A new soil-focused training program for agronomists is set to launch in 2025. The Canada Trusted Advisor Partnership (TAP) will be offered in Manitoba and Saskatchewan next year, with a goal of 10 to 15 participants.
Modeled after the North Dakota TAP, which formed in 2022 to provide Certified Crop Advisors (CCAs) with practical soil health training, the Canadian version aims to fill the gap in technical assistance for science-driven soil health management, says Dr. Luke Struckman, co-lead of the project.
By providing agronomists with the next-generation skills, technological know-how, and professional networks to expand their consulting footprint to thousands of additional acres, TAP is a lever for rapidly scaling sustainable agriculture to enhance farm resilience, according to the Sustainable Food Lab, which leads the project.
The Canadian Prairies TAP will offer a masterclass in soil health agronomy, water management, and diversified cropping systems, and cover topics such as residue management, zone mapping, variable rate technology, and tillage reduction, says Shawn Catherwood, lead agronomist for southern Saskatchewan.
The initial cohort will open to CCAs in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and the program is poised to expand to other provinces in the future. Brandon, Manitoba-based Assiniboine College will host the TAP curriculum and coordinate the issuance of Continuing Education Units (CEUs), Struckman says.
In the next five years, the Canadian Prairies TAP aims to train more than 225 agronomists in soil-centric land management.
The project is being supported by General Mills, PepsiCo, Bimbo Canada, Nature United, and South East Research Farm.
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