The Rocky Road to Protecting Prime Soils in Stone Mills

Back in 2006, after a partial and incomplete survey of local farmers, Stone Mills Township rezoned the bulk of its agricultural lands (including prime farmland with class 1 to 3 soils) as “rural,” paving the way for development by skirting the Provincial Policy Statements’ protections on prime farmland. 

The loss of prime farmland protections came home to roost in 2023 after a developer – in spite of significant farmer-led opposition – received Township approval to sever a 50 acre plot of farmland off Robinson Road for the construction of executive homes. While much of Stone Mills is covered in marginal, shallow (0 to 8 inch) soils, this 50-acre tile-drained field has several feet of Class 2 soil that has supported corn, soybean and wheat for decades under the previous owner, the Galbraith family.

Concerned farmers and community members have since packed Stone Mills Township meetings to ensure that what happened to the Galbraith land will not be repeated. Reeve John Wise – himself a long-time farmer – and council have requested a county-wide Land Evaluation and Area Review (LEAR) study to help identify prime agricultural lands to prevent further farmland loss. Efforts to ensure provisional protections until the LEAR study is completed are ongoing.

“Working with local farmers to protect our prime farmland is essential for securing our food system, our heritage, and our rural identity. We cannot forsake our responsibility to those who will come after us.” – Krista-Lee Woodcock, Stone Mills councillor and NFU-O member 

Reach out to Krista-Lee Woodcock if you’d like to know more about how you can help protect farmland in Stone Mills Township:

krystaleewoodcock@gmail.com

613-885-9448