Data from Ontario Crops Research Centre helps show rotational diversity reduces weather risks

Two U of G researchers contributed data to the Diverse Rotations Improve Valuable Ecosystem Services (D.R.I.V.E.S.) Project, an initiative conducted by 30 scientists from across Canada, the United States and Mexico, in which different crop rotations and individual component crops within rotations were analyzed along with multiple metrics, soil types and cropping systems.

Dr. Adrian Correndo, professor of sustainable cropping systems, and Dr. Dave Hooker, professor of plant agriculture, contributed.

Farmtario reports the pair provided information from two decades-long crop rotation studies in Ontario, highlighting how greater crop diversity – even just maintaining winter wheat in corn and soybean rotations – did provide insulation against adverse weather conditions.

The public database of crop rotational information is designed to inform farmers, policy makers and others about cropping systems, policies or programs that can reduce risk.

Read the story on Farmtario: Diverse crop rotations bring savings in poor growing conditions