UTRCA programs help farmers invest in soil health, water quality and long-term sustainability
- Mar 25
- 4 min read
By Galen Simmons
Farmers across Perth, Oxford and surrounding counties are finding new ways to strengthen their land and protect the environment with support from a range of funding programs offered by the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA).
Through initiatives like the Phosphorus Reduction Program, Oxford Clean Water Program, Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program and UTRCA’s Tree Planting Program, farmers and rural landowners can access financial and technical support for projects that improve soil health, reduce runoff and enhance the long-term sustainability of their operations.
“The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority offers a range of funding programs designed to support farmers and landowners who are working to protect soil, water and the long-term health of the landscape,” said UTRCA stewardship outreach specialist Shannon Zylstra.
Those programs help offset costs for a wide variety of on-farm practices, including cover crops, reduced tillage, nutrient management, erosion control structures, windbreaks, wetland creation and tree planting. In some cases, multiple programs can be combined to further reduce the financial burden on farmers.
“Agricultural lands play a vital role in the health of our watershed, and farmers are key partners in protecting the land and water we depend on,” Zylstra said. “These programs recognize that farmers are already strong stewards of the land and provide additional support to help them continue that work.”
Beyond funding, UTRCA staff also provide technical assistance, helping landowners plan projects, navigate applications and connect with other available resources.
“This includes financial assistance through cost sharing, as well as technical support,” Zylstra said. “In many cases, staff can help with project planning, design recommendations and connecting landowners with other available programs and resources.”
Across the region, a number of farm families are already seeing the benefits of these programs in action.
In Middlesex County, Bill and Carrie Irwin planted a double-row windbreak along the edge of their property using support from UTRCA’s tree planting program. The project included 720 trees and serves as a natural buffer to help reduce soil erosion and protect crops from wind.
In Oxford County, Steve and Cobi Sauder have taken a comprehensive approach to soil conservation over several decades. In addition to adopting no-till and cover cropping practices, they have installed erosion-control structures such as berms, terraces and grassed waterways, along with extensive tree planting to support long-term soil and water management.
“We’re trying to be stewards of the land in terms of water quality as well as improving soil health,” said Steve Sauder in a video posted to the UTRCA website about the project. “We put in this berm with the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority’s Clean Water Program to try and alleviate this problem. What I can say after seven years is it’s been successful.
“ … When we initially put this berm in, I was concerned about designing it properly and I was pleased that the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority provided engineering services free of charge that allowed us to get a good design that we were confident in.”
Meanwhile, in Zorra Township, Katherine and Jim Grieve transformed a low-lying, unproductive area of their farm into a thriving wetland. The project now provides habitat for wildlife while also improving water quality on the property.
“This area of the field has been unproductive for years,” said UTRCA manager of integrated watershed management Tatianna Lozier in a video shot after construction of the wetland in 2017. “It’s wet following rainfall events and there’s also standing water following significant events. … It looks great. In addition to the trees and shrubs we planted, we added 700 aquatic plugs that will spread and fill in the perimeter of the wetland. There is also vegetation that has come back and … it’s utilized now by several bird species and different insects.
“ … You’re creating both terrestrial and aquatic habitat. There’s also a water-quality function. The water (in the wetland) is from surface runoff and tile drainage and the rainfall itself. As the water is held in the wetland, the sediment will settle to the bottom and any nutrients associated with that sediment. With the vegetation, you have a nutrient-cycling benefit and the water in the pond will be able to slowly infiltrate as well as be lost to evaporation. … When there is a lot of water, we do have a standpipe so that water can be slowly released.”
At Hoenhorst Farms in Innerkip, dairy farmer Cox Wensink implemented a slag filter system to treat silage runoff, helping remove excess nutrients before water leaves the farm. A recent upgrade to the system has further improved its performance and longevity.
Zylstra said projects like these demonstrate how environmental stewardship can also support farm productivity.
“Many of the practices supported through these programs help keep nutrients and soil on the field where they are needed, rather than being lost through runoff into local waterways,” she said.
For farmers, the programs also reduce the risk associated with trying new practices.
“These programs provide an opportunity for farmers to try new techniques such as cover crops or soil conservation practices with reduced financial risk,” Zylstra said.
UTRCA has worked to ensure the application process is straightforward and accessible, recognizing the time pressures farmers face throughout the year.
Farmers and landowners interested in applying for funding or learning more about available programs can contact the UTRCA stewardship team directly or visit the conservation authority’s website for details.
“Our goal is to support farmers and the hard work they continue to do to strengthen our land,” Zylstra said.
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