Grey County sponsored six farm experiments in what staff called a "very successful" Experimental Acres program for 2025.
This was the third year that Grey County ran Experimental Acres, which provides a micro-grant to Grey County producers who design an on-farm trial to test practices which may improve sustainability or build soil health on farms.
This year’s projects were:
- Exploring alternative grazing sources that can support cattle in hot, dry summer months (15 acres) - Joshua Bye, Meaford
· Creating apple guilds, which are considered a more disease-resistant, higher yield production method (0.5 - 1 acre) - Dr. Cristina Allen, Meaford
· Late-summer seeding hay to maintain living roots and increase soil health (20 acres) - Wade Deaken, Appinbrook Farm, West Grey
· Overseeding turnip to extend fall grazing (up to 230 acres) - Peter Kotzeff, West Grey
· Using pastured poultry to increase soil fertility (0.25 acre) - Gillian Griffin, Flora Grey, Chatsworth
· Trying different mulching practices around fruit trees (1 acre) - Anthony Rabideau, Southgate
