A fourth-generation farmer in Lambton County has been named the 2020 Innovative Farmer of the Year.
Lambton Federation of Agriculture Vice President Mike Belan said the recognition was a surprise.
"Every farmer out there is pretty modest and nobody's looking for any kind of recognition of what we do," said Belan. "We're doing our own thing when it comes to being out here and we do it because we feel it's right and the best thing for our land and the commodities that we grow. So, it's a pleasant surprise I guess, but it's definitely not expected."
Belan farms over 1,000 acres with his father and uncle.
After practicing no-till for years, the family incorporated cover crops to increase traditional commodity crop consistency and profit.
"A cover crop is planted different ways. It could be annual ryegrass, or a crimson clover, or daikon radish and they're planted typically after wheat is harvested and it prevents the soil from being bare. So, our objective is essentially to have a living root in the soil 365 days of the year essentially."
Belan received the award at the Innovative Farmers of Ontario Conference Banquet on February 19 in London.