In the summer of 2024, the Regenerative Organic Oats (ROO) program was in full swing across the fields of participating Prairie farmers. Program coordinators conducted various field monitoring techniques and collected soil samples for laboratory analysis. This hands-on experience offered invaluable insights into the soils these farmers are regenerating, highlighting their efforts to optimize crop yields, store more water in the soil, and increase soil biology.
In the heat of the summer, our Program Coordinator, Wes, took a visit to ROO participant Nathan’s farm. Wes had the pleasure of meeting Nathan and his dog Maverick, and the three of them set off to collect soil samples in Nathan’s fields.
Nathan’s farm is situated near Shellbrook, Saskatchewan, and despite this farm visit taking place in the middle of summer, the day was substantially cooler due to the smoky atmosphere. Wes and Nathan discussed areas on his farm that showed great success, as well as fields where great potential lies. They investigated regions in his fields that had higher growth than the rest of the area and came to the conclusion that where there was an accumulation of hemp litter, the plants grew taller than the rest of the field.
Armouring the soil is a vital principle in regenerative agriculture because protecting the surface retains soil moisture and prevents top soil erosion, so that no soil blows off and takes all the good nutrients away. Additionally, incorporating hemp litter can add nutrients to the soil as it degrades during the season, leading to richer soils that promote crop growth.
As the two of them worked together to kick the soil probe into the ground and collect the samples in buckets, Maverick checked out the field, searching for anything resembling a stick for a continuous game of fetch. He even wanted in on the soil collection fun and dug a few holes himself.
Wes learned a lot from the 2024 summer of farm visits, and from this particular visit, he learned the importance of incorporating animal friends in our lives to remind us of the joy that is connecting to the land and always reserving some time for play.
Thank you so much to Nathan for a wonderful day on RCK Farms Ltd. — until next time!
To learn more about the ROO program, visit our Regenerative Organic Oats (ROO) page on our website.