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2 0 1 7 S TAT I S T I C S S H O W S T E A DY R I S E , B O O M I N
M A C K E N Z I E C O U N T Y . . . PA G E 3

P R A I R I E O R G A N I C G R A I N I N I T I AT I V E E VA L U AT I O N . . . PA G E 6

G R O W I N G H E A LT H Y FA R M E R S , F I E L D S A N D F O O D : T H E
2 0 1 9 O R G A N I C A L B E R TA C O N F E R E N C E . . . PA G E 8

E X P L O R I N G S M A L L- S C A L E A B AT T O I R S I N O T H E R
J U R I S T I C T I O N S . . . PA G E 1 2
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Mission: To represent and support
Alberta’s entire organic industry. Growing Healthy Fields
Vision: A strong, sustainable and united
organic community in Alberta.
Soil health is an important theme with
sessions targeting grain, livestock, fruit
Editor/Submissions & Advertising and vegetable producers. Grain farmers
Editor: Debbie Miller
can expect an interactive workshop on the
587-521-2400
debbie.miller@organicalberta.org
principles and practice of intercropping.
Copy Editor Livestock producers will learn how to teach
Brenda Frick livestock to eat weeds. Fruit and vegetable
306-260-0663
farmers will learn about intercropping and
organic@usask.ca
Graphic Designer
cover crops.
Dana Penrice
587-521-2400 Growing Healthy Food
dana.penrice@organicalberta.org

For the first time ever, our conference

Executive Director By Becky Lipton, Executive Director will also include sessions geared towards
Becky Lipton: organic consumers and opportunities
587-521-2400 We invite you to join us at our annual for farmer-consumer networking. We
becky.lipton@organicalberta.org
central conference in Fort Saskatchewan are especially happy to announce that
Board Members
January 25 and 26, 2019! This year’s theme Sally Fallon, founder and president of
Representatives elected by region: is Growing Healthy Farmers, Fields, and Food, the Weston A. Price Foundation, which
(N) North (S) South (C) Central highlighting the holistic nature of farming. promotes wise traditions in food and
(M) Member at Large
Sessions will focus on grain, livestock, and farming, will be presenting a keynote
• President: Charles Newell (AB federal
fruit and vegetable production, including and a seminar this year. You may know
level):
780-809-2247 reduced tillage, intercropping, soil health, Sally as author of Nourishing Traditions,
newellsfarm@gmail.com mental health, working with employees, the cookbook that introduced all the
• Vice President: Dawn Boileau (C): connecting with consumers and more! current food trends including sauerkraut,
780-218-2430
dawnboileau@gmail.com
kombucha and bone broth. She has a
• Treasurer: Heather Kerschbaumer (N): Growing Healthy Farmers passionate and dedicated following, I know
780-835--4508 you won’t want to miss her presentations!
gaseeds@kerbagroup.com A healthy farm requires a healthy team.
• Secretary: Trevor Aleman (S):
We will have sessions on mental health, Registration, sponsorship, and program
403-308-4003
trevor@busybeasmarketgarden.com labour, and employee management. Mike details can be found in this magazine as
• James Thiessen (N): Kozlowski from Steel Pony Farms will share well as on our website. Take a moment to
603-480-1158 how he let go of micromanager tendencies complete and send in your registration
jkthie@telusplanet.net
through conscious communication and form today to secure your spot!
• Arnold Van Os (C):
780-312-1052 thoughtful employee management
vanosdairy@xplornet.com practices, leading to his business taking off I look forward to seeing you there!
• Abbie Stein-MacLean (M): in positive and unexpected ways.
780-984-3068
asteinmaclean@gmail.com
• Bernie Ehnes (S): You Are Invited
403-666-2157 Organic Alberta Annual General Meeting
behnes@gmail.com
• Frank Maddock (M): Friday, January 25 | 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. | Dow Centennial Centre, Fort Saskatchewan
780-727-2333 (with the Organic Alberta Central Conference)
jaspersprings@live.com
• Tracy Smith (M):
Have you ever wondered what exactly we do at Organic Alberta, how much money
we have, or how we spend it? This is your chance to find out! Our President
northerncookinglake@gmail.com
and Executive Director will each report on activities over the past year, and our
Treasurer will dig deep into the finances.
Winter 2018 deadline is Friday, November
Do you have a passion for organic food and farming, and a desire to make a
23rd. Please send comments, difference? We need you on the Board of Directors! This is your chance to make
suggestions, ads, and/or articles to your voice heard and help to lead us into the future. Contact Trevor Aleman at
editor@organicalberta.org
trevor@busybeasmarketgarden.com for more information on running for the board.

2
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2 0 1 7 S TAT I S T I C S S H O W S T E A DY R I S E , A B O O M I N M A C K E N Z I E C O U N T Y
by Debbie Miller, Editor

Following is a brief excerpt from Organic Map and number of organic operators by
Agriculture in Alberta: 2017 Statistics region for 2017
by Greg deJong, Organic Alberta. The
full report includes data provided by • NE: Northeast (currently no organic
certification bodies as well as data certifications in this region)
collected by the Canada Organic Trade • MC: Mackenzie County, from North
Association. To receive a copy of the full Star to the norther Alberta border
report please contact Becky at becky.
• NW: Northwest, beneath MC and north
lipton@organicalberta.org, or call the office
of Valleyview
at 587-521-2400.
• NC: North-Central, above Edmonton
The number of certified organic operators and approximating Highway 16
(producers and processors) in Alberta
• C: Central, including Edmonton
continues to grow. Though there has been
through Red Deer
growth in each region of the province, it
is primarily driven by expansion in the • SC: South-Central, below Red Deer and
Mackenzie County region which now has including Calgary
39% of Alberta’s total certified organic • S: South, below Calgary
operators. Numbers are relatively evenly
distributed in the rest of the province,
with a slightly higher concentration in the
North Central region north of Edmonton to
Valleyview.

Quick Facts:
• There were 590 certified organic operations, including farms and processors, in Alberta in 2017.

• Mackenzie County accounted for 65% of the total increase in operators between 2016 and 2017.

• Cereal grains remain the most frequently grown crop. Most farms grow oats, then wheat, and barley.

• Peas have become popular crop in Alberta with 182 growers and 56,300 acres in 2017. This is a 107% increase since 2014 in
the number of producers and Alberta now grows over 60% of all organic pea production in the Prairies.

• After several years of remaining stable, the number of fruit and vegetable growers increased by 36% between 2016 and 2017.

• 41% of all fruit and vegetable growers have only 1 crop, 21% have 10 or more, and a few grow over 40 varieties.

• Alberta is cattle country. Of the 66 livestock producers, 52 raise cattle that they certify as organic. They are raised across the
province, except for the northeast.

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 FA L L 2 0 1 8 VOLUME 10 ISSUE 03

H O W W E L L D O YO U K N O W YO U R
N E M AT O D E S ?
Answers from last magazine issue

4
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 FA L L 2 0 1 8 VOLUME 10 ISSUE 03

ORGANIC MARKET OPPORTUNITIES CLASSIFIED ADS

Certified organic hay for sale. 200 legume/ grass bales baled with John Deere 568 cut early, $80/ bale Mark Vetsch 780-524-9726

Market Op: Are you looking for a consistent supply of Organic Soybean meal? Shafer Commodities can assist you with all of your
organic needs, we are also buying HRS, durum, flax, barley & peas 403-328-5066.

MARKET PRICES CENTRAL CONFERENCE

OrganicBiz gathers and posts monthly price information at
CROSSWORD FUN
organicbiz.ca/category/markets/. The following prices are from
Late September 2018.

CROP SPOT PRICE PREM.

B u s h e l l ( To n n e )
WESTERN CANADIAN 2018 CROP
Wheat - feed $9.50 - $1.001 ($349 - $404) 193%

Wheat - soft white spring $14.00 - $16.50 ($514 - $606) 268%

Wheat - hard red spring $15.00 - $17.00 ($551 - $625) 241%

Wheat - durum $19.25 ($707) 335%

Barley - feed $6.50 - $7.40 ($299 - $340) 172%

Oats - feed $3.00 - $5.00 ($195 - $324) 178%

Oast - milling $5.00 - $6.00 ($357 - $389) 192%

Flax - brown $34.00 ($1,339) 283%

Flax - gold $38.00 ($1,496) 304%

Flax - feed $21.00 - $22.00 ($827 - $866) 189%

Flax $30.00 - $35.00 ($1,181 - $1,378) 256%

Peas - yellow $15.00 - $16.50 ($551 - $606) 256%

Peas - green $16.00 - $18.00 ($588 - $661) 234%

Lentils - large green 80-90 cents/lb 472%

Lentils - French green 100 cents/lb 455%

ACROSS help you deal with this
Lentils - red 52 cents/lb 347% 1. conference city (2 words) 14. a soil test will give you this
7. meet suppliers and sponsors 16. soil carbon speaker
Lentils - black 98 cents/lb 582% here (2 words) 17. speaker on indigenous
8. Trina Moyles will talk about this permaculture
Chickpeas 95 cents/lb 344% kind of farmer 19. a type of strip used in crops
Hemp seed 140 - 150 cents/lb 207% 10. Organic Alberta’s Executive 20. we do this at noon
Director 21. conference month
Hemp for CBD 400 - 1000 cents/lb 233% 11. To Hell and Back session will
(chaff, flowers and leaves)
DOWN 6. non-organic farmer
Rye - milling $8.00 - $8.50 ($315 - $335) 118%
2. Mike Kozlowski’s kind of 9. farmers want to connect with
Rye - feed $5.50 ($217) 94% communication these people
3. Sally Fallon’s kind of diet 12. guardian dogs look after this
4. one way to improve soil 13. conference venue (2 words)
5. Grant Lastiwka wants livestock to 15. Organic gala speaker
eat this 18. Annual General Meeting day

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P R A I R I E O R G A N I C G R A I N I N I T I AT I V E ( P O G I ) E VA L U AT I O N
By Robyn McLean,
Tapestry Evaluation and Strategy
Tapestry Evaluation and Strategy is
carrying out an external evaluation to
better understand how effective the Prairie
Organic Grain Initiative (POGI) has been in
increasing the resilience of the grain sector
in the Prairies. Some of the goals of POGI
include:
• Increased collaboration among
farmers, industry, provincial
associations, funders and
government.
• Developing tools that reach farmers.
• Encouraging changes in farm
management shown to be effective
for increasing quality and quantity
of grains (e.g. practices related to
soil health, seeding, crop rotations,
intercropping, and green manure).
• Supporting non-organic farmers to
learn more about organic farming
and supporting those that decide to
transition.
• Increased quality and quantity of
organic grain.
• Increased number of grain farmers
and acres of organic grain.
• Increased market access for, and
profitability of, organic grains.
We have been collecting information to
understand if POGI has met these goals
6
and how to make changes to better
meet the goals. The information includes
surveys/interviews with more than
80 organic and transitioning farmers,
interviews with sector-level experts and
grain buyers, data from COTA, POGI
program records, and discussions with
POGI staff and partners. We are still in
the process of collecting and analyzing
information. This article will share early
findings related to the first four goals.
Increased collaboration
Collaboration takes work and dedicated
resources. It requires some structure to
help move things forward, and flexibility
to respond to what you learn along the
way. Our findings suggest that POGI has
been effective at increasing collaboration
between different sectors, and especially at
increasing collaboration across the Prairie
provinces. We have also worked with POGI
staff and partners to identify ways to help
the partnership work even better moving
forward, including even more involvement
from provincial partners and more clarity
on how to address any partnership issues
that come up along the way.
“That collaboration is there - that has built
trust. Inviting the bigger brands in the
supply chain has lent credibility to the
farmers.” - Funder
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VOLUME 10 ISSUE 03
“They are already forging a path, building
a foundation on which other more tangible
improvements can be built.” - Researcher
“Overall, really really impressed with
what they have done/ achieved. Quite
transformational.” - Farmer and consultant
Reaching farmers
• Over 27,000 users 1 visited
Pivotandgrow.com between June
25, 2016 and August 1, 2018. This
includes over 18,000 visits to the
price lists page, over 6,000 visits to
the Business to Business directory,
and over 2,500 visits to the pages
for the green manure toolkit, new
farmer kits, and event listings.
Note: Numbers include total visits,
including repeat visits.
• Over 1,000 farmers have attended
field days and organic conferences
Note: Numbers include total
attendees, and may count
individuals more than once.
• 52 farmers took part in the nutrient
management program, and the 1-800
organic expert line has received
more than 150 calls. More than 150
people have participated in organic
agronomy training.
 FA L L 2 0 1 8
Changes in farm management
When we started this evaluation, we knew
that POGI tools were reaching farmers,
but we were not sure whether this would
mean changes to how farms were being
managed. It can take time for people to put
things into practice after learning about
them. It can take even more time to see
results on a farm after making changes.
We asked 39 organic farmers2 how POGI
tools contributed to changes they had
made on their farm. 23 (59%) reported that
POGI contributed directly to changes in soil
health practices, crop rotations, seeding
and harvest practices, intercropping
practices, and/or green manure
management (see the chart below).
Many farmers who said POGI contributed
to changes on their farm talked about how
important it was to connect with other
farmers at conferences, workshops and
field days. Some farmers we talked to
emphasized the importance of talking to
other farmers and using other resources
to make decisions about changes on their
farm.
“From workshops and the [Canadian
Figure 1: How did POGI tools contribute to
changes you have made on your farm?
POGI tools contributed
directly to changes or 23
plans
Other farmers or other
resources contributed 9
more to changes
Unsure how POGI
tools contributed 4
POGI contributed to
planned changes for
next season 3 website from different devices or locations.
Organic Growers Fieldcrop Handbook] you
really find out that you do need to get your
nutrient levels right and work on that, and
we’ve found that there is a 10-year wall
where you don’t have any phosphorus left
in your soil and we found out that compost
is a good solution.” - Farmer in Manitoba
“One of the most important tools for me is
going to the Organic conferences and soil
health conferences and talking to other
farmers who have tried different practices.
This is how I first discovered the use of cover
crops - Farmer in Saskatchewan
“I think in a lot of cases its knowledge that
we have already that makes the changes
in management (I am an old farmer). But
conferences and speakers reinforce this
knowledge.” - Farmer in Alberta
Helping non-organic farmers to learn
about organic
According to the Canada Organic Trade
Association (COTA), we have seen about
a 16% increase in the number of acres
dedicated to organic field crops in the
Prairies from 2014 (just before POGI
started) to 2016 (the most recent data
available)3 (See Figure 2).
Figure 2: Number of organic field crop acres
in the Prairies 2014 - 2016
(Source: Canadian Organic Trade Association)
565,232 664,554 762,271
2014 2015 2016
There are many things that can lead
to the decision to transition to organic
management, and POGI may be only one
factor in that decision. Similarly, there are
many factors at play that can determine
success during that transition period.
We surveyed 37 non-organic and
transitioning farmers who had used
POGI tools. Farmers who had recently
transitioned to organic management listed
financial considerations, reducing inputs
or price of inputs, and sustainability as
reasons for transitioning. A few farmers
also mentioned that it was helpful to talk
W W W. O R G A N I C A L B E R TA . O R G
VOLUME 10 ISSUE 03
to other organic farmers or that they
made their decision to transition based on
those conversations. Many farmers also
indicated that POGI tools influenced their
decision and/or supported their transition
to organic. Many farmers who had not
transitioned to organic also made changes
on their farms based on what they learned
from POGI tools. Selected quotes from
farmer surveys are shared below:
Q: What influenced your decision to
transition to organic?
A:“Workshops, field days, but mostly I was
more dissatisfied with the ever increasing
demand for chemicals on my operation,
and the risks associated with them.”
- Farmer in Saskatchewan
A: “The expenses or the overhead of
conventional farming vs organic. I wanted
to lower my input cost. And yes, POGI has
supported my decision to transition; the
workshop was really good.”
- Farmer in Alberta
A: “The field days have lots of information
that is applicable to conventional farms,
so even though we are not organic
(and may never be), the research is
helpful to our farm.”
- Farmer in Saskatchewan
1
We use google analytics definition of users, which
is the number of users who initiated at least one
session during this timeframe. Some individuals
could be counted more than once if they look at the
2
We reached out to farmers who had used some of
the main POGI tools. Farmers who did an interview
may have been more likely to say something positive
about POGI tools.
3
Canada Organic Trade Association (2016). Growing
Organic in the Prairies 2014 Statistics.
Canada Organic Trade Association (2017). Organic
Agriculture in the Prairies 2015 Statistics
Canada Organic Trade Association (2018). Organic
Agriculture in the Prairies 2016 Data.
7
 G R O W I N G H E A LT H Y
FA R M E R S , F I E L D S A N D FO O D
JANUARY 25 - 26 | FORT SASKATCHEWAN , AB

Organic Alberta Conference Registration | January 25 - 26, 2019

Dow Centennial Centre, Fort Saskatchewan, AB

Last Name: ___________________ First Name: ____________________ Company/Farm Name: _________________

Address: _________________________ City: ___________________ Province: _______ Postal Code: ____________

Telephone: ______________________________________Email: ___________________________________________

Names of additional people attending: ________________________________________________________________

Food allergies: ____________________________________________________________________________________

Sign up for the Conference: Price Quantity Total

Register before January 4 and save! Early Bird After Jan 4th
Single Friday and Saturday main sessions only (includes lunches, does $135 $185 $
not include Organic Food and Wine Gala and Banquet or Sally Fallon
seminar, Please select belowto add)
Double Friday and Saturday main sessions only (includes lunches, does $240 $325 $
not include Organic Food and Wine Gala and Banquet or Sally Fallon
seminar, Please select belowto add)
Friday main sessions only (includes lunch) $120 $
Saturday main sessions only (includes lunch) $120 $
Add-Ons:
Single Friday Organic Food and Wine Gala and Banquet featuring Sally $50 $
Fallon
Child under 9 Friday Organic Food and Wine Gala and Banquet featuring $15 $
Sally Fallon
Saturday three-hour Sally Fallon Seminar (not inlcuded in conference $75 $
registration)
Babysitting: under 3 years (2 hours/day for 2 days.) Contact us if you $40 $
would like to reserve more time.
Children’s Program: 3-12 years (Full day for 2 days) $80 $
Young farmer subsidies are available – Contact Organic Alberta for more information!
Payment Total
Total (Note that all prices include GST: #831992076) $
Payment Options
• Cheque: Make payable to Organic Alberta and mail with your completed form to: 10329 61st Ave, Edmonton, AB T6H 1K9
• E-transfer: Send to info@organicalberta.org, password = organic. Remember to also email a copy of your completed form.
• Credit Card: Visit our website at http://organicalberta.org/news/2019-central-conference/

Email Address Phone

info@organicalberta.org 10329-61 Ave Edmonton, AB T6H 1K9 587-521-2400
FA L L 2 0 1 8 VOLUME 10 ISSUE 03

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W W W. O R G A N I C A L B E R TA . O R G 11
 G R O W I N G H E A LT H Y F A R M
ORGANIC ALBERT

Draft Program Subject to Change

F R I D AY J A N U A R Y 2 5 , 2 0 1 9 | D o w C e n t e n n i a l C e n t r e , F o r t S a s k a t c h e w a n
7:30 a.m. - 8:15 a.m. Registration

8:15 a.m. - 8:40 a.m. Opening Remarks

8:40 a.m. - 9:20 a.m. Morning Keynote

Teaching Livestock to Eat

9:30 a.m. - 10:20 a.m. Perspectives on Soil Health When to Hire an Extra Hand
Weeds (Grant Lastiwka)

10:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Break / Trade Show

New Trends and Research in Women in Farming: Stories Direct-Marketing: How to Get
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Organic Agronomy from the Field (Trina Moyles) New Customers

12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m. Lunch

12:30 p.m. - 1:50 p.m. Organic Alberta Annual General Meeting

2:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Break / Trade Show

Direct-Marketing: Retaining
Working on Permaculture
Intercropping: Benefits and Customers
2:30 p.m. - 3:20 p.m. Projects with Indigenous
Risks (Joe Wecker) (Andrew Mans and Rosemary
Communities (Marsha Shack)
Wotske & Cam Beard)

Intercropping: An interactive
Conscious Communication on Livestock Guardian Dogs and
3:30 p.m. - 4:20 p.m. workshop to make it work on
the Farm (Mike Kozlowski) Predator Management
your farm

4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Hot Topic Discussions

Organic Food and Wine Gala and Banquet featuring Sally Fallon (Tickets purhased separately)
6:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Nourishing Diets: How Paleo, Ancestral and Traditional Peoples Really Ate

Childcare will be available for purchase, please email Sarah at sarah.preston@organicalberta.org for details.
MERS, FIELDS AND FOOD
TA CONFERENCE

S AT U R D AY J A N U A R Y 2 6 , 2 0 1 9 - D o w C e n t e n n i a l C e n t r e , F o r t S a s k a t c h e w a n
7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. Registration

8:40 a.m. - 9:20 a.m. Tough Enough To Talk About It: Lessons in Dealing With Stress on the Farm

Improving Soils Through Cover

Crops and Intercropping for
Improving Soils Through
9:30 a.m. - 10:20 a.m. Grain Buyers Speed Dating Fruit and Vegetable Producers
Grazing
(Andrew Mans and Mike
Kozlowski)

10:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Break / Trade Show

11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Soil and Regenerative Agriculture

12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Lunch

Thinking of Organic Farming:

What’s involved in Using Pollinator Strips in
1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
certification? Cropping Sally Fallon
(Free to the public) Nourishing Traditions Seminar

Thinking of Organic Farming: Soil Testing: How do I get the (Tickets purhased separately)
2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Agronomic decisions you need right soil information for my
to make (Free to the public) farm?

Thinking of Organic Farming:

4:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Our Farm Story Break / Trade Show
(Free to the public)

4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Consumer and Farmer Speed Dating (Free to the public)

Business Room bookings are now open! Book this space to host your own session to share your work, present on new
innovations, or connect with fresh audiences! Register online here.

Contact Sarah for more details at sarah.preston@organicalberta.org, or by calling (587) 521-2400.

 FA L L 2 0 1 8
E X P L O R I N G S M A L L- S C A L E A B AT T O I R S O L U T I O N S
IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS
By Amber Kenyon, Gateway Research
Organization
At the beginning of the year I had the
pleasure of attending a Young Agrarian
event in Alix, AB. Out of several very
interesting speakers, a young couple
from British Columbia really stood out.
Tristan and Aubyn Banwell manage Spray
Creek Ranch near Lillooet, BC. I was
especially interested in their on-farm
abattoir facility. Their Class D provincial
abattoir license allows them to butcher
a limited number of animals for direct
marketing into their region.
Since 2011 in BC it has been possible to
apply for, and receive, a small on-farm
processor license. These Class D and E
licenses include some restrictions (you
can slaughter a limited amount of meat;
how you sell the meat that you slaughter
is restricted; the region that you sell in is
restricted; and with a class E license there
cannot be professional slaughter services
available within a two-hour drive of your
farm.) However, these licenses enable
smaller producers to direct market, or
even just sell to their neighbours.
A 2005 Food Miles study in Waterloo,
Ontario noted that beef consumed in the
region racked up an average of 5,770
kilometres travelled, with most coming
from Colorado, Kansas, Australia, New
Zealand and Nebraska. The author
concluded that imported beef products
averaged 667 times the greenhouse gas
emissions of local beef.
Currently in Alberta it is incredibly
difficult for most small farmers to access
a provincially inspected abattoir. Pigeon
14
Lake Poultry Processors is the only facility
available for poultry direct marketers. This
leaves a very large gap in our ability to get
small scale, local chickens and turkeys into
the hands of the consumers, especially if
you are a fair distance away from Pigeon
Lake.
Jerry Kitt, organic poultry producer said,
“I’ve been raising organic poultry for 29
years and when I started out there were
3 places that could process poultry within
1.5 hours’ drive. In the Peace we even had
a federally inspected plant. One by one
they’ve all shut down. Now I must drive
to Pigeon Lake.” Kitt says he does the
one-way 6-hour drive as a public service
because there is no organic poultry in the
Peace Region. Although there are a few
consumers willing to pay about 3 times
what they would pay in the grocery store
for a rotisserie chicken, it is not a profitable
venture.
Alberta farmers’ markets attract consumers
eager to meet the farmer who grows
their food. An increasing number of
producers want to direct market to insulate
themselves from potentially volatile market
prices. We are seeing more of this in beef,
pork, vegetables and fruit.
Yet direct marketing
chicken continues
to be unachievable
for many producers.
Could bringing in
legislation that allows
direct marketers
to butcher animals
on-farm in small
numbers, in localized
regions, and sell that
W W W. O R G A N I C A L B E R TA . O R G
VOLUME 10 ISSUE 03
meat to a certain sector, allow room for
competitiveness in the industry?
While the Banwells have made an on-farm
abattoir work for their business model,
they caution that it comes with challenges.
“Running an abattoir is a difficult business,
with significant overhead costs, and a
shortage of qualified staff in most areas of
BC. On-farm slaughter options may sound
appealing, but the costs associated and
low limits on the number of animals per
year make small on-farm facilities a difficult
proposition.”
Nonetheless, it is encouraging to hear
farmers like the Banwells speak of their
successes. A system like this might make a
large difference in the profitability of small
farms in Alberta. It may also make it easier
for new producers to get their foot in the
door. Having conversations and asking
questions is the first step towards change.
Small-scale meat producers in BC formed
the Small-Scale Meat Producers Association
(SSMPA) with an aim toward creating a
network to share resources and to speak
with a common voice to move systems
forward in support of producers raising
meat outside of the conventional industrial
system.
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PA I D A D V E R T I S E M E N T

O R G A N I C S A N I TAT I O N : D O N ’ T G E T L O S T I N T H E W O O D S
Few people would ever embark “sanitize” the SDS by removing Carefully researched and
on a hike in the Rockies without non-organic ingredients from the validated, the Product Reference
a map and a compass. A trek document, though these remain Guide identifies both those
in the wild through unfamiliar in the formulation. This practice products accepted and those
terrain can be dangerous, even can be misleading, and to combat accepted with certain conditions,
d e a d l y, w i t h o u t re l i a b l e g u i d a n c e . it, auditors are increasingly and notes references to applicable
A hipster hiker may want to demanding access to the actual sections of the CGSB Organic
rely on a GPS program on their confidential formulations, Standards. The information is
smartphone. Nevertheless, a good withholding organic approval from visually clear and simple so that
map and a trusty compass need chemical suppliers that do not choices are made with confidence
not battery power nor satellite c o m p l y. a n d e a s e . M o r e o v e r, a u d i t o r s w i l l
signal, and they point the way appreciate the detailed references
c o n s i s t e n t l y. In addition, there are allowable at their fingertips.
exceptions to the PSL. If an
Navigating the plethora of organic cleaning product cannot Should an auditor challenge
regulations and standards for an re m ov e t h e re s i d u e s p ro p e r l y, a product, Sani Marc stands
organic sanitation program can a non-organic product could be ready to support quickly and
be as challenging as a hike in the used, but with certain conditions. e f f i c i e n t l y. A l i b ra r y o f a d d i t i o n a l
A l b e r t a b a c k c o u n t r y, t h o u g h n o t A processor must prove that the documentation for each product
as threatening to life and limb. organic products failed to clean is maintained and available
That may seem melodramatic, the surfaces properly through to auditors upon request. If
but to a small or medium-sized documented validation. Then, any validation is required, qualified
processor with limited resources non-organic products used must be Sani Marc personnel are happy
and facing an audit, the feeling subjected to a potable water rinse, to supply guidance. Never has
can be the same as being lost in and be proven that no chemical establishing an organic sanitation
the woods. residues remain on surfaces. p ro g ra m b e e n s o e a s y.

F o r t u n a t e l y, t h e r e i s a m a p – a n d Facing the potential for confusion, A walk in the woods on a

a compass. possible misinformation and the summer ’s day breathing the
need for validation, and with so crisp mountain air is gratifying,
The “map”, is the Organic much at stake – loss of certification especially if you do not get
Production Systems General – it is no wonder a processor could lost. So too with the organic
Principles and Management feel like Hansel or Gretel in the certification process.
Standards and The Permitted deep, dark forest.
Substances Lists (or PSL) Navigating organic standards
established by the Canadian F o r t u n a t e l y, t h e re i s a l s o a successfully with the right
General Standards Board (CGSB). “c o m p a s s ” t o h e l p f i n d t h e w a y : “ m a p ” a n d a r e l i a b l e “c o m p a s s ” ,
the Product Reference Guide for subsequently achieving Organic
The PSL itemizes what cleaning Organic Production developed by Certification, is rewarding. It
products are considered organic. Sani Marc. leads to consumer confidence,
A processor can compare the list processor ’s peace of mind, and
of ingredients on the Safety Data Sani Marc has experience in helping i n c re a s e d p ro f i t a b i l i t y.
Sheet of the products used in hundreds of processors across
their facility to those in the PSL. Canada successfully pass organic T H AT i s l i k e a b r e a t h o f f r e s h a i r.
The problem is that sometimes audits with relative ease. Designed
the chemical names are variances in response to the circumstances of For more information:
of the same name, leading to t h e C a n a d i a n o rg a n i c i n d u s t r y, S a n i http://foodandbeverage.sanimarc.
confusion and potential for audit Marc ’s Product Reference Guide com/products/organic/
non-compliance. for Organic Production is reliable 1-800 361-7691
and consistent for making the right
A d d i t i o n a l l y, s o m e c h e m i c a l choices for an organic sanitation
suppliers have chosen to program. PA I D A D V E R T I S E M E N T

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