1998 has been a great year for organic food, lots of growth, new products, international standards in progress… Homestead Organics has also had a very good year, more than doubling our production over the 1997 harvest. We owe it all to you the producers and customers. We hope that we have been of service to you and count on working with you again next year.
Happy Organic Year 1999!
We have significant movement in the organic market last year: about 100% growth from 1500 certified organic acres in 1997 to well over 3000 in 1998. Lots of under-utilized chemical-free acres are coming back into production. Several established farms decided to certify idle fields and commence the transition on others.
The media gave particular attention to the detriments of agro-chemical pollution. Secondly, farmers have taken the plunge into organic production after witnessing the success of friends and neighbours. Homestead Organics, COG Ottawa and OCPP jointly launched a recruiting program for producers in 1998 with full page advertising and trade show presence. The program was a great success by reaching people considering organic crops.
Soybeans are cleaned at Homestead Organics and shipped to markets in Nova Scotia, Québec, the USA, England and Japan. Buckwheat has found homes in Québec, New England, Germany and Holland. Food grade spring wheat is consumed by the Ontario market. Rye, corn, barley, oats, feed wheat and soybeans go to livestock feed in Eastern Ontario, Western Québec, New York and Vermont. Based on our feed sales this year, the production of organic animal products (eggs, milk, meat) has doubled over 1997.
Homestead Organics also marketed conventional buckwheat from Eastern Ontario to the American market. Our contact with conventional buckwheat producers has helped us recruit even more organic producers for next year. Other grains, such as spelt, oil radish, sunflowers, coloured beans, naked oats and many others are still needed in the future.
The sudden increase in organic grain production in both Canada and the US means that production has caught up with demand, at least for the moment, and prices have decreased. Feed grains (wheat, corn, barley) are down from $250-$300 in 1997 to $180-$200 per tonne, but remain a big step from the conventional prices of $100-$150. Buckwheat is slightly depressed because of an oversupply from China and Eastern Europe: $400 versus the conventional price of $280-$300. Soybeans are still tagged with an inflated price because of overseas demand: $770-$800 per tonne versus $300 for conventional soybeans. But we expect soybeans to move slightly downward this winter and next harvest, maybe around $700-$750.
While the crops are harvested once per year, people and animals eat every day. Most organic farms are small and have no storage. We need to build a storage facility to serve Eastern Ontario and Western Québec; otherwise, surplus crops must be shipped at a low price at harvest time, perhaps on the conventional market, and then replaced later in the year at higher costs. We also need better processing facilities to increase the value of our crops for export.
Homestead Organics is building shared storage for our farmers. Since the organic market is very new, financing through conventional institutions is difficult. So we invited private individuals to help. Producers and consumers have already invested several thousand dollars to build or rent over 700 tonnes of storage space for our 1998 organic field crops.
We still need your help as we expect many more organic acres next year. The investor receives an interest payment for the term of the loan. The producer benefits by having a home for his/her organic field crop and the consumer benefits by eating food produced locally at more affordable prices. If you believe in organic food, then put your money where your mouth is! Your investment will make a difference!
I publish a monthly article "Organic Essentials" in the Eastern Ontario AgriNews, distributed free to farmers, but many of our growers have not seen it, nor do they receive other free agricultural publications. Canada Post identifies two types of mailboxes: farm versus residential. Publishers then ask Canada Post to distribute their letter to all farm mailboxes. They do not rely on membership in OFA to know what is a farm. The local post master simply drives down the road and makes a decision based on what he/she sees on the property. Therefore, several small farms are thought to be simple residences. Contact your post master to correct the situation.
The Canadian Organic Growers (COG) Producers' List is an annual drive to bring consumers to the producer's farm to purchase organic food. The list is distributed free to all COG Ottawa members (about 330) in February. It is also given free to visitors at the COG booth during many public events. Homestead Organics will mail it out to over 300 people on Homestead Organics' mailing list. We will also provide copies at public locations such as community centers, Omafra field offices, organic retail locations, etc.
Certified organic enterprises are highlighted on the list beside non-certified enterprises who solemnly declare that they completely follow recognized organic methods. Please call me at (613) 984-0480 to request the application form. The listing is free, but applicants must be COG members in good standing.
COG is again co-sponsoring Canada's largest organic conference in Guelph on January 29th, 30th and 31st. The theme this year is "Making the transition to organic farming". The conference has continued to grow in terms of attendees, booths, and content. It will feature 2 intensive seminars on Friday, 20 workshops on Saturday and a full day of biodynamic farming training on Sunday. Learn about soil fertility, weed control, permaculture, livestock, etc.
You can attend for any single day of your choice or all three days. You can also visit dozens of vendors, processors and associations in the booth area on Saturday. For more information, visit the conference web site or call Tomas Nimmo at 705-444-0923.
COG Ottawa and Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario are sponsoring the "Focus on Ecological Farming" day, held within the "Focus on Farming and Rural Living" week (formerly known as Farmer's Week) at Kemptville College from February 12th through February 20th, 1999.
Saturday, February 13th, 8:30 am -4:00pm
W.B. George Center, Kemptville College
The Dilemma: Keeping Pace With the Growing Demand for Organic Food
Workshops:
For further information contact Doug Scott, tel: (613) 258-3044 or dascott@sympatico.ca or visit COG's website at www.gks.com/cog/. To reserve a booth at the trade show exhibition, contact Bernice Ladanyi at Kemptville College (613) 258-8336 or fax (613) 258-8384.
Come to a farmer's workshop on Ecological and Organic Farming.
The Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario & Homestead Organics invite you to any of these sessions at the South Nation Conservation Office in Berwick, from 7PM till 10PM.
For information and reservations, call toll free (877) 984-0480.
Organic growers must use untreated and GMO-free seed and you need to decide between registered seed versus bin-run. Since most of the registered seed is treated, it is important that we assemble large seed orders to convince the seed vendors to prepare an untreated lot. That means that I need your seed order NOW to place an order early before all the seed gets treated. I must minimize my unreserved inventory of seed, so call now to avoid a disappointment. Last year, it was very hectic trying to satisfy tardy requests.
We are pleased to welcome a new distributor for our organic livestock feed: Dodds and Erwin of Perth Ont. A family business and local institution for decades, the feed mill recognized the significant customer demand for organic feeds. Homestead Organics will no longer deliver direct to your farm in Lanark county. Customers have the convenience of picking up what and when they want at the Lanark office for our regular delivered price. Please advise Dodds & Erwin of any special orders including bulk food products.