Coordinating Outreach and Engagement for the ONFARM Program

Client: Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA)

We were pleased to support the Ontario Soil & Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) on the On-Farm Applied Research and Monitoring (ONFARM) program from 2020 through 2024.

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) developed the applied research initiative, and OSCIA is delivering it. Since 2019, ONFARM has completed extensive soil health and water quality analysis on farms across Southern Ontario. This network of sites and established partnerships is helping to build a stronger understanding of best management practices (BMPs) and their effects on soil health and water quality on Ontario farmland. The Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative, is funding the program.

Our team:

1. Supported the governance of ONFARM and facilitated high-quality, interactive online meetings

OSCIA created the Stakeholder Engagement Working Group (SEWG) to support ONFARM. The SEWG sought to enhance collaboration between organizations that are involved in on-farm applied research, monitoring, and demonstration initiatives related to agri-environmental stewardship in Ontario.

Our team provided meeting facilitation and organization services for the SEWG. We developed agendas in collaboration with OSCIA, facilitated the meetings, recorded meeting minutes, and ensured action items were completed.

We also supported with the drafting of the terms of reference for the ONFARM Steering Committee.

2. Assisted with the development of an Engagement and Outreach Strategy

We collaborated with OSCIA and the SEWG to prepare the Engagement and Outreach Strategy and complete annual updates. OSCIA used the Strategy to guide the planning and implementation of ONFARM engagement and communication activities. The Strategy outlined the project goals, the outreach and engagement activities, and the associated short-, medium-, and long-term outcomes.

See the engagement strategies below:

• 2020 Outreach and Engagement Strategy

• 2021 Outreach and Engagement Strategy

• 2022 Outreach and Engagement Strategy

3. Developed profiles of ONFARM cooperators & case studies of ONFARM trials

In collaboration with OSCIA and the SEWG, we developed a total of nine profiles and case studies for ONFARM. We interviewed the ONFARM cooperators, as well as researchers, to learn about producer experiences and the successes and challenges associated with the ONFARM trials.

Check out the profiles and case studies below:

• Norm Lamothe – Woodleigh Farms Ltd.

• Larry Dyck – Camden Grain

• Kevin Eisses

• Bruce Hudson

• Brett Schuyler – Schuyler Farms Ltd.

• Henry Denotter – Denotter Farms

• Ken Schaus

• Tyler McBlain – McBlain Farms Ltd.

• Mark Richards – Richards Rolling Acres Ltd.

4. Developed an ONFARM research guidebook

We helped develop a comprehensive guidebook on how to conduct on-farm research. The guidebook serves as a valuable resource for individuals looking to evaluate potential changes in their crop production system within their own fields.

5. Coordinated and facilitated the 2021 through 2024 ONFARM Forums

We worked with OSCIA and the SEWG to plan, host, and facilitate the annual ONFARM Forums.

The purpose of the Forums is to share the latest on-farm research findings and enable participants to gain a stronger understanding of BMPs and their effects on soil health and water quality. In the process, the Forums help to build the brand of the ONFARM program, and to inspire enthusiasm for on-farm research.

As the Forum is an annual event, we helped to facilitate formal and informal assessments to identify lessons learned to inform the next event. For example, we facilitated debriefs with the SEWG. We also collaborated with OSCIA to prepare, distribute, and analyze post-Forum participant surveys.

Thanks to the strong collaborations in building engaging agendas filled with high-quality speakers and panelists, the Forums were consistently a major success.

See recordings for each of the Forums below:

• Recordings for the 2021 ONFARM Research Forum

• Recordings for the 2022 ONFARM Research Forum

• Recordings for the 2023 ONFARM Research Forum

• Recordings for the 2024 ONFARM Research Forum

“We can’t thank you enough for your expert facilitation, moderation, technical support and all the thorough and thoughtful support you provided the panelists and OSCIA in the lead up to the 2023 ONFARM Forum. Thanks again, and congratulations!!”

-          Dr. Angela Straathof, Program Director, OSCIA

After each Forum, we prepared Summary Reports. These reports summarized the Forum discussions, presented main takeaways, and outlined next steps for ONFARM.

See the Summary Reports for the ONFARM Forums below:

• 2021 Summary Report

• 2022 Summary Report

• 2023 Summary Report

• 2024 Summary Report

6. Prepared a series of factsheets

Finally, we prepared a series of factsheets to assist with knowledge translation and transfer related to soil health, water quality, and above-ground biodiversity. We interviewed ONFARM researchers, cooperators, and project partners. The factsheets provide a practical introduction to the subject matter and highlight ONFARM research findings. The factsheets also guide readers to additional resources to support the adoption of BMPs.  

See the factsheets below:

• Above-Ground Biodiversity & Pollinators

• Soil Health & Water Quality

• Nitrogen-Based Soil Health Indicators

• Carbon-Based Soil Health Indicators

Is your organization interested in support with knowledge translation and transfer in the agricultural industry? Are you seeking assistance with agri-food workshop planning and facilitation?  Are you in need of assistance with strategic thinking and action planning for your project? Our team of professionals can help!

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