Organic Grain Transition: If I Knew Then What I Know Now
09/11/19 • 53 min
Join our host Scott Beaton in conversation with Transitioning organic grain farmer, Alex Boersch from Elie, MB, interviews Alan McKenzie, an experienced organic grain farmer from Nesbitt, MB. . With host Scott Beaton, they discusses strategies, perceptions, challenges, and opportunities of transitioning into organic grain. Hear their perspective on rotations, managing weeds, markets, paperwork and more.
Bio: Alex Boersch has a bachelor and Masters in Agri-Business and science from INP Purpan (University in Touluse, France). He has worked for two years in Toronto for DG Global Inc as a grain trader and moved back to the farm July of 2017. The farm was founded in 1988 by his father Andreas Boersch, who emigrated from Cologne, Germany. They farm 5000 acres and are transitioning 500 acres of land into organic.
Alan McKenzie farms in Nesbitt, MB on a 4000 acre mixed cattle and grain organic farm. Alan began transitioning his farm to organic production in 2002 and since 2011 his whole farm including his cattle operation are certified organic. Alan works for diversity on his farm, growing a variety of grain crops including inter-crops, hemp and other cereals. His cattle are used to graze cover crops on the farm.
Resources discussed in this episode:
- Pivot and Grow Transitioning Starter Kit
- Transitioning resources on Pivot and Grow
- 1-800 Ask an Expert: Call 1-800-245-8341
Credits:
Host: Scott Beaton
Producers: Dana Penrice, Iris Vaisman, Cari Hartt, and Tierra Stokes
Grain on the Brain is a podcast of the Prairie Organic Grain Initiative
Join our host Scott Beaton in conversation with Transitioning organic grain farmer, Alex Boersch from Elie, MB, interviews Alan McKenzie, an experienced organic grain farmer from Nesbitt, MB. . With host Scott Beaton, they discusses strategies, perceptions, challenges, and opportunities of transitioning into organic grain. Hear their perspective on rotations, managing weeds, markets, paperwork and more.
Bio: Alex Boersch has a bachelor and Masters in Agri-Business and science from INP Purpan (University in Touluse, France). He has worked for two years in Toronto for DG Global Inc as a grain trader and moved back to the farm July of 2017. The farm was founded in 1988 by his father Andreas Boersch, who emigrated from Cologne, Germany. They farm 5000 acres and are transitioning 500 acres of land into organic.
Alan McKenzie farms in Nesbitt, MB on a 4000 acre mixed cattle and grain organic farm. Alan began transitioning his farm to organic production in 2002 and since 2011 his whole farm including his cattle operation are certified organic. Alan works for diversity on his farm, growing a variety of grain crops including inter-crops, hemp and other cereals. His cattle are used to graze cover crops on the farm.
Resources discussed in this episode:
- Pivot and Grow Transitioning Starter Kit
- Transitioning resources on Pivot and Grow
- 1-800 Ask an Expert: Call 1-800-245-8341
Credits:
Host: Scott Beaton
Producers: Dana Penrice, Iris Vaisman, Cari Hartt, and Tierra Stokes
Grain on the Brain is a podcast of the Prairie Organic Grain Initiative
Previous Episode
Managing Weeds in Organic Crops
Join our host Scott Beaton in conversation with Brenda Frick, organic expert on weeds in organic cropping , to talk about practical and helpful tips for managing weeds in organic cropping. With host Scott Beaton, she discusses how to prevent and manage those tough weeds like Canada Thistle and Bind Weed. Learn understanding weed cycles and what practices farmers use to reduce them.
Bio: Brenda Frick is a partner in Resilient Solutions Consulting. Brenda has a wealth of experience in organic research extension having authored many resources for organics along with an expertise in managing weeds in organic cropping systems. She shares this as an instructor of an online organic weeds class through the University of Saskatchewan Brenda is also one of the experts behind Pivot and Grow's 1-800 'Ask an Expert'. Call her with your questions about organics.
Resources discussed in this episode:
- Living with Weeds fact sheet
- Weed Management resources on Pivot and Grow
- Cultural Practices fact sheet
- 1-800 Ask an Expert: Call 1-800-245-8341
Credits:
Host: Scott Beaton
Producers: Dana Penrice, Iris Vaisman, Cari Hartt, and Tierra Stokes
Grain on the Brain is a podcast of the Prairie Organic Grain Initiative
Next Episode
Cover Crops
Our host, Scott Beaton, chats with Kevin Elmy from Cover Crops Canada about .....wait for it....cover crops.
They talk about why we should all be growing them in the first place and then get into some of the nitty gritty details about some timing issues, how to plan a cover crop mix and how cover crops actually work to improve your soil aggregates and water infiltration.
Thanks to Imperial Seed for helping to sponsor this episode. If you’re thinking about growing a cover crop this year, check out their website at https://imperialseed.com/ or call one of their experts for some help in deciding what would work best for you!
Sponsor
Imperial Seed Ltd. is an accredited seed processing facility focused on the multiplication and processing of proprietary forage and turf seed. Seed production is facilitated through a network of seed growers throughout Western Canada. Growers have at their disposal almost 60 years of cumulative field experience with our staff. This provides both new and experienced growers with an extensive resource related to their seed production.
https://twitter.com/ImperialSeed
Guest bio for Kevin Elmy
I was raised on a seed farm near Saltcoats, SK. I moved back in 1999 after various jobs after convocation from the University of Saskatchewan. The land I bought was baled and burned for 50 years so needed reviving. So we changed our management to included forages, corn grazing, winter cereals, reduced tillage, and the use of cover crops. We got to where we have not added synthetic nitrogen for 13 years, reduced our use of herbicides, eliminated seed treatments, fungicides and insecticides, and now eliminated the rest of our synthetic fertilizer applications. Our soil are now alive.
Resources
Check out Kevin’s cover crop assessment sheet and more info about cover crops at
Haven’t filled out Callum’s survey in 2019 yet?
Or follow him on Twitter @CallumMorrisons and he’ll let you know when to fill out his 2020 survey.
MOA also hosted a cover cropping workshop last November and the videos are available on our website https://manitobaorganicalliance.com/article/nov-13-brandon-mb-getting-the-most-out-of-every-acre-through-cover-cropping/ or go straight to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZg0amo8jn6M6b7O38ZvriznADlDmT9Mm
Still wanting to read more?
http://www.umanitoba.ca/outreach/naturalagriculture/covercrops.html
https://www.pivotandgrow.com/resources/production/cover-crops/
Favourite read (book)
Kevin’s Top Book Pick
“When Weeds Talk”
https://www.acresusa.com/products/weeds-and-why-they-grow
Host: Scott Beaton
Guests: Kevin Elmy & Callum Morrison
Narrator: Karen Klassen
Producer: Karen Klassen
Editor: Karen Klassen
Consultant: Anne Kirk
Disclaimer
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Manitoba Organic Alliance.
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