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Proper soil management protects the soil from erosion, conserves the soil’s most productive layer, decreases the cost of inputs and enhances farm profitability. That’s one reason the Eastern Canada Soil and Water Conservation Centre (ECSWCC) is highlighting the importance of good soil management in support of the theme of National Soil Conservation Week, Soils and the Environment.

What should you be aware of?Soil organic matter is one of the key indicators of soil

health. A high level of soil organic matter improves populations of soil living organisms, nutrient availability, soil structure, water infiltration and retention, soil aeration and drainage.

Good soil management leads to better crop yields and quality while reducing the losses of soil, nutrients and pesticides associated with runoff. Sound soil management practices also improve water quality and reduce the reliance on irrigation to meet crop water requirements.

Soil management also has a beneficial influence on reducing dust and greenhouse gas emissions. Excessive tillage and lack of residue cover can increase wind erosion, resulting in more dust in the air and nuisance complaints from nearby neighbours. Excessive tillage also accelerates microbial decomposition of organic matter emitting carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.

Maintaining a healthy soil with good soil organic matter levels will improve the diversity of living organisms in the soil. Good soil management decreases water runoff and soil erosion, which reduces the risks to water quality of nearby watercourses and helps maintain a healthy aquatic and wildlife habitat.

Sound soil management practices should improve yield and produce a more consistent high quality crop. When proper soil management practices are used, the topsoil and organic matter will be conserved. Consequently, these soils require less fertilizer to maintain production. In addition, the crop will be more vigorous and less susceptible to pests. Maintaining a

healthy soil helps to reduce costs per units of production. Sound soil management practices also reduce the off-farm costs associated with soil degradation such as sediment

removal from road ditches and farm ponds.

Evaluate soil management practices “The Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) is an excellent tool to

help you do a self-assessment of your agricultural practices of soil and nutrient management,” said Jérôme Damboise, agrologist-economist from the ECSWCC. The self-assessment highlights the positive aspects and the potential impact on the environment of your agricultural practices. The EFP is also an awareness and information document related to agri-environmental issues.

Visit the ECSWCC Web site at www.ccse-swcc.nb.ca to learn more about EFPs and Best Management Practices.

National Soil Conservation Week features soils and the environment

RetirementThis upcoming spring marks two significant events for soil conservationists across Canada: National Soil Conservation Week and the retirement of one of Canada’s leading soil conservationists, Glen Shaw.

Story on page 8

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Spring 2007 The Protector Soil Conservation Council of Canada

Biogas production on the farm: a promising technique for the environment

On January 26th, in Ste-Julie (Montreal area), more than 300 people took part in a one-day session on the methane production from manure. The presence of 88 agricultural producers among them was a clear demonstration of the interest that farmers have for renewable energy.

This initiative, funded by the Canadian Agricultural Producers and Environmental Issues Program, was undertaken to draft a realistic picture of the biogas production potential in Quebec. Several presenters from different backgrounds were invited to speak on the issue.

This technology presents several advantages that can be considered. First of all, the process helps to reduce CH4 emissions (a powerful greenhouse gas) that come out of the manure pit. Also, the production of energy from biogas could be used instead of more polluting sources of energy. In addition, a significant reduction has been noted in certain pathogenic agents that are naturally present in animal manure, such as the Escherichia coli bacteria. Finally, the digested manure gives off no odours when spread, which therefore improves co-existence in a rural environment.

Biogas production comes from the anaerobic digestion of organic matter, such as manure. This fuel, which is difficult to store, must ideally be used continuously on site to supply a motor, a generator, or even a boiler. This technique could therefore be of most interest to farms that need thermal energy.

It seems that if the digestion process is using a combination of inputs in co-digestion with animal manure, the production of biogas increases several times. For instance, adding hay (fresh cut or silage) to dairy cattle manure allows you to multiply the amount of energy produced by 4. The

use of anaerobic digestion (fermentation) could have an indirect positive impact on crop rotation by integrating more perennial plants (accumulating carbon) in the rotation.

Furthermore, the digested manure (digestor’s sludge) offers interesting agronomic features for some livestock producers since the N-NH4 content is higher than in some fresh liquid manures. This aspect is especially interesting for dairy producers because bovine manure contains a very low proportion of N-NH4 naturally. Therefore, an increase in the content of N-NH4 will foster a better use of this nitrogen resource – which manure represents – when it is used on growing crops.

Since it is more liquid and fluid, the digestor’s sludge also offers other advantages. First of all, when loading before spreading, this manure is mixed more quickly, which represents significant savings. When spreading, there are less blockages in the new generations of spray booms, which makes for a more uniform application and a more efficient use of this fertilizing material.

At a time when a lot of people are looking at ethanol production and wind power, the methane production from manure seems to be a global solution that could be adapted for some businesses.

This activity has been made possible thanks to the financial contribution of

national groups (Soil Conservation Council of Canada, Dairy Producers of Canada, Canadian Pork Council, Canadian Cattlemen’s Association), as well as provincial partners (Quebec Council for Agriculture Development, Quebec Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and the Agricultural Producers’ Union). The content of those conferences is available at the following web site:www.cdaq.qc.ca/ShowDoc.asp?Rubrique=240&Document=268

Photo provided by: Marie-Josée Parent, Le Bulletin des agriculteurs, Québec

Torsten Fischer, German engineer, speaker. Photo by Carl Bérubé

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Spring 2007 The Protector Soil Conservation Council of Canada

No-till production going field scale in NB

Producers in New Brunswick are gradually starting to accept no-till as an alternative to conventional corn production. After three summers of demonstration projects under the Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Program, several producers have moved into field scale assessment of no-till on the farm.

Terry McCullum, a dairy producer in Kings County, NB, planted over 40 acres of no-till ear corn in a field that was in hay for several years prior. He was pleased with the results in weed control; yields were equal to or better then his conventional corn (ear corn over 4 t/ac dry matter). As well, soil health was maintained from the earlier hay production on this land.

Terry was pleased to find that the worm population on the no-till field was considerably better than an adjacent field that had been in conventional corn production for the last three years (worm counts were 1 per cubic foot under conventional tillage, and ranged from 12-22 per cubic foot under no-till). The no-till field, with increased residue cover and worm activity, had a lot more castings on the surface of the soil versus the conventional corn field which appeared to have more erosion between the rows. Terry is planning to plant up to 100 acres of no-till for the 2007 season.

Sackville, New Brunswick beef producers, Robert and Nathan Acton, beef producers produced approximately 70 acres of no-till corn silage this past summer. They were very pleased with corn yields and ease of harvest. The Sackville

area received a lot of rainfall this year. As a result most of the conventional corn looked pale in colour as it seems the fertilizer nitrogen may have been washed below the root zone.

The no-till corn that was grown on hay land in rotation appeared to have maintained its colour, possibly from the breakdown of organic nitrogen during the growing season. The Actons found another plus of no-till corn is that the soil structure is largely maintained during wet harvest periods, so no-till fields will support equipment better than conventional fields.

British Columbia soil conservation update

The Peace River Area, BC North, has been looking at economical and timely ways to rejuvenate pastures and hayfields. We have spent the last couple of growing seasons documenting increase in pasture yields using rotational grazing and grazing management.

At one of our demonstration sites in Lone Prairie, we had a producer take a pasture planned for plowing and discing, and cross-fence it instead. The producer took 45 heifers and rotationally grazed this pasture for two years. Each year saw an increase in the pasture’s carrying capacity and desirable plant species.

Prior to changing the pasture management, a plant inventory was taken and a yield goal was set. The producer hoped to double the pasture’s carrying capacity in three years. The pasture was over 60 percent fescue which left behind too much plant material for too many years. As a result it did not have satisfactory yield. Only 20 percent of the plants were desirable and were not producing to their potential.

After the first two years of observation, the 160 acres increased its carrying capacity from 1,350 animal unit days (AUD) to 2,900 AUD. The plant composition also changed to include more desirable grazing plants like tall fescue and meadow brome even though no new seed was added to the stand. By changing the grazing pressure and providing rest

periods for each paddock the plant composition changed on its own.

The producers were amazed at the improvements to the stand, particularly because the management change took place during extreme drought years. Despite the drought in the first year, this pasture had two grazing periods in the second year of drought while the traditionally grazed pastures did not. They were pleased with the results and were glad not to have had any tilled land during a two-year drought period. They felt it was a more productive use of the land to rejuvenate the pasture without tillage and plan to continue to improve pasture land with management rather than with tillage.

Picture of pasture after 2 years. Change from fescue dominant to multi-species present.

Discussion on no-till systems at Kier Miller’s farm in NB.

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Spring 2007 The Protector Soil Conservation Council of Canada

Riparian buffer strips provide opportunities for biomass production and environmental protection in PEI

PFRA Regional Services (Atlantic) and the Agroforestry Division have teamed up with the PEI Soil and Crop Improvement Association and Natural Resources Canada through the Canadian Biomass Innovation Network (CBIN) in establishing two promising demonstration/applied research sites. They will evaluate the potential of willows to reduce soil erosion, sequester excess nutrients in riparian areas and serve as a source of renewable energy. AAFC’s Research Branch is also assisting with soil classification work on each site.

Traditionally, willows for biomass production are grown in monoculture plantation style production systems. The objective of this project is to evaluate the effectiveness of willows in riparian zones as filters to decrease nutrient leaching and surface run-off into watercourses. Characteristically, riparian edges are highly productive due to consistent water availability so biomass yields should be attractive.

Soil erosion and nutrient loading into groundwater aquifers are two of the most significant environmental issues associated with agriculture in PEI. There is also growing producer interest in bio-fuel production as a potential supplemental source of on farm income.

The demonstration sites were established this past June on a hog operation and a potato operation. The site on the hog operation is next to the West River and consists of three separate plots with both native and non-native species of willow. The plots also include more traditional plantings of hardwoods as well as shrubs as a comparison to the willows, and also to provide potential economic return to the producer.

The second site located in a riparian area of the Dunk River has been planted exclusively to non-native biomass clones. Lysimeters to collect groundwater samples have been

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installed at the site and additional equipment to measure surface run-off will be installed in the spring. Disease and insect pressures are also being observed.

Growth of the non-native willows has been impressive. However, the branches of the native clones are showing a tendency for lateral growth, which may cause difficulties when harvesting.

The biomass will be harvested on a three year rotation for up to 21 years (seven harvests). Forestry Canada is assisting with the economic evaluation of the project.

Above: Willow cutting – one week growth. Left: Brian Murray, PFRA , with willows after 13 weeks growth.

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Spring 2007 The Protector Soil Conservation Council of Canada

Producers recognized as soil conservationists of the year

The 19th Annual Soil Conservationist of the Year awards were presented at the PEI Soil and Crop Banquet on February 20, 2007 in Charlottetown to Erik and Sharon Terbeek of Southampton and Lily Pond Farms of Bear River. Directors from the association handle the judging for the award based on practices that conserve or protect soil and water resources.

Erik and Sharon Terbeek, along with children Jacob and Jennifer, have operated Golden Bay Dairy for 13 years. With their operation focused solely on milk production, 50 percent of their land base is in forages. The crop rotation is four to five years in forages, then corn, soybeans and finally cereals. The result is that soil loss rates are very acceptable on 100 percent of their farm.

Watercourses on the farm are fenced off to prevent access to cattle. Daily water requirements are supplied by the farmstead well with about 6,000 feet of waterline.

Manure is applied year-to-year to make best use of nutrients and reduce environmental impact. The manure is applied to corn, soybean and forage fields in fall and spring and is incorporated as soon as possible after application, usually on the same day or the next.

In addition, milkhouse wash water is treated in two acres of wetlands recently constructed by Ducks Unlimited Canada.

Erik and Sharon completed an Environmental Farm Plan in 2005 on all properties they own. With many of their projects now in place, their action plan is 80 to 90 percent complete.

The second winner, the MacIssacs of Bear River, have been farming, in cumulative terms, for more than 130 years. Brothers Kevin and Blair and their father Joe and their families are continuing the family tradition, producing 600 acres of potatoes along with small acreage in soybeans and canola.

The family’s Lily Pond Farms completed an Enhanced Environmental Farm Plan in March 2006 on all its properties, including rentals. With the work they have done, their current action plan would be considered 70 percent complete.

In regards to soil conservation, 75 to 80 percent of the farm, including rented properties, is rated as having acceptable soil loss rates. They have improved soil erosion rates on 210 acres or seven farms through terracing, grassed waterways and strip cropping. They also identify severe slopes and apply hay mulch in the fall after potato harvest.

The rotation is three years with potatoes, grain and hay. Manure is obtained locally and applied to about 75 acres annually to areas with low organic levels. Grain is taken off as early as possible to allow a large biomass of red clovers to develop in the first year and the hay is flail mowed twice, adding back to the soil. In the last two years, 66 percent of plowing was done in the spring.

The award committee was impressed with the efforts made in Lily Pond’s fertility management. Besides taking manure and legume plow down credits into account, they follow the fertility and liming recommendations based on soil test results. In 2006 they applied 14 to 15 different fertilizer blends as a result.

Lily Pond has also planted 1,000 trees in 1988 and enhanced wetlands on the farm in 2004.

Kevin is a Past President of PEI Soil and Crop and is recognized as a leader who saw the need and opportunity for this organization to be an ambassador for sustainable agriculture research, demonstration and promotion.

A Seedling’s PrayerThe seedling’s head poked through the ground

Surveyed the lands around.

Would Mother Nature welcome him

Or obstacles abound?

He has this sense, he knew not why

Of chilling winds and sand.

Could this be from a time gone by

When plows still ruled the land?

But on this day all did seem calm

He felt so right at home.

The stubble made a canopy

Just like a greenhouse dome.

He knew not how this came to be

But knew he liked the spell.

Could farmers now conserve the land

And nurture plants as well?Ken Eshpeter

No-till Farmer

Daysland, Alberta

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Spring 2007 The Protector Soil Conservation Council of Canada

‘Putting up’ with field shelterbelts

Before direct seeding/zero till became the norm, one of the methods Prairie farmers implemented to control wind erosion was to plant field shelterbelts. But as farm machinery became wider and the standing stubble in a direct seeding system provided even greater protection against the forces of the wind, shelterbelt trees were often viewed as a nuisance and fell prey to the dozer.

Not all field shelterbelts, however, suffered that fate — even those located in direct seeded fields. One farm family that continues to “put up” with them lives near Theodore, Saskatchewan, northwest of Yorkton. Clark and Delores Anderson planted their shelterbelts in 1993 with two purposes in mind. The first was to control wind erosion and the second was to give students from Theodore school some appreciation for Mother Nature.

The trees were made available through the Save Our Soils program. The Grades Five to Eight students planted and cared for the trees as part of a science project to demonstrate what trees could do to buffer the effect of wind when planted in an organized manner.

The field selected for the shelterbelt is bordered by another field to the west, a road to the south and east and a gully to the north in which the Cussed Creek runs. The westerly winds, as they blew across the Andersons’ field, had a lot of force behind them. “That used to be a wild mile,” says Clark. “The wind blew the soil all spring and the snow all winter. We had to do something.”

The Andersons planted a belt along the south side of the field running east and along the curve of the road on the west side running north and south. The tree species include sea

buckthorn, chokecherry, ash and lilac. In 1997, the Andersons moved to minimum till and by 2000 had their first direct seeded crop. Soil erosion has been eliminated and the trees are doing a tremendous job of keeping the snow in the field and off the road.

When asked why he and Delores maintain the shelterbelt, Clark chuckles and says he sometimes asks himself the same question. “The odd time I wonder why I bother, especially when I’m swathing the narrow strip of field between the trees and the road. But then I think about how nice the trees look and the number of birds and animals they attract.”

The shelterbelt also benefits both the Andersons and the municipality by stopping the snow. “We benefit from the extra moisture and resulting heavier crop on the lee side of the trees while the municipality doesn’t have to spend resources trying to keep the road open in the winter,” explains Clark.

The Andersons have no plans to remove the field shelterbelts from their direct seeded fields. The trees are aesthetically pleasing and serve to protect the soil from the wind and provide food and cover for a wide assortment of wildlife. The Andersons believe that sometime in the future, when one or more of the students from the science project are driving by the field, they will look at the trees they planted many years ago and feel a tie to the land.

The Andersons and farmers like them are saluted for their commitment to soil conservation. The trees they have planted and the adoption of direct seeding together have protected the soil, stored soil carbon, reduced the use of fossil fuels and enhanced the quality of the air and nearby waterways.

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Spring 2007 The Protector Soil Conservation Council of Canada

Assessing the role of local hydrology, soil fertility, and greenhouse gas emissions in riparian zones

Nova Scotia is draped in a diverse landscape with 294,596 acres (2 percent) of its land mass being fertile, cultivated land. A large proportion of this cultivated land lies adjacent to surface water bodies including ponds, lakes and streams. In many cases, a riparian area, an area of permanent grass and wooded vegetation, separates the cultivated land from the water body. These riparian ecosystems have unique structure and function due to strong interactions between hydrologic, soil and plant process. Spatial variability in hydrological flowpaths and nitrate removal process all affect the riparian area’s ability to “filter” nitrate as it moves from upland areas through into the riparian zone. Soil in this area is permanently wet and rich in organic matter, thus providing optimal conditions for greenhouse gas (GHG) production. However, landscape assessments are required to fully understand the importance of riparian zones for nutrient removal and to determine their function on greenhouse gas emissions.

During the spring of 2006 the Environmental Management Program (EMP) in coordination with the Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Dalhousie University and Ducks Unlimited, established an applied research demonstration project to explore the role of local hydrology and greenhouse gas emissions in agricultural fields and in adjoining riparian zones. The demonstration was designed to assess the management strategies to reduce GHG emissions, increase nutrient use efficiency and reduce nutrient impacts on water systems from agricultural landscapes.

The overall goal of the demonstration was to better understand the spatial and temporal patterns and controlling factors involved in GHG emissions from cropped lands and adjoining riparian areas while providing producers with information pertaining to

beneficial management practices (BMPs). The goal was not only to increase the sustainability of soil but also benefit producers economically. At the same time it can help reduce global GHG emissions and contribute to Canada’s efforts to minimize climate change.

The co-operator based site was located in the Thomas Brook Watershed of the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia. Four transects were set up along the west portion of the field in May 2006. Each transect had four greenhouse gas (GHG) collection chambers along the sloped crop portion (corn) of the field, and four chambers through the riparian zone down to the edge of the brook. Greenhouse gas measurements were taken weekly from mid-May through to September and continued throughout the winter depending on snow cover.

Initial results indicated that, in general, nitrous oxide emissions were lower and methane emissions higher in the riparian area relative to the cropped portions of the field. Continued monitoring will determine the rate of nitrate removal in the riparian area and whether this part of the landscape represents a net sink or net source of greenhouse gas emissions.

The demonstration program has now entered its second year and the co-ordinators are analyzing last year’s data and planning for this upcoming season. Since managing the farm landscape is becoming the forefront of research for agriculture, collaborations between the environmental management program (EMP) and various groups is of uttermost importance. For detailed demonstration information pertaining to soil fertility, greenhouse gas production, and BMPs, please contact the EMP coordinator at (902) 893-6618 or sellsworth@nsac.ca

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Spring 2007 The Protector Soil Conservation Council of Canada

Soil conservation leader retiresThis upcoming spring marks two significant events for soil

conservationists across Canada: National Soil Conservation Week and the retirement of one of Canada’s leading soil conservationists, Glen Shaw.

Shaw, the long-time manager of Soil Resources for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (AAFC - PFRA), is retiring after an outstanding and productive career developing and promoting soil management programs and beneficial management practices (BMPs).

Since the early 1980s, when PFRA rejuvenated soil conservation programs across the Prairies, tremendous progress has been made with practices such as direct seeding and converting marginal annual cropland to perennial forage. Shaw’s role was nothing less than significant, developing and managing programs that provided information and assistance to producers in Saskatchewan.

Anyone who can remember the dry conditions that plagued rural Saskatchewan during the 1980s and earlier can’t help but be impressed at how these programs and practices have resulted in much less soil erosion while improving soil productivity.

“Glen provided leadership in Saskatchewan for a series of soil conservation programs, including ERDA (Economic Regional Development Agreement) – Save Our Soils, the National Soil Conservation Program, the Permanent Cover Program, Green Plan, and projects under the Agri-Food Innovation Fund,” says Dennis Haak, a fellow soil conservationist who has worked with Shaw since they both began working with PFRA in 1984.

“In the early years, these programs were delivered primarily by PFRA staff. As these programs evolved, Glen was involved in broadening the effort by providing federal funding to producer-based groups,” notes Haak. “Through these efforts, the Saskatchewan Soil Conservation Association, the Saskatchewan Stock Growers, the Saskatchewan Forage Council and others were able to provide extension and demonstration services to farmers.”

Since the late 1990s, Shaw’s accomplishments broadened to include other environmentally sustainable initiatives across Canada. From 2000 until his retirement in 2007, Shaw sat as AAFC’s representative on the Soil Conservation Council of Canada (SCCC) Board of Directors.

“In this capacity, Glen was a key individual that helped secure funding and provide technical expertise for a variety of farm-based demonstration projects under the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Mitigation Program,” explains Doug McKell, SCCC’s Executive Director.

“Through the program’s Taking Charge Teams, which involved provincial and regional producer groups, government agrologists and researchers, we were able to promote a significant number of BMPs involving both crop and livestock systems across Canada,” says McKell. “Many of these BMPs have broad environmental benefits, including GHG reductions, improved water quality, and enhanced biodiversity.”

From 2003 to 2005, Shaw led a national working group to select appropriate BMPs for cost-shared funding under the National Farm Stewardship Program (NFSP). This is by far the largest program of its kind in Canadian history.

Through the NFSP, 30 different BMP categories involving over 80 specific practices are funded. As of December 2006, over 7,000 farmers had received assistance, and the program still has a full year before it expires in 2008.

Shaw’s colleagues, who include both agricultural professionals and producers, have grown to appreciate his strong leadership and management skills, coupled with a thorough yet practical knowledge of farming systems and soil conservation practices. Much of this knowledge was gained before coming to PFRA, working 13 years in the field as a land use specialist and soil conservationist for the Province of Manitoba.

Soil Conservation Council of Canada, AAFC - PFRA, and other colleagues from provinces, universities and non-government organizations across Canada wish to extend thanks and best wishes to Shaw in his retirement, as he spends more time with family and pursues other non work-related interests.

For more information or to pass along congratulations to Glen, please contact Doug McKell, Soil Conservation Council of Canada, at (306) 695-4212, or Dennis Haak, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration, at (306) 975-4772.

Why care about soil?Before the earliest forms of life emerged from the sea there

was no soil. All land was bare, eroded rock and deserts. Over hundreds of thousands of years soil was created by an ecosystem of living plants and animals, which it continues to rely on to remain fertile and productive. A healthy acre of soil from a temperate region will contain about 125 million small invertebrates and just 30 grams of that soil will contain one million bacteria of just one type, 100,000 yeast cells and 50,000 fungus mycelium. Because this process of soil creation takes place over several millenniums, we need to consider this resource as one of the most fragile on the planet and one that is, on a human timescale, truly non-renewable.

Humans rely on the soil in our ecosystem to provide us with food. But in this process we have a huge impact on this resource. All plants and animals modify their environments as they compete and cooperate with each other to survive and flourish. However, humans distinguish themselves from all other animals in their relationship to the ecosystem. They are the only species capable of destroying the ecosystem on which they depend for their existence, including the soil.

“Why should we care about the soil?” asks Eugene Legge, president of Soil Conservation Council of Canada. “We humans have the biggest impact on the soil,” he says. “If we look after it we can live in harmony with the other organisms, but if we don’t we might as well go back into the sea and let them rebuild it over the next hundred thousand years.”

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Spring 2007 The Protector Soil Conservation Council of Canada

Wet harvest leaves soil erosion challenges for this spring and beyond

The fall of 2006 will probably go down as one of the most difficult harvest seasons for a wide range of crops. In Ontario, there are numerous fields with deep ruts and compacted sections and even fields that were not harvested as winter closed in.

A common question this winter has been what approach to take to rehabilitate these fields. Some growers used light fall tillage in between rain storms to fill in and cover over any damage. Others have left the ruts to mellow over winter, either by plan or because the soil was just too wet. In some cases this means we are looking at using tillage this spring to repair ruts in no-till fields and certainly more primary tillage than many fields/areas have seen for a while.

The greater use of tillage and the reduction in cover cropped acres due to wet planting conditions means that we have more fields bare this winter and less crop residue will be covering and protecting fields. The potential for all types of soil erosion, wind, water and tillage, is much greater this year. It will be critical to maintain as much residue as possible on the soil surface during tillage operations and to use the least amount of tillage possible to achieve good crop establishment.

We’ve been here before. In the winter of 2005/2006 the PFRA commissioned the Soil Resource Group to review the current knowledge on soil erosion in Ontario. Much of the soil erosion research dates back to the 1970s and ‘80s. This is the data that helped to push forward funding and support for erosion control measures like reduced tillage and no-till, windbreaks and erosion control structures. Current programs like the Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) also have their origins in this early erosion work.

There is a value in looking back. Soils have not changed, they may have improved over the last 15 to 20 years of reduced tillage but like the saying goes, “Those that ignore history are doomed to repeat it.”

Research has shown that you can expect a 23 to 30 bu/acre loss of productivity on average for corn when 15 cm of soil has been lost due to erosion. Erosion has a direct on-farm cost. For Ontario, it’s estimated to be upwards of $68 million with an additional $100 million annually of off-farm damage due to sediment.

Soil erosion is often a matter of soil that has been rearranged within a field. Hills and slopes have lost nutrient rich topsoil while low areas have accumulated deep deposits of this moved soil. The result is a field with inconsistent fertility and water holding ability that is less productive overall and less resilient to stress.

This is a concern in any year but will become more of a concern in the future. The climate change models suggest that we can expect to see more extreme and unpredictable weather. We are more likely to see more heavy thunderstorms and extended periods of either drought or wet conditions. We can expect to see more soil erosion because of what climate change will bring in terms of rainfall intensity.

We can also expect that weather changes are only part of the pressures that climate change will bring to bear on our soil resource. The interest in renewable fuels will force some crop rotation changes and can be expected to leave less crop residues in many cases. Now is the time to take another look at what we learned about preventing soil erosion in the 1980s to ensure a productive future.

Ruts and heavily compacted areas from the Fall 2006 harvest will need some careful tillage to get those areas ready for spring planting.

Cover crops and crop residues are some of the keys to preventing wind erosion. Wet fall conditions in 2006 prevented much cover crop planting.

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Spring 2007 The Protector Soil Conservation Council of Canada

Manitoba takes ‘running start’ at a new era for conservationTwo prominent soil conservationists take the pulse of recent progress and challenges.

For Manitoba soil conservationists Curtis Cavers and Lindsay Coulthard, it’s clear that progress with soil conservation in the province is steady and promising, but in need of a shot in the arm.

“Soil conservation is a challenge where you’re always fighting the cycle between apathy and panic,” says Cavers, a land resource specialist with Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives (MAFRI). “When there’s dust blowing or erosion affecting water quality, soil conservation issues become front and centre. But when these subside, we tend to forget about them and the practices needed to prevent them.”

Manitoba farmers understand the importance of soil conservation, and by and large have made great strides to champion the cause. But it can be difficult maintaining conservation as a high priority item.

Changing times, changing interestVariability in weather patterns has been a key influence on

the pace of soil conservation progress, notes Coulthard, a long-time farmer and manager of the Manitoba Zero Tillage Research Association (MZTRA). In years of drought, interest in minimum and no-till practices peak and interest dies down during wet years.

Changing economic times also play a key role. This is particularly true when the economic factor is combined with the continued rising profile of issues such a climate change and greenhouse gas emissions, says Cavers.

“I think one of our biggest challenges has been trying to deal with environmental issues that in the public mind seem to be isolated from the economic issues, when in fact they’re very intertwined,” he says. “If economics with a good dose of environmental savvy are combined, I think we’ll get where we need to go much faster than if they were considered separately.”

New Soil Management GuideOne of the stumbling blocks to further progress is the

variability in types of soils across the province, says Cavers. “Farmers in the clay soils on the eastern side have a whole host of challenges that those on the western side are rarely if ever going to have to deal with, and vice versa. And there are numerous areas that fall somewhere in the middle and change year to year. So as we encourage soil conservation progress, we need to be sensitive to those differences.”

To help overcome that hurdle and provide la aunch point for further progress, MAFRI recently produced a detailed Soil Management Guide for the province. It provides a strategic framework and hands-on approach for farmers to determine the best approaches to fit their operations.

“The guide takes everything we’ve learned about managing soils and refines it for producers in an all-in-one document,” says Cavers. “It explains the key concepts and how to apply them to a variety of soil types and situations, so producers can easily learn to address everyday issues that

they encounter on their farm – things like erosion, salinity, compaction, drainage, moisture conservation and so forth.”

Optimistic outlookManitoba farmers understand the importance of soil

conservation, and by and large have made great strides to champion the cause. But there has been some difficulty maintaining conservation as a high priority item.

“At the moment, we’re probably at a crawl rather than a run in terms of moving towards another level of true conservation for soil development,” says Coulthard, “but there’s no doubt we’re going the right way. We’re past the stage where people just don’t think conservation practices will work.”

“Even zero-till practices can work on the heavier land,” says Cavers. “The question is, for this and other conservation steps, do our farmers have the critical thinking and the drive to say ‘what will it take to make this happen and what should it look like at the end? Collectively, we’re developing that knowledge and that vision to make it happen.”

Provincial land use planning workshop

To mark its fifth anniversary, the Comité de l’aménagement rural du Nord-Ouest (CARNO) welcomes you to an upcoming workshop on rural planning in northeastern New Brunswick, on April 12, 2007. The theme of the workshop will be “Planning our region: Towards implementing a regional development plan.” Guest speakers from New Brunswick, Quebec and from the State of Maine, USA will share their knowledge and experiences related to regional development, rural planning and protection of land. This workshop will precede National Soil Conservation Week.

The workshop will encourage reflection and discussion on the importance of regional development, planning and protection of agricultural and forest land, two important natural resource sectors of our region’s economy. It will also heighten the participants’ awareness of the objectives and mission of CARNO. Also, the group discussions and thoughts that come out of the workshop will serve as essential tools for CARNO members in order to identify the steps toward achieving a concerted and sustainable regional development plan, while considering social, environmental and economical issues.

Through this provincial pilot project, CARNO is bringing together stakeholders from the northwestern part of New Brunswick to participate in the development of a rural planning guide for the whole region.For more information, please contact,Cindy Couturier, CARNO’S Project manager : (506) 735-2168Paul-Émile Soucy, CARNO’S President : (506) 739-3029Jean-Louis Daigle, ECSWCC, VP : (506) 475-4040

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Spring 2007 The Protector Soil Conservation Council of Canada

Evaluating potato cultivation options for reducing runoff on PEI

When we think of soil erosion caused by runoff on Prince Edward Island, images of the early spring snow melt period are what commonly come to mind. The growing season poses problems as well, especially when rainfall arrives in the form of intense thunderstorms, leading to high runoff rates and excessive soil erosion. The sediment carried in this runoff can be a transport mechanism for crop protectants used in the fields, increasing the environmental risk.

Despite the amount of rainfall produced by summer thunderstorms, PEI is often plagued by prolonged periods of drought during the growing season, making available soil water a limiting production factor. An increasing number of producers are using supplemental irrigation because they cannot afford the yield and potato quality reductions brought about as a result of moisture stress to their crops. Finding innovative ways to keep water on the fields where the crop needs it is a priority of PEI resource managers, both from an environmental and production standpoint.

A research trial involving a tillage technology that may address both the runoff and moisture retention problems is underway on PEI Ron DeHaan, Manager of the Sustainable Agriculture Section of the PEI Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Aqua-culture, department extension staff and NSAC graduate student Guenna McCarthy are entering into the second season of a two year study to evaluate the efficacy of a modified one-pass cultivator to conserve soil moisture and reduce runoff.

The implement, sometimes referred to as a hiller/prop combination, digs small depressions along the otherwise compacted furrows created by the typical one pass cultivator. These small depressions catch and hold the water allowing more time for infiltration, improving available moisture to the crop and reducing the risk of water erosion.

The experiment compares the effects on the volume of runoff and soil moisture for three types of cultivators: traditional multi-pass cultivators, one pass cultivators and one-pass with rear prop attachment. The trials are conducted in

two commercial potato fields, each with efficiency; one reel type and one pivot type.

One of the major goals of the study is to demonstrate that harnessing rainfall that would normally be lost to the field through runoff may have the added benefit of reducing the need for irrigation. With the expense associated with irrigating, this could be a real selling point to producers.

Volume of runoff is measured using a barrel system equipped with pressure transducers. A data logger installed in each field records the flow measurements for the three treatments, each of which is replicated three times. Soil moisture using TDR probes, rainfall and water applied as irrigation are all recorded.

Results of the 2006 field season are encouraging. While much work remains in analyzing the data, the hiller /prop cultivator appears to be more effective in reducing runoff volumes than the other two treatments. In the coming field season, an enhanced automated sampling configuration will collect runoff and soil moisture monitoring will be increased.

Ultimately, the goal is to give producers more options in the on-going battle to reduce runoff, improve production efficiencies and protect the environment.

One-pass cultivator with prop attachment.

Helping grazers get the biggest bang for their buck

The Pasture Nutrient Management program, which began last spring in collaboration with the Nova Scotia Pasture Improvement Initiative, promotes activities which improve the nutrient status and productivity of pasture systems through on-farm demonstrations across the province.

At each demonstration, nutrient management issues are addressed, with an added focus on how producers can benefit by using different soil fertility inputs like lime, fertilizer and legumes.

There are nearly 56,000 hectares of pastureland in Nova Scotia, making this land an important agricultural resource for the province. As such, this land needs to be used and

Dairy demonstration pasture.Continued on next page

Spring 2007 The Protector Soil Conservation Council of Canada

SCCC initiatives are supported by these organizations

Soil Conservation Council of Canada Membership Application

Name ________________________________________________________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________________________________________________

City/Town _______________________________________________ Prov. _____________ Postal Code ________________

Email Address _________________________________________________________________________________________

Please complete and mail with cheque for $25 annual membership fee to: Soil Conservation Council of Canada Box 234, Indian Head, Sask. S0G 2K0

managed carefully, efficiently and effectively, which requires knowledge of the soil, grass and livestock, and an understanding of when and where the livestock should be eating throughout the grazing season.

Successful grazing is not a spectator sport – a hands-on approach is required in order to be successful. Pastures require attention to be productive and profitable, especially with respect to soil fertility. And much like any crop, pastures need a supply of soil nutrients.

Nutrient recommendations should always be based on a soil test. This type of test will help determine if a pasture has a sufficient supply of nutrients. If a sufficient supply of manure is not available, the soil fertility of the pasture must be addressed – a process which can be expensive.

Typical fertilizer applications for a pasture in need of improvement can be upwards of 150 kg/ha 34-0-0 and 250 kg/ha 21-6-18. In addition, soils in Nova Scotia are naturally

acidic and thus require periodic applications of lime. For very low soil pH levels, a maximum lime application rate on unbroken sod of 5 tonne/ha may be required. Considering these inputs together, the cost to manage soil fertility on pasture is approximately $286/ha.

The economic reality is that the average farmer may not have $286/ha to invest in their pasture. What can they do? A project started by the Pasture Nutrient Management program hopes to answer that question.

A series of sites were established in 2006 on a variety of Nova Scotia farms, such as sheep, dairy and beef to help demonstrate to producers how to get the most from their investments when financial resources are limited. The demonstrations consider investments in fertilizer, lime or legumes, or combinations of lime with fertilizer or legumes. The demonstrations will be conducted throughout the 2007 grazing season.

Pasture tours were held at selected sites throughout the province in 2006, with additional tours planned for 2007. New 2007 demonstrations will focus on grazing management in combination with soil fertility.

Fertility inputs will be ineffective without a proper grazing strategy that includes knowing when to move your animals and how long to let your grass rest and regrow. The 2007 demonstration sites will continue to provide information regarding the return on investment for different soil fertility inputs.For more information on these or any other pasture nutrient management projects, please contact Sharon Gregory at 902-890-9899 or email sgregory@nsac.ca.To contact the Nova Scotia Pasture Improvement Initiative, please phone (902) 896-0277 or email m.degraaff@agrapoint.ca, or visit www.scians.org.The Pasture Nutrient Management program and The Nova Scotia Pasture Improvement Initiative are funded by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Greencover Canada program, an initiative under the federal-provincial-territorial Agricultural Policy Framework.

Soil Conservation Council of Canada

Continued from previous page

Nutrient management combined with good grazing management can produce a healthy and productive pasture.