Senator Rob Black speaks at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show in September of 2024. Photo: Diana Martin

Black tables soil health protection bill in Senate

Legislation would recognize soil as a strategic national asset

Reading Time: < 1 minute Senator Rob Black sponsored Bill S-230, An Act Respecting the Development of a National Strategy for Soil Health Protection, Conservation and Enhancement. If passed, it would mandate the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, and other relevant ministers, to develop a national soil health strategy.



Photo: Getty Images.

Cropland threatened by toxic metals: study

Up to 17 per cent of agricultural land at risk

Reading Time: < 1 minute Up to 17 per cent of cropland around the globe is contaminated by toxic metals, threatening agriculture and human health in the affected areas, according to new research published in the journal Science.




Bryan Prystupa speaking about AgExpert Sustainability at Manitoba AgDays on Wednesday, January 22. PHOTO: Don Norman

New tool for carbon footprint tracking unveiled at Manitoba AgDays

FCC says the tool is a ‘non-judgemental’ way of getting a snap shot of soil carbon including sequestration

Reading Time: 2 minutes Soil carbon is an imporant thing to track, both emissions and sequestration. Bryan Prystupa, of Farm Credit Canada, spoke about a new tool that aims to give farmers insight into carbon on their farms.



Rick Bieber presents at the Western Canada Conference on Soil Health and Grazing.

South Dakota farmer focuses on soil biology

Retired farmer Rick Bieber spoke at the Western Canada Conference on Grazing and Soil Health

Reading Time: 2 minutes Rick Bieber, a farmer from South Dakota, spoke at Western Canada Conference on Soil Health about the many practices he has implemented to improve his soil on his operation.


World Soil Day logo.  Credit: UNFAO

World Soil Day celebrates critical resource

Reading Time: 4 minutes December 5 marks World Soil Day, a day set aside by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization to celebrate this critical resource and raise awareness of the challenges of protecting it. This year’s theme, “Caring for Soils: Measure, Monitor, Manage,” underscores the importance of accurate soil data and information in understanding soils characteristics and […] Read more

Sensors that measure soil conditions on the fly may the the next step.

The slow evolution toward real-time variable rate fertilizer

Variable rate fertilizer to apply the best rate for each acre has merit, but the cost and the hassle to make it work does not appeal to many farmers. The return does not seem to justify the work required. Can we change that with a real-time on-the-go system?

Reading Time: 5 minutes We need to hit the “easy button” on variable rate fertilizer and move away from the default blanket application. But for that to happen, the variable rate (VR) system must become as seamless and easy as the blanket application. And more profitable. One can envision an on-the-go system like optical weed spraying, except in this […] Read more