SaskOrganics conducted the fourth of a five-city organic farming seminar tour in Estevan on April 8 with over 20 people attending the session in the conference room at the Super 8 Hotel.
The idea behind the workshops was to provide detailed information for farmers and ranchers who were considering making the transition from conventional to organic farming practices.
“I got into it because I was cheap. I didn’t want to pay for all those pesticides and herbicides,” said presenter Sam Godwin of Alberta with a laugh. He got into the business of organic farming quite naturally, with his first foray into the farming business in 1979. So his entry was almost by accident but proved to be profitable.
During the full-day agenda, speakers explained to prospective organic farmers what organic farming really is, how to transition to organic farming and obtain certification. They also elaborated on the topics of building soil fertility and crop rotations, as well as, weed and pest management practices and standards.
Godwin, along with local organic farmers Gary Steinke and Brent Blackburn, said there was a very good business case to be made for organic farming, since prices have remained firm and better than those paid for conventional crops.
Stuart McMillan, an independent organic inspector, said the number of organic farmers and cattle producers has grown between 15 and 25 per cent across the prairie provinces over the past 10 years. He said even in the economic down years, between 2008 and 2010, there was still a five per cent growth. There are close to 2,000 organic farmers between Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba and a few thousand more in British Columbia, Ontario and the rest of eastern Canada.
Marla Carlson, office manager and administrator for SaskOrganics, said the three earlier workshops in North Battleford, Humboldt and Assiniboia attracted 33 officially registered participants in total, with several others attending the sessions as partners to the registered delegate.
The Estevan workshop saw 15 registered participants who arrived from places such as Yorkton, Radville, Bengough and Brandon as well as the immediate area.
The working sessions were slated to wrap up in Swift Current on April 10.
“Right now there aren’t enough organic producers to keep up with the consumer demand,” said Steinke.
Blackburn added that young families in particular are increasingly interested in obtaining organically grown foods, thus the need for stepping up recruitment for this style of farming and ranching. The interest extends to other countries such as the United States, Japan and several European markets, the trio said.
During an opening introduction of participants, those who registered provided varying reasons for being in attendance. Some noted they were already organic farmers and wanted to learn more, while a couple were in the middle of the three-year official transition stage and another four people said they were seriously considering making the transition while one delegate indicated he was firmly convinced it was the route to take as he prepared to launch a career in farming, having spent a few years in the farm service sector.
