Canada Grazing Exchange

A free online platform connecting livestock owners with landowners across Canada who have available grazing land or cover crops. A great tool to help improve soil health and make the most of forage opportunities.
www.canadagrazingexchange.com

Gateway Research Organization (GRO)

Based in Westlock, Alberta, GRO is a local Applied Research Association offering practical, science-based information on topics like soil health, pasture management, and livestock. They host regular winter "CropTalk" sessions and pasture webinars—perfect to catch live or rewatch later. Many producers enjoy tuning in while working in the field.

Listen to recorded sessions on Podbean: Gateway Research Organization | Podbean

FaRM Learning Hub

The FaRM (Farm Resilience Mentorship) Learning Hub is a go-to resource for Canadian farmers looking to build climate-resilient farms using regenerative agriculture practices. It offers self-guided learning modules, videos, and practical tools focused on grazing, soil health, and cover crops. The hub also features six free mini-courses that walk you through creating a grazing plan, covering key topics like paddock and cell design, fencing, record keeping, and more—perfect for getting started or refining your current system.

https://www.farmlearninghub.ca/pages/about-grazing

Our podcast is supported by generous donations, grants and sponsorships. This episode was sponsored by Manitoba Beef Producers and funded in part by Farmers for Climate Solutions and Manitoba Habitat Heritage through the Conservation Trust Program.If you would like to sponsor an episode, contact us at info@manitobaorganics.com.

Ward Middleton

Ward and his wife, Jo-Anne Middleton, own and operate Midmore Farms in Sturgeon County, Alberta. Their operation has been certified organic for 28 years. The operation is an eclectic mixed farm that strives to find synergies between organic grain production and utilizing a custom grazing/feeding operation for nutrient import and soil health.

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Manitoba Organics.

Rodale Institute has some excellent information around composting as well

https://rodaleinstitute.org/why-organic/organic-farming-practices/composting/

One fantastic way to build soil health and improve the water infiltration capacity of your soil is to integrate livestock onto your land.  For grain farmers who don’t own livestock, MOA and MFGA have built a website to help facilitate partnerships between grain and livestock farmers. It’s a great way to terminate and reincorporate your green manure and build your soil biology. FInd out more here: https://manitobagrazingexchange.com/

The panel mentioned Mark Shepard’s keyline permaculture design, so we thought we’d include a link to a presentation he made last year at Manitoba Forage and Grasslands Association conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7c8302QJk5k

If you’re in Manitoba, you can out more about the programs and support offered by the Watershed Districts and find out who your local district is here: https://manitobawatersheds.org/

In Canada, other groups providing watershed and soil health support include Ducks Unlimited https://www.ducks.ca/ , and ALUS https://alus.ca/. 

Our podcast is supported by generous donations, grants and sponsorships. This episode was funded in part by the Canadian government through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, the Prairie Organic Development Fund and the Conservation Trust. MOA is also thankful for its gold sponsors, Millview Farms, La Milanaise, SeCan, Kroeker Farms and XiteBio. If you would like to sponsor an episode, contact us at info@manitobaorganicalliance.com.

Producer and Manager, Assiniboine West Watershed

Ryan Canart received a degree in Natural Resource Management at Thompson Rivers University in 2002 but began his love of working with the land in 2000 when his family purchased their property near Hargrave Manitoba. Ryan has a passion for regenerative land management, which started with a keen interest in agroforestry. He applies that passion by managing his grass-backgrounding ranch with AMP grazing, planting trees, growing food, and taking advantage of the many opportunities rural living provides. Ryan has been involved with the watershed district program since 2003. Currently he is the General Manager of the Assiniboine West Watershed. He has also been involved with organizations over the years including the Manitoba Rural Adaptation Council, the Prairie Improvement Network, and the Assiniboine River Basin Initiative.

Research Scientist, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Brandon

Henry Wilson has been a Research Scientist with AAFC in Brandon, Manitoba since 2011. He conducts research on the hydrology, nutrient cycling, and stream ecology of agricultural systems. His current research is focused on developing knowledge to reduce eutrophication and flooding problems in agricultural watersheds, design of more sustainable and resilient production systems, and understanding potential environmental benefits and trade-offs associated with agricultural management changes. He earned his Ph.D. from the Watershed Ecosystems program at Trent University, in Ontario and was awarded a postdoctoral fellowship through the Yale Institute for Biospheric Studies, USA before becoming a Research Scientist with AAFC.

You can contact Neal Wagar, Manitoba Technical Sales Rep via email neal@overtonee.ca or  phone (204-218-2221) for any questions about Ecotea.

Recent study results have been uploaded to our website as well in the Resources section: https://manitobaorganicalliance.com/podcasts/season-3-episode-6-biologicals/

http://www.eco-tea.ca/

https://youtu.be/sIsfmR7NK1Y

https://youtu.be/KZzACqUuSYk

www.overtonenvironmental.ca

www.ecotea.ca

Our podcast is supported by generous donations, grants and sponsorships. This episode was sponsored by Overton Environmental Enterprises and funded in part by the Canadian government through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, the Prairie Organic Development Fund. MOA is also thankful for its gold sponsors, Millview Farms, La Milanaise, SeCan, Kroeker Farms and XiteBio. If you would like to sponsor an episode, contact us at info@manitobaorganicalliance.com.

Dale Overton

I am a highly motivated and hard working individual interested in applied ecology and sustainable landscape management. My goal is to work with industry partners to create realistic and economical solutions to complex ecological problems. I am also interested in developing, manufacturing and marketing various biological soil amendments and organic fertility products (Eco-Tea and Essential Organics). I am also involved in waste reduction and transformation projects using advanced composting techniques. Currently, I am involved in many innovative research projects both in Canada and Internationally, which focus on organics waste management, sustainable agri-systems, soil ecology and revegetation.

My family and I live on a 97 acre farm in the boreal-parkland transition ecoregion. My wife and I share a beautiful daughter and son. We have dogs, cats, rabbits, horses and chickens all raised as holistically and sustainably as possible.

Curtis mentioned Manitoba Agriculture’s Soil Management Guide as a great resource in learning more about soils in general and how to manage them:

https://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/environment/soil-management/soil-management-guide/

Our podcast is supported by generous donations, grants and sponsorships. This episode was funded in part by the Canadian government through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, the Prairie Organic Development Fund and the Conservation Trust. MOA is also thankful for its gold sponsors, Millview Farms, La Milanaise, SeCan, Kroeker Farms and XiteBio. If you would like to sponsor an episode, contact us at info@manitobaorganicalliance.com.

Curtis Cavers

Curtis is the site supervisor for the AAFC-Portage la Prairie sub-station which is part of the Brandon Research and Development Centre.  Curtis has a focus in agronomy and soil science, specifically in the areas of nutrient management, soil health, tillage, water management, precision agriculture and general crop production.

You can contact Curtis at: curtis.cavers@agr.gc.ca  or reach him by phone: 204-871-7346

Our guest host for this episode was Allison Squires. You can find out more about Allison and her farm, Upland Organics at https://uplandorganics.ca/.

Dale & Carter: “Topsoil and civilization”

https://www.worldcat.org/title/topsoil-and-civilization/oclc/924435

Check out the Rodale Institute resources, webinars and courses

https://rodaleinstitute.org/why-organic/organic-basics/

Education Course

https://rodaleinstitute.org/education/

https://courses.rodaleinstitute.org/p/rodale-institute-transition-to-organic

Contact Nic for more information about accessing consultant services and takin the 

Education courses: nic.podoll@rodaleinstitute.org 

+1(218)789-1044 (based in Minnesota)

Get some financial support during your transition to organics through The Canada Organic Trade Association (COTA) “Support Organic Change Fund”.

https://www.canada-organic.ca/en/what-we-do/market-access/organic-conversion-support-program

Our podcast is supported by generous donations, grants and sponsorships. This episode was funded in part by the Canadian government through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, the Prairie Organic Development Fund and the Conservation Trust. MOA is also thankful for its gold sponsors, Millview Farms, La Milanaise, SeCan, Kroeker Farms and XiteBio. If you would like to sponsor an episode, contact us at info@manitobaorganicalliance.com.

Midwest Organic Consultant

Nic is a lifelong organic farmer, having grown up and farmed with his family on their certified organic farm in southeast North Dakota, raising small grains and vegetable seed. Prior to working at Rodale Institute, he worked in Extension for the University of Minnesota and North Dakota State University. He also served several years on the NCR-SARE Farmer Rancher Grant Review Committee. Nic is IOIA certified in crops and holds a Master’s in Agricultural & Extension Education from North Carolina State University. He is located in north-central Minnesota.