Orientation Session

Farmland Health Check-Up

April 2018

Karen Jacobs, OSCIA

Agenda

1. Farmland Health Check-Up Introduction

2. The Farmland Health Check-Up

• The Workbook

• The Assessment

• BMP Planning

4. Submission of Completed Farmland Health Check-Ups

5. Lake Erie Agriculture Demonstrating Sustainability

6. Roles and Responsibilities

Canadian Agricultural Partnership:

Lake Erie Agriculture Demonstrating Sustainability (LEADS)

Objectives:• Reducing nutrient loss, in particular phosphorus, from agriculture

production within Ontario's Lake Erie watershed

• Improving soil health of farmland

• Providing co-benefits for enhancing pollinator habitat, reducing

greenhouse gas emissions, and building resilience to climate

change, while strengthening the sustainability of the agriculture

sector

Eligibility Area

Farms located in

Lake Erie and

Lake St Clair

watersheds

What is the Farmland Health Check-Up?

Water Erosion

Wind Erosion

Tillage Erosion

Subsurface Compaction

Organic Matter

Soil Life

Soil Chemistry

Phosphorus

Pollinator Health

Identifies priority areas

and specific BMPs

The Farmland Health Check-Up Objectives:

Identify areas and increase

awareness of where BMP

implementation on farms in

the Lake Erie and Lake St

Clair watersheds have the

potential to improve water

quality, soil health and

reduce edge of field

phosphorus loss to address

nutrient reduction targets.

Send the farmer a copy of the Check-Up

Collect the following information about the property:

An aerial image/map (try AgMaps or Google Maps)

Soil information

County yield averages

Supporting documents (e.g. BMP books, OMAFRA publications)

Before visiting the farm

Supporting Resources for Delivery

YesAlmost

No

Watch for the

Mapping Resources: AgMaps

Tutorials available online:

www.ontario.ca/agmaps

Almost

No

Soil Maps and Summary Sheets

The Guide Book

YesAlmost

No

Before Visiting the Farm:

Prepare the producer

~ 60 minutes

~ automatic

~ 90 minutes

The Farmland Health Check-Up

A 3 step process

Workbook

Assessment

BMP Planning

The Farmland Health Check-Up

Location Information

The Farmland Health Check-Up

Identify 3 fields

Yes

The Workbook

A preview (2.1)

Brookston Loam poor

not on all soil maps

YesAlmost

No

The Workbook:

Crop Rotation (2.3)

14

13 corn

wheat

The crop harvested

in that year

The cover crop after

the crop is harvested

red clover

12

soybeans

YesAlmost

No

The Workbook:

Soil Testing (3.2)

Only one soil test per field

September 2014

September 2009

5.0

4.8

12

15

7.3

7.2

YesAlmost

No

The Workbook:

Soil Testing (3.2)

Multiple soil tests per field

September 2014

September 2009

2.5

3.1

20

15

7.3

7.2

1.2 5.0

1.5 4.8

The “average” should be

representative of the whole field.

12 50

10 55

7.1 7.5

7.2 7.3

YesAlmost

No

The Workbook:

Organic Amendments (3.9)

no manure source

If farmer does NOT use manure, this question

MUST be answered

The Workbook:

Organic Amendments (3.9)

If farmer does use manure, this question MUST

be SKIPPED

The Workbook:

Section 4: Pollinator Health

This section considers the whole farm

4.1

Percentage of vegetated area does not include

mowed lawn, over-grazed pastures, or cropped

fields

4.2 and 4.4

Make sure you indicate if each feature present is

abundant, moderate or limited

~ automatic

The Farmland Health Check-Up

A 3 step process

Workbook

Assessment

BMP Planning

The Assessment Tool

Scoring and Rating

Autofills

~ 60 minutes

The Farmland Health Check-Up

A 3 step process

Workbook

Assessment

BMP Planning

BMP Planning: Recommendations

Fill in the table withyour recommendations

BMP Planning:

Hyperlinks to Identify Factors to Improve

BMP Planning: Sample

BMP PlanningThe BMP Selection Guide

Lake Erie Agriculture Demonstrating Sustainability (LEADS)

Supported BMPs

Roles and Responsibilities

• Delivery of the Farmland Health Check-Up

• The best way to provide service to a client is by completing their FHCU thoroughly, as the

results of the FHCU impacts potential cost-share opportunities.

• Specific questions about cost-share opportunities should be directed to OSCIA

LEADS@ontariosoilcrop.org

• Attend any additional program information sessions as offered

• Provide your feedback

Data will be reported as an aggregated series to help

better understand current soil health practices.

Data may be used to determine merit in order to

identify priorities for funding opportunities.

How will the information be used?

Completed Farmland Health Check-Ups

Submission

• Send the participant a copy of the completed Farmland Health

Check-Up

• Send OSCIA a copy of the Farmland Health Check-Up

• Submit claim form for compensation

Submit to:

FHCU@ontariosoilcrop.org

Claim Form and Compensation

• Reimbursement of the participating CCA (or the designated company) a flat rate of $500 for each

completed FHCU submitted to the OSCIA Guelph Office that satisfies all required elements.

• The CCA must submit a Claim Form in order to receive compensation.

• The time commitment per completed FHCU is on average 3-5 hours.

• Submit a Claim Form for completed FHCUs on a regular basis to ensure timely compensation.

• Ensure name on the Claim Form is the name that the cheque should be made out to – personal or

business

FHCU@ontariosoilcrop.orgLEADS@ontariosoilcrop.org

519-826-4340

Thank you for your participation