Senator seeks public support for soil study

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Published: December 3, 2020

Senator Rob Black of Ontario has proposed that the Senate's agriculture committee lead a comprehensive study on soil health. | File photo

Senator Rob Black of Ontario has proposed that the Senate’s agriculture committee lead a comprehensive study on soil health.

He is asking Canadians, especially those with an interest in soil, to send an email to the committee or members of the committee before it selects its priorities for the next session of Parliament.

The letter should explain why they support such a study and why soil health is important to them.

It can be sent to the general email address for the committee at agfo@sen.parl.gc.ca or to a specific member of the committee. A list of committee members can be found at sencanada.ca/en/committees/agfo/.

Read Also

tractor

Farming Smarter receives financial boost from Alberta government for potato research

Farming Smarter near Lethbridge got a boost to its research equipment, thanks to the Alberta government’s increase in funding for research associations.

Black has focused on soil and soil health since joining the Senate in 2018.

Senator Herbert Sparrow released a report in 1984 titled “Soil at Risk: Canada’s eroding future,” and Black believes the Senate should update it to understand the state of soils in Canada and what can be done to improve soil health.

He said the world has changed since 1984, and such a study would allow the Senate to look at soil and its role in food security, water quality, carbon markets and climate change.

He is asking Canadians to send their letters of support as soon as possible.

About the author

Robert Arnason

Robert Arnason

Reporter

Robert Arnason is a reporter with The Western Producer and Glacier Farm Media. Since 2008, he has authored nearly 5,000 articles on anything and everything related to Canadian agriculture. He didn’t grow up on a farm, but Robert spent hundreds of days on his uncle’s cattle and grain farm in Manitoba. Robert started his journalism career in Winnipeg as a freelancer, then worked as a reporter and editor at newspapers in Nipawin, Saskatchewan and Fernie, BC. Robert has a degree in civil engineering from the University of Manitoba and a diploma in LSJF – Long Suffering Jets’ Fan.

explore

Stories from our other publications