Living Lab - Ontario

These projects will monitor soil organic carbon changes resulting from the development and adoption of BMPs, such as perennial cover and woody biomass soil amendments, on cropland and pasture over time.

This study examines and develops various 4R nutrient management strategies, including inhibitors and incorporation techniques, through agronomic field trials and GHG measurements. The goal is to enhance nitrogen use efficiency while mitigating the environmental impact of corn production in Ontario.

This project compares grazed and ungrazed cover crops within a typical cash crop rotation in Ontario to assess the agronomic and environmental benefits of livestock grazing and to develop BMPs. It specifically focuses on enhancing soil health, reducing input requirements, and increasing productivity for the subsequent corn crop.

This study will develop and test practical strategies to reduce methane emissions from liquid manure storages in real-world conditions, including additives and other management practices.

This project aims to investigate how effectively restoring low-profit, marginal land – such as field margins – fosters pollinators and beneficial insect communities, while enhancing carbon sequestration and reducing emissions on farms.

This study will evaluate farm-level financial and economic net benefits of BMP adoption in Ontario and consider variations across temporal and spatial scales. It will also explore approaches to sharing this information with farmers to support decision making.