FaRM Field Trials Program
The FaRM Field Trials Program is focused on increasing regional support and knowledge transfer in low emissions, high resilience BMPs by engaging agricultural professionals, in partnership with farmers and ranchers, to run field trials.
BMPs Supported
Improved Nitrogen Management
Cover Cropping
Rotational Grazing
The goal of the FaRM Field Trials Program is to grow high resilience, low emission BMP Extension capacity across Canada. We want to provide agricultural professionals (e.g. agronomists, agrologists, Certified Crop Advisers), farmers, and ranchers the opportunity to to build on-farm resilience, improve soil health and enhance on-farm profitability while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This initiative seeks to specifically support:
Overcoming regional barriers to BMP implementation, and
Troubleshooting BMP adoption through practical, hands-on experience.
89% of farmers and ranchers responding to the 2024 FaRM Impact Survey indicated that they had implemented, expanded, and/or enhanced a BMP to some extent as a result of participating in the FaRM Program, with an additional 11% of farmer/rancher respondents indicating that they had yet to undertake a BMP, but intended to.
The first field trials will begin in late summer 2025, with all activities to be completed by the end of 2026. A second intake will launch in January 2026 with a targeted start date of spring 2026.
This funding represents an exciting opportunity for agricultural professionals to conduct field trials and work with us to develop solutions that directly address local challenges–increasing farm resilience, improving soil health, reducing emissions, and enhancing on-farm profitability!
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
To encourage the adoption of BMPs (cover cropping, improved N management, rotational grazing) resulting in improved on-farm resilience, improved soil health, and enhanced on-farm profitability while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
To build familiarity and comfort in these BMPs with farmers, ranchers, and agricultural professionals.
To provide opportunities to troubleshoot and overcome regional barriers to BMP adoption.
To generate regionally relevant on-farm technical data.
To develop on-farm economic analyses on these three BMPs to assist producers and agricultural professionals in decision-making.
To build stronger regional and cross-country networks among agricultural professionals and between professionals and producers.