Ontario Institute of Agrologists

The Best Perennial Crops for Northern Food Forests

Using his three priorities for selecting perennial plants and crops: productivity, ease of cultivation, and palatability, Ben Caesar will highlight fundamental features in a properly designed and maintained food forest – from crops, nut trees, fruit trees to berry bushes, perennial vegetables and salad greens. He will cover cultivation details, site location, sun/shade preferences, and how to use the produce in the kitchen.

These perennials will not only provide healthy, organic food without much work, but also help you cultivate a deep relationship with the land that resides just outside the kitchen door.

COTA Series: Changes in the Regulatory Landscape for Organic; Challenges and Opportunities

Join COTA’s Regulatory Affairs and Government Relations Manager, My-Lien Bosch, and Executive Director, Tia Loftsgard, to stay abreast of regulatory and policy issues that not only present opportunities, but also presents new challenges to the organic sector.

Livestock Grazing Planning & Management

Along with air and water quality, high quality, species-appropriate nutrition is the foundation of health. Join esteemed veterinarian Dr. Susan Beal in this ninety minute session focused on the next steps that farmers and ranchers can do to improve and fine-tune their grazing planning and management. This session will be appropriate for all classes and types of stock, poultry included. Attendees will leave the session with an understanding of everything from starting out making a making a farm map and grazing plan, all the way to finessing their already-in-place rotational grazing plan.

COG Series: Innovations in Cover Cropping (Intermediate to Advanced)

Cover cropping is an organic regenerative practice that can help increase on-farm soil health, crop health and water retention. Cover cropping is an integral part of increasing your farms resilience to the threats of climate change. This session offers an expanded overview of innovations in cover cropping in Ontario and across Canada and how you can apply them to your farm.

COG developed the curriculum for the cover cropping course as part of Farmers for Climate Solutions Farm Resilience Management (FaRM) Program. FaRM is a free learning hub offering online resources,
access to experienced farmer mentors, and a network of farmers in your region and across Canada to help you adopt practices that reduce emissions and build resilience.

The Camphill Biodynamic Market Garden: lessons for community, ecology and the climate crisis

Social inclusion and biodynamic agriculture have been at the heart of the world-wide Camphill movement for almost 9 decades now. Camphill has inspired many new forms of agriculture in the world, especially the CSA movement, Land Trust Co-operative Farming, and Social Farming. In their discussion Annette and Allan will explore how their Market Gardening at Camphill Community Ontario grows not only ecology and community, but regrows our ability to reconnect with the fundamental life systems of our planet, perhaps establishing a way out of our current existential climate crisis.

LOCATION: Pick up or purchase a lunch at the registration desk
and in the basement coffee lounge

OMRI Canada Lunch Meet & Greet
Join us to find out about OMRI Canada’s
Review Program!
Light Lunch will be served in Room UC 332 at noon.

Ignatius Farm Lunch Meet and Greet
Join us to learn more about our
Immersion internships and New Farmer Training!
Bring your lunch.
UC334

NFUO series: A Modern Spin on Traditional Craft: Exploring Value-Added Livestock Operations

Want to add more value to your livestock operation production? Are you seeking inspiration on how to put a modern spin on traditional value-added craftmanship? Whether you are a small or large livestock operation, join this panel to learn how others have expanded their operation to include diversified upscale artisanal handicrafts.

Integrated weed management panel and discussion

A systems approach to managing weeds in organic production is crucial. Weeds can be particularly challenging in organic production. So it is important to integrate the many different practices available to farmers to suppress and remove weeds. Join this session to hear from Rick Clark and his experience controlling weeds on a thousand acres in Indiana. Plus, Jamie Israel form 3Gen will share his insights from an Ontario perspective.

EFAO Series: Finding a market for your small organic grains

Thinking about growing something different this year or approaching a new buyer? This session is the place to be.

Join EFAO Small Grains program lead, Jackie Clark, Hugh Martin, former OMAFRA organic specialist, Geoff Smith from Agricorp, and representatives from 1847 Milling, The Andersons Group, Beechwood Agri Services, Crooked Creek Acres, Field Farms Marketing, Jones Feed Mill, King Grain, SureSource Commodities, and Wehrmann Grain to learn about trends in organic field crops and how each company works. After initial introductions, buyers will break out for more one-on-one networking and discussion. We are also excited to launch something new so please join us!

NFUO Series: Farm Labour Unity – Empowering Farmworkers

Farmworkers are making moves! Until recently, the corporate agricultural industry has dominated the narrative of the so-called “farm labour crisis” and glossed over the in-the-dirt realities of migrant and domestic farmworkers in Canada. Similarly, the often-innovative labour performed by both farm operators and their aspiring farmer staff on organic and agroecological farms has escaped public attention. A 2020 NFU-O Farm Labour Report, a 2022 OCO labour market research project, a brand new NFU farmworker membership category, and a November/December 2022 Briarpatch article written by progressive farmworkers are placing the challenges, realities, and opportunities of farm labour on agroecological farms in an age of unprecedented agricultural crises in perspective. Join the Briarpatch writers and an OCO representative to understand the “farm labour crisis” in a new light and learn how together we can empower each other to raise the value and profile of farm labour.

Vertical organic aquaponics system for food, education, and community benefits

This workshop is a practical introduction to Vertical Organic Aquaponic System for home and community-oriented growers. They will relay the principles, challenges and opportunities of co-culturing fish and plants in urban settings. Principles discussed will include choice of inputs and practices for organic compliance. Possible solutions to challenges will also be discussed ranging from water quality to plant health and economic feasibility. Finally, we will present on the opportunities of aquaponics in various settings and scales (e.g., large off-grid farms, small in-home and multi-residential building systems) as well as different uses. Uses go beyond food production and include (1) providing education centred on sustainable urban agriculture, ecology and organic food, and (2) attendant health benefits of bringing natural elements into buildings. Workshop participants will come away with enhanced understanding of how aquaponics can be done effectively and organically.

LOCATION: Alexander Hall 100
SPONSOR: Presented in Partnership with HiGarden
SPEAKERS:

COTA Series: Protecting Organic Integrity and Actions You Can Take

Join Canadian Biotech Action Network’s Heather Lee and Canada Organic Trade Association’s My-Lien Bosch, Regulatory Affairs and Government Relations Manager, for a deep dive into two threats that organic is currently facing: proposed government changes that would allow some genetically engineered seeds and feeds onto the market without risk assessments or information for farmers, and increases to the maximum allowed residue levels of glyphosate.

EFAO Series: Exploring No-Till Strategies For Larger Scale Organic Vegetable Growers

Ken Laing brings to this workshop a lifelong passion for soil dynamics, cover crops, organic crop production and machinery construction and modification. Ken’s participation in the Living Lab – Ontario project, in collaboration with the Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario (EFAO), has allowed him to explore diverse techniques for no-till organic vegetables at mid-large scale. At this scale it means finding or modifying machinery that will plant into large quantities of residue that are necessary for weed control. In this workshop Ken will share the challenges and his experience with many different strategies and crops.

Insect Frass: An Emerging Fertilizer and Soil Amendment in Ontario & Worldwide

Insect frass is nutrient-rich, dry insect excrement that is emerging as an alternative fertilizer and soil amendment in Canada and internationally. It is the primary coproduct from the growing insect agriculture industry with supporting research demonstrating its utility to improve crop performance, yields, and soil health. In this session, attendees will learn about four key aspects of insect frass:
1. The significance of insect agriculture for food security and the circular economy;
2. Why frass is an interesting fertilizer and soil amendment;
3. Research studies demonstrating how frass can help boost crop performance; and
4. How to access frass for the 2023 season.

This session will include a 20-30 minute presentation with 20-30 minutes for discussion and Q&A. Please feel free to write to Kels with any questions in advance at kelsey.jensen@aspirefg.com.

Growing Edible Organic Beans

Join Ben Cullen, owner of Canada’s only Canadian grown organic canned beans company, Cullen’s foods, and a Panel of Farmers and experts on the challenges, and opportunities of growing organic edible beans. From farmers looking to hone their techniques to farmers looking into diversifying with organic edible beans this panel is informative and educational for all levels of experience with organic edible beans.

Organic Science Impact – Part 1: Uptake and Success Stories

This panel discussion focusing on success stories about how organic science has led to adoption and impact. OACC is evaluating the impact of the organic science research that has been happening across Canada over the past 10 years. The goal is to demonstrate and communicate how research has translated into impacts. There will be presentations by;

Dr. Andrew Hammermeister on research work happening in the Organic Science Cluster
Dr. Emmanuella Ellis on research impact assessment process and factors influencing impact
Invited speakers (3 to 4) who will share success stories about new organic practices being developed and adopted.

The invited guests will be made up of stakeholders in the organic industry specifically, producers, researchers and industry representatives. The audience will then be given some time to ask questions and provide comments.

LOCATION: MacNaughton 105
SPEAKERS:
Panel Chair: April Stainsby
Andrew Hammermeister – Introduction to the Organic Science Cluster
Liette Vasseur – Brock University – Cover cropping in organic vineyards
Aabir Dey – SeedChange – Participatory vegetable breeding
Kim Schneider – University of Guelph – Potential of struvite as a phosphorus source in organic agriculture.

Ontario Organic Farmers Co-operative Meet & Greet
Join us between 5:00 – 6:00 in Room UC 334

Guelph Organic Social

Join the Canada Organic Trade Association (COTA) for our annual Guelph Organic Social in the midst of the exciting Guelph Organic Conference. We look forward to another evening of socializing and celebrating organic together. We thank EcoCert for your sponsorship of this event!

TIME: Sat, 28 January 2023, 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM EST
PLACE: The Bullring 107 Trent Ln Guelph, ON N1G 1Y4

Come join your fellow industry and organic supporters for snacks, drinks and good company!

$20 plus tax early bird price (until January 13th 11:59 PM EST)
$25 plus tax regular price (January 13-January 27)
$30 plus tax at the Guelph Organic Conference trade show at COTA’s Booth 29 or at the door on Saturday, January 28th

Your first featured beverage is on us and there will be yummy appetizers to nibble on!

FAQs
Are there ID or minimum age requirements to enter the event?
Yes – guests must be 19 years of age with a valid ID.

Where is the event happening?
The event takes place on the University of Guelph Campus. The Bullring is a separate building from where the main conference is happening. Check the signs on campus. Doors open at 7pm.

Sunday, January 29th, 2023

Glyphosate in agriculture: health science, pesticide regulation, and organic knowledge to support Canada’s international leadership

Organic growers risk losing some of their production to pests, but pesticide contamination risks the status of some or all of their enterprise. Glyphosate is a common problem. An accessible overview of the chemistry, ecology and human health effects of glyphosate-based herbicides will be followed by a brief overview of present regulatory and legal challenges related to Canada’s, and indeed the world’s, most-used pesticide. In December 2022 in Montreal, at COP15, Canada joined an international consensus on pollution prevention and reduction – Convention on Biological Diversity Target 7. This includes cutting risks from pesticides by half, by 2030. The presentation will lay groundwork for a discussion of: – potential roles for the PMRA to support organic agriculture; and – how Canada can cut in half the risk from pesticides by 2030.

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Introduction to Organic Beekeeping

During this workshop, Luc will discuss his transition from Industrial to Organic beekeeping practices. You will learn about the role of workers, drones, and queen bees in the honeybee colony. Luc will discuss the tools, time, and costs required for beekeeping, Ontario beekeeping regulations, including the Ontario Bees Act and the Apiary Inspection program, and best practices for Organic beekeeping methods. You’ll also learn about the yearly cycle of a honeybee colony, the responsibilities of a beekeeper over the course of a season, and the major problems facing honeybees in the industry today. In particular, you’ll learn about the major pests, diseases, and problems affecting honeybee health – and how to treat them. Finally, there will be time to ask questions and discuss best practices in beekeeping today.

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Alternative Ways to Access Land

Learn about a variety of practical ways to address the barrier of Land Access. Sophie Clark of Trout Lily Nursery will share lessons learned and best practices from her experience leasing Land. Ginelle Skerritt of Adinkra Farm will share her expertise on traditional Susu savings associations as a way to get land for Black farmers. Following the panelist’s presentations there will be a Q and A with the audience so bring your questions!

Regenerating your soil

The Glen Road Organics presents a workshop focused on educating all growers on the advantages of growing biologically. We teach how using The Soil Food Web increases your soil health and productivity. With the use of previous success stories with farmers and our own growing experience we aim to show how biological growing increases production and decreases costs in agricultural soils, market gardens and in greenhouse settings. The workshop will include a brief introduction into The Soil Food Web and composting, followed by success stories from clients and how we implement biological strategies in our own farm as well.

LOCATION: Alexander Hall 100
PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH: The Glen Road Organics
SPEAKERS:

Circular Economy Food Solutions from Across Canada

A circular economy promotes three simple principles: design out waste and pollution, keep products and materials in use, and regenerate natural systems. This minimizes impact on the environment, reduces demand for virgin resources, and maximizes the value of resources and product life. It also represents a potentially powerful economic strategy to capture value from the $49 billion worth of value of food—from farm to fork—lost or wasted every year in Canada. This session will introduce how circular economy principles are being applied in agriculture, fishing/aquaculture and food sectors, drawing from innovative examples from across the country.

Indigenous knowledge for a changing climate – A meditation on remembering what it means to be a human.

How do you interact with the earth? She is listening… In this presentation Mkomose shares his personal experiences utilizing traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) to add richness and beauty to interactions with the natural world. Opening our hearts and minds to the mysteries of creation is a reminder that as human beings we have many responsibilities. Together, with support from our relatives, under the guidance of the Ancestors, our relationship with our mother earth can be renewed, and we can thrive again. Learn ways to immediately apply Indigenous strategies for project developments and a sustainable future.

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Towards Resilient Bees in a Time of Climate Emergency

Climate Change, more accurately labelled Climate Emergency, is already having a profound effect world wide on both honey bee and native bee populations. Our reliance on bees as pollinators of many food crops, and their position as keystone species in ecological pyramids, requires that we respond with our best efforts to support them. This presentation does not promise to fix the problem but to identify some of the major, and some of the subtler, ways in which Climate Change is creating havoc for bees and to propose some first steps in mitigation using best practices from organic, ecological, biodynamic and permaculure approaches.

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NFUO Series – Who Will Feed Us: Meet the Podcast Co-hosts

In 2022, a group of young farmers launched “Who Will Feed Us,” a popular podcast exploring the forces that shape Canadian agriculture and the solutions needed to build a more just and ecological food system. Over the course of nine episodes the co-hosts invited guests to delve into such issues as the corporatization of food and policy, land access and the financialization of land, migrant worker solidarity, the climate crisis and farming, the true cost of food and fair wages, rematriating seeds and decolonizing food systems, and embracing agroecological solutions. In this Guelph Organic Conference panel, podcast co-hosts will talk about the core issues underpinning “Who Will Feed Us,” and what farmers can do and are doing to challenge a food system that “serves no one a healthy meal”.

Making the Business Case for Soil Health

What is the business case for soil health practices? Regenerating soil ecosystems often pays dividends for both organic and conventional farmers. Hear advice and experiences from farmers Ken Laing and Jamie Richards as well as the findings of a new report, “Towards a Business Case for Soil Health: A Synthesis of Current Knowledge on the Economics of Soil Health Practices in Ontario”, from the Greenbelt Foundation and researchers at the University of
Guelph. Find out what we know and don’t know currently about the economics of soil health on farms in Southern Ontario to aid decision-making by farmers. Using current research data and representative farm-level financial
models, the study determines a range of net returns from the adoption of different soil health practices, including tillage intensity, cover crops, diverse crop rotations, organic amendments, and rotational grazing. Incentives to
support these practices are also discussed. Join two of the report authors, Dr. Aaron De Laporte and Paul Smith, along with organic farmers Ken Laing and Jamie Richards to hear about their experiences with the costs and benefits
of soil health practices.

NFUO Series – Flower Power: Sustainable Floriculture is a Blooming Business

This panel will explore the colourful explosion of local, sustainable flower production, novel co-operative marketing methods, and value-added operations that are disrupting the environmentally-disastrous globalized floral supply chains. If you are thinking about adding colour to our communities, contributing to a green economy, and starting your own blooming business, this panel is for you!

LOCATION: Pick up or purchase a lunch at the registration desk
and in the basement coffee lounge

Organic Retailer Meet and Greet
Join Canadian Organic Growers for an organic retailer and producer meet and greet! The event will take place Sunday January 29th from 12-1 pm over lunch in the Peter Clark Hall Lounge Area of the trade show in University Centre (University of Guelph).

This will be an excellent opportunity for organic producers to have direct networking opportunities with organic retailers. Bring your business cards and let’s connect on organic!

Labels, Labels, Labels, Promoting Ontario Organics in the face of a Crowded Playing Field

Organic has been challenged in keeping up with the dietary needs of the market place. For example, with demand for gluten free product rapidly rising, health product retailers often cannot access gluten free certified organic product. Filling the shelves with these non certified alternatives is a missed market opportunity for the organic sector and detrimental for the consumer seeking health. Consumers mistakenly assume natural health food stores supply beneficial product whether certified or not. It behooves the consumer to be not only aware, but to step up and help the organic sector grow in meaningful ways, for it is their dollars supporting the non certified alternatives in their search for health. There is much to be learned about these changes in the market place. Join this session to discuss the issues and find out what the Ontario Organic Council has planned to build a stronger presence for Ontario Organics.

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Full-season care for the small orchard

This workshop is for the farmer or homeowner keen to improve their skills in fruit tree care, whether they have one tree or a 1-acre orchard. I’ll discuss the key features of a management plan for the orchard year, highlighting how various organic practices integrate with each other throughout the year. Topics will include Integrated Pest Management (IPM), pruning, branch training, fruit thinning, understory management, and more. A significant portion of the workshop will be determined by the questions attendees have – there are opportunities to address questions of propagation, the best species for our area and their unique needs and challenges, rootstock choices, breeding, and so on.

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COTA Series: Upcoming Events and Opportunities with Canada Organic Trade Association

Join Kim DeLallo, COTA’s Membership and Business Development Manager, to learn about the initiatives that COTA is involved in and how you can get involved and benefit your organization. She will cover everything from COTA’s Organic Transition Program, business to business matchmaking services, the Organic Directory, trade and regulatory assistance as well as advocacy at federal and provincial levels.

EFAO Series – Growing Regionally Adapted Seed for your Farm or Market Garden

Join this discussion to learn how to achieve the best possible results to achieve high wuality, regionally adapted seed! We will explore best practices for on-farm and backyard seed saving, seed storage and how to achieve successful germination. The presenters will share successful methods, strategies, and tricks of the trade they have gathered through first-hand experience seed saving and working with farmers in the community. Whether you are running a farm business or are a backyard gardener, this session will help you optimize your seed care.

Establishing a record-keeping system that enables effective decision-making

For 22-years I managed a $900,000 year-round market garden with 8-15 employees. For 10-years following this I have consulted with numerous market garden and orchard operations. One of my most beneficial practices has been to establish useful record-keeping that enables profitable decision-making. It all starts with an appropriate Chart of Accounts and Field Records. Analysis of this data quickly confirms the best decisions.

COG Series: Addressing the Gaps in the Domestic Organic Supply Chain

While many farmers transition to organic production, barriers to getting products to market remain a critical risk. Learn about the systemic, cultural, and sectoral barriers that persist in the Canadian organic supply chain and discover solutions that everyone can act on. This is the first time that findings from COG’s recently completed three year study on barriers and solutions to Canada’s organic supply chain will be shared publicly. Presented by Deirdre Laframboise — COG’s Executive Director — and Harry Cummings — Director at Harry Cummings & Associates.

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Managing Water in the Garden

Encouraged by many municipalities and regions, Fusion Gardening ® blends LID (rainwater handling) with xeriscaping (drought-tolerant gardening) and folds in plantings to enhance biodiversity. Learn about the backbones of these disciplines to landscape for water management, soil health and beauty.

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Organic Science Impact: Uptake and Success Stories — Part II

LOCATION: Peter Clark Hall North
SPEAKERS:
Panel Chair: April Stainsby
Andrew Hammermeister – Introduction to the Organic Science Cluster
Caroline Halde – Universite Laval – Soil health in organic field cropping systems in Quebec
Goretty Dias – University of Waterloo – Assessing the environmental performance of organic field crops

Understanding Soil Microbes and their Role in Healthy Soil.

A key role in developing healthy soil is to create strong soil biology by taking advantage of the soil food web. This seminar will look at the life of microbes so you understand the conditions they need to prosper. We’ll look at ways to measure the soil microbes to understand your current soil health and then we’ll look at various methods for increasing their population. We’ll examine some common concepts like the fungal-bacterial ratio, compost tea, commercial microbe products and the effect of tilling.

Making Organics Accessible: Exploring Organic Values and Food Sovereignty

A social system that fails to support equitable access to healthy food often leads to disdain for organic as “elitist” and not useful. Yet organic has often led the way in improving access to nutritious good food and gardens. Join Taylor Stanley of MadeGood, Markus Pfenning of Pfennings and Kate McMurray of The Big Carrot as they explore organics, accessibility and the challenges and opportunities with Organic values of health, fair labour, animal welfare, and environmental responsibility.

JOIN US AT THE 2024 GUELPH ORGANIC CONFERENCE

JANUARY 24TH-27TH, 2024

After a successful 2023 conference, we are excited to announce that the Guelph Organic Conference will be returning to the University of Guelph in January 2024!

Canada’s Largest Organic Event. Something for Everyone!

Friday, January 27th, 2023

Saturday, January 28th, 2023

Crop production, soil quality, and economic analysis:Organic legume cover crop farming in Southern Ontario

COTA Series: The latest in Organic Data – all you wanted to know!

Improving the market for Organics: Lessons from Europe Q & A

Organic magic with worms – Turn your food scraps in black gold

COG Series: Planning for Climate Change Resilience panel and discussion