Organic production Resources
Successful organic production requires research and self-education, observation, experimentation, and learning from others. We have compiled a number of resources under common categories of interest. Click on the category below for a quick link to the section, or scroll down to view all.
Rotations & Nutrient Management
Pest Management-Weeds and Insects
Intercropping & Cover cropping
Soil Health & Regenerative Organic Agriculture
Post-Harvest Grain Handling and Storage
Field Crop Production
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Organic Field Crop Production: General resources-Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada
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Filtering seed guide information for prairie organic farms-Manitoba Cooperator, April 2025
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Seed Variety Selection in Organic Production: Wheat, Oats, Soybeans Factsheet-Pivot & Grow
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Organic oat breeding: Oat cultivars specifically developed for organic production systems in Canada-Organic Science Cluster 3 Research Summary, Kirby Nilsen
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Earlier Seeding of Cereal Crops Means Higher and more Reliable Yields-Abundance Magazine, Summer 2023
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Organic Agronomist Training Module 2: Seeds & Seeding-Webinar with Dr. Martin Entz, Pivot & Grow
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Is Smart Technology Smart for Organic Agriculture?-Abundance Magazine, Spring 2023
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Narrowing the Organic and Conventional Crop Yield Gap–Abundance Magazine, Fall 2022
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Buckwheat: A Short Season Crop to Add to Your Organic Production: Abundance Magazine, Spring 2022
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Growing Organic Flax in Saskatchewan: Abundance Magazine, Fall 2021
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Growing Organic Dry Beans in Saskatchewan: Abundance Magazine, Summer 2021
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Growing Organic Cereal Crops in Saskatchewan: Abundance Magazine, Spring 2021
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Protecting the Integrity of Organic Crops Through Effective Use of Buffer Zones: Abundance Magazine, Winter 2021
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Organic Producers Need to Grow More Pulses and Often: Abundance Magazine, Fall 2020
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Organic Chickpea Research-Perry Miller, Presentation from Organic Research Zoom Meeting, 2021
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Economics of organic diversified cropping strategies – Top Crop Manager, Digital Edition – July 2021
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The allelopathy effect: how it can benefit organics – Western Producer – May 2018
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Cultural Practices Factsheet: Pivot & Grow
Rotations & Nutrient Management
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The Nutrient Budgeting App-Learn more on Pivot & Grow, create a free account!
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Green Manure Toolkit-Pivot & Grow
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Organic Agronomist Training Module 1: Nutrient Management in Organic Crop Rotations-Webinar with Dr. Martin Entz, Pivot & Grow
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Diversified cropping strategies to improve sustainability of organic crop production in the brown soil zone-Organic Science Cluster 3 research, Dr. Myriam Fernandez
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Green Manure Factsheets from Eastern Canada: View here and here-Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada
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Crop Rotation in Organic Agriculture-Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada
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Soil & Fertility Management in Organic Systems-Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada
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Managing soil phosphorus in organic cropping systems-Abundance Magazine, Spring 2025
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A Systems Approach to Organic Agricultural Production-Abundance Magazine, Fall 2023
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Phosphorus Cycling on Organic Farms Factsheet-Pivot & Grow
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Green Manures: Findings from Eastern and Western Canada-SaskOrganics Webinar Recording, 2021
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Phos for Us? Managing phosphorus on organic farms: SaskOrganics Webinar Recording, 2020
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Organic Crop Production Fertility-Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
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Crop Rotation: Abundance Magazine, Winter 2018
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Rotations Factsheet-Pivot & Grow
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How to Successfully Introduce Specialty Crops to your Organic Crop Rotation: Abundance Magazine, Winter 2022
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Evaluation of Soil Amendments for Increasing Nutrients in Organic Farming: Prepared by the University of Saskatchewan, funded by the Agriculture Development Fund
Pest Management-Weeds & Insects
Weeds
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Organic Crop Production Weed Management-Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
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Breaking the Vicious Cycle: A Systems Approach to Weed Management in Organic Production-Pivot & Grow Factsheet
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Crop Allelopathy and its potential use for weed control-Abundance, Summer 2025
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Interrow cultivation helps organic crops-Western Producer, April 2025
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Pest management in organic cropping systems-Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada
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Organic Agronomist Training Module 3: Insect & Disease Management: Webinar with Dr. Martin Entz, Pivot & Grow
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Canada Thistle Management: Abundance Magazine, Fall 2019
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If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em: Utilizing a weed’s natural traits to combat them-Sherri Roberts Presentation from Organic Research Zoom Meeting, December 15 2021
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Impact of tillage timing and intensity on weeds under organic management in the Brown Soil Zone -Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
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Perennial weed control in organic rotations – Top Crop Manager – April 2020
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Weed Management for Organic Producers: Literature review by Brenda Frick
Insects
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Insect management in organic cropping systems-Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada
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Organic Crop Insect Management-Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
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Grasshoppers and their Control in Organic Production-Abundance Magazine, Spring 2024
Disease Management
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Pathogens and Disease in Organic Field Crops: An Interconnected View-Abundance Magazine, Summer 2024
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Biocontrol agents show promise against fungal diseases-Top Krop Manager-March 2023
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Disease pressure in intercrops grown under organic management – Top Crop Manager – June 2021
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Organic Crop Production Disease Management-Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
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Root disease and fungal populations in organic crops under different tillage and cropping systems – summary of manuscript – June 2021
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Fusarium head blight in organic cereal crops – Sustainable organic crop production alternatives for disease control (and Biocontrol for Fusarium pathogens) – Top Crop Manager – June 2020
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Science seeks to solve FHB… ASAP – Alberta Wheat Commission – January 2020
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Assessing disease resistance-Top Krop Manager-April 2017
Intercropping & COver Cropping
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Cereal crop following organic intercrops and their respective monocultures in the semiarid Canadian Prairie-Agronomy Journal, 117, e70032
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Intercropping of oat or mustard with legumes under organic management in the semiarid Canadian Prairie-Agronomy Journal, 117, e70056
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Cover Crops in Organic Production-Abundance Magazine, Winter 2024
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Living Legume Mulch for Organic Field Crops in Dry Environments-Abundance Magazine, Fall 2024
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Intercropping of Pulse and Oilseed to Enhance Crop Yield and Improve Nutrient Use Efficiency-Issue 24-Abundance Magazine, Summer 2022
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Designing intercrops for organic systems-Top Krop Manager- June 2022
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Companion Cropping in SW Manitoba– Scott Chalmers, Diversification Specialist, Manitoba Agriculture
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Cover Cropping on the Prairies-SaskOrganics Webinar Recording, 2021
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Mixing it Up: Cover Cropping and Intercropping Webinar Recording, 2020
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Intercropping – Matching crops for better results – Some combos work better than others – GrowPro Magazine – December 2019
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Replacing Summer Fallow with Cover Crops: Abundance Magazine, Issue 12-Summer 2019
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Intercropping: Abundance Magazine, Spring 2018
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Intercropping study reveals benefits – Western Producer – May 2018
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Intercropping Fact Sheet-Pivot & Grow
Soil Health & Regenerative Practices
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Regenerative Organic Hub-Canadian Organic Growers
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Regenerative Organic Farming Factsheet-Pivot & Grow
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Organic Agronomist Training Module 4: Soil Health in Organic Farming Systems: Webinar with Dr. Martin Entz, Pivot & Grow
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Soil treated with organic fertilizers stores more carbon, study finds-Phys.org Article, September 2024
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Improving Soil Health: Abundance Magazine, Summer 2018
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Regenerative Organic Certification: Abundance Magazine, Summer 2020
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Organic Crop Production Soil Conservation Practices-Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
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Crop Production and Environmental Impacts under Organic Management with Reduced Tillage and Diversified Cropping. Crops & Soils Magazine, V 53, Issue 1, January–February 2020.
Increasing Biodiversity
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Uncovering the Value of Prairie Trees-Abundance Magazine, Winter 2025
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Shelterbelt DSS-University of Saskatchewan Shelterbelt Planning & Evaluation Tool
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Improving Biodiversity in Organic Cropping Systems: Abundance Magazine, Spring 2020
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Building Biodiversity With Pollinator Strips-Avena Foods
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Shelterbelts & Perennial Vegetation For Carbon Sequestration & Biodiversity-SaskOrganics Webinar Recording
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Protecting the Integrity of Organic Crops Through Effective Use of Buffer Zones: Abundance Magazine, Winter 2021
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Nurturing Nature: Fostering Biodiversity on Farms-SaskOrganics Webinar Recording, July 2020
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Beelines-Spring 2020
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The Bees Knees-Supporting Wild Bee Diversity on Farms-SaskOrganics Webinar Recording
On-Farm Research & Testing
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Organic farms need soil testing too-Manitoba Cooperator, April 2025
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Soil Sampling and Testing: Abundance Magazine, Winter 2020
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DIY On-Farm Research: Abundance Magazine, Spring 2019
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On-Farm Experimentation-Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
Post-harvest grain handling & Storage
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Grain Drying and Storage: Abundance Magazine, Fall 2018
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Grain Storage and cleaning: SaskOrganics webinar recording, 2021
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From Harvest to Sale: Maintaining food quality in storage factsheet-Pivot and Grow
Livestock & Forage production
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Organic livestock production: General resources for beef, dairy, goats, sheet, poultry and more-Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada
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Cover Cropping Economics with Livestock Integration-Webinar with Kevin Elmy, 2023
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Growing organic forage crops factsheet-Pivot and Grow
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Growing Organic Forage Crops-Abundance Magazine, Winter 2023
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Intermediate wheatgrass potential: grain and forage-ADOPT Research Project, completed 2024
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Bale grazing on organic crop land-Gateway Research Organization
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Innovative strategies for organic and regenerative livestock production-Online mini-conference recording playlist
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Canada Grazing Exchange: A matchmaking platform for livestock and landowners
Vegetable & Fruit Production
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Organic production of horticultural crops: Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada
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Growing organic vegetables on the prairies-Online mini conference recordings playlist, 2022
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Prairie organic vegetable production-Online mini conference recordings playlist, 2023
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Expanding the use of cover crops in organic vegetable production-EFAO Webinar recording
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Organic production of horticultural crops-Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
Other Resources
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Swift Current Research & Development Centre-Organic Program
Dr. Myriam Fernandez leads the Organic Research Program at the Swift Current Research & Development Centre, providing invaluable data and information for organic producers in Saskatchewan. In addition to articles and papers included in the categories above, the program hosts field days with detailed proceedings with data from research. View proceedings below.
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July 2022
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July 2019
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July 2018
University of Manitoba- Natural Systems Agriculture Department
The Natural Systems Agriculture website is produced by a team of researchers and students in the Plant Science Department at the University of Manitoba. The research work conducted by their team includes both long-term and short-term studies. Their field studies include the Glenlea crop rotation study, Canada's oldest organic vs conventional study and the Organic Crops Field Laboratory at Carman, Manitoba.
Visit their website for studies on a number of topics in organic production, or their YouTube page where you can watch field tours, coffee shop talks with an agronomist, equipment demos and more!
Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada
OACC facilitates and leads research and education supporting organic producers, consumers and other organic stakeholders to foster sustainable communities.
The Organic Science Clusters are industry-supported research and development endeavors initiated by the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada at Dalhousie University in collaboration with the Organic Federation of Canada. The Organic Science Clusters are supported by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and many organic sector partners.
OSC4 is the latest organic science cluster, and it's activities and researchers can be found at organic-science-canada.ca.