The federal agriculture department has announced it’s going
to put $4 million into helping farmers whose fields drain into Lake Erie and
the southeast shore of Lake Huron to improve environmental stewardship.
Farmers and their organizations, the province and
municipalities have been working on initiatives for a couple of decades,
including reduced tillage, manure storage, nutrient management planning,
environmental stewardship programs, training on the proper use and storage of
pesticides, etc.
The Great Lakes Agricultural Stewardship Initiative,
will provide cost-share funding to:
“Identify ways producers can improve soil health,
reduce run-off, and improve pollinator habitat;
“Modify equipment to address risks related to manure application
and pollinator health;
"Adopt best management practices, including soil
erosion control structures, cover crops,
residue
management, buffer and shelter strips.
“The program will also support demonstration farms and
technical training for service providers, and education including local workshops,”
says a news release from the federal agriculture department.
“The Great Lakes Agricultural Stewardship Initiative
is part of Growing Forward 2 (GF2), a comprehensive
federal-provincial-territorial framework aimed at encouraging innovation,
competitiveness and market development in Canada's agri-food and agri-products
sector. “
