Pivot and Grow

In 2009, Pristine Prairie Organics was certified organic and Bryce Lobreau had 20 head of cattle. Bryce now farms with his wife, Twyla, and his parents, Danny and Robin.

In 2004, Dean Martin and his family made the decision to transition the family farm from conventional to organic. Over the next two decades, they learned about the challenges and rewards of organic farming.

Gillian Flies and her husband Brent Preston own and operate The New Farm, a regenerative organic vegetable farm that provides high-quality, organic produce to restaurants and specialty retail stores in the Toronto and Collingwood areas. On 20 farmed acres, they grow salad greens like baby leaf arugula, spicy salad greens, baby leaf spinach, and root vegetables like Heirloom Potatoes, French Fingerlings, German Butterballs, All Reds, Russian Blues, Linzer Deleketes, and four varieties of beets.

In a province dominated by huge farms, Dennis Skoworodko’s operation stands out.

“I’m the oddball here in Saskatoon,” Dennis laughs, “because I’m a vegetable grower and I’m certified organic.” His operation, “Our Farm,” grows 40 types of vegetables and four types of small fruit.

“I love organic farming,” says Garry Johnson. “There’s no doubt about it. Organic farming allows us to work with nature on a scale that can only be limited by our own imagination.”

There is a growing demand for organic grain production information from farmers in the Prairies. This training program, with Dr. Martin Entz of The Natural Systems Agriculture Team at the University of Manitoba, gives agronomists and agrologists the information they need to support and guide organic growers. Lesson five is a question and answer session with Dr. Martin Entz and participants.

There is a growing demand for organic grain production information from farmers in the Prairies. This training program, with Dr. Martin Entz of The Natural Systems Agriculture Team at the University of Manitoba, gives agronomists and agrologists the information they need to support and guide organic growers. Lesson four focuses on soil management for organic production.

There is a growing demand for organic grain production information from farmers in the Prairies. This training program, with Dr. Martin Entz of The Natural Systems Agriculture Team at the University of Manitoba, gives agronomists and agrologists the information they need to support and guide organic growers. Lesson three focuses on insects, weeds, and disease.

There is a growing demand for organic grain production information from farmers in the Prairies. This training program, with Dr. Martin Entz of The Natural Systems Agriculture Team at the University of Manitoba, gives agronomists and agrologists the information they need to support and guide organic growers. Lesson two, part one discusses crop establishment and seeding.

There is a growing demand for organic grain production information from farmers in the Prairies. This training program, with Dr. Martin Entz of The Natural Systems Agriculture Team at the University of Manitoba, gives agronomists and agrologists the information they need to support and guide organic growers. Lesson one tackles rotations and nutrient management.