GUELPH, ON – Learning to recognize and manage soil erosion is covered in one of the latest publications in Best Management Practices (BMP) series. Controlling Soil Erosion on the Farm identifies the various causes of soil erosion and outlines practical on-farm solutions to preserve valuable soil resources.
“Every year, soil erosion wears away crop productivity and contributes to potential pollution of adjacent waterways, wetlands and lakes,” says Adam Hayes, Soil Management Specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “This new BMP book helps Ontario farmers identify sources of soil erosion and then provides easy-to-follow control measures to protect this precious resource. After all, healthy soil is the best defense against soil erosion.”
Topics covered in Controlling Soil Erosion on the Farm include: the foundation of erosion control, a problem/solution chart to identify causes of erosion, easy-to-follow best practices using large, full-colour photos and diagrams to present specific soil erosion control methods (e.g. for tillage, rill, gully, bank and wind erosion), and a list of additional resources.
The 38-page booklet style of Controlling Soil Erosion on the Farm represents a shorter format used on many of the newer BMP books – designed to provide basic topic information with links for additional, more detailed information.
The BMP series contains more than 30 innovative and award-winning reference books with practical and affordable ideas for conserving soil, water and other natural resources in rural areas. BMP books are available at no charge (shipping and handling charges may apply) and can be ordered online at www.publications.serviceontario.ca, by phone through the ServiceOntario Contact Centre at 1-800-668-9938 or in person at ServiceOntario Centres throughout the province.
A full list of all BMP books is available at www.publications.serviceontario.ca – search for “Best Management Practices agriculture.”
The BMP books are developed through collaboration between Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. For more than 25 years, these groups have worked together to produce the Best Management Practices resources, delivering useful information on environmentally sustainable farm practices.
Source: OFA