News & Events

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News

Soil Test Workshop

‘Soil Test Workshop’ with Colin Elgie, OMAFRA
Bring your soil test questions!

Each participant receives a copy of
OMAFRA Pub 611 Soil Fertility Handbook

Date: Thursday, March 16, 2023
Where: Essex Centre Sports Complex (Arena)
60 Fairview Ave W, Essex
Time: 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm
Admission: $25.00 (ESCIA members – no charge)
Door Prizes & Refreshements / Limit - 35 persons

Note, Updated: Please RSVP by Tuesday, March 14, 2023 to:
Michael Dick 519-776-5209 ext 369, mdick@erca.org

Quinlan Farms

Quinlan Farms was started by Walter and Gail Quinlan in the early 80's. Working along with their parents sons Donald and Chad developed their passion for farming. Today they run the farm along with their wives Kelly and April. Quinlan Farms is very much a family farm with 3 generations working on the farm.

Soil health has always been an important part of their farming operation. They began no-till farming in the early 90's. This approach has expanded over the years to include cover crops and diverse crop rotation. A large portion of the crops grown on the farm are planted into a living cover crop. This helps conserve moisture, suppress weeds and recycle nutrients. Their goal is to limit the amount of synthetic fertilizers use on their farm and keep soil and nutrients on the land and out of adjacent waterways.

In addition, their animals spend their time on the farm outdoors and grazing on plants, also known as pasture raised. The farms pigs and chickens graze the cover crops helping to increase soil organic matter and overall soil health. Their animals have shelter from the elements and those structures are portable. Once the animals eat down the plants in one pasture area, they will move on to a new section. Livestock grazing cover crops provides soil fertility for the next crop.

Quinlan Farms have benefited from landowner grants through ERCA’s Clean Water ~ Green spaces program to implement many of the Best Management Practices on their farm. They have established treed windbreaks and a tree planting on their farm to protect the soil from wind erosion and increase biodiversity. The waterways crossing their farm’s landscape are protected with soil erosion control structures and grassed buffer strips.

Visit their website: https://quinlanfarms.ca/