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Farm Management

The Kawartha watershed is made up of nearly 50% farmland. Agriculture and healthy lakes are two pillars of our vibrant local economy. Farms can have a significant impact on lake health and how you manage your farm can make a big difference. Nutrient management, source water protection and environmental farm planning can all play a critical role in supporting the health and safety of our watershed. 

Programs and services

The Talbot River Healthy Environment Initiative provides technical and financial support for agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) in the Upper Talbot River subwatershed. Eligible projects include tree and shrub planting, livestock exclusion fencing, alternate watering systems, and more.

Watch these videos of recently completed projects supported by this initiative:

Reducing cattle farm run-off with riparian buffers and eavestroughs
Improving water quality with exclusion fencing for cattle
Using native trees and shrubs to limit stormwater run-off
Strategies for reducing nutrient loading into the environment 
Improve water quality with exclusion fencing

What actions can I take?

There are a number of agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) you may implement to improve soil and water quality on your farm, and Kawartha Conservation is here to help. Explore the different types of BMPs you can implement on your property, and their accompanying resources, below.

Funding is available for farm BMP projects that improve water quality across our watershed. Learn more and schedule a site visit to support your application for funding.

Follow these tips to control cropland erosion on your farm:

You can manage manure, nutrients and runoff by:

Trees can help reduce runoff and keep nutrients in the soil. Here are a few tree planting tips:

  • Connect or enlarge an existing forest on your land
  • Plant a windbreak to protect crops, improve irrigation efficiency and manage snow drift
  • Utilize marginal land that can't be harvested to plant trees for wildlife habitat

Soil management and lake management have the same goal - keep soil and nutrients on the land and out of the water. Using best management practices as laid out by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs can have many benefits, including:

  • Increasing crop yields and improving soil health
  • Fewer sediments and contaminants entering waterways
  • Access to clean drinking water for livestock keeps them healthy and reduces veterinarian costs

Check out these external programs and resources for more information on farm management.

Programs

Resources

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