CVC looks at changes in agricultural landscape within the watershed

October 28, 2015 · 0 Comments

Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) has published a report examining agricultural changes in the Credit River watershed through a statistical analysis of data from the 2011 Census of Agriculture.
“This report allows CVC to adapt current stewardship programs and services to better meet the changing needs of farmers and the environment,” said CVC Deputy CAO and Director of Watershed Transformation Mike Puddister. “Agricultural producers are key stakeholders in protecting environmental resources such as water, air, soil and biodiversity.”
CVC’s report outlines the use of conservation practices in the Credit River watershed. It concludes that 50 per cent of farms are rotating their crops, 28 per cent are using rotational grazing, 25 per cent have buffer zones around water bodies and 30 per cent have windbreaks and/or shelterbreaks within their fields. Agricultural producers committed to implementing these practices are helping improve environmental resources which benefit everyone in the watershed.
“Adopting conservation practices is increasingly important with climate change,” said CVC Agricultural Program Coordinator Mark Eastman. “For example, planting buffer zones along streams protects fields from erosion, filters nutrients and pollutants, and shades water keeping it cool for fish. Our farm stewardship services help agricultural producers transition to conservation practices that meet their changing needs.”
View the Statistical Profile of Agriculture in the Credit River watershed report at http://goo.gl/yR8k44
Contact Eastman at meastman@creditvalleyca.ca for more information or to inquire about farm stewardship technical and financial assistance programs.