By Nigel Maxwell

Workshop aims to give farmers food for thought

Feb 28, 2016 | 11:03 AM

Sask Organics is hosting a series of workshops across the province this month, for the purpose of reaching out to farmers who may be interested in making the switch to organic production.

“The business case is very strong for organics in terms of net returns per acre, and that’s what ultimately counts for farmers,” Workshops Committee Chair Will Oddie said.

The next scheduled workshop takes place Monday, Feb. 29 in Tisdale at the CanAlta Hotel.

Topics will include certification and legal requirements, and what the standards are for growers in terms of what they are and are not allowed to grow.

Oddie said several factors may have deterred farmers in the past from making the switch including the transition period itself.

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“You’re not selling a certified organic product until the third year after you start into the organic regime,” he said.

Another obstacle has been overcoming peer pressure.

“If you have trouble resisting the idea that somebody might be talking about the weed that’s in your field, that may be one reason that holds people back but I think the economics are strong enough that I think a lot of people can overcome any discomfort they might have had having fields that aren’t as perfect as they used to be,” Oddie said.

Saskatchewan’s organic sector has seen fairly steady growth over the past 15 to 20 years, increasing by roughly 15 to 20 per cent.

Oddie estimates there are upwards of 800 certified organic growers in the province currently, with fields ranging from a quarter section up to 14,000 acres.

Farmers interested in checking out the workshop in Tisdale can get information at the Sask. Organics webite. 

In addition to the workshop in Tisdale, Sask Organics is also having a pair of workshops for existing organic producers – one in Regina on Mar. 10 and another in Saskatoon on Mar. 11.

nmaxwell@panow.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell