Woodleigh Farms and hosted by the farm operator, Norm Lamothe. The audience was diverse – young and old, and almost half were women. They came to hear how they could make their operations more efficient, sustainable and environmentally responsible. The event did not disappoint.
Woodleigh farms is a multi-generational farm operation that produces 500 acres of crops, manages forests and operates a three-acre market garden in Cavan and is part of ONFARM’s applied research initiative that examines the best management practices (BMP) and there effect on soil health and agronomic indicators on 25 working farms across southern Ontario. This three-hour event included a series of speakers discussing farm management practices and their impact on soil health.
At times, the presentation could have been part of a business course: measure, measure, measure. Looking to improve the soil quality? Take soil tests so you understand your starting point, and not just in one location, but many. Applying the right soil amendments in the right quantity to the right location only makes sense, environmentally as well as financially.
Moving through the field, participants could witness the results of various trials he has conducted to boost soil health and crop yield. A 5’ trench allowed visitors to see the different layers underground, which vary by location. Colour and texture changes clearly indicated where the topsoil ended and subsoil began. The thick layer at the bottom of the field was the result of a significant rain event that washed topsoil from the top of the hill to the lower level, resulting in poor yields on the hill.
Like any plant, crops need four things: space, water, nutrients and air. Space is required above and below ground: consider the growth habit of plants that are pot-bound: their roots circle around the bottom of the pot and above the soil, the plant languishes. Water must be available in the proper amount; too much of it will rot the roots. In a field, this can occur when the hard packed subsoil is too close to the surface, trapping water around the root systems of plants. The requirement for nutrients is clear, but what about air? The presenter explained that soil consists largely of air- as high as 50% by volume. Roots travel through these pockets as they grow.
Lamothe is among the growing number of modern farmers who use advanced technologies to produce sustainable crops while protecting the environment. Among his strategies are crop rotations, cover crops, organic amendments and precision technology tools to help the operation become more sustainable. The goal is to produce healthy food by building healthy soil, preventing erosion, conserving water, minimizing pollution, promoting biodiversity and maximizing productivity while minimizing environmental damage. KG
