Farmers can apply now for cover crop incentives (2)

Cover crops grown over winter are just the right thing to do, according to some local producers who participated in the Grand River Conservation Authority’s (GRCA) Rural Water Quality Program (RWQP).  The program offers a per acre incentive to farmers in the Region of Waterloo, Haldimand, Dufferin, Brant, Wellington Counties, and in Perth County within the Nith River watershed. The benefits of cover crops are numerous, including the reduction of erosion, retention of nutrients, and improvements to overall soil health. 

“Cover crops work well for our operation,” according to Dean Sayles, a Brant County dairy producer. “We started gradually with a few fields and now use them across our farm”. He explains, “we were interested in improving our soils and getting the most out of our manure applications. We apply manure to our fields after wheat harvest, cover crops do a good job of tying up those nutrients so they are available for crops next spring.”

Over the last five years, more than 400 producers in the Grand River watershed received the one-time cover crop incentive through municipal programs delivered by the GRCA. With the goal of keeping soil and nutrients in the field, priority is given to erosion-prone fields adjacent to watercourses or wetlands, and areas that are susceptible to wind erosion. Fields that are tile drained or in wellhead protection areas are also considered.

Applications for the cover crop program can be submitted now for payment in spring 2022. The incentive rate varies by municipality and funding decisions are made by a farmer review committee.

The GRCA currently delivers the Rural Water Quality Program initiative on behalf of the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, Counties of Wellington, Brant, Dufferin, and Haldimand.

Support for projects in the upper Nith River watershed is provided by the Government of Canada through the Department of Environment and Climate Change Great Lakes Protection Initiative.

Cover crop incentives are just one of the eligible projects supported by the RWQP to improve soil health and water quality. More information is available by contacting the GRCA at ruralwater@grandriver.ca or calling 519-621-2761 and asking to speak to a conservation specialist. To learn more about the broad range of services and grants that are available through the GRCA, please visit www.grandriver.ca/ruralwater.

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Media contacts:

Cam Linwood, GRCA Supervisor, Strategic Communications
Phone 519-621-2763 x2251  |  Email clinwood@grandriver.ca

Louise Heyming, GRCA Supervisor, Conservation Outreach
Phone 519-621-2763 x2279  |  Email lheyming@grandriver.ca