A Young Farmer’s Commitment to Sustainable Farming

Monday, September 22, 2025

Creating Resilient Landscapes for Future Generations

By Jeanine Moyer

Brandon Cox understands he’s unlikely to realize the full impact of his efforts in his lifetime, but he’s certain his work restoring his farm’s ecosystems will be worth it for future generations.

Already wise beyond his 23 years, Cox is committed to enhancing and maintaining the health of what he describes as his unique and ecologically rich farm. Located on 190 acres in Little Britain, the farm is made up of 85 workable acres that are broken into pockets of fields among the natural forest.

“We know we have a special piece of property, and the health of our land comes first,” says Cox, who manages the family farm, growing corn, wheat and soybeans. The family purchased the farm property 13 years ago, recognizing and appreciating its mix of natural habitats and farmland, and has been investing in improving their surroundings ever since. So, when the Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program (RALP) delivered by the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) offered cost-share funding to support farmers in making their agricultural lands more productive and resilient, Cox was quick to apply. In fact, he applied for and was approved for three projects, making 2024 a very busy year for him.

Creating resilient landscapes

Three projects – tree and shrub planting, natural grassland establishment, and wetlands – were undertaken in 2024 with the goal to emphasize the property’s role as a source for diverse wildlife, promote environmental sustainability and preserve the naturally diverse ecosystems. Cox says, “Overall, we wanted to increase the resiliency of our farm today and for the future.”

Cox explains he was approved in the spring of 2024 for the tree and shrub planting and natural grasslands projects that were part of the first RALP intake. The wetlands project was part of the second intake, so the work began in 2024, and he will complete the project this year.

Much of the work entailed clearing out invasive plants, like buckthorn, and planting native trees, shrubs and grasses to promote new growth and diverse wildlife habitats.

“I learned a lot through these projects, especially about native species, finding local groups who can support me and working with professionals I can learn from,” says Cox.

With a large forest area on their farm, the Cox family already had a forest management plan that they were following, but recognized there were areas that needed improvement. “We could see there were invasive species that were choking out trees, and the canopy was quite thick,” explains Cox. “We knew we needed to do something now so that we could continue enjoying the property and make it more sustainable.”

The tree and shrub planting project aimed to improve the overall health of the forest and enhance buffer strips throughout the natural habitat areas of the farm. Cox consulted with his forest manager on the planning, and with the help of his parents and some friends, he worked throughout the summer and fall to thin out trees and invasive plants, open the canopy and plant new trees. Given the farm’s unique pockets of fields that are located within the natural landscape of trees and wetlands, new trees planted on the edge of the fields also served to strengthen the natural windbreaks. The project focused on adding new growth that can mature into thicker trees, and Cox says one of the benefits of thicker trees is that they will serve as more effective carbon sinks.

A five-year agreement to maintain the new tree planting was a requirement of the RALP program, but the Cox family extended it to 10 years. “We’re in this for the long term, so extending the program agreement to maintain our surrounding forest makes sense,” says Cox. “We plan to continue planting new trees every year, using the information we’ve learned through this program.”

The grasslands project appeared straightforward to Cox. His plan was to plant native grasses to reduce erosion and protect wildlife habitat. The property had already been identified as a host for endangered Bobolink and eastern wood-pewee species, making the well-being of the wildlife a top priority. What he learned along the way was that he needed advice on where to source and plant native grass species, along with correct fertilizer and herbicide application rates to manage weeds. Cox sought advice from his local municipality, which recommended working with a Certified Crop Advisor who specialized in turf management.

“We ended up sourcing a custom blend of native grass seed for our grasslands project,” says Cox, who is looking forward to seeing the new growth this spring.

Partnering for the future

Cox kicked off the wetlands project in fall 2024. He’ll continue the work again this year as he takes the same approach to the tree planting and grasslands project – removing invasive species and planting native shrubs, trees and grasses. The goal is also similar: to stabilize the soil and environment by reducing drainage, erosion and runoff from the surrounding fields and enhance wildlife diversity. Cox is working to restore the function of the existing wetlands by creating buffer zones that will support the overall ecosystem and help to sequester carbon.

Early in the project application phase, Cox set out to find local resources and supporters he could leverage for information and advice. He was pleasantly surprised to find support from a local conservation charity, the Kawartha Land Trust.

“It’s been a great experience learning more about our land and connecting with local organizations that are also invested in preserving and improving our farm,” says Cox. Since establishing a relationship with Kawartha Land Trust, the organization has helped by advising him on wetland management and has connected him with Fleming College. Through this new connection, the college will be partnering with Cox to host hands-on learning opportunities this year, like taking stock count inventory of the farm’s creek.

The RALP application process also helped Cox identify his goals and expected project outcomes. He says the process took time, requiring him to gather information, site maps, and develop budgets, but that the work was worth the effort. He notes the cost-share payment process has been helpful, saying, “We knew all of the projects would benefit our farm immediately and for future generations, but the funding program helped make the work a priority. We’re grateful for the opportunity to invest in the health and sustainability of our land.” BF

The Ontario Soil & Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) is delivering this cost-share opportunity under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP).

Sustainable CAP is a five-year (2023-2028), $3.5-billion investment by federal‐provincial and territorial governments to strengthen competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency of Canada’s agriculture, agri‐food and agri‐based products sector.

This includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities and a $2.5-billion commitment that is cost-shared 60 per cent federally and 40 per cent provincially/territorially for programs that are designed and delivered by the provinces and territories.