Join the Greenbelt Foundation's Free Soil Health Program
Program Overview
Improve your soils, farm business and community! The Greenbelt Foundation and soil scientists at the Soil Health Institute are working together with Ontario agricultural partners to develop an interpretable, scalable, locally relevant method for evaluating and monitoring soil health. This will enable farmers to:
- Evaluate their current soil health compared to similar soils in their region.
- Understand how much healthier their soil can be.
- Measure and track the impact of different management practices on soil health.
Program Eligibility
We are sampling 300-500 grain and oilseed farms across the Golden Horseshoe region, and all soil health testing, education, and support services are offered free to farmers. We have already sampled 124 sites! If you're interested in signing up, please fill out the information below and someone from the Greenbelt Foundation will be in touch to assess your eligibility. If eligible, we will visit your farm in the spring, at a mutually agreed-upon time, to collect the soil samples and management history.
Benefits of Participation
A Comprehensive Soil Health Report
Participants will receive soil health data on measurements that reflect their overall soil function for carbon cycling and storage, water cycling and storage, nutrient cycling and more, along with locally relevant soil health interpretations and recommendations to understand the results and set achievable soil health goals. This information will provide valuable insights into the current state of your soil and help you identify areas for improvement.
One-on-one Support
You will receive one-on-one support from a Soil Health Specialist who can help you set goals and overcome barriers.
Data Privacy Guarantee
We value the privacy of your data, and you can be assured that your information will be protected.
Be Part of an Innovative Project
By participating in this program, you will be a part of an innovative project that is working to advance soil health assessment in Ontario. You will have the opportunity to contribute to the development of new methods for evaluating and monitoring soil health and to help improve soil health for all farmers in the region.
Contact Us
Ryan Carlow, Soil Health Specialist
Tel. (437) 972-1675
Tel. (437) 972-1675
Support
The program is a collaborative effort between the Greenbelt Foundation, the Soil Health Institute, and several Ontario agricultural partners including Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association, Soils at Guelph, Ontario Certified Crop Advisor Association, Conservation Ontario, Innovative Farmers Association of Ontario, and Ontario Soil Network.
The program is governed by several committees including all partners and representatives from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs, Ontario Federation of Agriculture, Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario, Grain Farmers of Ontario, Soil Conservation Council of Canada, and Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario.
The Greenbelt Foundation recognizes the importance of investing in soil health to ensure a sustainable and resilient agricultural sector that feeds Ontarians into the future. By working together, we are helping to build a more sustainable future for farmers and the agricultural community.
The program is governed by several committees including all partners and representatives from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs, Ontario Federation of Agriculture, Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario, Grain Farmers of Ontario, Soil Conservation Council of Canada, and Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario.
The Greenbelt Foundation recognizes the importance of investing in soil health to ensure a sustainable and resilient agricultural sector that feeds Ontarians into the future. By working together, we are helping to build a more sustainable future for farmers and the agricultural community.
Funding
This project is funded and supported by the Weston Family Foundation’s Soil Health Initiative. Additionally, it has received funding support from the Government of Ontario. Such support does not indicate endorsement by the Government of Ontario of the contents of this material.