ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER 11 MARCH 2022 This research project received funding from Grain Farmers of Ontario. See our conveyors in action at convey-all.com We took the most DURABLE, FUNCTIONAL, & RELIABLE conveyor and made it better. Upgraded Hopper Improved flashing design keeps product on the belt without sacrificing performance Extended-Reach Mover Simple to use, easy to maneuver, Convey-All’s redesigned mover makes reaching under hard-toaccess areas a breeze. Tight-Clearance Chevron Belt Convey-All’s smooth edge-belt design offers better contact and wear. (855) 346-3712 | conveyors@convey-all.com to high levels of soil carbon and adding wheat to the rotation is optimal for fields with low soil carbon. The inclusion of red clover was only found to be optimal if the field has low soil carbon and is managed by a farmer who is interested in value beyond a two-year horizon. “The benefits from soil carbon and healthier soil take some time to be felt, so in the very short term, planting red clover or diversifying the rotation can impact the bottom line,” explains Shuurman, noting that farmers may have a shorter planning horizon for rented land. Diverse rotations are financially optimal in long-term planning, or for farmers who manage their own land. The impact of cost-share programs and ecosystem service markets were also added to the model. “Carbon credits or cost-share programs are best served focusing on cover cropping to diversify rotations instead of winter wheat,” says Schuurman. This is primarily due to the increase in nitrous oxide emissions in wheat offsetting the benefits of carbon sequestration. NEXT STEPS While the initial five-year study is now complete, Wagner-Riddle stresses the importance of continuing soil monitoring to obtain a longer data set. She is now continuing this research under new funding and expects to find improvements in soil condition in the lysimeters with the diverse rotation. “It is important to understand the soil processes and determine how long we have to wait to see benefits,” she says. “It’s about quantifying the benefits for farmers in terms of yield, but also for society in terms of improvement in ecosystem services that can be gained from improved cropping management.” We acknowledge the support of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). This project was funded in part by the government of Ontario. l
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