Province Dangles Organic Carrot

The Manitoba government wants you to go organic. That’s because the industry, worth $1 billion a year, is growing by 20 per cent annually, and demand is outpacing supply. They’ll even pay two-thirds of the cost of transitioning acres, livestock or processing facilities to become certified organic. In 2008, the first year of the Manitoba

Quest Continues For Local Organic Certification

“They trust us. That’s a lot more than a piece of paper.” – CINDY MURRAY, ORGANIC FARMER Incoming rules that make using the word “organic” to describe how she farms off limits unless she is certified won’t change how Minnedosa-area farmer Cindy Murray operates. She and husband Doug Proven plan to go right on farming


Organic Directory Launched

MAFRI RELEASE An organic food directory is available to help consumers, restaurants, retailers, food handlers and processors locate local certified organic food sources, Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives Minister Rosann Wowchuk announced Feb. 16 during Organic Week. “Organic food has grown tremendously in popularity in recent years and this directory will simplify the purchasing process

Bill 13 detailed at ag days

Brandon Other provinces will be watching Manitoba as a new provincial law, restricting claims of “organic” strictly to certified growers and processors, comes into effect June 30. Manitoba’s own legislation, Bill 13: The Organic Agricultural Products Act (OAP) takes effect on the same day as the new federal Organic Products Regulations (OPR) becomes mandatory. The



Forages can help an organic transition

Seeking advice, maintaining a never-ending thirst for knowledge, and dealing with Mother Nature are all key to success as an organic farmer. These were some of the tips that Marc Boulanger offered during this year’s Manitoba Grazing School held in Brandon Nov. 25 and 26, when he hosted an entertaining workshop on “Transitioning to Organics.”


Organic milk finally produced in Manitoba

Homegrown organic milkwill finally be available on grocery shelves in Manitoba before the end of this year. Organic Meadow of Guelph, Ontario plans to commercially launch locally-produced organic milk in either late November or early December, dairy farmers were told last week. The milk will come from farms belonging to a Manitoba organic milk co-operative.

Organic transition cash eyed by farmers

“This may help encourage them to try some acres, or try organic production of some kind, whether it’s grain crops or fruits or vegetables.” – John Hollinger, Provincial Organic Specialist More farmers are starting to think about switching to organic, as they hear of a new program that helps pay some of their initial transition