Shining the Spotlight on Soil: ‘We Can’t Take it For Granted’

Poor management practices and freeze-thaw cycles affect soil structure  — Feature by Andrew Vowles

That’s more than common dirt under your feet. Guelph loam underpins some of the best farming in the province — and it’s now the official soil of Ontario.

In late 2015 during the International Year of Soils, Jeff Leal, Ontario minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs, visited the city to designate the Guelph soil series as the official soil of the province.

Good news and none too soon, says Prof. Richard Heck, a soil expert in U of G’s School of Environmental Sciences (SES).http://news.uoguelph.ca/2016/03/guelph-soil/