Cover crops making a comeback in Ontario fields
Brandon Coleman’s field near Kippen, Ont. may look like a failed sunflower growing experiment, but it's not. It’s a very precise attempt to help the soil that’s going to grow next year’s corn, beans or wheat crop.
“We are firm believers that after wheat, at least, you need something out there to keep it green, as long as we can,” said Coleman.
This is what’s known as a cover crop. In Coleman’s case, a combination of oats, peas and sunflowers to cover the soil between cropping seasons. Common practice decades ago that fell out of favour but is now making a comeback amongst Ontario farmers.
“Now, it’s more of a community concern. Let’s take care of our soil. Let’s produce food that’s healthy. Let’s keep our waterways and the life in them prolific, as well,” said Marg Kroes, who along with her husband, Jack, have been growing a cover crop of red clover for the past 10 years.
Covering the farmer’s fields instead of leaving them bare after harvest, helps to reduce wind and water erosion. It keeps the soil, and nutrients in the soil, out of area waterways. It also adds organic matter, improves fertility and reduces compaction in farmer’s fields.
“A lot of people are realizing that soil conservation is incredibly important and we need to protect what’s there, because they aren’t making more dirt,” said Coleman, whose family has been planting cover crops for the past three to four years.
“Organic material is incredibly important to us. It will get you through a tough year. Having a good soil structure in a limited rain or heavy rain year, helps that plant perform so much better,” he adds.
Through a funding partnership with the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA), more than 2,000 acres of cover crops have been planted in the Bayfield and Clinton area. Signs acknowledging the growing number of farmers protecting their soil and neighbouring streams, now dot the countryside.
“It’s really easy to drive by these fields and not pay much attention to what’s going on, but it’s pretty incredible what farmers are doing. We all play a role in protecting our natural resources and this is one simple thing farmers can do,” said Hope Brock, Healthy Watersheds Technician with ABCA.
Coleman and Kroes are both proud to display the new signs and say they will continue to grow cover crops for decades to come.
“To plant it, to grow it, it takes so little energy, but what it returns is abundant,” says Kroes.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.