GLENCOE – The Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario (CFFO) and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) hosted the official launch of Resilient Fields on Aug. 12. 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; and
- 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.
The app does not store user data, so privacy is protected. It also includes a classified section for agri-businesses offering services that support Resilient Field recommendations.
CFFO began the 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 the 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.”
Ed Scharringa, CFFO president, says 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 fills a gap in Ontario agronomic tools,” said Scharringa. “It can be a challenge for farmers to find information that is geared specifically to Ontario farming and field conditions.”
“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.
