Saskatchewan's Organic Pioneers
Why does Saskatchewan have more organic producers than any other part of Canada, perhaps the world? Who started the province's organic farming movement? Who were its pioneers?
One of the best known of the organic "pioneers" was Cliff Jones of Netherhill, near Kindersley. Cliff was well known as a successful grain grower who for several decades sold high quality seed from his farm. He had won so many grain-growing awards that the ribbons entirely covered a sheet of plywood. In all, he had 190 prizes, 25 championships - including the 1952 world flax championship, 45 firsts, as well as many others, won at fairs in Western Canada, Toronto, and Chicago.
With these credentials, Cliff was on solid ground promoting organic methods. He had tried fertilizers and chemicals in a 10-year test comparing results with his cultural methods and found that he "never made a nickel" from them. He used to attend farm shows and trade fairs and challenge people to a competition: they could use any amount of every type of chemical and he would use none. If he didn't have better yields, in terms of quantity and quality, he would give them $500. No one ever took him up on the challenge.
Fred Fries was a neighbour of Cliff Jones. Fred was a fascinating character who was known for antics like standing on his head during his talks on organic farming to demonstrate how vigourous he was from eating organic food. Like Cliff Jones, his own research showed he could get higher yields without chemicals by using organic methods. His favourite practice was to allow weeds to grow in his fallow and then cut them with rotary mowers and disc the green manure into the surface of the soil. He would even plant the weed seeds cleaned from his grain to increase the green manure!
Alvin Scheresky of Glen Ewan started farming organically in 1964. He was probably the first certified organic grower in the province. He was also an innovator in direct marketing to consumers and in developing organic markets. By using sweet clover as a green manure and controlling weeds with cultural methods, Alvin maintained similar yields to his neighbours, but was one of the first in Saskatchewan to discover the benefits of premiums on certified organic crops. His product line became known nation wide and his integrity and product quality is widely respected and second to none. His operation, now known as Daybreak-Scheresky Mills, continues under new ownership.
With the emergence of environmental issues, consumer concerns about chemical residues in food, and a worldwide organic farming movement, experienced organic growers like Cliff Jones, Fred Fries, and Alvin Scheresky became examples to a growing movement of Saskatchewan farmers who were making the transition to organic production. Today, there are more than 1100 organic growers in the province and more than 1 million acres of organic farmland.
For more information visit the Saskatchewan Organic Directorate web site, the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada (Prairies) site, or this Saskatchewan Agriculture site.
The R.W. Organic Ltd elevator in Mossbank, Saskatchewan is one of a growing number of businesses serving Saskatchewan's expanding organic farming industry.