OFA and OMAFRA will work together to improve soil health

Nov 03, 2015

Healthy soils mean healthy crops

Anyone who understands even a little about agriculture is well aware of the importance of soil when it comes to growing a successful crop.

“Healthy soil is essential for food production, a healthy environment and the long-term sustainability of Ontario agriculture,” said Mark Kunkel, Director, Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) in a commentary.

Soils have become such an important aspect of farming and agriculture, that the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations deemed 2015 the International Year of Soils.

International Year of Soils

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) and OFA are working alongside other agricultural industry groups, government and academic institutions to develop the Agricultural Soil Health Working Group.

The group will communicate and engage with farmers through workshops and public meetings about challenges and possible solutions to soil conservation issues including climate change and current farming practices.

Currently, there are about 4.1 million hectares of prime agricultural land in Ontario – 57% of which was at risk of erosion and 82% that was losing organic matter according to Agriculture and Agri-Food data from 2006. Other research has shown changes in soil quality due to erosion can cause up to 40% yield loss.

Soil health quizzes are available on OMAFRA’s website for farmers who are unsure of their soil quality. The quizzes include plant vigour, soil tilth and soil life as some of the indicators determining soil quality.

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.