What is a SWAT Certified Farm?

To be SWAT CERTIFIED, every farmer:

• Uses SWAT MAPS annually on their entire farm operation to optimize crop production inputs by soil potential. Crop production inputs most commonly used include organic or conventional products such as seed, soil amendments, manures, crop protection products, and fertilizers. (Note: pastures, perennial forage, and very small fields are exempt from requiring a SWAT MAP and only require a composite geo-referenced benchmark sampling system.)

• Is working with a SWAT CERTIFIED staff member of an ag consultancy or has their own qualified SWAT CERTIFIED staff. The validating professional must have completed required SWAT ACADEMY courses in the field of soil mapping, site-specific agronomy, or 4R Nutrient Stewardship. Farmer validation occurs annually on July 1.

• Utilizes variable-rate equipment to apply crop production inputs using tools in the SWAT ECOSYSTEM.

• Soil tests annually by SWAT zone to monitor soil nutrient supply to optimize crop production inputs. Annual soil testing may not be required in cases where plant tissues are the accepted agronomy practice, or prior to low fertilizer intensity cropping systems (such as intercrops, forages, and annual grain legumes), but fertilizer, manures, or amendments may still be applied by SWAT zone as required.

• Uses optimal rates of crop production inputs by SWAT zone to reduce environmental impact such as:

  • Nitrogen rates and products are managed to reduce environmental losses and improve nutrient use efficiency to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions. A minimum of Basic level 4R Nutrient Stewardship practices are required.

  • Phosphorus rates and placement are managed in a way to optimize soil phosphorus levels and minimize excessive soil P levels that can contribute to environmental losses in surface water. A minimum of Basic level 4R Nutrient Stewardship practices are required.

  • Variable rate seed, crop types, varieties/hybrids, and cover crops are utilized to achieve optimal establishment of crops in SWAT zones, maximize use of available nutrients, and sequester carbon.

  • Where applicable, soil-applied crop protection products are applied by the SWAT zone, to ensure correct labelled rates are applied to different soil types (where applicable), mitigating runoff, leaching, and future crop injury concerns.

  • Marginal soils (salt-affected areas, eroded knolls, etc.) are managed specifically to improve soil health over time, sequester carbon, and promote species diversity that best suits the soil condition.

• Uses SWAT RECORDS to store their data including SWAT MAPS files, soil sample data, and crop production records of variable rate applications. Data is owned by the farmer and not available for export without their consent.

For more information or ways to benefit from being SWAT CERTIFIED, please email support@swatmaps.com.