Stewards of the Land and Water
When talking about conservation in the Credit River Watershed, forests, wetlands or rivers may be the first thing that comes to mind, however conservation also happens in the fields and farms. Farmers play an important role as stewards of the land. They are helping to protect soil, water, forests and wildlife while producing the food we depend on.
As we mark National Farmers Day on October 12, we’re recognizing the vital role farmers have in supporting watershed health and take this opportunity to highlight their successes.
Successes to Celebrate
For over two decades, we’ve partnered with farmers across Peel Region to implement sustainable practices that protect the health of our watershed.
In October 2024, we celebrated a major milestone as the 20th anniversary of our Peel Rural Water Quality Program. Two hundred and thirty-six agri-environmental improvement projects ranging from cover crop establishment, to manure management, to natural area creation on marginal lands have been completed through the Peel Rural Water Quality Program over the past 20 years.
We recently completed a three-year pilot of the ALUS Peel program. This partnership program pays farmers to restore and maintain natural features like wetlands, forests and streams. We exceeded our enrollment target by enrolling over 30 hectares of farmland to establish and maintain nature-based solutions like native grassland pastures and riparian tree plantings that strengthen climate resilience and enhance biodiversity.
This year 16 farmers across 48 properties enrolled in the Bird-friendly Certified Hay Program. Participating farmers committed to delaying their hay harvest to help protect nesting birds, protecting 281 acres in 2025.
Grants Awarded to Agricultural Landowners
To date, over than $1.4 million in grants have been given to agricultural landowners for agri-environmental stewardship projects. In addition to reducing erosion and improving water quality, these projects help build resilience against climate change while creating sustainable landscapes for future generations.
How Farmers Can Get Involved
If you’re a farmer or rural landowner in the watershed, here’s how to partner with us:
- Connect with a Stewardship Coordinator: Start with an initial discussion and site visit to explore opportunities tailored to your property goals.
- Apply for Funding: Programs cover wide-ranging initiatives like soil health, manure management, fencing, habitat restoration, and erosion control, potentially covering up to 100 per cent of project costs.
- Join Specialty Programs: Participate in the Bird‑Friendly Certified Hay or ALUS program.
- Attend Workshops and Webinars: We host events like “Care for Your Land” webinars and cover crop workshops to build resilience and share best practices from our experts.
- Share Your Story: We love sharing farmer success stories like Rooted in Success and Everdale Farm to inspire others and showcase the positive impacts of stewardship.
Farmers steward large landscapes where nature and agriculture meet, giving them a unique role in protecting biodiversity and water quality. Many are making a difference by planting cover crops, delaying haying for nesting birds, restoring habitats, and maintaining streamside buffers, helping at-risk species like bobolinks and meadowlarks thrive.
Farming and conservation go hand in hand and we’re grateful for every farmer doing their part to protect our shared environment.
Learn more about our farm and agriculture extension services.
By Kimberley Laird, Associate, Marketing and Communications