BRUNO, Sask. Ñ Diane and Wayne Sully of Mossbank, Sask., are getting used to the organic inspector’s annual visits.
Their switch from conventional farming to 1,920 seeded acres of organic flax, wheat, peas and lentils has resulted in a steep learning curve.
For instance, while attending an organic meeting in Bruno, Sask., on Feb. 22, Diane learned from an organic crop inspector how lime can be used to quell unsightly dandelions carpeting her farmyard.
Ken and Lana Tatarliov, organic farmers from Minton, Sask., said certification inspectors play a major role in the learning process that all organic producers face. They can point farmers to resources and flag areas needing adjustments.
Read Also
U.S. farm group supports supply management
U.S. grassroots farm advocacy group pushing new agriculture legislation that would move towards supply management like Canada has for dairy industry
“It’s an open conversation between the inspector and ourselves,” Ken said.
Inspectors can refer farmers to websites, organic specialists and other resources, he added.
Preparing for the annual inspections begins well in advance with well-kept record books, said Lana, who cited the need to know the regulations and the do’s and don’ts of organic farming.
Inspectors are the “eyes, ears and guts of the certification agency,” said Manitoba organic inspector Janine Gibson, also chair of the Canadian Organic Standards Committee’s editorial working group.
She said her role is to walk the fields with farmers, conduct interviews, examine their records and list areas of improvement needed for certification.
Identifying the origins of contamination such as chemical drift is key to protecting the organic integrity of the product, she said.
“Operators are the experts on their farm and we’re there to get a sense of their ability to manage it,” she added.
Gibson said organic inspectors need to have practical skills in production agriculture and an understanding and empathy for farming.
