Organic no-till soybean production: is it possible in Ontario?

 

Organic soybean production relies on a significant amount of tillage. When done well, yields can rival conventional production. There are drawbacks, however, including a high labour demand in the spring and the potential for soil degradation over time. Cover crop-based organic no-till soybean production techniques have been developed in recent years and proven to work in parts of the US. The question is, will they work under Ontario’s climate and soils?

 

Cover crop-based organic no-till soybean production uses a roller crimper, a drum with chevron-shaped blades (Figure 1) that’s used to crimp the stems of rye (or another suitable plant) once it’s flowering and kills it. You then seed soybeans into the mulch. If it’s thick enough, it provides season-long weed suppression. The cover crop-based organic no-till system offers advantages in terms of labour savings and soil health improvements.

 

 

On-farm experiences with organic no-till soybean production in Ontario over the past decade have yielded mixed results. As part of a two-year OSCIA Tier 2 trial, Heartland Soil and Crop Improvement Association is evaluating cover crop-based organic soybean production using established best practices. The goal is to identify barriers to success and develop recommendations specific for Ontario conditions.

Video: Finally We Are On The Fields Planting Corn!

It seems like it was a long-time coming but we are finally on the fields planting corn. Cold, wet weather has made working the land and planting the first of our crops and difficult proposition but today we got at least one corn field done. Join us at Ewetopia Farms as we use old methods to get corn planted. This corn will feed our sheep for another year and heat our home!