Ottawa-The proposed National Soil Advocate should also be an advocate for farmers’ interests in preserving healthy soils, says Drew Spoelstra, President of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture.

The soil advocate is proposed in Ontario Senator Rob Black’s bill on a national soil policy to elevate soil health as a strategic national resource and champion long‑term stewardship, Spoelstra told the Senate agriculture committee.

“We feel that this role needs to be not only an advocate for healthy soils but an advocate for farmers’ interests when it comes to the preservation of healthy soils.”

“Having someone in the role who understands the economic realities farmers face on the ground is important to ensure credibility and success.”

The advocate should also serve as a direct link and liaison between farmers and the government throughout the implementation of the national soil strategy, said Spoelstra, who is a also a director of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture.

“Farmers are deeply committed to soil stewardship but a national advocate can help ensure these efforts are supported, recognized and connected to broader public and policy priorities.”

A dairy and cash crop producer from Binbrook, Spoelstra knows “how important healthy soils are to my business and its future.”

Healthy soils improve nutrient availability, manage water, boost crop yields and enhance plants’ resilience to stress. “Simply put, healthy soils support more efficient production today while protecting long-term growing potential for the future.”

Canada has a range of soil health expertise and capacity spread across agronomists, producer groups, provinces, academic institutions, the Soil Conservation Council of Canada, conservation districts and federal programs.

While their efforts are often disconnected, Black’s bill recognizes this by calling for a national strategy with cross‑government coordination, reporting requirements and support for consistent knowledge sharing.

The Soil Conservation Council of Canada (SCCC) has long served as a national convener on soil health, building awareness, providing leadership and promoting research and policy discussions.

Aligning Black’s national strategy and any potential role for Agriculture Canada with the SCCC’s ongoing work “would help ensure that Canada is not starting from scratch but rather building on existing networks, data and producer-led initiatives.”

“This alignment is essential if we want to see real on-farm improvements in soil health that are practical, scalable and regionally appropriate.”

Canada must renew its commitment to agricultural extension services and supports for areas where capacity has eroded significantly.

Black’s bill highlights the importance of training, knowledge sharing and education as essential components of the National Soil Health Strategy.

The next agriculture policy framework offers a critical opportunity to align federal-provincial-territorial investments with the goals of the soil policy bill “by supporting extension capacity so that producers have access to trusted, regionally adapted guidance,” Spoelstra said.

Producers are willing and eager to adopt soil-building practices, but adoption requires practical on-farm support, not just policy aspiration.

Strengthening extension through a National Soil Policy is one of the most direct ways to accelerate meaningful improvements in soil health across the country.

Canada’s soils are a strategic national asset that underpins the agriculture sector as a driver of economic growth and food security and sovereignty across the country.

“To protect our soils, we need better coordination, leadership and on-the-ground support.”

By connecting the proposals in Black’s bill to the long-standing work of the SCCC, supporting the creation of a national soil advocate and ensuring the next agriculture policy framework strengthens extension and adoption supports, “we can make real progress for producers and all Canadians.”

This news report prepared for National Newswatch