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That was the turning point for John Gal of Morning Glory Stream Farming, who began experimenting with no-till practices long before they became mainstream. His family hasn’t stopped experimenting since. John, a Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) and seed dealer, farms with his wife, Karen, and his daughters Andrea (also a director at CANZA) and Jessica (also a CCA) in Innerkip, Ontario. Because they farm and serve farmers through their dealership, they’re uniquely positioned to try new approaches before recommending them to their customers—from 4R nutrient stewardship practices, to adding hybrid rye and winter canola to their crop rotation, and cover cropping .
Human survival depends on six inches of topsoil. Lose it, and our ability to produce food disappears. Before they adopted cover crops and no-till, Andrea and John joke they were “giving the soil to the neighbours” every time it got windy. Now, with their adoption of regenerative practices their soil stays in place and keeps improving.
Cover crops are one tool. They reduce soil erosion, keep nitrogen in the soil instead of leaching into groundwater, suppress weeds, and add organic matter back into the soil.
But they’re only part of the story. Strategic tilling systems cut erosion and compaction, while reducing pesticide applications and field passes (the number of times a piece of equipment drives across a field). Fewer passes mean less fuel burned and less wear on equipment. Targeted, high-efficiency fertilizer applications keep nutrients where crops need them, protecting groundwater and boosting yields. As Brendon Van Osch from Van Osch Farms in Middlesex County, Ontario, puts it, “It’s winning on multiple fronts—by planting cover crops and going low-till, we’re saving on herbicide and fertilizer, cutting fuel use, and seeing healthier soils and better yields.”
These approaches aren’t quick wins. Sustainability is playing the long game. Healthier soils mean more consistent yields, reduced fuel and input costs, less risk when extreme weather hits, and farms that stay productive for future generations. Overworked soils lose fertility over time. When outputs and inputs fall out of balance, productivity suffers. Keeping soils robust and resilient is in every farmer’s best interest.
If these practices work so well, why hasn’t everyone jumped in? A few common barriers:
The Million Acre Challenge is designed to help farmers overcome these hurdles and is starting with an inaugural cohort in the 2026 growing season:
And, importantly, the Challenge was developed with farmers to ensure it’s practical and workable at the farm level.
Take Van Osch Farms. The family operation has grown to just over 10,000 acres of crops, and 11,500 head of cattle on feed at any given time. They’ve already seen yield gains of several bushels in corn where cover crops are planted. They partner and work with third party consultants, and rely on data to guide decisions. For them, the Challenge is a way to scale what they’ve already proven works—while reducing their risk.
Or look at Morning Glory Stream Farming, where the Gal family integrates no-till, cover crops, rotational grazing, and advanced fertilizer management. They view the Challenge as an extension of their philosophy: try it, measure it, share it. By participating, they’ll help build a stronger evidence base for other farmers looking to try something new in their operations.
Farms like Van Osch Farms and Morning Glory Stream Farming are part of a growing movement of Canadian farmers who are already leading the way on climate-smart practices. The Million Acre Challenge recognizes and supports that leadership. It will reward the first movers, build confidence for the cautious, and make it easier for the next generation to step forward.
Agriculture and food production account for roughly 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions—and Canadian farmers are already caring for soil, water, and biodiversity as part of how they farm. Yet only about 7% of climate finance flows into this sector. The Million Acre Challenge is CANZA’s response: developed with farmers to support farmers through the riskiest early phases of climate-smart practice adoption and scaling. Leading agri-food businesses are pitching in so Canada’s fields stay productive, resilient, and profitable for decades to come.
Because when it comes to climate-smart farming, who better than a farmer?
