Senator Rob Black talks about Soil Health and Canada Food Day with SFC

May 23, 2023

This editor finds the Senator at the centre of Canada’s Food Day is no slouch! Senator Rob Black’s bill to establish Food Day in Canada passed in the House of Commons on May 8 and is awaiting royal assent. He has now focused on the foundation of most food, farming and forest enterprises, soil.

In a recent interview I caught up with my OAC 85 classmate, Senator Rob Black. After a quick catch-up Rob discusses his passion to examine the status of soil health in Canada. As well as Canada’s Food Day, Senator Black is the driving force behind: The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry examining and reporting on the status of soil health in Canada.

The purpose to improve soil health and enable Canadian forest product and agricultural producers to become sustainability leaders, while improving their economies.

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Source : Small Farm Canada

Video: Residue Management

Residue Management conservation practice manages the amount, orientation, and distribution of crop and other plant residue on the soil surface year-round while limiting soil-disturbing activities used to grow and harvest crops in systems where the field surface is tilled prior to planting. This video explores how Ryan McKenzie implemented this conservation practice on his farm in Samson, Alabama.

Practice benefits:

• Increases organic matter

• Improves air quality

• Decreases energy costs

• Reduces erosion

• Improves soil health

The Conservation at Work video series was created to increase producer awareness of common conservation practices and was filmed at various locations throughout the country. Because conservation plans are specific to the unique resource needs on each farm and also soil type, weather conditions, etc., these videos were designed to serve as a general guide to the benefits of soil and water conservation and landowners should contact their local USDA office for individual consultation.