Join us for a jam-packed day of information on organic production, industry networking, and catching up with farmers in your area!
This regional mini-conference will be full of high-quality organic agronomy and practical production information to inspire your next growing season! Featuring a custom-designed, interactive workshop on Strategic Tillage and Soil Carbon by Scott Gillespie of Plants Dig Soil Consulting, this is a day you do not want to miss!
This event will be tailored to the needs of organic producers in the region, with local farmers presenting on issues they are dealing with on the farm right now. Since Organic Alberta’s big annual conference will be in November this year, these mini-conferences are your chance to charge up for the coming season, reconnect with other growers, and get inspired with new ideas and strategies. There will also be a chance to hear from grain buyers and other industry partners who can help you get set up for the year ahead!
- Carbon Flows
- How organic matter is formed (old vs new research)
- Aggregate formation
- Why till
- Long-term research on no-till
- Mitigating the effects
- Discussion on tillage intensity
- Application! Interactive discussion on tillage points and goals
Morning:
9:00 AM: Registration (snacks and coffee available)
9:30 AM: Welcome
9:45 – 12:00 PM: Strategic Tillage and Soil Carbon
with Scott Gillespie (Plants Dig Soil Consulting Ltd.)
12:00 – 12:45 PM: Lunch (included with ticket)
Afternoon:
12:45 PM: Intro to OFCAF
1:15 PM: Industry and Grain Buyer Networking
2:15 PM: Top Learnings from Grazing Green Manures with Ward Middleton (Midmore Farms)
2:45 PM: Break
3:00 PM: Producer Session (details TBA)
3:30 – 5:00 PM: Weed Management Producer Panel
Frank Maddock (Jasper Springs Farm)
Jenny Berkenbosch and James Vriend (Sundog Organic Farm)
5:00 PM: Closing
Morning:
9:00 AM: Registration (snacks and coffee available)
9:30 AM: Welcome
9:45 – 12:00 PM: Strategic Tillage and Soil Carbon
with Scott Gillespie (Plants Dig Soil Consulting Ltd.)
12:00 – 12:45 PM: Lunch (included with ticket)
Afternoon:
12:45 PM: Intro to OFCAF
1:15 PM: Industry and Grain Buyer Networking
2:15 PM: Manure Management
Justin Duban, Duban Farms
2:45 PM: Break
3:00 – 4:15 PM: Weed Management Producer Panel
Andrew Mans (Mans Organics)
Andy Wagman
Rosemary Wotske (Poplar Bluff Organics)
4:30 PM: Closing
Ward and Jo-Anne Middleton operate Midmore Farms, which is an 800 acre, certified organic operation located near Morinville, AB. Farm enterprises include: grain, oilseed, pulse, and forage production, custom grazing / winter feeding, and approximately 85 acres of managed woodlot and ecological reserve. Recently, the custom grazing enterprise has evolved to become part of the soil health and nutrient management plan. Cattle now also graze cover crops during the growing season, and are fed or bale grazed on stubble land during the winter.
Frank has been farming his entire life. The farm, established in 1912, has gone through many phases over time. Homestead, mixed farm, primarily a dairy farm for many years, and in this newest incarnation, an organic mixed farm with an emphasis on direct marketing of protein. Cereals and forages round out the cropping side. Recent interests beyond organics include building into rotational grazing, cover cropping, and the management and development of wetlands and wild areas both for environmental sustainability and recreation.
Greg grew up spending summers on his grandfather’s mixed grain and livestock farm. He had no idea at the time, but that was his first exposure to organic regenerative farming. After graduating from university, Greg spent the next 20 years living and working in the city. In 2009 he was able to place a down payment on a small piece of land southwest of Edmonton and thus began his career in organic farming. It’s been a sharp learning curve filled with many challenges and rewards – but a great journey. Greg believes that building soil health while growing healthy, nutrient-dense food is an attainable goal.
Jenny Berkenbosch and James Vriend run Sundog Organic Farm together and are driven by a passion for healthy soil. They have fourteen acres, three wonderful boys, 8 hens, 1 dog, and five hundred rubbermaid bins. James and Jenny have been farming for fourteen years.
Andrew is an organic farmer growing field and greenhouse vegetables, cover crops, and cereals near Coaldale, Alberta. His passion lies in regenerative agriculture with the intent of having the farm produce healthy food while improving the soil and the farms ecosystem as a whole. He feels that the regenerative approach to farming is sustainable, profitable, and enjoyable.
Rosemary was a city kid who visited a family friend’s farm when she was 12, and had to be physically put in the car to go home. She completed a couple of biology degrees, but hit that point in life when it was “do it now or forget it!” So she bought a quarter 38 years ago and has been busy on the learning curve ever since. Rosemary did farmers markets for 17 years, and found her happy place when she met some chefs. In travels abroad, she discovered that food in third world countries tasted better than here, making the connection between soil health, food taste, and nutritional density. Rosemary has spent years observing how soil, climate and plant genetics are an interplay – how the terroir of vegetables can make eating bland and dull or sweet and interesting.
Andy is an organic farmer with ROC certification, and originally certified back in the 90s. His farm is in Medicine Hat, and consists of irrigation, dry land, and some grazing. He has successfully raised cattle year-round with a no touch, no wean, bale/swath grazing program. Recently crops have involved intercropping, under-seeding, cereals, & cover crops plus on farm grain separation. Riparian area preservation & enhancement projects have taken place in the past couple years, and the farm has both honey and leaf cutter bees to promote pollination. In 2021, Andy purchased a weed zapper to control weeds such as Canada thistle, leafy spurge, wild sunflower and kochia by electrocuting them.
Justin Duban and his wife Katelyn manage Duban Farms, a third generation, irrigated grain, pulse and oilseed farm located outside of Lethbridge. His goal is to create an agricultural entity which is sustainable ecologically, socially and financially for the next generation and the community.
