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For livestock farmers, hay performance is about more than how many bales come off a field. Forage quality, nutritional value, and how consistently a crop performs from one season to the next all shape the value of the harvest.
At a South Frontenac farm in Ontario, UNDO has been tracking those measures side by side since wollastonite was first spread in September 2024. Two years and three cuts later, the treated side has produced more bales per acre at every harvest recorded so far. The latest forage analysis also shows higher levels of calcium, silicon, and zinc, as well as improvements in relative feed value and protein composition.
Two Years Of Side-By-Side Results
The trial covers a 23.5-acre field growing a mix of alfalfa, timothy, and brome grass. Wollastonite was applied to one section at 4 metric tonnes per acre, while the neighbouring section was left untreated as a control. No other soil amendments were applied, giving us a clear comparison over successive cuts.
Across the three harvests measured so far, the wollastonite-treated plots produced:
– 2025 first cut: 5.49 vs 3.34 bales per acre, a 95% increase
– 2025 second cut: 0.85 vs 0.48 bales per acre, a 50% increase
– 2026 first cut: 4.90 vs 4.10 bales per acre, a 19.4% increase
The 2025 figures were based on farmer-reported bale counts. For the 2026 harvest, plot boundaries were physically staked before cutting, and yield was adjusted to account for the different field areas, giving us a stronger basis for comparison.
More Bales per Acre at Every Cut
In the 2026 first cut, the wollastonite-treated plot produced 4.90 bales per acre, compared with 4.10 bales per acre on the control, a 19.4% increase. The difference was smaller than we saw in 2025, when conditions were particularly dry, including in the run-up to the first cut. But the treated plot still outperformed the control in a different growing season, giving us a more complete picture of how the field is responding over time rather than relying on one standout year.
That consistency is important. Yield responses will naturally vary with weather, crop condition, and management, so seeing the treated side remain ahead across successive cuts gives us a stronger basis for understanding how wollastonite may be contributing to crop performance. The size of the difference changed from season to season, but the direction of the response has remained the same so far.
Signs Of Drought Tolerance
The strongest yield response came during the dry 2025 season, when the wollastonite-treated plots produced substantially more hay than the control. That pattern is consistent with the role silicon can play in helping crops cope with water stress.
Grasses are natural silicon accumulators, and research has linked silicon uptake with improved drought response through stronger plant tissues, better water-use efficiency and greater resilience under stress. At South Frontenac, the treated hay also contained 83% more silicon in the 2026 forage analysis, showing that silicon released as the wollastonite weathered was being taken up by the crop.
We are continuing to monitor the field across different growing conditions, but the size of the 2025 yield gap gives us a useful early signal that drought response may be one of the agronomic benefits worth watching closely.
Higher Yield Alongside Forage Quality
The 2026 first cut was also analyzed for forage quality and nutrient composition. The wollastonite-treated hay recorded higher values across the majority of parameters measured, including:
– 83% higher silicon
– 47% higher calcium
– 27% higher zinc
– 4.5% higher relative feed value
The treated side produced more hay while also recording stronger forage quality across several of the measures tested. That is especially relevant in hay production, where large amounts of plant material are removed from the field at every cut, placing substantial demands on the soil for the nutrients needed to keep stands productive.
Calcium is a useful example. At representative Ontario yields, mixed hay can remove around 8 to 16 times more calcium per acre than soybeans, and more than 60 times as much as grain corn. For farms taking multiple cuts each year, replacing what leaves the field is an important part of maintaining long-term productivity. In this trial, the wollastonite-treated hay contained 47% more calcium while also producing more bales per acre.
A Different Protein Profile
The protein analysis added another layer to the results. Compared with the control, hay from the wollastonite-treated area contained:
– 30.4% lower soluble protein
– 27.1% higher bypass protein
For dairy and beef producers, the form that protein takes can be just as important as the overall amount. Soluble protein is broken down quickly in the rumen, while bypass protein, also known as rumen undegradable protein, passes through the rumen and is digested further along the digestive tract. For high-producing dairy cows and growing beef cattle, a greater proportion of bypass protein can provide more protein in a form that is directly available to the animal. It is one of the most valuable findings from the latest cut and one we will continue to track in future forage analysis.
Calcium And Silicon Uptake
Wollastonite is a naturally occurring calcium silicate mineral. As it breaks down in the soil, it releases calcium and plant-available silicon.
Calcium
Calcium concentration in the 2026 forage was 47% higher on the wollastonite-treated side.
Calcium supports plant tissue development and cell wall strength, and it also plays an important role in the soil environment that supports nutrient availability. For many Ontario farmers, calcium supply is already one of the main reasons wollastonite is of interest as a soil amendment.
Silicon
Silicon concentration was 83% higher in hay from the treated plot.
Grasses are natural silicon accumulators, taking up soluble silicon through their roots and depositing it within plant tissues. Research has linked silicon with stronger plant structure, more upright leaves and improved response to stresses including drought, pests and disease. At South Frontenac, the higher silicon concentration gives us a clear sign that silicon released as the wollastonite weathered was being taken up by the crop.
Strong Soil Buffering Across Two Seasons
What We Have Seen After Three Cuts
After two growing seasons, the South Frontenac trial is building a much fuller picture of how wollastonite is affecting the field. So far, the treated plot has:
– Produced more bales per acre at all three recorded cuts
– Produced 19.4% more bales per acre in the verified 2026 first cut
– Recorded higher silicon, calcium, and zinc in the latest forage analysis
– Recorded a 4.5% higher relative feed value
– Contained more bypass protein and less soluble protein
– Maintained stable soil pH across the monitoring period
One farm cannot tell us how every field in Ontario will respond: soil, weather, crop mix, and management all influence the outcome. But repeated results over multiple cuts give us a much stronger evidence base than a single harvest ever could.
Building The Evidence Across Ontario
The South Frontenac trial sits within a wider programme of agronomic work across UNDO’s Ontario operations. By tracking yield, forage quality, soil chemistry, and crop response over time, we are building a clearer picture of where wollastonite can deliver the most value for farmers.
As the dataset grows, so does our understanding of how wollastonite performs across different soils, crops, and seasons. For farmers considering whether it could be a good fit for their land, local field evidence is vital. Eligible farms can also access free soil testing before spreading, helping our team understand field conditions and suitability first.
Interested In Wollastonite For Your Farm?
If you farm in Eastern Ontario and want to understand whether wollastonite could support your soil, forage, or crop goals, our team can help. We can arrange a free soil test, review your fields, and talk you through the options available in your area.
