Study has to be concluded by the end of 2023.Ottawa—While it has not officially started, the Senate agriculture study on soil health is attracting plenty of interest, says Senator Rob Black, who's been pushing for hearings on the state of the country's agriculture lands for several years.While the committee hopes to have a few meetings on the subject before Parliament adjourns later in June for the summer, it still has several pieces of government legislation to deal with before it can launch the soil study, said Black, the committee chair.He is encouraged by all the support he receiving in the form of many letters, emails, and phone calls “that make it clear to the committee that this study is critical to Canadians.” The committee has already received quite a few submissions, suggested issues to be studied and requests to appear.While waiting for the launch of the study, Black said he is also looking for recommendations on potential witnesses and tours the committee could make to see soil improvement projects as well.Anyone or group that wants submit their views in writing or in person should contact the AGFO committee clerk through the webpage https://sencanada.ca/en/committees/agfo/contact/. “Please feel free to share this request with others in your contact lists that would support the soil health initiative.”When they are held, the committee hearings can be watched through the AGFO website, which will also post transcripts of the sessions sometime after they're held.The study approved by the full Senate is to examine and report on the status of soil health in Canada with the purpose of identifying ways to improve it and enable Canadian forest product and agricultural producers to become sustainability leaders and improve their economic prosperity.The committee is also to focus on examining current soil conditions in Canada as well as possible federal measures that would support and enhance agricultural and forest soil health. Also to be considered are measures that would improve conservation, carbon sequestration and efforts to address the effects of climate change.The committee is also charged with examining the implications of soil health for human health, food security, forest and agricultural productivity and prosperity, water quality and air quality; and the role of new technologies in managing and improving soil health.