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EXPERIMENTAL ACRES

Experimental Acres supports farmers in Grey County with the implementation of sustainable agricultural best practices. 

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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 farm 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 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 from you! 

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 reduce greenhouse gas pollution? 

  • Replicability - Can it be replicated on other farms? 

  • Experimental - Is it new to you? 

  • Innovation - Is it a novel or innovative practice within the agriculture sector? 

  • Does it align 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. 

If you would like to apply for the 2025 program, please follow this link:

 https://forms.office.com/r/zE0pCTYJ51

We look forward to hearing from you!

  • Q: What is Experimental Acres?
    A: The Experimental Acres pilot was developed as a part of Guelph-Wellington Our Food Future, a project funded by Infrastructure Canada. The County of Wellington facilitated the programme in Wellington and Dufferin Counties in 2022, and Grey County joined in 2023. It is a program that provides funding to small scale agricultural projects, with the goal of de-risking the learning process and increasing the adoption of practices that are good for soil health. Experimental Acres is a great way for producers to receive a small amount of funding to trial an idea on farm. Whether the practice is new-to-you or has never been done before, we’d like to hear your ideas. Grey County Experimental Acres projects are funded by Grey County as part of their Climate Action Plan. The program aligns with Action 3: Capacity Building in Sustainable Agricultural Best Practices and aims to support farmers in implementing new practices which can build soil health and potentially aid in carbon recapture. Examples of past projects have included things like cover cropping, silvopasture, rotational grazing systems, tarping to avoid tillage, intercropping, livestock bedding trials, vertical farming, no-till establishment of crops, companion planting and more!
  • Q: Who can apply?
    A: Any farmer with a project in mind is welcome to apply. You must agree to the basic program requirements laid out at the beginning of the application form. Farms do not need an FBRN number or an Environmental Farm Plan. The goal is to remove barriers by including few requirements for the program.
  • Q: What can the funding be used for?
    A: Experimental Acres projects fall into one of three categories: 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 ways of doing things on the farm 3) Integrating Animals on the Farm - projects which incorporate livestock into farm systems The program is designed to be very open ended and accessible, to allow support for many different types of projects. If you have an idea, please let us know! Some projects are entirely new ideas that have never before been tried. Other projects may just be new to the producer (something like incorporating cover crops when the producer has no experience with growing them).
  • Q: Does my farm need to be located in Grey County to apply?
    A: Yes, although Dufferin and Wellington Counties also each have an Experimental Acres program which you can apply to if you are located in one of those areas.
  • Q: How many farms are eligible to receive funding in 2025?
    A: Grey County’s 2025 program allows for roughly six Experimental Acres projects to be selected, but the exact number will fluctuate depending on funding allocated.
  • Q: Where can I find more information?
    A: You can reach out to Emily McKague at info@greyagservices.ca with any questions. You can also check out Wellington County’s Experimental Acres page: https://www.wellington.ca/en/business/ed-experimental-acres.aspx for additional background information.

Interested in learning about the projects that were completed in 2024?

Check out the report below!

You can also find details on projects which ran in 2023 in Dufferin, Grey and Wellington Counties here.

2024 PROGRAM VIDEOS

VISIT

206 Toronto St. S., Unit 3

Box 463, Markdale, Ontario

N0C 1H0 Canada

Mon - Fri:   8:30 - 4:30

Closed on Holidays

 

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