The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) recently held a workshop on combating soil erosion for agricultural producers in Wellington County.
Anne Loeffler, conservation specialist with the GRCA was one of four speakers at the event on Nov. 27 at Alma Bible Church.
Loeffler highlighted the significant amounts of rainfall that have been recorded in the Wallenstein area since 2004 through a series of charts and photographs.
“Liquid soil events have occurred in this area. Soils that are saturated to partially saturated lose strength and stiffness in response to an applied stress. In this case, large amounts of rainfall in a short period of time,” Loeffler said.
The GRCA has undertaken the mammoth project of mapping high risk areas around the Conestogo River.
New technology allows the GRCA to thoroughly study different types of erosion including sheet erosion and gully erosion.
Loeffler explained, “On average, losses due to soil erosion are three tons per acre per year. The Conestogo River area is losing upwards of 20 tons per acre per year. Every field has the potential for erosion. Soils end up in the lake, in wetlands, ditches and are huge loses.”
Kevin McKague a water quality engineer with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), shared his knowledge on erosion control structures and water quality.
“Erosion is on the increase due to bigger storms, larger fields, more tillage, less crop diversity and declining soil health. By 1984 there was (one third) less acreage in hay crops. At present the acreage is (two thirds) less. One solution is crop rotation using forages instead of the standard corn, soybeans, wheat rotation,” McKague said. He used short videos and photographs to familiarize the audience with grassed waterways, broad or narrow based waterways, controlling erosion upland, installing overflow spillways, rock chute/grade control and ditch banks.
“When planning erosion control, it is important to take into account that structures do not work alone, cost and maintenance, direction of field work, tile drainage systems, topography, slope direction, fence lines and watershed size. Always use filter cloth and consult with an erosion control course certificate holder,” McKague stated.
“OMAFRA and GRCA websites contain enormous amounts of useful information including financial incentives and staff is on hand to answer any questions.”
OMAFRA environmental specialist Dave Bray spoke briefly on cover crops as a multi-tool in erosion control.
“Start small in terms of acreage planted with four to five acres. One benefit from using a cover crop is the improvement in soil structure as organic matter is returned to the soil. Thus increasing water holding capacity and infiltration rates. Surface crusting is reduced allowing for better seedbed preparation,” said Bray. “Using cover crops enhances soil microbial diversity allowing for better disease and pest control and weed suppression. Along with these benefits, a farmer has an additional source of feed in years when field crops are of poor quality or low quantity.”
For more information on the use of cover crops in controlling soil erosion, Bray advised using the Outdoor Farm Show and Midwest Cover Crop Council’s websites.
The final speaker of the workshop was Stefan Zehetner, farmer and owner of Huron Cover Crops, Hensall.
“I started this company in 2005 and am continually searching for the right cover crop that is suited to the different soils and crops in Ontario. Long term goals for my company are to reduce the use of commercial fertilizer and pesticides on crops,” Zehetner said.
Traditional cover crops are cereals, grasses, legumes and brassicas. Newer cover crops include ming beans, chick peas, lentils and lupins. Zehetner emphasized that he has found the most successful cover crops to be rye grasses, cereal ryes and multi-species mixes.
“In choosing a cover crop consider winterkill, compatibility of the following crop, mixes, hosts for pests, forages and costs,” Zehetner said. “I would encourage everyone to use cover crops as a soil erosion control mechanism.”
Huron Cover Crops is on Twitter and email huroncover crops@outlook.com.
