GLENCOE, ON [August 12, 2021] – The Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario (CFFO) and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) hosted the official launch of Resilient Fields this afternoon. Resilient Fields is a free online tool to help farmers work through specific field challenges and find sustainable solutions for their farms.
Users can create a record of current field conditions and agronomic practices, then explore solutions to resolve specific challenges in four major areas:
- Soil management
- Nutrient management
- Growing season management
- Water management
Resilient Fields offers access to over 150 up-to-date articles and videos from Ontario researchers and agronomists. It also links to other digital tools, like the OMAFRA Agri-Suite system, 4R Nutrient Stewardship, the Ontario Corn Nitrogen Calculator and the Farmland Health Checkup.
CFFO began development of this project in 2019. Resilient Fields is funded by the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, the CFFO and the OFA.
“Technology is key to helping Ontario’s agri-food sector thrive and grow and I applaud CFFO efforts to provide farmers with the latest tools to manage their operations,” said Toby Barrett, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, who attended today’s launch. “Collaborations like these demonstrate how the agricultural sector, government and the tech industry can work together to develop user-friendly resources that provide farmers with science-based knowledge.”
“Resilient Fields fills a gap in Ontario agronomic tools,” said CFFO president Ed Scharringa. “It can be a challenge for farmers to find information that is geared specifically to Ontario farming and field conditions. This new tool will enable farmers, as well as their advisors, to access the latest science and resources, helping them make decisions with sustainability in mind.”
“Resilient Fields will be a valuable tool for Ontario farmers who are constantly seeking best management practices for their business,” said OFA president Peggy Brekveld. “This tool offers various resources to help our farmers work through issues in the field in any unique situation.”
Resilient Fields can be explored at resilientfields.ca.
Quick Facts:
Resilient Fields:
- is a user-friendly online tool to help Ontario farmers make field management decisions.
- focuses on four branches of agronomic management: soil health, nutrient management, growing season management and water management.
- Offers access to over 150 vetted articles and videos.
- can be used by farmers independently or in consultation with their advisors.
- is designed to complement, not overlap, other digital farm management tools like the OMAFRA Agri-Suite system.
- does not store user data, so privacy is protected.
- includes a classified section for agri-businesses offering services that support Resilient Field recommendations.
About the CFFO:
The Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario (CFFO) is an Accredited Farm Organization representing the interests of over 4,000 farm families in Ontario who are called to the vocation of farming. CFFO policy promotes economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable farming, advocating that farmers receive fair return for their production and stewardship efforts. For more information about the work of the CFFO, please visit christianfarmers.org
About the OFA:
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is the largest general farm organization in Ontario, representing 38,000 farm families across the province. As a dynamic farmer-led organization based in Guelph, the OFA works to represent and champion the interests of Ontario farmers through government relations, farm policy recommendations, research, lobby efforts, community representation, media relations and more. OFA is the leading advocate for Ontario’s farmers and is Ontario’s voice of the farmer. For more information, visit ofa.on.ca.
For further information:
Marie Versteeg, CFFO Communications Manager
marie@christianfarmers.org
Michelle deNijs, OFA Communications Specialist
Michelle.denijs@ofa.on.ca