• Growing Up Organic
• Producer's Area
  • What is Sustainable Agriculture?
  • Organic Farming
  • Organic Standards and Certification
  • Marketing, Business, and Risk Management
  • Education
  • The Farm Mentorship Program
  • Farm Energy
  • Other Resources
• Benefits of Organics
  • The Effects of Pesticides on Our Health and the Environment
  • Nutritional Benefits of Organic Food
• Why Does Organic Food Cost More?
• Our Stance on Local vs. "Big Organic"
• Manitoba's Organic Menu
• Ten Ways to Get Involved in Manitoba's Organic Movement

Producer's Area

 Welcome to our information pages on sustainable agriculture and organic farming!

On these pages, we'll contribute to the discussion and sharing of information on alternative crop and livestock production, innovative marketing ideas, organic certification and regulation, and highlights of local, regional and federal organic agriculture-related activities.

On our Sustainable Agriculture page, we'll discuss: What does organic production look like in Canada? In Manitoba?  Take a look at our Overview of the Canadian Organic Sector presentation and the Organic Agriculture in Canada presentation from Canadian Organic Growers.  Dan Wuerch's 2002 Manitoba Organic Report provides more information on the organic sector in Manitoba specifically.  Also, take a look at this presentation of COG's 2005 Organic Statistics compiled by Anne Macey.

On our Organic Farming page, topics we will touch on are Field Crops, Horticultural Crops, Soils & Compost, and Livestock.  For an overview of Organic Livestock Production Standards and some of the benefits of adopting organic techniques, please watch the Benefits of Organic Hog Production in Manitoba.  

Sustainable production strives to be economically viable for all participants. Local consumption must increase to balance international trade and more deeply respect basic organic principles. OFCM-COG is encouraging child care facilities to access local organic food.  For an overview of this exciting new program supporting increased local production and connecting organic farms, watch our Gaining Ground Presentation.  

Marketing and Business Risk Management:  To market your organic products it helps to know the markets well and "sell before you sow", along with being familiar with the protocals and regulations which impact certified organic production.  Recent research appears to indicate that those buying the most organic food are families concerned about the health of their pregnancies and young children. For information on these topics view the Food Safety & Organic Regulation or the Organic Standards & Proposed Regulation in Canada presentations, and The Positive Contributions of Organics.   

Organic standards have been developed internationally using the "Precautionary Principle" - if we don't know it to be safe, use is prohibited or restricted.  Our Manitoba government is preparing an organic standard for Manitoba based on our Canadian organic standard, with a regulation to match, affecting the labelling of organic products produced and sold within our borders.  Our national Canadian Organic Standard is being updated by the Canadian General Standard's Board Organic Agriculture Committee right now.  OFCM-COG Chair Janine Gibson attended from Manitoba, contributing as a voting member on behalf of the Canadian Committee of the Independent Organic Inspectors Association (IOIA).  Visit IOIA for information on the role of independent third party inspectors in the organic certification process.

For a succinct look at attention to the details involved in a generic organic inspection view the Top Ten Tips 4 a gr8 Organic Inspection presentation.  Inspection involves a third party inspector reviewing the organic plan submitted to the chosen certifier, and verifying the implementation of the plan by touring the facility, reviewing the relevant documentation and interviewing the operator.

We'll be researching Farm Energy and plan to share some pictures with you about alternative energy projects occurring on some of our Manitoba farms!  Please let us know about projects we should showcase here.

We'll round out our Producers Section by listing some Educational Resources, and updating our information and entries for the Farm Mentorship Program.  Also, please refer to our Links page for more producer-oriented resources.  

All the best.  Thanks for checking us out!