15,000+
in-person extension contacts since 2017
Our Impact
Real farms. Real change. Real results.
Since 2017, the Ontario Soil Network has grown from a simple idea—farmers learn best from other farmers—into a powerful force for change across the province. Our impact isn’t just measured in acres, events, or tools built. It’s measured in trust. In conversations between gateposts. In that one idea that shifts how someone farms forever.
This is what peer-to-peer learning can do.
By The Numbers
588+
events led by farmers, for farmers
154
active farmer members in the network
9,000+
attendees at OSN events and training days
35
counties impacted (and counting)
60+
tools and guides co-developed for extension and communication
745,000+
social impressions,
70,000+ video views,
6,200+ followers
70,000+ video views,
6,200+ followers
960+
podcast listens across platforms
1,142,884
acres impacted through soil health planning and practice change
What Makes OSN Different?
“It’s not until you’re standing in a field, talking to people, that things start to click. Somebody shows you what you’re missing—not in a slideshow, but in real soil.”
Owen Wright, Midhurst, ON
The Ontario Soil Network isn’t a one-way training program. It’s a space where farmers lead the learning—and the change. We don’t hand out prescriptions. We build relationships. Whether it’s through no-till mentorship, cover cropping roundtables, or just honest conversations between peers, OSN creates space for experimentation, encouragement, and shared growth.
Field-Tested Knowledge, Shared Freely
We’ve built over 60 knowledge transfer tools:
from facilitation kits to printed handouts, podcasts, and field-tested communication resources. And we share them freely—online, in print, and in person.
What we build is important. But who we build it with matters more.
Let’s co-create the future of knowledge transfer.
We work with researchers, educators, and organizations who want to amplify what works—on real farms, in real time. If that’s you, let’s talk.
Start a CollaborationFrom Essex to Ottawa: The Reach of Our Farmer Network
What Farmers Are Saying
“If you're too busy now, you'll still be too busy in six months. Make the time. It’s worth every minute.”
— 2025 Interview, OSN Challenge
“This isn’t about selling a product. It’s about a system of health—for the soil, and for the people working it.”
— 2024 Post-Event Survey
“We’re not here to dictate. We’re here to lean on each other.”
— Soil Management Day, 2023
“If you go home with one thing, it’s probably worth more than the time you talk.”
— OSN Roadtrip, 2024
“Just learning about regenerative farming and seeing others doing it gives me the confidence to start.”
— 2024 Post-Event Survey Respondent
“Confirmed the idea that cover crops benefit soil health long term. I’ll be trying more mixes this fall.”
— 2025 OSN Reunion Survey Respondent
Meet the Network
Get a glimpse into the people and moments behind OSN’s growth.
Learn More About Our Farmers
The OSN Effect
- New crops tried. Old habits questioned.
- Livestock reintroduced. Tillage dialed back.
- Community built where competition used to be.
- Farmers taking the mic—and the initiative.
Our impact is rooted in trust, and spread through conversation. And while we can track thousands of downloads or clicks, what matters most is this: when a farmer takes a leap because someone else did it first—and showed them how.
Looking to support farmer-led innovation?
Our network bridges the gap between research, practice, and scalable change. If you’re part of Ontario’s agri-food sector, we want to hear from you.
Partner with OSN