Canadian Organic Growers
This session explored a range of topics of interest to field crop growers looking to include intensive forage production in their crop rotation and livestock producers wanting to improve their farm feed self-sufficiency and profits. The central question was “can organic forage produce 10 tonnes per hectare dry matter, and if so, HOW?” The session covered:
A two-hour session on the welfare of dairy cows provided by two animal behaviour and welfare researchers from the Organic Dairy Research Centre at the University of Guelph, Campus d’Alfred. The session began with an interactive overview of animal welfare. The objectives were to define animal welfare, discuss the evolution of societal concern over animal welfare, explain how to measure welfare at the farm level, and present some examples of welfare standards from Canada, the US and Europe. This presentation was followed by a review of various welfare issues in dairy production and how these issues are being addressed by the Canadian standards for conventional and organic production. The session ended with a brief presentation of current research projects at Alfred.
Covering the latest developments in solar energy, including:
In light of the latest wave of “anti-organic” press that has filled the media, market gardeners are in a unique position to speak as producers directly to the consumer. This session provided market growers with solid information to take with them to their customers about the real and proven health benefits of organic food.
Jodi examined some of the studies being used to discredit organic foods and how their findings are being misused by addressing common scientific “blunders” like “third party authority”. She provided a survey of the overwhelming body of evidence pointing to the health benefits of organic foods as well as the many environmental benefits of organic agriculture that are often unacknowledged by negative press.
Farmers have been cultivating heritage grains for centuries and these crops are the backbone of the varieties used today in modern agriculture. How do we grow and sustain these varieties? Diversified field crop producer George Wright, of Castor River Farm, shared some of his best practices in terms of how he is responding to, and dealing with, both the agronomic and economic challenges of growing diversified heritage grains in ecological farming conditions.
How can a field crop farmer convert land to agroforestry? What are the advantages and challenges of this approach? What specific genetic characteristics should a farmer look for in trees to be used in the harsh Canadian climate, and especially on a low-input organic farm? These questions were addressed by Ken Taylor in this session on establishing agroforestry on an organic farm.
Inspired by the French intensive tradition of maraîchage, Jean-Martin Fortier shared in details the techniques, tools and appropriate technology that make his market garden productive and profitable.
It is popularly supposed that the small-scale market garden can no longer be economically viable since it cannot compete with the economies of scale of the larger growers. But is that so? Jean-Martin Fortier provided an overview of all aspects of vegetable production at Les Jardins de la Grelinette, demonstrating how adopting intensive methods of production can lead to the optimization of a cropping system.
Directed by Millefiore Clarkes – National Film Board
When an organic animal gets sick, how do we respond? Dr. Susan Beal, DVM, has spent over 25 years answering this question: in her own practice, in workshops for farmers, and in conversations and presentations with veterinarians across North America. During her presentation, she shared her approaches to common herd health issues as well as her favourite “tools in the box” to treat them. The second part of the presentation was discussion-based.
The Market Grower Panel brought together three growers from eastern Ontario with unique perspectives on what makes a market garden efficient, profitable, and successful. Each spoke briefly on their use of record-keeping as a way to understand their costs of production and assess their profitability, and their process of deciding on investments in scale-appropriate technologies for their operations. Group discussion with the audience captured additional strategies and techniques for achieving profitability.
Peter Kevan is Emeritus Professor at the University of Guelph and Scientific Director of the Canadian Pollination Initiative (NSERC-CANPOLIN). His primary interests are in pollination, pollinators, and the application of ecological principles to agricultural systems. He has worked with soft and tender fruit growers, orchard fruit production, oilseed crops (canola and sunflower), field vine crops (pumpkins, squash and pickling cucumbers), and ecological based farming systems. His interests include integrated pest management and biological control, especially as they interact through beekeeping and pollination.