In the summer of 2024, the Regenerative Organic Oats (ROO) program was in full swing across the fields of participating Prairie farmers.
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 day, ROO Program Coordinator Dru visited Leonard in Elfros, Saskatchewan and had a great day on his farm. Leonard is a powerhouse in regenerative agriculture and is constantly discovering ways to promote soil health and build a resilient farm. While they were conducting monitoring techniques, Dru and Leonard dug up the soil and found some worms! Worms are a great sign — they help aerate the soil, break down organic matter, and support plant growth. Finding them in your soil is a good indication that your soil is on the right track to effectively cycling nutrients and creating a sponge-like layer for water absorption and retention.
Another great use for your shovel is digging up plants and looking at their roots. Dru and Leonard used their shovels to observe the root systems of plants in Leonard’s fields, and there’s a lot of information hiding in these underground networks! Take a look at the branching, the colour, and the size of these roots; these highly-branched roots can access more nutrients because of the greater expanse they take up in the soil. The more space that roots occupy in the soil, the more nutrients can be exchanged with the soil microbiome, which leads to increased plant health and development.
Exploring the diversity of insects, worms, and other macro-life in your soil is important. Each one plays a role in keeping your soil healthy and productive. It is also important to dig up a plant in your field to take a look at how your plants are doing below the surface. So next time you’re in the field, grab a shovel and see what’s living in your soil and how they are helping to promote life above and below ground!
To learn more about the ROO program, visit our Regenerative Organic Oats (ROO) page on our website.