Ontario farmers interested in participating in the Living Lab initiative are invited to complete a survey in order to begin the process. The Living Lab — Ontario project has been set up to bring together farmers, scientists, sector organizations, and other experts to co-develop, test, and evaluate Beneficial Management Practices (BMPs) that address climate change… Read More
Tag: Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association
Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) has named Ashley Honsberger as its new executive director, effective October 9, 2023. Andrew Graham, the current ED, will retire after a celebrated career spanning 43 years, 33 of those with OSCIA. He served as executive director at Soil and Crop for more than eight years. Honsberger has… Read More
Ontario will be home to the first of three new Living Laboratory initiatives beginning this year. Led by Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association, the Ontario living lab project will receive up to $9.2 million over five years from the federal government under the Agricultural Climate Solutions (ACS) – Living Labs program. This living lab… Read More
Ontario farmers can access a piece of $68 million in funding through three new programs under the Ontario Agricultural Sustainability Initiative (OASI) Funded through the joint federal-provincial Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP), the initiative includes: Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program (RALP) — a $56.7 million, five-year program that will make funds available to eligible farmers to… Read More
Brant County farmer Steve Sickle has been named president of the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) for 2023. Sickle has been involved in the Brant Federation of Agriculture, Brant Beef Farmers, Ontario Soil Network, and the agriculture advisory council for the county. His OSCIA involvement stretches back many years, and he’s also worked… Read More
Harry Stoddart will take the helm of the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) on January 16, 2023. That’s when Stoddart becomes the executive director of OSCIA, taking over from Andrew Graham who plans to retire in June 2023 after a six-month transitional period. Stoddart brings a unique combination of leadership experience in not-for-profit… Read More
The Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) is on the hunt for a new leader to take the reins of the organization in January 2023, allowing for a transition period from the current leadership. The move comes as executive director Andrew Graham has announced his plans to retire in June 2023, after 33 years… Read More
The On Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) is a federal program being administered by 12 organizations across Canada. In Ontario, the funding for nitrogen management, cover cropping, and rotational grazing is largely being administered by the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA). EcoCert is also administering a portion of funds for organic growers. Margaret… Read More
Thanks for tuning in to RealAg Radio! On today’s show hosted by Lyndsey Smith, we’ll hear from: Casper Kaastra, CEO of Sollio Ag on the fertilizer supply in to 2023; Margaret May, with the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association, regarding information on the Ontario On Farm Climate Action Funding; and, Today’s spotlight interview with… Read More
The Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) held its annual general meeting earlier in February, setting out the executive for the coming year, and naming its Soil Champion for 2022. Leading the organization will be Eastern Ontario farmer Warren Schneckenburger, who will serve a one-year term as president. Alongside his parents Arden and Rhonda,… Read More
The winners of the 2021 Soil Champion award from Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) have been announced. Henry Denotter, grain farmer from Essex county, receives the award in the producer category. Dr. Laura Van Eerd, professor at University of Guelph, Ridgetown campus, receives the research and extension win. The annual award recognizes leaders… Read More
Ontario meat processors and farmers have the opportunity to apply for funding under two new program intakes of the Canadian Agricultural Partnership. The Meat Processors Capacity Improvement Initiative is an up to $4 million program that will provide up to $150,000 per project for improvements to product handling and processing equipment. It will also cover… Read More
Finding soil fertility recommendations for different crops can be time-consuming and hard to pin down. A new app that is simple and quick to use provides tremendous value by bringing soil fertility recommendations for different crops — both field and vegetable — all to one place. “In terms of the Soil Test Manager app, it’s… Read More
The Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) recently named Anne Loeffler as its 2020 Soil Champion. The award, which recognizes leaders in sustainable soil management, was presented to Loeffler for her encouragement of adoption of on-farm water quality improvement practices in the Grand River watershed. “The region has a large diversity of farmers and… Read More
Jim Denys, a Middlesex County farmer, and Anne Verhallen, a long-time provincial government soil specialist, have been named recipients of the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA)’s Soil Champion Award. The award recognizes leaders in sustainable soil management. This is the first time the association has presented its award to multiple recipients. “We are… Read More