On a patch of farmland near Westlock resembling a big community garden, 20 immigrant farmers tested one big idea. Kurudi Mashambani, meaning “back to the land” in Swahili, gives newcomers access to soil so they can grow both food and community.

As the rain continued to fall over a very wet growing season, Redwater-area seed farmers Chelsea and Shane Tomlinson watched beavers build dams across two of their fields. “We have never seen this happen before,” said Chelsea.

When Greg Newman is pitched a new product for his 3,000-acre grain farm in Alberta’s Peace Region, the first question he asks is: “Has that product been tried and tested up here?” Without local data, he’s not buying. “What works in southern Alberta can work totally different up north,” said Newman, who farms alongside his two sons near Fort Vermilion.

Healthy soil is the foundation of thriving, sustainable grain production. Soil health management is crucial for healthy crop development and also reduces erosion, improves nutrient cycling and maximizes water infiltration. Bettering soil health can even help farmers lower their input costs. With this in mind, agribusinesses and agronomists alike work to provide farmers with the soil knowledge, data and equipment they need to cultivate long-term resiliency.