In the summer of 2024, the Regenerative Organic Oats (ROO) program was in full swing across the fields of participating program farmers based in the Prairies.
Alongside program farmers, our program coordinators conducted various field monitoring techniques and collected soil samples for laboratory analysis. This hands-on experience offered invaluable insights into the soils our program farmers are regenerating and highlights their efforts to optimize crop yields while enhancing carbon sequestration.
One of our visits was to the farm of Darren Godhe, and together we dove deep into soil health and monitoring techniques. One of the monitoring techniques that was conducted on Darren’s farm was a water infiltration measurement. This involves pouring water into an infiltration ring to identify how much effective precipitation is taken up by the soil. This monitoring was conducted in an unmanaged area, and the soil here looks like chocolate cake rather than chocolate pudding. This “cake-like” appearance is a great sign of healthy soil structure—showing that the soil has good porosity with ample air space and room for roots to grow.
By conducting these monitoring techniques in unmanaged areas, we are able to better showcase the potential of our soils in managed fields. It provides valuable insights into how our soil performs without human interference and helps us estimate its true potential for regenerative practices.
To learn more about the ROO program, visit our Regenerative Organic Oats (ROO) page on our website. If you are interested in participating in the program, reach out to the Program Manager Dorthea Gregoire at dorthea.gregoire@cog.ca!