The joy of farming: why do you like being an organic farmer?

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No farming: no food!

Farmers are playing a vital role in our modern lives and we tend to forget how important they are. Brocoli does not grow on grocery shelves!

To produce organic food, farmers have to respect standards, maintain records, be audited every year by an inspector that will scrutinize their production practices and, most of all, find the appropriate market where to sell their products. And pay the certification fees!

These are the burdens; but what are the positive aspects? What is the satisfaction linked to organic farming? The merit of working close to nature? The proudness of harvesting a rich crop?

Please share with us what you enjoy about being a farmer, and above all, an organic farmer!

Thanks!

No “Certified Organic” claim for products certified under the Organic Products Regulations in Canada: how does it impact the market?

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On the Canada Organic Office website, the directive is very clear:

“As all organic products, under the Canada Organic Regime, must be certified by a Canadian Food Inspection Agency accredited certification body, products bearing the claim “certified organic” are considered misleading. Having only some products labelled “certified organic”, while others aren’t, may mislead consumers into believing that products not bearing this claim are not certified. The statement “Certified by” immediately followed by the name of the certification body is acceptable as it denotes who has certified the product.”

So, when an organic product complies with the OPR, it can only be labelled as “organic”. But as the intraprovincial market is not regulated under the OPR, many consumers are looking for the phrase “Certified Organic” as a way to make sure that the local product that they buy is really organic. It helps them distinguishing the real “certified organic” product from the “organic” one that local farmers can label as organic without any certification.

How are operators coping with this labelling issue? Are the different rules applying to interprovincial and intraprovinal markets confusing consumers who look primarily for the phrase “certified organic” to help them make their purchasing decisions? Does that create an unfair advantage to imports which continue to use “certified organic” all over their packaging?

You are invited to post your comment on this issue! Thanks for your participation!

No Intraprovincial Organic Regulations in Canada: what is the impact on the organic sector development?

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The Canadian Organic Products Regulations (OPR) were implemented in June 2009 but they do not cover organic products produced and sold within the same province. The OPR only apply to products that are traded on interprovincial and international markets.

So since the last two years, consumers in Canada can buy certified organic products complying with the OPR requirements, or organic products that are not certified because  they are grown and sold without crossing any provincial borders. Quebec is the only province where the “organic” designation is strictly regulated. In British Columbia, the terms “BC Certified Organic” are protected, but the single claim “organic” is not covered under BC voluntary certification system.

What is the impact of not having organic products regulated and certified in intraprovincial markets? Does it reduce consumer confidence in the organic designation, or can it have an impact on the value of the organic premium?

Should intraprovincial claims about organic production be just as verifiable as international claims?

What are the producers of certified organic products experiencing when sharing market space with operators selling organic products that are not certified?

Two years have passed since the implementation of the OPR and the OFC thinks that time has come to assess the impact of the lack of intraprovincial regulation on the Canadian organic sector.

You are invited to post your comment on this issue; you can require your name not to be added when your comment will be posted. Thanks for your participation.

Impact of GM Alfalfa on organic agriculture – Impact de la luzerne GM sur l’agriculture biologique

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Call for your testimonial - Blog to be heard!

Genetically modified (GM) alfalfa has been approved for planting in the US and is one step away from being sold as seed in Canada.  The Organic Federation of Canada joins the effort of the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN) to collect organic farmers’ concerns about the foreseen impact of GM alfalfa on their operations.

The testimonials and comments received will help the sector prepare a strategy when the new House of Commons Agriculture Committee will resume its activities after the election of the next government.

So, please describe what would be the impact of the introduction of GM alfalfa on your farming operations, with your name and region. Thanks in advance for your precious cooperation.

Slaughter Animals: Organic Grain-forage Rations in Fattening Phase/ La ration céréales-fourrage du bétail biologique en phase d’engraissement

What kind of ration should an organic slaughter animal be on  in the finishing or fattening phase?

The CGSB Committee on Organic Agriculture considered the following proposal for amendment to the Section 6.4.3 of the Canadian Organic Standards at its January meeting in Cornwall.  

6.4.3 Specific livestock rations shall take into account the following:

b. for ruminants, that at least 60% of the dry matter in daily rations consist of hay, fresh/dried fodder or silage. As an exception, slaughter animals may be finished on a ration of up to 60% grain for up to 150 days, provided the cattle have free-choice access to long-fiber forage ( >10 cm stem length).”

 During the meeting, the proposal was revised as follows:   The grain ration was reduced from 60% down to 50% and 150 days to 10% of the life of the animal.

Taking into account the province and agri-climatic zone in which you raise cattle, the feed that you grow or have access to, the natural conditions that favour ruminant health, what is your opinion on the issue?

Quel type de ration devrait recevoir un animal de boucherie biologique lors de la phase de finition ou d’engraissage?

Lors de la rencontre du Comité sur l’agriculture biologique de l’ONGC tenue en janvier à Cornwall, une proposition d’amendement à l’alinéa  6.4.3 de la Norme nationale sur les Systèmes de production biologique a été étudiée:

 6.4.3 Les rations propres à chaque espèce animale doivent tenir compte des points suivants :

b. dans le cas des ruminants, du fait qu’au moins 60 % de la matière sèche dans les rations quotidiennes est composée de foin, de fourrage frais ou séché ou d’ensilage. À titre d’exception, les animaux de boucherie peuvent être engraissés par une ration composée jusqu’à 60 % de céréales pendant une période allant jusqu’à 150 jours, à condition que le bétail ait un accès libre à du fourrage à longues fibres (longueur de tige >10 cm).

 Après discussion, cette proposition a été modifiée, le pourcentage de céréales passant de 60% à 50% et la période de 150 jours devenant un maximum de 10% de la durée de vie de l’animal.

En considérant la province et le climat où se déroulent vos opérations, les aliments pour animaux que vous produisez ou auxquels vous avez accès, et les règles naturelles qui influent sur la santé animale, quelle est votre opinion sur ce sujet?

PARALLEL PRODUCTION – PRODUCTION PARALLÈLE

Are you in favor of parallel production?

Parallel production is not allowed in Canada but it is allowed in the US, and the EU prohibits it with exceptions. The issue is under debate at the level of the CGSB Committee on Organic Agriculture and a proposal for amendment will be submitted for balloting.

Should Canada be more flexible on the issue of parallel production? If it were allowed, could parallel production be managed without compromising organic integrity? Can consumers trust the organic quality of produce grown on a unit where organic and non-organic crops are produced? What is your opinion? To leave a comment, please click on “comment” and then on “reply” at the bottom of the list of comments that will pop up!

Êtes-vous en faveur de la production parallèle en agriculture biologique?

Au Canada, la production parallèle n’est pas permise; cette pratique est acceptée aux ÉU et interdite dans l’UE bien que certaines exceptions soient admises.  Cette pratique fait actuellement l’objet d’un débat au sein du Comité sur l’agrculture biologique de l’ONGC et une proposition d’amendement sera soumise au scrutin.

Le Canada devrait-il être plus flexible sur la pratique de la production parallèle? Si la production parallèle était permise, pourrait-on la gérer sans compromettre  l’intégrité de la production biologique?  Les consommateurs peuvent-ils se fier à la qualité biologique d’un produit cultivé dans une unité de production où des cultures biologiques et non biologiques sont produites?  Qu’en pensez-vous?  Cliquez sur “Comment” pour accéder à la section des commentaires et émettez votre opinion en cliquant sur “Reply” en bas de la page de commentaires.