Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

Record Keeping for Organic Certification Workshop

Event Details

Record Keeping for Organic Certification Workshop

Time: March 13, 2010 all day
Location: Greely Community Centre
Street: 1448 Meadow Dr
City/Town: Greely, ON (Just south of Ottawa)
Website or Map: http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=…
Phone: 1-888-375-7383 or email office@cog.ca
Event Type: workshop
Organized By: Colin Lundy
Latest Activity: Feb 25, 2010

Export to Outlook or iCal (.ics)

Event Description

Description:

One of the most important aspects of organic certification is the requirement to maintain records which enable the inspector to conduct a field to table audit of organic production. This one-day workshop will help you learn the best way to set up a record keeping system, what types of records you need to keep and how your farm operation can benefit from improved record keeping. This course is targeted to producers who are: 1) already organic, 2) in transition to organic, or 3) interested in transitioning to organic.

WORKSHOP OUTLINE

1- Understanding the organic certification system and the rationale for maintaining records in certified organic farming.

2- Understanding the certification process from choosing a certifier to what to expect during an organic inspection.

3- Preparing an Organic Plan, with maps and field histories.

4. Planning an organic crop rotation.

5- Creating and Maintaining Records.

Assessing what information needs to be recorded and/or collected.

What types of records are required for different types of farming, including livestock, field crops, fruit/vegetable producers and on-farm processing.

Tools for efficient record keeping

6- Using Your Records to evaluate risk, food safety and create traceability, and to identify your farm’s strengths and weaknesses to improve farm sustainability, efficiency and profitability.

WORKSHOP OUTCOMES

Participants will leave the workshop with an understanding of the process and requirements of organic certification, especially with regards to the important aspect of record keeping. Participants will learn how to develop an organic plan and determine what kinds of records they need to keep for their particular farms. Additionally, participants will be made familiar with tools to help maintain records efficiently.

Instructor: Maureen Bostock

Maureen Bostock farmed in northwest British Columbia for 10 years before moving in 2002 with her partner, Elizabeth, to Sweet Meadow Farm in Balderson, Ontario.There she grows certified organic vegetables on 6 ½ acres which are sold at the farm gate, at the Perth Farmers’ Market, to a local alternative grocery store and to other organic/local distribution programs in the area. She works part time as an organic inspector in the eastern Ontario region and is a member of the Independent Organic Inspectors Association. Maureen is a board member of the Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario and represents EFAO to the Canadian General Standards Board Organic Technical Committee which oversees changes to the Canadian Organic Standards.Maureen has written Growing Potatoes Organically: From market garden to field crop, which is scheduled to be released in December, 2008.

Price:

$50 ($45 for COG members)

Workshop includes:coupon for a free copy of COG's soon to be published book Record Keeping for Organic Farmers ($22value), additional handouts, and lunch.

Comment Wall

Comment

RSVP for Record Keeping for Organic Certification Workshop to add comments!

Join Ontario Agriculture

Attending (1)

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

Increased U.S. Refinery Exemptions May Have Implications for Canola

The American Soybean Association (ASA) is warning that a sharp increase in small refinery exemptions under the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard could significantly weaken domestic soybean oil demand, with potential implications extending into the canola market. In a new release Tuesday, ASA said recent reports suggest exemptions for the 2025 RFS compliance year could exceed 1.8 billion Renewable Identification Number credits under a revised methodology now being considered. That would be nearly double the level the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency assumed when it finalized its 2026-27 Renewable Volume Obligation rule. The ASA said such a large increase in exemptions could wipe out roughly 500 million gallons of biomass-based diesel demand and cost U.S. soybean farmers about US$1 billion in lost revenue. The issue is important for Canadian canola markets because Chicago soyoil prices are widely regarded as a leading price driver and directional indicator for canola oil and canola

Spring Wheat Harvest Accelerates Past Halfway Mark

The U.S. spring wheat harvest accelerated sharply this past week, while crop condition ratings slipped slightly. Monday’s USDA crop progress report pegged the national spring wheat harvest at 62% complete as of Sunday, up 21 points from a week earlier. Progress was also well ahead of the 51% harvested at the same point last year and the five-year average of 52%. South Dakota remained furthest along, with 91% of its spring wheat crop harvested, up from 81% a week earlier and ahead of the 85% average. Minnesota reached 78% complete, up from 63%. North Dakota, the largest U.S. spring wheat-producing state, made strong progress as well, with 56% of the crop harvested, up from 37% the previous week and ahead of the five-year average of 40%. Montana harvest reached 55%, nearly doubling from 28% a week earlier, although progress remained slightly behind the 60% average. Meanwhile, national spring wheat condition ratings weakened modestly. The USDA rated 51% of the crop good to excellent

Manitoba Harvest Reaches 4% as Drier Weather Helps Fieldwork

Manitoba’s harvest advanced over the past week as drier conditions allowed producers to make progress in winter cereals, peas and early spring grains, although activity remains limited in several regions. Tuesday's weekly crop report showed about 4% of the province’s major crops had been harvested as of Monday. The Central region was furthest along at 9%, followed by the Eastern region at 5%. The Southwest and Interlake were each 2% complete, while the Northwest was at just 1%. Winter wheat and fall rye harvest were each 66% complete provincially. Progress reached 99% in the Central region, while winter wheat was 95% harvested in the Eastern region. Spring wheat, barley and oats were each 7% harvested across Manitoba, while field pea harvest had reached 24%. Canola harvest was just getting underway at 2%, concentrated in the Central region. Crop development continues to advance toward maturity. Spring cereals are generally in the hard dough stage or moving into harvest, with desi

Canadian crops depend on honey bees, but disease and environmental stressors are putting them at risk

Honey bees may be best known for making honey, but they also play a vital role in Canadian agriculture, acting as pollinators for important crops like hybrid canola, sunflowers and berries. Their work supports billions of dollars in agricultural production and economic activity each year. The health of the Western honey bee (Apis Mellifera) is under threat from disease and many environmental stressors, including a rapidly changing climate.  Dr. Nuria Morfin, assistant professor in entomology in the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, has been awarded a new Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Discovery Grant to study how the community of microbes interact with the honey bee to cause disease.  “It’s estimated that honey bee colonies contribute about $7 billion annually to the Canadian economy through pollinating important crops like hybrid canola,” says Morfin. “We need to better understand how stressors interact and affect honey bee health and productivit

Canada announces retaliatory tariffs against the U.S.

The trade war between Canada and the U.S. continues to escalate.

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service