Agricultural Education Trail Signage in Middlesex
Area trail systems (both municipal and conservation authority) have been increasing in traffic, especially over the past year. Along some of these trails are farms and fields, which are now being passed by many urban residents. The Middlesex Federation of Agriculture (MFA) is initiating a project to create signage mounted on posts and moved to different areas each year/season.
The wording will include an agricultural education component, as well as crop/livestock production information and if applicable, rural safety messaging. They would be designed to be specific, but generic enough to rotate around the county. This is a re-creation of a past AGCare project from 2008/09 called Agriculture Hits the Trails. Recently, similar projects are being done in other counties.
For example: In Strathroy-Caradoc, the Rotary Memorial Trail comes out of the treed area of the St. Clair Regional Conservation Authority, and runs approximately 525ft. along a field that is planted in corn – possible messaging could include: explanation on field corn, heat units, potential yield, and a reminder that it is not a safe place to play/explore. Signs will include links (or QR codes) to websites for more detailed information.