Entz receives award of excellence

University of Manitoba agronomy researcher Martin Entz is among four people honoured recently at the Organic Connections Conference in Regina for their contributions to organic agriculture. Entz was recognized for the more than three decades of research work into improving organic farming systems by studying crop rotation, green manure management, intercropping and comparing long-term organic

Marketing funds for organic food

The federal government is supporting the marketing efforts of two organic trade associations. The Canada Organic Trade Association (COTA) will receive $180,000 from the AgriMarketing Program to help it participate in international trade shows, develop promotional materials, and build a long-term international strategy for the organic sector. The Organic Council of Ontario (OCO) will receive


Organic research achieving critical mass in science

The modern organic agriculture movement started 100 years ago. Sir Albert Howard was an English mycologist who served as the imperial economic botanist to the government of India between 1905 and 1924. He was fascinated by the indigenous practices of Indian farmers, whom he called his professors. His 1940 book, An Agricultural Testament, has become

A Fresh Look At Our Organic Roots

Janine Gibson isn t surprised when she hears about studies that find organic farming to be as productive as conventional production methods. To think that it couldn t be, well that s just garbage, said the organic inspector and cofounder of the Organic Food Council of Manitoba. According to an American study released this year,


Product Awareness

Priscilla Reimer heads the Manitoba Organic Alliance, an umbrella organization for organic associations and producers. The organic inspector said sound scientific research is an important aspect of promoting organic production methods, but added current findings are not unexpected. To me it s a non-argument … yes, we can feed the world using organic systems, she

Organic Alliance Seeks Financial Relief For Small Growers

Aprovincial industry lobby group wants the Manitoba government to ease the financial burden which new regulations will place on small organic farmers. The Manitoba Organic Alliance is asking the province to rebate part of the money small producers will have to pay to comply with organic standards under the incoming regulations. Currently, growers can sell


U.K. Organic Sales Stable After Recession Fall

Sales of organic products in Britain has stabilized after a recession-driven decline which was particularly severe in the meat sector, the incoming director of the Soil Association said on Feb. 9. “Last year we saw a drop (in demand), particularly in some areas. The feeling is very much that it is more stable now and

New Handbook For Organic Certification – for Dec. 2, 2010

Canadian Organic Growers (COG) has releasedRecord Keeping for Organic Growers,another handbook in its Practical Skills series of technical manuals for organic agriculture. COG’s says its aim is to help farmers reduce their time and anxiety around the record-keeping required for organic certification. Most farmers already save information about their inputs, products and methods, so this


Organic Farmers Look For Workable Solutions

It’s National Organic Week Oct. 11 to 16 in Canada, a week when the industry celebrates its continued growth as an industry. So where does Manitoba fit into the national picture? Organic farmers represent just two per cent of total farms in this province, or an estimated 300 certified farms covering about 100,000 acres. But

Organic Farm Dream Contest Winner Announced – for Aug. 19, 2010

An avid backyard gardener who dreams of setting up an organic greenhouse operation is the winner of the Manitoba Farm Mentorship’s “So You Want to be an Organic Farmer!” contest. Drew Bouchard, 21, is currently taking the Prairie Horticulture Certificate Program, specializing in greenhouse crop production. Upon being notified of his win, Bouchard promptly chose