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The Soil - Where It All Starts
According to Doug Young, Soil Specialist with the University of Guelph, the soils of southwestern
Ontario are among the most productive soils of central Canada and the mid-western United States, and are
ideally suited for the production of seed corn. In Essex and Kent counties, there are three principal soil subregions
with clay loam, loams, and silt loams. "These soils have excellent fertility, they drain rapidly and hold
large amounts of available moisture for crop growth, resulting in minimized drought risk," states Young.
 Southwestern Ontario soils generally have a neutral soil pH, which is supportive of high yields and high cation-exchange capacity, allowing excellent soil nutrient storage. These soils have high organic matter
content that is conducive to a variety of soil bacteria and earthworms. Organic matter also aids in plant
nutrient retention and improved drainage.
In addition, the soils of Essex and Kent counties have good load-bearing capacity to provide support of all
production equipment in wet conditions, which is key in meeting seed corn production timelines.
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