OA Winter 2015 Magazine
Content
alberta
ORGANIC
WINTER 2014/15
ISSUE 04
VOLUME 05
NOTES FROM A FIELD DAY
AOPA AND ORGANIC ALBERTA PARTNERED TO
PRESENT ANOTHER INFORMATIVE FIELD DAY.
HRS WHEAT – GOLDEN FLAX
INTER-CROPPED
Building soil fertility and reducing weed pressure
through green manure plowdowns and intercropping
were highlights of the field day hosted by Organic
Alberta President, Ward Middleton, this past summer.
Ward has a lot of experience with inter-cropping, but
this was his first attempt at growing Golden Flax. He
inter-cropped it with wheat, thinking that the wheat
stalks would help with threshing the flax and the flax
would replace the weeds that often like to grow between the rows. He seeded the wheat at 2 bushels/acre
and the flax at 24 lbs/acre. His 5 year average yield for
intercropped HRS wheat is 40 bushels/acre, unchanged
from when he just grew wheat alone. His wheat yield
was 45 bushels/acre this year, however the flax yield
was just 5 bushels/acre on one field and virtually nonexistent on another field. He attributes the low flax
yield to late germination after seeding.The flax is seeded
in a second pass after the wheat is seeded and the soil
was dried out, so the flax didn’t germinate until the next
rain. However, the wheat saw normal germination and
emergence. Flax was still blossoming on the field on
September 23 – 25 when the wheat was swathed.
BUILDING SOIL FERTILITY
THE ORGANIC WAY
In the first week of July,Ward planted a mixture of rye,
After separating the wheat and flax with a Snowco
wheat, brown peas, sugar peas and buckwheat as a
cleaner on the farm, the wheat graded a good #3.
plowdown crop. Normally he would have seeded his
It was downgraded from a #2 as they had not success-
plowdown in May, but he was hoping that seeding later
fully separated all the flax from the sample. However,
would provide better Canada Thistle control.
Ward is confident that the seed cleaning plant can clean
the wheat to good milling specifications. The lab results
The field was prepared by alternating diamond
for the separated wheat sample were:
harrows to kill small annual weeds and a chisel plow
• 14.3% protein
emerged following the previous harrow pass. This
• 3% dockage
• 80.1 kg/hectolitre test weight
• Falling # = 326 seconds
BARLEY/SWEET CLOVER INTER-CROP:
Ward’s Barley yield was only 45 bushels/acre, which was
below his 60 bushel/acre target. He believes the yield
was likely set back by rodweeding too long after seeding;
this hurt the emergence. The rodweeding was done in
an attempt to control the wild oats, however, next year
he will try to seed a week later and not rodweed more
than 4 days after seeding.
The barley was the right protein and excellent plumpness
with sweep shovels to kill perennial weeds that had
was done twice each through the spring with strong
populations of weeds each time.
Ward was a little concerned about the late seeding
pass because he knew that at some point the Canada
Thistle would not attempt to set seed any longer,
but would emerge in a shorter bushier version with
broader leaves.This version is focused on feeding the
root energy reserves in order to survive for next year.
However, the plowdown seeding date was not so late
as to trigger this change in the thistle. When the crop
was worked in early September, the Canada Thistle
were just in the rosette stage.
Buckwheat was included in the seeding mixture at 20
lb/acre, as opposed to the usual 40 lb/acre seeding rate
for malting specifications. He has it contracted for malt.
when it is intended to be harvested; however, it was by
PEAS/CANOLA INTERCROP:
The local beekeeper was happy with the late seeding
Ward’s pea yields were normal or above, but the
part of the growing season, giving his bees something to
intercropped polish canola also suffered from late
germination due to dry conditions.
far the most abundant biomass in the plowdown mixture.
date, as the buckwheat was in full flower for the last
harvest in a time when there is usually very little for them.
He even had other beekeepers phoning him to ask what
was growing near his hives on Ward’s farm.
GENERAL
WWW.ORGANICALBERTA.ORG
PRODUCERS & PROCESSORS
CONSUMERS
WINTER 2014/15 | ISSUE 04 | VOLUME 05
Mission: To represent and support Alberta’s
entire organic industry.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Vision: A strong, sustainable and united
organic community in Alberta.
Not everyone knows about the OCVRT
and what it has accomplished in the past.
I want to share with you 3 recent reports
they have produced called the Organic
Advantage. There is one each for beef,
grains and vegetables. These documents are
aimed at showing conventional producers
the benefits of organics, however they are
equally useful for organic producers. In
my article on using statistics to grow your
business, I talk about how the numbers can
help when you go to the bank, or to the
government for support. These documents
are like a goldmine. Next time you put
together a business plan for your banker,
or a proposal for government grants, use
the numbers from these documents, and
then hand them a copy. Your success rate
will be way higher!
Editor/Submissions & Advertising
Editor: Debbie Miller
306-642-0216
[email protected]
Copy Editor
Brenda Frick
306-260-0663
[email protected]
Graphic Designer & Publisher
Woodward Design
780-451-2261
www.woodwarddesign.ca
Executive Director
Becky Lipton:
587-521-2400 | [email protected]
Board Members
Representatives elected by region:
(N) North (S) South (C) Central
(M) Member at Large
President: Ward Middleton (C):
780-939-7459 | [email protected]
Vice President: Sam Godwin (C):
780-785-8023 | [email protected]
Treasurer: Danny Turner (M):
780-469-1900 | [email protected]
Secretary: Erin Paulson (M):
403-710-8117 | [email protected]
Frank Sarro (Consumer Rep):
403-252-0011 | Ext. 9240 [email protected]
Kari Kitt (N):
780-356-2239 | [email protected]
BECKY LIPTON
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR : ORGANIC ALBERTA
I have recently been invited to sit on
the Organic Value Chain Round Table
(OVCRT), an industry-led partnership that
works collaboratively with government on
strategies to increase the competitiveness
and profitability of the organic sector in
domestic and export markets. I will be
co-chairing the Increasing Capacity Working
Group with Laura Telford, the Organic
Marketing Business Development Specialist
for the Manitoba government. I am
sincerely looking forward to representing
Organic Alberta, and
providing a voice for our
producers and programs
at the national level.
ORGANIC
ADVANTAGE
I am also very excited
about being a part of
the national effort to
grow the organic sector.
If you would like a FREE copy of The
Organic Advantage, let us know at
[email protected] or 587-521-2400
Beef
Field
crops
production
Vegetable
crops
ORGANIC
ADVANTAGE
ORGANIC
ADVANTAGE
Transition to growing demand
1
October 2014
October 2014
October 2014
Jake Drozda (Ab rep at the Federal Level)
780-524-3254 | [email protected]
Trevor Aleman (S)
403-308-4003 | [email protected]
Tim Hoven (S):
403-302-2748 | [email protected]
Janice Shelton (N):
780-623-7664 | [email protected]
Spring 2015 submissions to be received
by March 6, 2015 . Please send comments,
suggestions, questions, ads, and/or articles to
[email protected]
ORGANIC ALBERTA SUPPORTERS
Thank you to James Bozarth, Nature’s Path, Alberta Farm Fresh Producers’ Association
and Bioriginal Food & Science Corp for becoming corporate members.
Thank you to Mike Stahl of Rosalind Colony, George & Debbie Wolf, Frank & Marg Dyck,
Grainworks Inc. and Keith & Lois Burger for making a donation.
Thank you to Paula Dubleski, Becky Lipton, Pat Lipton and Willem Aleman for becoming
Friends of Organics.
WWW.ORGANICALBERTA.ORG
GENERAL
CHEESE FONDUE ALBERTA STYLE
by Shari Johnston
A cold winter day gives the perfect opportunity
When the dippers are ready, begin
smooth. When ready, add another handful of
to fire up the wood stove and gather around
the cheese sauce:
cheese. Repeat this process until all cheese is
the fondue pot with friends. Perhaps slightly
untraditional, this fondue features Alberta beer
in the cheese sauce and many local, organic
products are used to make dippers.
Ingredients
Dippers (see below for suggestions)
4 cups cheese (gruyere, cheddar,
whatever you like)
2 tablespoons corn starch
½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
½ teaspoon mustard powder
1 bulb of garlic
small onion, finely diced
375 ml bottle of beer
Preparing the actual fondue is fairly
quick and easy so I always start with
prepping the dippers. When we made
this fondue at home, I served it with
the following dippers:
1. Thick, bite sized slices of spicy chorizo
sausage and black forest ham from Europa
Meat Shoppe (South 40 location, Grande
Prairie)
2. Cubes of black pepper parmesan bread from
Loaves (Grande Prairie Farmer’s Market)
3. Roasted potatoes from Summer’s Gold CSA
(Crooked Creek, Alberta)
4. Grate 4 cups cheese (medium gruyere
from Sylvan Star works great or an aged
incorporated and mixture is silky smooth.
10. When all cheese is added, if the mix is too
white cheddar) and toss with 2 tablespoons
thick, add more beer (a small amount at
corn starch, ½ teaspoon fresh ground black
a time), until proper consistency has been
pepper and ½ teaspoon mustard powder.
reached.
Set aside.
5. Next, you’ll make some roasted garlic. Using
one whole bulb of garlic (New Oxley Garlic
near Claresholm is what I had on hand)
chop the very top off, to expose the cloves.
Pour some olive oil on it, getting it into the
cloves, and wrap tightly with tin foil. Bake for
45 minutes in a 400F oven.
6. Once roasted, squeeze the cloves out of
their paper and mash into a paste. Set aside.
11. Taste and season with salt and pepper, if
necessary. Pour the fondue in a fondue pot
and serve immediately with dippers.
A simple green salad with oil and
vinegar dressing is nice to serve on
the side. The acidity in the dressing
provides a nice contrast to the cheese
sauce. A glass of Full Moon Pale Ale
also compliments the fondue nicely.
Shari Johnston has lived in Grande Prairie for over ten years
Finally, bring all of the elements together and
and is an avid home cook, local food advocate and food and
make the cheese sauce.
drink junkie. Since 2011, she has written about her adventures,
7. In a medium sized pot, sauté the onion in
Kitchen. She loves everything about food: Cooking it, reading
some olive oil until translucent. When the
onion is cooked, add the roasted garlic paste
to the pot and heat through.
8. Add 1 ¼ cup of beer (I enjoy Alley Kat’s
Full Moon Pale Ale) to the pot and stir well.
Bring mixture to a boil over medium high
heat. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium
and let mix simmer for 3 minutes.
9. Decrease heat to medium-low and sprinkle
a small handful of prepared grated cheese
into the pot. Stir until fully incorporated and
both in the kitchen and out, at her blog, Tales From a Small
about it, tasting it and talking about it.
If you want to keep up with all of Shari’s adventures visit her
blog, Tales from a Small Kitchen (www.talesfromasmallkitchen.
com) or find her on Facebook (www.facebook.com/
talesfromasmallkitchen).
3
WINTER 2014/15 | ISSUE 04 | VOLUME 05
We Buy and Sell Organic Grain
✦
✦
✦
✦
Bulk Rail Car or Truck Shipments
Delivered or FOB Farm Contracting
Cleaning Available
Organic Certification
Loreburn, SK. Elevator
Council Bluffs IA. Elevator
Grove City MN. Elevator
Phone: 888-531-4888
www.FWCOBS.com
WWW.ORGANICALBERTA.ORG
PRODUCERS & PROCESSORS
5
ORGANIC MARKET PRICES
LAURA TELFORD,
MANITOBA AGRICULTURE, FOOD
AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES
Below are the highest organic grain prices
(new crop spot market prices unless
otherwise indicated) gathered recently
by MAFRD. Sources include farmers and
buyers who have shared recent sales
prices and the USDA National Organic
Grain & Feedstuffs Repor t. Prices do not
include transpor tation unless otherwise
indicated. Conventional prices come
from Farm Lead in SK and the Western
Producer Markets Moment Special
Edition. USDA prices are in US dollars,
the rest of the prices are Canadian.
Buyers are repor ting that golden and
brown flax are plentiful this fall as many
producers included last
year’s wonder crop, golden
Food grade soybeans
flax, in their 2014 rotation.
Feed grade soybeans
Feed oats
This is reflected in the price
Milling oats
drop from last year which
topped $50/bu. The crop
Feed wheat HRW
of the moment appears
Milling wheat HRS
to be spelt which is now
extremely hard to find.
Milling wheat SRW
Wheat prices appear to
Feed wheat HRS
have stabilized with almost
Durum wheat
all buyers offering similar
Triticale
Feed grade barley
prices at around $22/bu.
Rye
Livestock prices remain
Golden flax
high and feed prices are
Brown flax
still attractive enough to
Kamut
suppor t a strong organic
Malt barley
livestock industry although
Food grade barley
the cost of production for
conventional livestock may
Feed grade barley
be even more attractive.
Feed grade corn
Organic
Non Organic
Organic
Premium
$26.59/bu (USDA)
$26.29/bu to e. ON
$24.24/bu (USDA)
$23.81 bu to e. ON
$4 - $4.50/bu
$2.60 SK
173%
$4.49/bu
290%
$13 - $14
$4.72 - $7 /bu SK
200%
$24 - $25 fob farm
$8.75 / bu SK
286%
$12.50/bu USDA
$7.25/bu
172%
$8.00/bu (USDA)
$9.80 del. to e. ON; conv. $3.31/bu
$9/bu SK
$6/bu
150%
$10 - $13.50 /bu SK
267%
$8.00/bu (USDA)
$9.80/bu del to e ON
$3.31 / bu
296%
$6 - $6.25 SK
$13.06/bu (USDA);
$11.38 del to e ON
HRS $20-$22.50 fob farm
(higher for high quality, SK, MB)
$23/bu USDA
$38 - $40/bu SK
$31 - $36/bu
$23 - $25/bu
$11 /bu SK
$9/bu SK
$10.64/bu USDA
$3.65/bu
292%
Feed grade peas
$17.69/ bu to e ON
$7.16/bu SK
247%
Brown mustard
$0.60 – 0.75/lb
$0/25 – 0.28/lb SK
268%
Yellow mustard
$0.50 – 0.60/lb
$0.34/lb SK
176%
Hemp
$1.50/lb MB
WINTER 2014/15 | ISSUE 04 | VOLUME 05
Proud supporter of organic
agriculture is currently contracting
Kamut and other grains for 2015.
We are also accepting flax sample
for immediate delivery.
WWW.PHSORGANICS.COM | 1.306.869.2926
WWW.ORGANICALBERTA.ORG
PRODUCERS & PROCESSORS
7
USING STATISTICS TO GROW YOUR BOTTOM LINE
once you have it, figure out what to do with
it. Some people will have a plan for where
to market, but might not know that much
about their market. They just assume that the
market is there, because that is what they
have always done, or how others sell.
BECKY LIPTON
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR : ORGANIC ALBERTA
HOW WE CAN HELP YOU
GROW YOUR BUSINESS
“Know your market. Know your client.These
are two of the keys to success for any business.”
says Alberta Agriculture New Venture Specialist
Christine Anderson. She explained that during
the everyday phases of business, life goes
on as usual.You till, you seed, you weed, you
harvest, and so the season goes. But have you
ever stopped to reflect on the things that you
need to help your business grow? Sometimes
those moments are obvious, like when you
are applying for a loan and the bank asks you
for specific information, or when you are going
to the government for grant money to help
you build a new aspect of your business. But
generally speaking, knowledge of the market
for your products, whether they be vegetables
going to a farmers market, or wheat being
exported to the US, is useful.
It isn’t just market information either.The more
information you have the better the decisions
you will be able to make and the more likely
your business will be successful. Statistics are
an important source of that information.
EVERY BUSINESS NEEDS A
BUSINESS PLAN, BUT SOME
PEOPLE JUST DON`T REALIZE IT.
A business plan is a roadmap for your
business. What do you plan to grow/produce,
and where are you going to market it?
For some, it is easiest just to grow what
you grow, make what you make, and then
However, having solid answers to these
questions can be the major difference
between a business that is just twittering
along and one that is strong and succeeding.
SO HOW DO YOU ANSWER
THESE QUESTIONS?
The answer is looking to the statistics. Not
just pretty numbers and charts, the recent
report that Organic Alberta commissioned
with money from the Agriculture Initiatives
Program of ARD, is chock full of useful
information. Organic Alberta has also
included reports on production and acreage
statistics in the Summer and Fall magazines.
SO HOW CAN THEY HELP?
In addition to providing a useful snapshot of the
industry, statistics identify trends.Where is the
industry seeing increases? Where are the areas
of potential growth? Are there areas or markets
that aren’t being served? All of this information
can be used by producers to identify market
opportunities and make decisions that will help
grow their business.
Say you are a grain producer who produces
a lot of oats. Our stats tell us that of the 213
producers that grew cereals in 2013, 146 or just
under 70% grow oats.Then look at price trends
over time. Have they remained stable? Are there
opportunities for other crops? Our stats tell us
that only 14 producers grew rye, and only 12
grew crops other than oats, wheat, barley and
rye.What are prices for other commodities?
Does the low number of people growing them
mean there is an opportunity, or does it mean
they are hard to grow? How many acres are
grown for each? For each sector you need to
ask yourself,“Is the market saturated? Who else
is playing in that market? Is there room for you?
Or is there an opportunity elsewhere? Can you
be profitable?”
Another question you may want to ask yourself
is “What is unique or different about my
product?” Clearly define your business’ value
proposition and be able to clearly communicate
that to your customers.
The other thing that these statistics are
useful for is securing loans at the bank or
applying for grants.There are a few key things
that banks are looking for. Firstly, you need to be
able to show growth, stability and the potential of
your market.They are looking for hard numbers.
Rosalie Cunningham, stats person from ARD,
says “The most powerful numbers you can have
are sales, total size of the market and your ability
to show growth.The numbers you have from
the market study are very powerful.”
SO WHAT ARE THOSE NUMBERS?
Next time you go to the bank, you can
confidently say:
• The organic market in Canada is worth $3.5
billion. And the value of the Canadian organic
food market has tripled since 2006. 58% of
Canadians buy organic food products weekly.
• On the production side you can say that
organic farms grew in number by 66.5%
between 2001 and 2011, while conventional
farms declined by 17%.
• In Alberta total organic food sales are
$415.89 million/year and those sales
represent 13% of total national sales while
we have only 11% of the total population.
Alberta’s organic market is one of the fastest
growing in Canada and the potential for
further market development is significant.
The mainstream retail sales of organic
products grew 30% between 2006 and 2012
continues on page 8
WINTER 2014/15 | ISSUE 04 | VOLUME 05
continues from page 7
and the Alberta natural health sector is experiencing the fastest
growth in the country.
Want statistics related to your production or business? Contact Organic
Alberta at [email protected] or 1-855-521-2400
• We also have sector specific statistics, such as:
• The sale of fresh organic produce and meat grew the fastest in
Alberta, with a 35% annual increase between 2006 and 2012
and a 29% increase in pre-packaged organic grocery sales.
• In 2012 there were $3.34 million in organic egg sales
in mainstream retail.
From there, Rosalie Cuningham says you want to show how your business
will take advantage of that market and growth. That takes us back to the
analysis of your specific business.
Finally, one other thing you want to look for in stats is opportunities
that you hadn’t thought of before. Where are other opportunities for
growth? You don’t have to go down any of these roads, but you may learn
something new.The market study shows, for example, that institutional
and co-op sales are very low. Is there an opportunity there? Are you large
enough to supply to institutions? If not, do you have a few other producers
that you could work together with to supply institutions? The stats indicate
that it could be an untapped market, and could be worth exploring.
Another opportunity could be some of the livestock types that have very
few producers. Our statistics show that there are very few pork, lamb,
turkey and chicken producers.There could also be opportunities there.
ORGANIC MARKET
OPPORTUNITIES CLASSIFIED ADS
Growers International is buying Organic Milling Wheat, Feed Grains, Spelt,
Flax and Peas for NutraSun Foods and Growers International. 8 Delivery
Locations across the Prairies. Call Mark at 306-652-4529 for prices.
Trade and Export Canada is buying all grades of organic grains.
Call 1-877-339-1959.
F.W. Cobs is buying feed grains, including HRSW on both spot and
new crop contracts. We buy FOB the farm, delivered to Loreburn,
Sk or loaded rail. Call 888-531-4888 Ext. 7 or 8.
Looking for a consistent supply of Organic Soybean meal? Schafer
Commodities can assist you with all of your organic needs, we are
also buying HRS, durum, flax, barley and peas. 403-328-5066.
Looking for certified organic seeds for sprouting – alfalfa seed,
smaller quantities of peas, lentils, oilseeds, wheat and grains.
Interested in specialty seeds. Mail samples to Mumm’s Sprouting
Seeds, Box 80 Parkside, SK. S0J 2A0
Organic producers of hempseed or flax, contracting for 2015 crop.
Contact Bioriginal Crop Production Manager, Carl Lynn at Cell:
306-229-9976. Email: [email protected]
Roger Rivest Marketing Ltd/Nature Lane Farms is contracting
growers for 2015 organic food grade yellow peas, red lentils,
HRSW, durum wheat and chickpeas. Also supply a full line of liquid
and granular organic fertilizers. Roger Rivest at 519-687-3522
[email protected], www.rogerrivestmarketing.com.
WWW.ORGANICALBERTA.ORG
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PRODUCERS & PROCESSORS
Sowing Success: Farming for
People, Planet, and Profit
Friday, February 27 & Saturday, February 28
Eaglemont Church, 5002 62 St, Beaumont, AB
Registration includes all meals and free childcare
during the day; please RSVP for childcare
Surname:
Registration Form
First Name:
Address:
FT
Organization/Business:
Province:
Telephone:
Postal Code:
Email:
Please select the registration fee that applies to you
I am coming alone
A
Yes, I am a member of
Organic Alberta or AFFPA
$95
$80
$160 $140
R
I am coming with another
person in my family
Early bird pricing!
Green pricing ends February 14th!
Name of second person:
No, I am NOT a member of
Organic Alberta or AFFPA
$120
I am coming alone
I am coming with another
person in my family
$100
$210
$175
Name of second person:
OPTIONAL: Become a member/Renew with Organic Alberta
$42
D
Friend of Organic
Student Friend of Organic
Corporate
$26
$263
Corporate Plus
$630
Alberta Certified Organic Business
(Membership automatic; please donate)
$300
$50
$100
$ other
Add:
Paper copy of our magazine (electronic copy complementary with membership)
$13
TOTAL $ _________________ (all prices include GST, GST # 831992078)
Payment type
Cheque (made payable to Organic Alberta)
Credit Card (on website:
organicalberta.org/2015-Conference)
Email: [email protected]; Fax: 780-989-2488; Mail: #1, 10329-61 Ave Edmonton, AB T6H 1K9; Call: 855-521-2400
All information shall be used solely by Organic Alberta and will be kept confidential
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WINTER 2014/15 | ISSUE 04 | VOLUME 05
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Sowing Success: Farming for
People, Planet, and Profit
Friday, February 27 & Saturday, February 28
Eaglemont Church
5002 62 Street
Beaumont, AB
Registration
9:00
Conference Opening
FT
8:30 - 9:00
DRAFT
“Working less but getting more done: how small changes can make a big impact on your bottom line”
Jody Marshall shows how improving processes for increased productivity is a no brainer
Trade Show
10:00 - 10:30
11:30 - 12:30
Surprise!
We’re still working on bringing you
even more great sessions!
A
“The meat and potatoes: what you
need to know about getting into
organic beef”
Hear the business case for organic
beef and learn about Organic
Alberta’s beef mentorship program
“Get a competitive edge: the
importance of marketing”
How branding and marketing can
build your business. Learn how you
can leverage the Alberta Organic
Food marketing campaign.
Lunch
R
“Killing weeds softly: how to beat weeds without breaking your back”
Steve Shirtli delivers the latest in mechanical weed management
D
“A cut above: what you need to be
doing to keep up with consumer
expectations”
Learn how to serve up a better
butchered product to your
customers
2:15 - 2:45
“Spectacular sainfoin: unlock the
potential of this grazing
and hay crop”
A favourable alternative to alfalfa,
sainfoin has a lot to o er. Learn
more from ARD’s sainfoin expert.
“Putting the “success” in
succession planning”
Discuss the challenges of
succession planning and how you
can better plan for the future
“Don’t treat your soil like dirt:
get the most out of your land”
Learn organic best management
practices for healthy soils and hear
some of the challenges facing
organic producers
Trade Show
“Getting the dirt:
grain buyers tell all”
Our grain buyers panel discusses
today’s hottest topics in organic
grains
“Good help can be hard to find:
the challenges of on-farm labour”
Hear the stories and experiences of
farmers seasoned in seasonal
labour
“Top chef: the best ways to serve up the foods you grow”
Chef Frederika profiles the power of raw, and serves up flavours you don’t want to miss!
4:30 - 5:45
Dinner and a show
6:00 - Late
Come socialize with us!
WWW.ORGANICALBERTA.ORG
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Sowing Success: Farming for
People, Planet, and Profit
Friday, February 27 & Saturday, February 28
Eaglemont Church
5002 62 Street
Beaumont, AB
8:00 - 8:45
DRAFT
Breakfast and Registration
FT
Ask an Inspector
9:30 - 10:00
Trade Show
“Finish what you started: your
guide to finishing organic beef”
What you need to know about
finishing organic beef to the
Canadian Organic Standard, and
see the demand for finishers.
“Holistic management is
here to help”
Learn about the principles and the
benefits of holistic management
and learn how to apply holistic
management thinking to your farm
“Not just for hippies anymore:
what you need to know about the
booming organic hemp market”
Hear about the latest market
demand for organic hemp and find
out how you can get in on it
12:00 - 1:00
A
Annual General Meeting of Organic Alberta
Lunch
D
2:00 - 2:30
“Wild pollinators and their
conservation in agricultural
landscapes in Alberta”
See how pollinators can have a big
impact on your farm. Learn how to
best conserve and manage them.
R
“Healthy animals, happy farmers”
Hear about livestock health
management issues and best
practices from a veterinarian
specializing in organic livestock
“Hemp: it’s not as hard
as it looks”
Learn what you need to know about
growing organic hemp, including
best practices and new research
Trade Show
Live Music
“Grabbing life by the horns: how
“Finding solutions to deeply
“The research is out: what we’ve
to seize the opportunity
rooted problems”
learned about grains this year”
in organic beef”
Soil solutions driven by soil analysis Listen to researchers tell the tales of
Meet the organic beef market
and evaluation. Finding the
organic grain research trials. Learn
experts and hear their take on where
underlying causes of your
how these findings can apply to
they see growth in the industry
soil issues
your farm.
4:00 - 4:15
Closing remarks
The trusted name in organic retail
since 1977
visit us online at www.communitynaturalfoods.com
We have year round market access -7 days a week!
Contact Frank Sarro
403.252.0011 ext.240 or [email protected]
WINTER 2014/15 | ISSUE 04 | VOLUME 05
LET THEM EAT WEEDS
Asia, growing fruits and vegetables in
home gardens complements dietary
diversification and fortification and
contributes to better lifelong health.” Many
vegetables and fruits provide vitamin A
or its pre-cursors. They also offer many
additional nutritional benefits.
BRENDA FRICK
Golden rice is a product of GE technology
offered as a solution to vitamin A deficiency
for poor people in Africa and South Asia.
On first glance it is a public relations dream
for the GE community. In my opinion,
there are far more benefits in an organic,
ecosystem approach.
Before golden rice, the attributes of
genetically engineering products were
targeted toward farmers – herbicide
resistance or inclusion of systemic pesticides.
Golden rice is targeted at the charitable
public and the food aid community.
Vitamin A deficiency is devastating among
people dependent on rice as their only
major food source. The deficiency leads to
night blindness, delayed development, then
total blindness and eventually death. It is a
widespread failure of the food system for
the poor.
True, making rice more nutritious might
prevent some specific deficiencies. But how
much more appropriate would it be to
reduce these people’s dependence on rice
as their only food.
As I see it, the core issue here is not that
rice is insufficiently nutritious. The real
problem is that rice is the sole food source
for vulnerable people.
According to the World Health
Organization, “for vulnerable rural families,
for instance in Africa and South-East
Organic methods of growing food are
widely recognized as offering the best
potential to increase yields on small
holdings without poisoning the food and
the environment, and without reliance on
expensive first world inputs.
Organic farming offers a supplementary
approach for larger holdings as well.
Elimination of herbicides and pesticides
in rice paddies may reduce rice yields
somewhat, but would allow farmers to
harvest a more diverse range of products.
Of course poverty is the underlying cause
of vitamin A deficiency. It reduces the
farmers’ ability to negotiate a reasonable
position in the agricultural system, one that
provides the means for a healthful diet. It
is hard to see how entering into a patent
protected process with powerful first world
companies will increase the African or Asian
farmer’s ability to secure viable options.
The more proximal cause of malnutrition
is the loss of agricultural and ecosystem
biodiversity. This results from the increasing
dominance of large-scale monoculture
agriculture, and from the widespread use
of herbicides that kill everything else,
including the nutritious weeds.
Diversity has a number of benefits.
A diverse diet is considered ideal for
maintaining optimal health. This is true for
people, and it is true in ecosystems.
Pumping up the vitamin A potential of
rice is not going to solve these problems.
Malnutrition needs to be addressed as an
ecosystem process which considers our
first world influence and its intended and
unintended consequences, as well as the
biological systems in place in and around
agricultural areas.
A range of harvestable ‘weeds’ would be the
first benefit. Leafy greens are particularly
nutritious additions to a carbohydratebased diet. Many weeds are especially rich
in nutrients like beta-carotene, vitamins,
minerals, and anti-oxidants. Some of the
plants we consider weeds have a long
cultural history of use as food plants.
Golden rice seems to me to be an
attempt to solve a problem of poverty and
agricultural failure, but it does not address
the root causes of either of these problems.
Eliminating herbicides, eating weeds, and
diversifying the agro-ecosystem seems
to be a more effective option than more
dependence on first world technology.
A further benefit, if herbicides and
pesticides are eliminated, in favour of
organic methods, is that paddies might
provide aquatic habitat, allowing some
harvest of fish and other proteins. They
may attract other animals as well, with
further harvest options.
Who would truly benefit from golden rice?
Perhaps its patent holders, but I doubt that
this is the best way to bring benefits to
those who suffer the most from a skewed
agricultural system.
Moving from high input monoculture rice
to organic, diverse holdings could address
the ‘rice issue’ more fully, and more
healthfully than tinkering with rice itself.
Brenda Frick, Ph.D., P.Ag. is an Organic Research
and Extension specialist. She welcomes your
comments at 306-260-0663 or via email at
[email protected].
WWW.ORGANICALBERTA.ORG
COME TO OUR FARMS:
HOW AFFPA CAN HELP
CONSUMERS FIND YOU
When someone is doing a good thing, it just makes sense to
jump on board. The Alberta Farm Fresh Producers Association
(AFFPA) has been publishing the “Come to our Farms” guide
for years now (34,000 guides distributed/year). Consumers far
and wide use it to find local farms where they can buy products.
And they now have a mobile app so people can find your
farm on their phone.
One of the main reasons consumers don’t buy more organic
is because they don’t know how to find it. In order to address
this issue, and as part of their Alberta Organic Food Marketing
Campaign, Organic Alberta is now partnering with AFFPA.
We want to increase use of the app, and other benefits, by our
members, so consumers can find you and your products. If you
are an organic producer who sells farm direct, has a u-pick or
wants local consumers to know about you, Organic Alberta is
able to offer you a discount for AFFPA membership: $115 rather
than $145 if you sign up with AFFPA through Organic Alberta.
Becoming a member also gets you listed on AFFPA’s website,
reduced rates on AFFPA’s courses and workshops, networking
opportunities, subscription to Direct Currents, free classified ads,
promotion through their social media, access to agri-tourism
insurance group rates and more!
Simply Fish
SOIL AMENDMENT
APPR
FOR O OVED
PROD RGANIC
UCTI
ON
[email protected]
Phone: 604-487-9200
simplyfish.ca
CONSUMERS
13
WINTER 2014/15 | ISSUE 04 | VOLUME 05
In business since 1982 and located just
outside Fairview, AB, we've been building our
reputation as your local forage seed cleaner
and marketer for more than 30 years.
In 2005, we became an organic forage seed
processing and marketing facility and have
been growing that side of our business. We
clean, bag, and test organic forage seeds
including alfalfa, clovers, timothy, and
bromegrasses.
GOLDEN ACRE SEEDS
BOX 1090
FAIRVIEW, AB T0H 1L0
FAX 780-835-4595
We also find markets throughout North
America for the products we clean. We are
always striving to build new relationships
while maintaining the high standards our
current customers have come to expect.
For more information on products, pricing, or
any other questions, give us a call or email.
PHONE 780-835-4508
TOLL FREE 1-800-481-7333
[email protected]
Organic Certified Fertilizers
Granular and Liquid Fertilizer options available
One time application with your seeder in the spring
Box 4043, Stonewall, Manitoba, R0C 2ZO
Ph: (204) 894-4495
www.dirtngrow.com
Servicing Alberta, Sask. and Manitoba for over 10 years
Higher Yeilds In Your Fields!
Wheat, Barley, Oats, Flax, Vegetable Crops and more...
WWW.ORGANICALBERTA.ORG
CONSUMERS
CLASSIFIED ADS
Stony Plain’s Organic Master Gardener program is Alberta’s
only organic master gardener program and is geared to adult
learners. Class begins Wednesday, February 4, 2015. Go to
multicentre.org or [email protected]
Wanted: finished certified organic grain and grass fed beef.
Contact Peter Lundgard at Nature’s Way Farm 780-338-2934
Bioriginal supports organic producers of
hempseed and flax as a buyer and
certified organic processor
Headquarters:
102 Melville Street
Saskatoon SK S7J 0R1
Contact Carl Lynn
Crop Production Manager
(306) 975-9295
An opportunity is available for a Managing Partner with share
ownership.The ideal candidate is knowledgeable in fresh
organic, super-foods, non-GMO and preservative and chemical
additive-free products. Certified holistic nutritionist or specialist
passionate in the organic lifestyle is invited to inquire. Investment
is required. Contact: [email protected] www.absales.ca
1-800-729-9155
[email protected]
-BEEF-DAIRY-POULTRY-EQUINE-CERTIFIED-ORGANIC-SPECIALTY-
Community Futures and Farm Credit Canada
present
TASTE OF
THE PEACE
February
17, 2015
6:00 - 9:00 PM
POMEROY HOTEL |GRANDE PRAIRIE
Sample local food, purchase products and meet
with over 20 local growers, producers and industry
representatives from the Peace Country!
for more information
Contact: Shari Johnston | [email protected] | 780.882.1764
15
#1, 10329-61 AVE NW
EDMONTON, AB
T6H 1K9
FIRST NAME LAST NAME
COMPANY NAME
ADDRESS
CITY, PROVINCE
POSTAL CODE
Organic Grain Marketing
Feed Grains
Food Grade
Oilseeds
Pulses
Screenings
Contact:
Jake, Kelly, Tom or Glen@ 306-931-4576
[email protected]
Sunrise Foods International Inc. - Saskatoon, SK
Licensed and Bonded by the Canadian Grain Commission
ORGANIC
WINTER 2014/15
ISSUE 04
VOLUME 05
NOTES FROM A FIELD DAY
AOPA AND ORGANIC ALBERTA PARTNERED TO
PRESENT ANOTHER INFORMATIVE FIELD DAY.
HRS WHEAT – GOLDEN FLAX
INTER-CROPPED
Building soil fertility and reducing weed pressure
through green manure plowdowns and intercropping
were highlights of the field day hosted by Organic
Alberta President, Ward Middleton, this past summer.
Ward has a lot of experience with inter-cropping, but
this was his first attempt at growing Golden Flax. He
inter-cropped it with wheat, thinking that the wheat
stalks would help with threshing the flax and the flax
would replace the weeds that often like to grow between the rows. He seeded the wheat at 2 bushels/acre
and the flax at 24 lbs/acre. His 5 year average yield for
intercropped HRS wheat is 40 bushels/acre, unchanged
from when he just grew wheat alone. His wheat yield
was 45 bushels/acre this year, however the flax yield
was just 5 bushels/acre on one field and virtually nonexistent on another field. He attributes the low flax
yield to late germination after seeding.The flax is seeded
in a second pass after the wheat is seeded and the soil
was dried out, so the flax didn’t germinate until the next
rain. However, the wheat saw normal germination and
emergence. Flax was still blossoming on the field on
September 23 – 25 when the wheat was swathed.
BUILDING SOIL FERTILITY
THE ORGANIC WAY
In the first week of July,Ward planted a mixture of rye,
After separating the wheat and flax with a Snowco
wheat, brown peas, sugar peas and buckwheat as a
cleaner on the farm, the wheat graded a good #3.
plowdown crop. Normally he would have seeded his
It was downgraded from a #2 as they had not success-
plowdown in May, but he was hoping that seeding later
fully separated all the flax from the sample. However,
would provide better Canada Thistle control.
Ward is confident that the seed cleaning plant can clean
the wheat to good milling specifications. The lab results
The field was prepared by alternating diamond
for the separated wheat sample were:
harrows to kill small annual weeds and a chisel plow
• 14.3% protein
emerged following the previous harrow pass. This
• 3% dockage
• 80.1 kg/hectolitre test weight
• Falling # = 326 seconds
BARLEY/SWEET CLOVER INTER-CROP:
Ward’s Barley yield was only 45 bushels/acre, which was
below his 60 bushel/acre target. He believes the yield
was likely set back by rodweeding too long after seeding;
this hurt the emergence. The rodweeding was done in
an attempt to control the wild oats, however, next year
he will try to seed a week later and not rodweed more
than 4 days after seeding.
The barley was the right protein and excellent plumpness
with sweep shovels to kill perennial weeds that had
was done twice each through the spring with strong
populations of weeds each time.
Ward was a little concerned about the late seeding
pass because he knew that at some point the Canada
Thistle would not attempt to set seed any longer,
but would emerge in a shorter bushier version with
broader leaves.This version is focused on feeding the
root energy reserves in order to survive for next year.
However, the plowdown seeding date was not so late
as to trigger this change in the thistle. When the crop
was worked in early September, the Canada Thistle
were just in the rosette stage.
Buckwheat was included in the seeding mixture at 20
lb/acre, as opposed to the usual 40 lb/acre seeding rate
for malting specifications. He has it contracted for malt.
when it is intended to be harvested; however, it was by
PEAS/CANOLA INTERCROP:
The local beekeeper was happy with the late seeding
Ward’s pea yields were normal or above, but the
part of the growing season, giving his bees something to
intercropped polish canola also suffered from late
germination due to dry conditions.
far the most abundant biomass in the plowdown mixture.
date, as the buckwheat was in full flower for the last
harvest in a time when there is usually very little for them.
He even had other beekeepers phoning him to ask what
was growing near his hives on Ward’s farm.
GENERAL
WWW.ORGANICALBERTA.ORG
PRODUCERS & PROCESSORS
CONSUMERS
WINTER 2014/15 | ISSUE 04 | VOLUME 05
Mission: To represent and support Alberta’s
entire organic industry.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Vision: A strong, sustainable and united
organic community in Alberta.
Not everyone knows about the OCVRT
and what it has accomplished in the past.
I want to share with you 3 recent reports
they have produced called the Organic
Advantage. There is one each for beef,
grains and vegetables. These documents are
aimed at showing conventional producers
the benefits of organics, however they are
equally useful for organic producers. In
my article on using statistics to grow your
business, I talk about how the numbers can
help when you go to the bank, or to the
government for support. These documents
are like a goldmine. Next time you put
together a business plan for your banker,
or a proposal for government grants, use
the numbers from these documents, and
then hand them a copy. Your success rate
will be way higher!
Editor/Submissions & Advertising
Editor: Debbie Miller
306-642-0216
[email protected]
Copy Editor
Brenda Frick
306-260-0663
[email protected]
Graphic Designer & Publisher
Woodward Design
780-451-2261
www.woodwarddesign.ca
Executive Director
Becky Lipton:
587-521-2400 | [email protected]
Board Members
Representatives elected by region:
(N) North (S) South (C) Central
(M) Member at Large
President: Ward Middleton (C):
780-939-7459 | [email protected]
Vice President: Sam Godwin (C):
780-785-8023 | [email protected]
Treasurer: Danny Turner (M):
780-469-1900 | [email protected]
Secretary: Erin Paulson (M):
403-710-8117 | [email protected]
Frank Sarro (Consumer Rep):
403-252-0011 | Ext. 9240 [email protected]
Kari Kitt (N):
780-356-2239 | [email protected]
BECKY LIPTON
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR : ORGANIC ALBERTA
I have recently been invited to sit on
the Organic Value Chain Round Table
(OVCRT), an industry-led partnership that
works collaboratively with government on
strategies to increase the competitiveness
and profitability of the organic sector in
domestic and export markets. I will be
co-chairing the Increasing Capacity Working
Group with Laura Telford, the Organic
Marketing Business Development Specialist
for the Manitoba government. I am
sincerely looking forward to representing
Organic Alberta, and
providing a voice for our
producers and programs
at the national level.
ORGANIC
ADVANTAGE
I am also very excited
about being a part of
the national effort to
grow the organic sector.
If you would like a FREE copy of The
Organic Advantage, let us know at
[email protected] or 587-521-2400
Beef
Field
crops
production
Vegetable
crops
ORGANIC
ADVANTAGE
ORGANIC
ADVANTAGE
Transition to growing demand
1
October 2014
October 2014
October 2014
Jake Drozda (Ab rep at the Federal Level)
780-524-3254 | [email protected]
Trevor Aleman (S)
403-308-4003 | [email protected]
Tim Hoven (S):
403-302-2748 | [email protected]
Janice Shelton (N):
780-623-7664 | [email protected]
Spring 2015 submissions to be received
by March 6, 2015 . Please send comments,
suggestions, questions, ads, and/or articles to
[email protected]
ORGANIC ALBERTA SUPPORTERS
Thank you to James Bozarth, Nature’s Path, Alberta Farm Fresh Producers’ Association
and Bioriginal Food & Science Corp for becoming corporate members.
Thank you to Mike Stahl of Rosalind Colony, George & Debbie Wolf, Frank & Marg Dyck,
Grainworks Inc. and Keith & Lois Burger for making a donation.
Thank you to Paula Dubleski, Becky Lipton, Pat Lipton and Willem Aleman for becoming
Friends of Organics.
WWW.ORGANICALBERTA.ORG
GENERAL
CHEESE FONDUE ALBERTA STYLE
by Shari Johnston
A cold winter day gives the perfect opportunity
When the dippers are ready, begin
smooth. When ready, add another handful of
to fire up the wood stove and gather around
the cheese sauce:
cheese. Repeat this process until all cheese is
the fondue pot with friends. Perhaps slightly
untraditional, this fondue features Alberta beer
in the cheese sauce and many local, organic
products are used to make dippers.
Ingredients
Dippers (see below for suggestions)
4 cups cheese (gruyere, cheddar,
whatever you like)
2 tablespoons corn starch
½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
½ teaspoon mustard powder
1 bulb of garlic
small onion, finely diced
375 ml bottle of beer
Preparing the actual fondue is fairly
quick and easy so I always start with
prepping the dippers. When we made
this fondue at home, I served it with
the following dippers:
1. Thick, bite sized slices of spicy chorizo
sausage and black forest ham from Europa
Meat Shoppe (South 40 location, Grande
Prairie)
2. Cubes of black pepper parmesan bread from
Loaves (Grande Prairie Farmer’s Market)
3. Roasted potatoes from Summer’s Gold CSA
(Crooked Creek, Alberta)
4. Grate 4 cups cheese (medium gruyere
from Sylvan Star works great or an aged
incorporated and mixture is silky smooth.
10. When all cheese is added, if the mix is too
white cheddar) and toss with 2 tablespoons
thick, add more beer (a small amount at
corn starch, ½ teaspoon fresh ground black
a time), until proper consistency has been
pepper and ½ teaspoon mustard powder.
reached.
Set aside.
5. Next, you’ll make some roasted garlic. Using
one whole bulb of garlic (New Oxley Garlic
near Claresholm is what I had on hand)
chop the very top off, to expose the cloves.
Pour some olive oil on it, getting it into the
cloves, and wrap tightly with tin foil. Bake for
45 minutes in a 400F oven.
6. Once roasted, squeeze the cloves out of
their paper and mash into a paste. Set aside.
11. Taste and season with salt and pepper, if
necessary. Pour the fondue in a fondue pot
and serve immediately with dippers.
A simple green salad with oil and
vinegar dressing is nice to serve on
the side. The acidity in the dressing
provides a nice contrast to the cheese
sauce. A glass of Full Moon Pale Ale
also compliments the fondue nicely.
Shari Johnston has lived in Grande Prairie for over ten years
Finally, bring all of the elements together and
and is an avid home cook, local food advocate and food and
make the cheese sauce.
drink junkie. Since 2011, she has written about her adventures,
7. In a medium sized pot, sauté the onion in
Kitchen. She loves everything about food: Cooking it, reading
some olive oil until translucent. When the
onion is cooked, add the roasted garlic paste
to the pot and heat through.
8. Add 1 ¼ cup of beer (I enjoy Alley Kat’s
Full Moon Pale Ale) to the pot and stir well.
Bring mixture to a boil over medium high
heat. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium
and let mix simmer for 3 minutes.
9. Decrease heat to medium-low and sprinkle
a small handful of prepared grated cheese
into the pot. Stir until fully incorporated and
both in the kitchen and out, at her blog, Tales From a Small
about it, tasting it and talking about it.
If you want to keep up with all of Shari’s adventures visit her
blog, Tales from a Small Kitchen (www.talesfromasmallkitchen.
com) or find her on Facebook (www.facebook.com/
talesfromasmallkitchen).
3
WINTER 2014/15 | ISSUE 04 | VOLUME 05
We Buy and Sell Organic Grain
✦
✦
✦
✦
Bulk Rail Car or Truck Shipments
Delivered or FOB Farm Contracting
Cleaning Available
Organic Certification
Loreburn, SK. Elevator
Council Bluffs IA. Elevator
Grove City MN. Elevator
Phone: 888-531-4888
www.FWCOBS.com
WWW.ORGANICALBERTA.ORG
PRODUCERS & PROCESSORS
5
ORGANIC MARKET PRICES
LAURA TELFORD,
MANITOBA AGRICULTURE, FOOD
AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES
Below are the highest organic grain prices
(new crop spot market prices unless
otherwise indicated) gathered recently
by MAFRD. Sources include farmers and
buyers who have shared recent sales
prices and the USDA National Organic
Grain & Feedstuffs Repor t. Prices do not
include transpor tation unless otherwise
indicated. Conventional prices come
from Farm Lead in SK and the Western
Producer Markets Moment Special
Edition. USDA prices are in US dollars,
the rest of the prices are Canadian.
Buyers are repor ting that golden and
brown flax are plentiful this fall as many
producers included last
year’s wonder crop, golden
Food grade soybeans
flax, in their 2014 rotation.
Feed grade soybeans
Feed oats
This is reflected in the price
Milling oats
drop from last year which
topped $50/bu. The crop
Feed wheat HRW
of the moment appears
Milling wheat HRS
to be spelt which is now
extremely hard to find.
Milling wheat SRW
Wheat prices appear to
Feed wheat HRS
have stabilized with almost
Durum wheat
all buyers offering similar
Triticale
Feed grade barley
prices at around $22/bu.
Rye
Livestock prices remain
Golden flax
high and feed prices are
Brown flax
still attractive enough to
Kamut
suppor t a strong organic
Malt barley
livestock industry although
Food grade barley
the cost of production for
conventional livestock may
Feed grade barley
be even more attractive.
Feed grade corn
Organic
Non Organic
Organic
Premium
$26.59/bu (USDA)
$26.29/bu to e. ON
$24.24/bu (USDA)
$23.81 bu to e. ON
$4 - $4.50/bu
$2.60 SK
173%
$4.49/bu
290%
$13 - $14
$4.72 - $7 /bu SK
200%
$24 - $25 fob farm
$8.75 / bu SK
286%
$12.50/bu USDA
$7.25/bu
172%
$8.00/bu (USDA)
$9.80 del. to e. ON; conv. $3.31/bu
$9/bu SK
$6/bu
150%
$10 - $13.50 /bu SK
267%
$8.00/bu (USDA)
$9.80/bu del to e ON
$3.31 / bu
296%
$6 - $6.25 SK
$13.06/bu (USDA);
$11.38 del to e ON
HRS $20-$22.50 fob farm
(higher for high quality, SK, MB)
$23/bu USDA
$38 - $40/bu SK
$31 - $36/bu
$23 - $25/bu
$11 /bu SK
$9/bu SK
$10.64/bu USDA
$3.65/bu
292%
Feed grade peas
$17.69/ bu to e ON
$7.16/bu SK
247%
Brown mustard
$0.60 – 0.75/lb
$0/25 – 0.28/lb SK
268%
Yellow mustard
$0.50 – 0.60/lb
$0.34/lb SK
176%
Hemp
$1.50/lb MB
WINTER 2014/15 | ISSUE 04 | VOLUME 05
Proud supporter of organic
agriculture is currently contracting
Kamut and other grains for 2015.
We are also accepting flax sample
for immediate delivery.
WWW.PHSORGANICS.COM | 1.306.869.2926
WWW.ORGANICALBERTA.ORG
PRODUCERS & PROCESSORS
7
USING STATISTICS TO GROW YOUR BOTTOM LINE
once you have it, figure out what to do with
it. Some people will have a plan for where
to market, but might not know that much
about their market. They just assume that the
market is there, because that is what they
have always done, or how others sell.
BECKY LIPTON
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR : ORGANIC ALBERTA
HOW WE CAN HELP YOU
GROW YOUR BUSINESS
“Know your market. Know your client.These
are two of the keys to success for any business.”
says Alberta Agriculture New Venture Specialist
Christine Anderson. She explained that during
the everyday phases of business, life goes
on as usual.You till, you seed, you weed, you
harvest, and so the season goes. But have you
ever stopped to reflect on the things that you
need to help your business grow? Sometimes
those moments are obvious, like when you
are applying for a loan and the bank asks you
for specific information, or when you are going
to the government for grant money to help
you build a new aspect of your business. But
generally speaking, knowledge of the market
for your products, whether they be vegetables
going to a farmers market, or wheat being
exported to the US, is useful.
It isn’t just market information either.The more
information you have the better the decisions
you will be able to make and the more likely
your business will be successful. Statistics are
an important source of that information.
EVERY BUSINESS NEEDS A
BUSINESS PLAN, BUT SOME
PEOPLE JUST DON`T REALIZE IT.
A business plan is a roadmap for your
business. What do you plan to grow/produce,
and where are you going to market it?
For some, it is easiest just to grow what
you grow, make what you make, and then
However, having solid answers to these
questions can be the major difference
between a business that is just twittering
along and one that is strong and succeeding.
SO HOW DO YOU ANSWER
THESE QUESTIONS?
The answer is looking to the statistics. Not
just pretty numbers and charts, the recent
report that Organic Alberta commissioned
with money from the Agriculture Initiatives
Program of ARD, is chock full of useful
information. Organic Alberta has also
included reports on production and acreage
statistics in the Summer and Fall magazines.
SO HOW CAN THEY HELP?
In addition to providing a useful snapshot of the
industry, statistics identify trends.Where is the
industry seeing increases? Where are the areas
of potential growth? Are there areas or markets
that aren’t being served? All of this information
can be used by producers to identify market
opportunities and make decisions that will help
grow their business.
Say you are a grain producer who produces
a lot of oats. Our stats tell us that of the 213
producers that grew cereals in 2013, 146 or just
under 70% grow oats.Then look at price trends
over time. Have they remained stable? Are there
opportunities for other crops? Our stats tell us
that only 14 producers grew rye, and only 12
grew crops other than oats, wheat, barley and
rye.What are prices for other commodities?
Does the low number of people growing them
mean there is an opportunity, or does it mean
they are hard to grow? How many acres are
grown for each? For each sector you need to
ask yourself,“Is the market saturated? Who else
is playing in that market? Is there room for you?
Or is there an opportunity elsewhere? Can you
be profitable?”
Another question you may want to ask yourself
is “What is unique or different about my
product?” Clearly define your business’ value
proposition and be able to clearly communicate
that to your customers.
The other thing that these statistics are
useful for is securing loans at the bank or
applying for grants.There are a few key things
that banks are looking for. Firstly, you need to be
able to show growth, stability and the potential of
your market.They are looking for hard numbers.
Rosalie Cunningham, stats person from ARD,
says “The most powerful numbers you can have
are sales, total size of the market and your ability
to show growth.The numbers you have from
the market study are very powerful.”
SO WHAT ARE THOSE NUMBERS?
Next time you go to the bank, you can
confidently say:
• The organic market in Canada is worth $3.5
billion. And the value of the Canadian organic
food market has tripled since 2006. 58% of
Canadians buy organic food products weekly.
• On the production side you can say that
organic farms grew in number by 66.5%
between 2001 and 2011, while conventional
farms declined by 17%.
• In Alberta total organic food sales are
$415.89 million/year and those sales
represent 13% of total national sales while
we have only 11% of the total population.
Alberta’s organic market is one of the fastest
growing in Canada and the potential for
further market development is significant.
The mainstream retail sales of organic
products grew 30% between 2006 and 2012
continues on page 8
WINTER 2014/15 | ISSUE 04 | VOLUME 05
continues from page 7
and the Alberta natural health sector is experiencing the fastest
growth in the country.
Want statistics related to your production or business? Contact Organic
Alberta at [email protected] or 1-855-521-2400
• We also have sector specific statistics, such as:
• The sale of fresh organic produce and meat grew the fastest in
Alberta, with a 35% annual increase between 2006 and 2012
and a 29% increase in pre-packaged organic grocery sales.
• In 2012 there were $3.34 million in organic egg sales
in mainstream retail.
From there, Rosalie Cuningham says you want to show how your business
will take advantage of that market and growth. That takes us back to the
analysis of your specific business.
Finally, one other thing you want to look for in stats is opportunities
that you hadn’t thought of before. Where are other opportunities for
growth? You don’t have to go down any of these roads, but you may learn
something new.The market study shows, for example, that institutional
and co-op sales are very low. Is there an opportunity there? Are you large
enough to supply to institutions? If not, do you have a few other producers
that you could work together with to supply institutions? The stats indicate
that it could be an untapped market, and could be worth exploring.
Another opportunity could be some of the livestock types that have very
few producers. Our statistics show that there are very few pork, lamb,
turkey and chicken producers.There could also be opportunities there.
ORGANIC MARKET
OPPORTUNITIES CLASSIFIED ADS
Growers International is buying Organic Milling Wheat, Feed Grains, Spelt,
Flax and Peas for NutraSun Foods and Growers International. 8 Delivery
Locations across the Prairies. Call Mark at 306-652-4529 for prices.
Trade and Export Canada is buying all grades of organic grains.
Call 1-877-339-1959.
F.W. Cobs is buying feed grains, including HRSW on both spot and
new crop contracts. We buy FOB the farm, delivered to Loreburn,
Sk or loaded rail. Call 888-531-4888 Ext. 7 or 8.
Looking for a consistent supply of Organic Soybean meal? Schafer
Commodities can assist you with all of your organic needs, we are
also buying HRS, durum, flax, barley and peas. 403-328-5066.
Looking for certified organic seeds for sprouting – alfalfa seed,
smaller quantities of peas, lentils, oilseeds, wheat and grains.
Interested in specialty seeds. Mail samples to Mumm’s Sprouting
Seeds, Box 80 Parkside, SK. S0J 2A0
Organic producers of hempseed or flax, contracting for 2015 crop.
Contact Bioriginal Crop Production Manager, Carl Lynn at Cell:
306-229-9976. Email: [email protected]
Roger Rivest Marketing Ltd/Nature Lane Farms is contracting
growers for 2015 organic food grade yellow peas, red lentils,
HRSW, durum wheat and chickpeas. Also supply a full line of liquid
and granular organic fertilizers. Roger Rivest at 519-687-3522
[email protected], www.rogerrivestmarketing.com.
WWW.ORGANICALBERTA.ORG
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PRODUCERS & PROCESSORS
Sowing Success: Farming for
People, Planet, and Profit
Friday, February 27 & Saturday, February 28
Eaglemont Church, 5002 62 St, Beaumont, AB
Registration includes all meals and free childcare
during the day; please RSVP for childcare
Surname:
Registration Form
First Name:
Address:
FT
Organization/Business:
Province:
Telephone:
Postal Code:
Email:
Please select the registration fee that applies to you
I am coming alone
A
Yes, I am a member of
Organic Alberta or AFFPA
$95
$80
$160 $140
R
I am coming with another
person in my family
Early bird pricing!
Green pricing ends February 14th!
Name of second person:
No, I am NOT a member of
Organic Alberta or AFFPA
$120
I am coming alone
I am coming with another
person in my family
$100
$210
$175
Name of second person:
OPTIONAL: Become a member/Renew with Organic Alberta
$42
D
Friend of Organic
Student Friend of Organic
Corporate
$26
$263
Corporate Plus
$630
Alberta Certified Organic Business
(Membership automatic; please donate)
$300
$50
$100
$ other
Add:
Paper copy of our magazine (electronic copy complementary with membership)
$13
TOTAL $ _________________ (all prices include GST, GST # 831992078)
Payment type
Cheque (made payable to Organic Alberta)
Credit Card (on website:
organicalberta.org/2015-Conference)
Email: [email protected]; Fax: 780-989-2488; Mail: #1, 10329-61 Ave Edmonton, AB T6H 1K9; Call: 855-521-2400
All information shall be used solely by Organic Alberta and will be kept confidential
9
WINTER 2014/15 | ISSUE 04 | VOLUME 05
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Sowing Success: Farming for
People, Planet, and Profit
Friday, February 27 & Saturday, February 28
Eaglemont Church
5002 62 Street
Beaumont, AB
Registration
9:00
Conference Opening
FT
8:30 - 9:00
DRAFT
“Working less but getting more done: how small changes can make a big impact on your bottom line”
Jody Marshall shows how improving processes for increased productivity is a no brainer
Trade Show
10:00 - 10:30
11:30 - 12:30
Surprise!
We’re still working on bringing you
even more great sessions!
A
“The meat and potatoes: what you
need to know about getting into
organic beef”
Hear the business case for organic
beef and learn about Organic
Alberta’s beef mentorship program
“Get a competitive edge: the
importance of marketing”
How branding and marketing can
build your business. Learn how you
can leverage the Alberta Organic
Food marketing campaign.
Lunch
R
“Killing weeds softly: how to beat weeds without breaking your back”
Steve Shirtli delivers the latest in mechanical weed management
D
“A cut above: what you need to be
doing to keep up with consumer
expectations”
Learn how to serve up a better
butchered product to your
customers
2:15 - 2:45
“Spectacular sainfoin: unlock the
potential of this grazing
and hay crop”
A favourable alternative to alfalfa,
sainfoin has a lot to o er. Learn
more from ARD’s sainfoin expert.
“Putting the “success” in
succession planning”
Discuss the challenges of
succession planning and how you
can better plan for the future
“Don’t treat your soil like dirt:
get the most out of your land”
Learn organic best management
practices for healthy soils and hear
some of the challenges facing
organic producers
Trade Show
“Getting the dirt:
grain buyers tell all”
Our grain buyers panel discusses
today’s hottest topics in organic
grains
“Good help can be hard to find:
the challenges of on-farm labour”
Hear the stories and experiences of
farmers seasoned in seasonal
labour
“Top chef: the best ways to serve up the foods you grow”
Chef Frederika profiles the power of raw, and serves up flavours you don’t want to miss!
4:30 - 5:45
Dinner and a show
6:00 - Late
Come socialize with us!
WWW.ORGANICALBERTA.ORG
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Sowing Success: Farming for
People, Planet, and Profit
Friday, February 27 & Saturday, February 28
Eaglemont Church
5002 62 Street
Beaumont, AB
8:00 - 8:45
DRAFT
Breakfast and Registration
FT
Ask an Inspector
9:30 - 10:00
Trade Show
“Finish what you started: your
guide to finishing organic beef”
What you need to know about
finishing organic beef to the
Canadian Organic Standard, and
see the demand for finishers.
“Holistic management is
here to help”
Learn about the principles and the
benefits of holistic management
and learn how to apply holistic
management thinking to your farm
“Not just for hippies anymore:
what you need to know about the
booming organic hemp market”
Hear about the latest market
demand for organic hemp and find
out how you can get in on it
12:00 - 1:00
A
Annual General Meeting of Organic Alberta
Lunch
D
2:00 - 2:30
“Wild pollinators and their
conservation in agricultural
landscapes in Alberta”
See how pollinators can have a big
impact on your farm. Learn how to
best conserve and manage them.
R
“Healthy animals, happy farmers”
Hear about livestock health
management issues and best
practices from a veterinarian
specializing in organic livestock
“Hemp: it’s not as hard
as it looks”
Learn what you need to know about
growing organic hemp, including
best practices and new research
Trade Show
Live Music
“Grabbing life by the horns: how
“Finding solutions to deeply
“The research is out: what we’ve
to seize the opportunity
rooted problems”
learned about grains this year”
in organic beef”
Soil solutions driven by soil analysis Listen to researchers tell the tales of
Meet the organic beef market
and evaluation. Finding the
organic grain research trials. Learn
experts and hear their take on where
underlying causes of your
how these findings can apply to
they see growth in the industry
soil issues
your farm.
4:00 - 4:15
Closing remarks
The trusted name in organic retail
since 1977
visit us online at www.communitynaturalfoods.com
We have year round market access -7 days a week!
Contact Frank Sarro
403.252.0011 ext.240 or [email protected]
WINTER 2014/15 | ISSUE 04 | VOLUME 05
LET THEM EAT WEEDS
Asia, growing fruits and vegetables in
home gardens complements dietary
diversification and fortification and
contributes to better lifelong health.” Many
vegetables and fruits provide vitamin A
or its pre-cursors. They also offer many
additional nutritional benefits.
BRENDA FRICK
Golden rice is a product of GE technology
offered as a solution to vitamin A deficiency
for poor people in Africa and South Asia.
On first glance it is a public relations dream
for the GE community. In my opinion,
there are far more benefits in an organic,
ecosystem approach.
Before golden rice, the attributes of
genetically engineering products were
targeted toward farmers – herbicide
resistance or inclusion of systemic pesticides.
Golden rice is targeted at the charitable
public and the food aid community.
Vitamin A deficiency is devastating among
people dependent on rice as their only
major food source. The deficiency leads to
night blindness, delayed development, then
total blindness and eventually death. It is a
widespread failure of the food system for
the poor.
True, making rice more nutritious might
prevent some specific deficiencies. But how
much more appropriate would it be to
reduce these people’s dependence on rice
as their only food.
As I see it, the core issue here is not that
rice is insufficiently nutritious. The real
problem is that rice is the sole food source
for vulnerable people.
According to the World Health
Organization, “for vulnerable rural families,
for instance in Africa and South-East
Organic methods of growing food are
widely recognized as offering the best
potential to increase yields on small
holdings without poisoning the food and
the environment, and without reliance on
expensive first world inputs.
Organic farming offers a supplementary
approach for larger holdings as well.
Elimination of herbicides and pesticides
in rice paddies may reduce rice yields
somewhat, but would allow farmers to
harvest a more diverse range of products.
Of course poverty is the underlying cause
of vitamin A deficiency. It reduces the
farmers’ ability to negotiate a reasonable
position in the agricultural system, one that
provides the means for a healthful diet. It
is hard to see how entering into a patent
protected process with powerful first world
companies will increase the African or Asian
farmer’s ability to secure viable options.
The more proximal cause of malnutrition
is the loss of agricultural and ecosystem
biodiversity. This results from the increasing
dominance of large-scale monoculture
agriculture, and from the widespread use
of herbicides that kill everything else,
including the nutritious weeds.
Diversity has a number of benefits.
A diverse diet is considered ideal for
maintaining optimal health. This is true for
people, and it is true in ecosystems.
Pumping up the vitamin A potential of
rice is not going to solve these problems.
Malnutrition needs to be addressed as an
ecosystem process which considers our
first world influence and its intended and
unintended consequences, as well as the
biological systems in place in and around
agricultural areas.
A range of harvestable ‘weeds’ would be the
first benefit. Leafy greens are particularly
nutritious additions to a carbohydratebased diet. Many weeds are especially rich
in nutrients like beta-carotene, vitamins,
minerals, and anti-oxidants. Some of the
plants we consider weeds have a long
cultural history of use as food plants.
Golden rice seems to me to be an
attempt to solve a problem of poverty and
agricultural failure, but it does not address
the root causes of either of these problems.
Eliminating herbicides, eating weeds, and
diversifying the agro-ecosystem seems
to be a more effective option than more
dependence on first world technology.
A further benefit, if herbicides and
pesticides are eliminated, in favour of
organic methods, is that paddies might
provide aquatic habitat, allowing some
harvest of fish and other proteins. They
may attract other animals as well, with
further harvest options.
Who would truly benefit from golden rice?
Perhaps its patent holders, but I doubt that
this is the best way to bring benefits to
those who suffer the most from a skewed
agricultural system.
Moving from high input monoculture rice
to organic, diverse holdings could address
the ‘rice issue’ more fully, and more
healthfully than tinkering with rice itself.
Brenda Frick, Ph.D., P.Ag. is an Organic Research
and Extension specialist. She welcomes your
comments at 306-260-0663 or via email at
[email protected].
WWW.ORGANICALBERTA.ORG
COME TO OUR FARMS:
HOW AFFPA CAN HELP
CONSUMERS FIND YOU
When someone is doing a good thing, it just makes sense to
jump on board. The Alberta Farm Fresh Producers Association
(AFFPA) has been publishing the “Come to our Farms” guide
for years now (34,000 guides distributed/year). Consumers far
and wide use it to find local farms where they can buy products.
And they now have a mobile app so people can find your
farm on their phone.
One of the main reasons consumers don’t buy more organic
is because they don’t know how to find it. In order to address
this issue, and as part of their Alberta Organic Food Marketing
Campaign, Organic Alberta is now partnering with AFFPA.
We want to increase use of the app, and other benefits, by our
members, so consumers can find you and your products. If you
are an organic producer who sells farm direct, has a u-pick or
wants local consumers to know about you, Organic Alberta is
able to offer you a discount for AFFPA membership: $115 rather
than $145 if you sign up with AFFPA through Organic Alberta.
Becoming a member also gets you listed on AFFPA’s website,
reduced rates on AFFPA’s courses and workshops, networking
opportunities, subscription to Direct Currents, free classified ads,
promotion through their social media, access to agri-tourism
insurance group rates and more!
Simply Fish
SOIL AMENDMENT
APPR
FOR O OVED
PROD RGANIC
UCTI
ON
[email protected]
Phone: 604-487-9200
simplyfish.ca
CONSUMERS
13
WINTER 2014/15 | ISSUE 04 | VOLUME 05
In business since 1982 and located just
outside Fairview, AB, we've been building our
reputation as your local forage seed cleaner
and marketer for more than 30 years.
In 2005, we became an organic forage seed
processing and marketing facility and have
been growing that side of our business. We
clean, bag, and test organic forage seeds
including alfalfa, clovers, timothy, and
bromegrasses.
GOLDEN ACRE SEEDS
BOX 1090
FAIRVIEW, AB T0H 1L0
FAX 780-835-4595
We also find markets throughout North
America for the products we clean. We are
always striving to build new relationships
while maintaining the high standards our
current customers have come to expect.
For more information on products, pricing, or
any other questions, give us a call or email.
PHONE 780-835-4508
TOLL FREE 1-800-481-7333
[email protected]
Organic Certified Fertilizers
Granular and Liquid Fertilizer options available
One time application with your seeder in the spring
Box 4043, Stonewall, Manitoba, R0C 2ZO
Ph: (204) 894-4495
www.dirtngrow.com
Servicing Alberta, Sask. and Manitoba for over 10 years
Higher Yeilds In Your Fields!
Wheat, Barley, Oats, Flax, Vegetable Crops and more...
WWW.ORGANICALBERTA.ORG
CONSUMERS
CLASSIFIED ADS
Stony Plain’s Organic Master Gardener program is Alberta’s
only organic master gardener program and is geared to adult
learners. Class begins Wednesday, February 4, 2015. Go to
multicentre.org or [email protected]
Wanted: finished certified organic grain and grass fed beef.
Contact Peter Lundgard at Nature’s Way Farm 780-338-2934
Bioriginal supports organic producers of
hempseed and flax as a buyer and
certified organic processor
Headquarters:
102 Melville Street
Saskatoon SK S7J 0R1
Contact Carl Lynn
Crop Production Manager
(306) 975-9295
An opportunity is available for a Managing Partner with share
ownership.The ideal candidate is knowledgeable in fresh
organic, super-foods, non-GMO and preservative and chemical
additive-free products. Certified holistic nutritionist or specialist
passionate in the organic lifestyle is invited to inquire. Investment
is required. Contact: [email protected] www.absales.ca
1-800-729-9155
[email protected]
-BEEF-DAIRY-POULTRY-EQUINE-CERTIFIED-ORGANIC-SPECIALTY-
Community Futures and Farm Credit Canada
present
TASTE OF
THE PEACE
February
17, 2015
6:00 - 9:00 PM
POMEROY HOTEL |GRANDE PRAIRIE
Sample local food, purchase products and meet
with over 20 local growers, producers and industry
representatives from the Peace Country!
for more information
Contact: Shari Johnston | [email protected] | 780.882.1764
15
#1, 10329-61 AVE NW
EDMONTON, AB
T6H 1K9
FIRST NAME LAST NAME
COMPANY NAME
ADDRESS
CITY, PROVINCE
POSTAL CODE
Organic Grain Marketing
Feed Grains
Food Grade
Oilseeds
Pulses
Screenings
Contact:
Jake, Kelly, Tom or Glen@ 306-931-4576
[email protected]
Sunrise Foods International Inc. - Saskatoon, SK
Licensed and Bonded by the Canadian Grain Commission
