_edited.jpg)
EXPERIMENTAL ACRES
EXPERIMENTAL ACRES
2025 EXPERIMENTAL ACRES PROJECTS
Ramial Mulch for Fruit Trees
Anthony Rabideau, Fruit producer, Southgate
Anthony's project investigates the properties of ramial mulch and its benefits to young fruit trees. Anthony will be applying mulch at the base of 'test' trees and comparing their performance with trees with no mulch.
Monitoring will include comparisons of twig growth using bud scars, soil sampling, and carrying out a 'cotton test' to compare microbial activity between replicates.
Forage Trials for Strip Grazing
Josh Bye, Cow-calf and cash crop producer, Meaford
Josh will no-till seed 15 acres of field which is used for over-wintering cattle with a warm season annual mixture. The field will be strip grazed late summer before being reseeded into several more mixtures:
- 5 acres will be left to regrow its warm season annuals
- 5 acres will be planted into a cool season annual mix
- 5 acres will be planted into a warm season perennial grass
These replicates will be grazed late fall and compared on their viability as alternate forage sources for cattle.
Monitoring will include soil testing, forage nutrient testing, visual evaluation of establishment and grazing performance and comparison of the economics of planting each crop.
Pastured Poultry for Soil Fertility
Gillian Griffin, Flora Grey Flowers, Chatsworth
Gillian will rotate turkeys across a field area in preparation for it to be put into flower production. She plans to compare sections where poultry are and are not pastured to evaluate the efficacy of fertilizing with turkeys rather than with purchased compost. She will experiment with different rates of compost application to rate against the impact from poultry.
Monitoring will include Soil sampling, visual comparison of area, and economic comparison of purchased compost to poultry.
Overseeding Turnip to Extend Fall Grazing
Peter Kotzeff, Cow-calf and cash crop producer, Hanover
Peter will experiment with broadcasting turnip seed onto several fields in July & August after an oat & triticale crop and a wheat crop are harvested, with and without clover underseeding. Once the turnip crop has established it will be used as fall grazing for Peter's cow-calf herd.
Monitoring will include comparison of turnip establishment between various replicates and evaluation of the economics of the system for grazing and as a cover crop.
Late-Summer Seeding of Hay
Wade Deaken, Appinbrook Farms, Dairy & cash crop producers, West Grey
Wade plans to seed his next hay crop directly after harvesting winter wheat, attempting to control volunteer wheat growth by spreading straw wide out of the combine and then raking it back into rows for baling. He hopes that by spreading wheat seed widely across each row before raking the straw back into rows he can prevent dense swaths of volunteer wheat from coming up in his new hay stand.
Establishment of hay and presence of volunteer wheat will be monitored visually, and the economics of additional tractor work for handling the straw will be compared with the success of minimizing volunteer wheat swath density.
Creation of Apple Guilds
Dr. Cristina Allen, Apple producer, Meaford
Dr. Cristina plans to create small bio-diverse communities of plants at the base of apple trees in a well established orchard to improve overall production. She hopes to use permaculture practices to select plants which provide complimentary services such as nitrogen fixation, drainage improvement, and pest deterrence.
Monitoring will include soil testing, evaluation of plant establishment, growth and production, and nutrient analysis of apples from guild trees compared to that of apples from trees with only mown grass at their base.
Ramial mulch for fruit trees.
A field where cattle were over wintered which will be used for Josh's project.
The area where turkeys are to be pastured for the summer. It is currently planted with an oats & pea cover crop.
FAQs
2024 PROGRAM VIDEOS
2024 EXPERIMENTAL ACRES PROJECT REPORT
You can also find details on projects which ran in 2023 in Dufferin, Grey and Wellington Counties here.
PROGRAM INFORMATION
Experimental Acres supports farmers in Grey County with the implementation of sustainable agricultural best practices.
Farmers know their land best, and Grey County is backing their ideas for how to improve yield, soil health and overall sustainability on the farm using new practices in cropping, livestock or other innovations on farm.
Experimental Acres projects should aim to improve soil health or reduce environmental impact. Three general categories describe the majority of projects:
1) Living Roots and Green Cover - projects which extend the time soil is covered and/or has living roots in it
2) Innovation - projects which implement new technology or systems on the farm
3) Integrating Animals on the Farm - projects which incorporate livestock into crop systems
The program is designed to de-risk the learning season of a new practice by providing financial support of up to $3,000 as well as support for designing the trial and accessing mentorship and learning resources related to the project. Ultimately, the hope is that Experimental Acres can help producers prepare for larger scale implementation of their practices in the future.
The program is extremely flexible. It aims to attracts producers of all operation sizes and experience levels, and is open to all types of agricultural production. Whether someone would simply like to try implementing cover crops for the first time, or has a completely novel and never-before-tried idea, we'd like to hear about it!
Please note: Experimental Acres does not fund practices already being carried out on farm, expenses involved with normal start-up of a farming business, or the costs of livestock, labour or day to day production. (For example, feed that would be purchased for livestock regardless of whether an experiment was taking place cannot be claimed as an expense through the program.)
Applications are evaluated based on:
-
Feasibility - Is it a feasible project with a realistic budget and can it be completed in one growing season?
-
Measurability - Are there measurable outcomes identified?
-
Climate change mitigation - Does it aim to improve climate resilience?
-
Replicability - Can the practice be replicated on other farms?
-
Experimental Nature - Is it new to you?
-
Innovation - Is it a novel or innovative practice within the agriculture sector?
-
Alignment with one or more of the following:
-
Keeping Roots in the Ground
-
Maintaining Green Cover
-
Integrating Animals into the Rotation
-
Reducing Mechanical Intervention
-
Increasing Biodiversity
-
Please reach out to Emily at info@greyagservices.ca or 519-986-3756 if you have any questions about the program or application process.