Organic On-Farm Trials and Demonstration Plots
The Prairie Organic Grain Initiative invites applications for the 2017 field season.
The deadline is March 15, 2017
The Prairie Organic Grain Initiative is dedicated to achieving resiliency and stability in the prairie organic sector by
focusing on increasing the quantity and quality of organic grains, and developing relationships across the organic market
value chains. It is a partnership of Organic Alberta, SaskOrganics, and the Manitoba Organic Alliance. The Initiative is
working on the development and distribution of educational research, mobilizing knowledge transfer from the latest
organic agriculture research, and working with the organic value-chain to build organic grain infrastructure.
The Prairie Organic Grain Initiative is accepting applications for on-farm research trails and on-farm
demonstration plots. We encourage on-farm projects that represent a collaboration between certified organic
growers and researchers with demonstrated experience conducting research in organic agriculture. Both
research and demonstration projects are encouraged.
Projects should demonstrate best management practices in one or more of the following priority areas:
1. Improving Soil fertility
Understanding the role of Green Manures in Soil Fertility: Green Manures are crops grown primarily to
add nutrients to the soil for a subsequent crop, and are crucial for the success of organic production as
they represent a key method to add essential nutrients like nitrogen to organic field crop systems.
Application of Off-Farm Nutrients: Green manures supply most but not all nutrients for organic crops. At
some point, producers need to add nutrients from off farm. However, producers have questions about
what products to use and what products are allowed for use in organic, where to source them, how to
apply them and what products make the most sense economically and agronomically.
2. Improving Weed Management
Tillage Best Management Practices: Tillage is typically the primary weed management technique used by
organic producers, but there are many variations in terms of timing, depth, adjustments, etc. that can
greatly effect weed management and crop quality. New technologies are being developed to mitigate
weed pressure without impacting the crop, but they have not been thoroughly tested under Prairie organic
conditions, and their cost-effectiveness needs to be explored.
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Cultural Practices to Reduce Weed Pressure: Organic producers use multiple cultural
techniques to reduce weed pressure, such as increasing seeding densities, seeding in two
directions, increasing or decreasing row spacing and intercropping. Producers often try
different things each year without really knowing what will be effective.
3. Improving Grain Quality
Post-Harvest Sanitation and Economics: Organic harvests can contain more weed seeds
and immature grain than conventional, so cleaning and storage of organic grain is crucial for
ensuring optimal crop quality. Seed cleaning equipment can greatly improve sanitation and
economics, but there is poor uptake among producers. The type of storage bins and bin
sanitation can also impact crop quality.
Cultural Management Practices to Improve Crop Quality: Organic management relies
heavily on cultural control for nutrient and weed management. However, this is (or this
accumulation of knowledge is) often regionally-specific, and practices vary widely from
producer to producer. Systematizing cultural management practices could go a long way to
improving organic crop quality.
4. Designing Crop Rotations that Optimize Weed and Fertility Management
Understanding Crop Rotation for Nutrient Budgeting and Weed Control: Crop rotations are
integral to organic production, both for nutrient and weed management, but Prairie organic
production practices vary widely on how they use rotations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Criteria and Eligibility:
- Collaborations between farmers and researchers/extension specialist are encouraged
- Trials/demos must occur on certified organic or transitioning land
- Farmers or researchers can apply
- Application must include a plan for ways to share information (eg. field days, videos,
etc.)
- Funding can be used to supplement existing work
- Funding can be used for materials, labour, and travel
- Matching funding (from any source – industry, association, government) is encouraged
- Successful applicants must write a short report (due November 2017) and make findings
available to the public
Funding of up to $5000 is available for on-farm trials.
Funding of up to $2000 is available for on-farm demonstrations.
For more information, contact:
Iris Vaisman, Prairie Organic Grain Initiative, 587-521-2400
[email protected]
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Application Form
Prairie Organic Grain Initiative Organic On-Farm Trials and Demonstration Plots
1. Contact Information :
Name :
Telephone :
Email :
Organization :
Position/Title :
2. Project Title:
3. Brief outline of the project’s goals and objectives:
4. How is this project relevant to organic producers?
5. Briefly describe the methodology of the project:
a.
Describe the plot layout and treatments. You can attach plot plans, treatment
lists, or diagrams at the end of this application if applicable.
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b. What will you observe and measure?
c. Where is the location of the trial?
d. What is the timeline of the project?
6. Who will be doing the work to set up and conduct the project?
7. How do you plan to share or communicate the results of this project with others?
(Examples would include: field days meetings, and tours etc.)
8. Are there collaborators or co-investigators on this project?
9. Is there matching funding for this project? If so, what is the amount and who is
providing the funding?
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10. Provide a budget for your project. Be specific with amounts and items.
11. Is there any additional information you would like to provide?
Please submit application form to Iris Vaisman,
Email: [email protected]
Fax: 1-780-434-1616
Mail: Attn: Iris Vaisman Unit # 1 10329 61 ave, Edmonton, AB T6H 1K9
Deadline is March 15, 2017
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