OFT and ABCA Partner to Launch OMAFA-Funded Soil and Water Stewardship Project

Kincardine, ON – Located on a farm along the Little Sauble River before it flows into Inverhuron Provincial Park and Lake Huron, OFT’s recently donated 37-acre farm in Tiverton presents a unique opportunity to pilot innovative BMP demonstration plots. These efforts aim to support the long-term ecological sustainability of Lake Huron and the surrounding agricultural landscape. 

“Our government has invested over $67 million in 552 projects since 2018 to protect our Great Lakes through strong partnerships with the federal government, municipalities, and environmental organizations,” said Trevor Jones, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. “Today’s collaboration with the Ontario Farmland Trust (OFT) will ensure the long-term sustainability of both Lake Huron and the surrounding agricultural lands — protecting this important economic and environmental resource for years to come.”

In collaboration with ABCA, the Huronview Demonstration Farm, and the Huron County Soil and Crop Improvement Association, this two-year project will integrate environmental monitoring, farmer engagement, and applied research. The project builds on existing BMP work at Huronview and expands it through new field demonstrations at the Tiverton site.

“This project is about more than improving soil and water quality on a single farm,” said Martin Straathof, Executive Director of OFT. “It’s about creating a model for how farmland conservation and stewardship can actively contribute to water quality improvements and soil health across the sector to achieve the long-term viability of Ontario’s agricultural landscape.”

The BMP demonstrations will be co-developed with local farmers and technical experts to ensure they are practical, scalable, and effective in reducing nutrient runoff. Ongoing soil and water monitoring will provide robust data on the effectiveness of each BMP.

“Demonstration farms provide communities a place to learn more about sustainable practices, such as cover crops, reduced tillage, and water management, that are already taking place on farms across Ontario,” said Mari Veliz, Healthy Watersheds Manager at ABCA. “Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority is grateful to work with more groups to expand innovations in cropping and water control actions.”

Beyond on-the-ground improvements, the project features a comprehensive education and outreach strategy. Field days, peer-to-peer learning events, and new educational materials will help reduce adoption barriers and support BMP uptake across Bruce, Huron, and surrounding counties.

By fostering farmer-led innovation and collaboration, this initiative supports OMAFA’s provincial goals to reduce nutrient loading, promote BMP adoption, and build the resilience of Ontario’s farmland and freshwater ecosystems. By demonstrating how agricultural and environmental goals can be aligned, the project offers a powerful example of farmland stewardship in action.

OFT’s province-wide mission is to protect and preserve farmlands and associated agricultural, natural, and cultural landscapes of food production for the benefit of Ontarians today and future generations. The charitable organization advances its mission through land protection, stewardship, policy research, and education. To learn more about the project and OFT, visit www.ontariofarmlandtrust.ca.