Organic oats Grain Millers

[freewheat]

If the organic industry and regulators would let me to farm a bit of organic on the side, I would try a bit for the years the hayland is rotated out. But alas, they do not allow for that...

[hobbyfrmr]

Freewheat I dont understand your statement.

[freewheat]

You are not allowed to farm only a portion organically. It is an all or nothing venture from what I understand??

[hobbyfrmr]

Agreed, but start with one property/quarter and the expectation is you intend to bring the other properties into organic in a timely manner until the entire farm is organic. Its like weaning yourself "in". If you dont like it, it takes about 20 minutes to fill a sprayer and not be organic.
If, and only if your interested , goto an organic conference. If your not interested then its a waste of your time.

[freewheat]

And that is the problem. I AM interested, but not for my whole farm, just the portion coming out of hay or grass in rotation, and reclaimed acres that I will get back when it dries up sometime.

I think this should be more open on their part. One can take 4 steps into a crop and know whether it is organic or not most of the time.

[farmaholic]

Freewheat, isn't ado089 doing what you're thinking about trying. I thought he rented some organic land and is farming it with his conventional. Or is that different?

Get the Misses involved with the organic side?

Did you tackle that canola?

[hobbyfrmr]

To each their own.

[freewheat]

I guess I just do not get why they make you sign up all your acres? I thought they did field inspections to verify along the way?

I think one could do well, and maybe keep the weeds and the soil in better long term shape, if you were allowed to do as I would be interested in.

Farma. Have not been able to try the canola since 23 of Oct., weather has been brutal. Might try the beans here when it cools off again.

[TraderJoe]

SaskOrganics Transition to Organic Farming Workshop
Friday, November 27th
AGRIBITION 2015 - Queensbury Conference Centre - Conference Room #4, Evraz Place
FREE Admission - No Pre-Registration Required

Morning Workshop: 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Afternoon Workshop: 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm
Workshop Program
Organic Farming 101 - Will Oddie, Keewatin Farms, SaskOrganics Director
Learn the basics – what is organic farming? How long does it take to transition my farm to organic production? What steps to I need to take to get organic certification for my farm?

Organic Market Advantage - Cody Straza, Upland Organics, SaskOrganics Director & Scott Shiels, Grain Millers
There has never been a better time to enter organic farming than now. Find out how consumer demand for organic food is outpacing Canadian production capacity. Did you know North America accounts for 50% of global demand for organic food but only makes up 7.5% of global organic production? Learn more about organic markets, pricing and increased profitability.
Organic Weed Control & Soil Fertility - Steve Shirtliffe, PhD, University of Saskatchewan
An opportunity to find out about the principles and practices for weed control and improving soil fertility in organic production.

If you are planning to attend Agribition (23rd -28th November) please drop by SaskOrganics booth #502 in Banner Hall and at Booth #15 at the Grain Expo (24th & 25th November).

For more information please contact Marla Carlson - Tel: 306-535-2710 or email marla@saskorganic.com

[hobbyfrmr]

Thank you Trader Joe.
Freewheat, changing farm models to organic is not for everybody. It is not a forced issue. If it doesnt fit, dont do it, you will just resent the decision. It does help to seek out insight and collect a balanced opinion from other organic farmers. Some do it to save the envronment, some do it for money, some realized they were doing it anyway.
There is no pressure to be an organic farmer, its a free country, do want to live a satisfactory life.

[farmaholic]

...and some want off the treadmill of conventional agriculture...

Around here too many guys did it to "save money". Well hobby, you yourself said it costs and should. I believe you will spend money but not in all the same places as conventional farmers. There is a place for it.

I've said it before, I believe you have to be a "good farmer"(insert your own definition) to begin with. I believe it is a different mind set and that is absolutely fine. Sadly I've seen too many failed attempts here but would say it was more their own fault than ANYONE else's! It's not for the "lazy farmer".

[ado089]

I do both, they want me to switch it all over but I told them I wouldn't even consider it until I did a 5 year feasibility study. They were OK with that. If I were to start over with that project I'd just run it under a separate entity or in my own name instead of through the Corp.

Hobby, you might be able to get $7.50 from sunrise. I've been told to wait for $8 early in the new year.

[freewheat]

Well, I guess I will have to call them. I think it could fit in very well with a livestock farm.

But I am not planning on doing more than a couple years, after hay termination every 5 or 6 years. So this may mean only 10% of my land is organic in any given year.

If they do not allow for this, yes, I see it as them forcing me to farm how THEY want me to farm. In that case, I would be out.

I guess my wife or kids could go organic, but with the land shifting all the time, I assume this would not be allowed either?

[hobbyfrmr]

Ado, I contracted the majority at $6.50. I had a surprise good crop. I thought others would have the same so I priced most early. I always " need the money" and I like to be covered with prices. It's pretty obvious I am not the best at marketing, but my bills will be paid and I get to farm another year.
Part of my reasoning is, that in the bust of 2007/2008 the us/cad$ exchange was good, everybody was in love with organic and prices were high. I sold some to cover debt, then figured I would sell into the rallies over winter. BOOM! US housing bust, prices went to half value and no bid for a full year. I carried 20,000 bushels of feed barley for a year and then sold for half price.
Since then, when I see the right amount of black ink I sell. Usually I will have an extra load at the end of deliveries, hopefully oats will reach $8.00/bushel.
I am a severe skeptic/realist, I don't have much regard for buyers who "suggest" what prices "might" be in the future. Another sentence to watch out for is " we are not in the market (not buying) right now, but the price should be $x.00/ bushel."
Grain Millers has a strong presence in North America, they treat me well, and pay on time.
Other buyers are reputable, but I have worked at rail sidings with some very upset organic neighbors Accusing me of "stealing" their rail cars. They sign up with buyers who manage all the details, and then the neighbors rail car takes 6 weeks to arrive. There can be a lot of bullshit for the promise of an extra $0.50/bushel.
I plan to sign up new crop oats very soon.