Beyond Factory Farming Coalition

Family Farms Not Factory Farms

Overview of ILO issues in Prince Edward Island

Overview of Alternatives

For a list of local producers check out:

There is growing interest in the Maritimes, on behalf of consumers and producers, to move towards a more socially and ecologically responsible system of livestock production. While not many producers are certified organic, many are beginning to see the advantages of using this model.

In 2003, a study was conducted by ACORN (Atlantic Canada Organic Regional Network) called “Organic Market Research and Action Plan” that highlights market potential for organics in the Atlantics, as well as constraints and barriers that exist locally to achieving a successful organics industry locally. Excerpts of that report are referenced below, to view the whole report visit http://acornorganic.org/pdf/MarketingFinalReport.pdf

Certified Organic Livestock

Organic agriculture is a holistic production system designed to optimize productivity and fitness of diverse communities within the agroecosystem, including soil organisms, plants, livestock and people. The principle goal of organic production is to develop enterprises that are sustainable and harmonious with the environment. Organic livestock production does not allow the use of: materials and products produced from genetic engineering, synthetic growth regulators (hormones), synthetic veterinary drugs, including antibiotics and parasiticides.

The organic industry in the maritimes is slow to develop, however, there is growing interest on behalf of consumers and producers for organic products. There are currently 29 producers that are certified organic, 3 of which produce livestock (including beef, dairy goats, sheep, pigs, poultry, layers, and ducks) with a total of ~1000 acres of certified land in production (it is expected that these numbers will be higher when the 2006 statistics) (pdf) are released by Statistics Canada. In 2006 the Canadian Organic Regulation was published, providing a legislated minimum standard for organic certification in Canada. Organic livestock production is a growing part of the organic scene in Prince Edward Island, with studies being conducted on the market potential for producers throughout the atlantic provinces.

A group of dairy producers on the island have begun the transition to organic dairying with support for Amalgamated Dairies Limited (farmer-owned dairy co-op on PEI), and Purity Dairy, in hopes to provide organic milk to consumers by 2008. Currently, no organic milk is produced in the maritimes and is imported from Ontario and Quebec. See Farmers’ club taking dairy organic

In 2006 the Natural Organic Food Group, in collaboration with PEI Pork Plus, acquired a recently closed Maple Leaf Processing Plant in Charlottetown, where they are set to begin production of island pork. As many as 50% of pork producers on the island are singing up to provide pork that will be sold under the “omega-3,” “natural,” or “organic” Natural Organic Food Group labels. See New Owners for Hog Plant

Holistic Management

Holistic management (HM) is an approach to decision-making on farms that takes the economics, ecosystem and social context into account and aims to continually fine-tune the inter-relationships among the parts in order to improve the overall health of the whole being managed. Holistic management was originally developed by Alan Savory to deal with the challenges of dry-land livestock production. Many holistic managers define themselves as “grass farmers” because the grass, which captures sunlight and turns it into food energy, is the source of the farm’s wealth. HM may be combined with organic production. Often farmers who produce pastured pork, pastured poultry, and grassfed beef are holistic managers.

Pastured pork

Pastured pork is raised outdoors using a rotational grazing system. The pigs are provided with shelters and straw bedding for protection from the cold. The animals are free to express their natural rooting and nesting behaviours. Manure is dispersed over the fields by the pigs as they move around. Pastured pork may be available at your local farmers market, or contact ACORN for farmers in your area.

Hoop housing for hogs

Hoop houses are a low capital cost form of housing pigs. The houses are open at both ends, providing for natural ventilation. The hoop houses use a straw bedding system. The animals are free to go in and out of the shelter. Manure is composted with the straw, and is then spread on the land.

Grass fed beef

Cattle evolved eating grass, not grain. Grass fed beef is fed entirely on grass-pasture in the summer and hay in winter-instead of being “finished” with a grain-based diet. Grass fed beef may be available at your local farmers market, or contact EatWild for farmers in your area.

Free Range chickens and eggs

The Chicken Marketing Board only permits farmers to raise up to 300 broilers (meat chickens) without having to purchase quota. There is no official criteria to define “free range” for chickens, however certified organic regulations have minimum space requirements for chickens that provide for humane treatment http://chickenout.ca/. Outdoor poultry is a seasonal operation, so it is best to find your source of chickens early in the year and place an order for fall butchering. Similarly, free range eggs are more widely available in the warm months.

Pastured Poultry

The “chicken tractor” is a central to pastured poultry systems. The chicken tractor is a portable pen designed to be moved to a new patch of pasture every day. The chickens eat bugs and fresh grass as they add manure to the ground under the pen, and are protected from predators by the cage.

  • Additional Reading:
    • Transforming Market Potentials into Market Realities
    • Overview of Organic Market
    • Atlantic Canadian Organic Market Study
All articles are available at: http://www.acornorganic.org/marketplace.html#

Local food system development

The opportunities for local food systems development on Prince Edward Island are numerous (many of which are listed below). There are several constraints, including a small land-base, a lack of young people choosing a career in farming, as well as the capitol needed for infrastructure and buying quota licenses.

The most widespread successes of local food systems development are listed below, and focus largely on small to medium scale farm businesses with emphasis placed on direct sales to the consumer.

There is growing interest in organic agriculture in the maritime provinces, given the growing consumer demand for healthy and sustainably produced food. Recently, ACORN commissioned a study titled “Organic Research and Market Plan: Final Report” which was “…commissioned to explore both the domestic and export market opportunities for organic agri-food producers in the Atlantic Canada region.” Findings highlight that the real challenge for development of a string organic industry in the Maritimes is the ability for smaller producers in the region to meet the growing demands of the marketplace in terms of volume, price, and quality. The report can be read in full at http://acornorganic.org/pdf/MarketingFinalReport.pdf

Some of the alternatives to the industrial model of agriculture in the province of New Brunswick include:

  • Farmer’s Markets

    There are several farmers’ markets spread throughout Prince Edward Island, most of which supply a variety of fresh produce and meats (including chicken, beef, eggs)

  • Community Supported Agriculture

    CSA (which stands for Community Supported Agriculture) is a growing movement between urban and rural communities that facilitates the partnership between growers and consumers.

    ‘CSA’ generally involves a group of families and individuals who team up with one farmer or a group of farmers, and who then pay a fee for their share of the harvest. They pay part of the cost of the season’s produce upfront and the rest later - regardless of the quantity of the bounty. (http://www.sustainabletimes.ca/articles/CSAfarms.htm)

    The benefit to CSAs is that consumers are connected with the people growing their food, which encourages them to learn about how their food is grown and consequently how hard farmers work and how undervalued food and farm labour really is in this country. Also, farmers get better prices because they are paid directly by consumers.

    “CSAs put the “culture” back into agriculture. Instead of being an anonymous commodity bought in a bland supermarket, food becomes an intimate part of life. CSA members know where their food comes from and who grew it. The farmer-consumer link is made stronger - and more enjoyable - through days when people can visit ‘their’ farm. In fact, some members cite the farm visits as the highlight of the whole experience.” (http://www.sustainabletimes.ca/articles/CSAfarms.htm) And, since long distance trucking is eliminated from the process of delivering food from farm to table, less greenhouse gas emissions are spewed into the environment.

    CSA Farms in the Maritimes

  • Food Buying Cooperatives

    Groups of people across the country form food buying clubs where, for a small annual membership fee, food is ordered in bulk from local farmers in the area. This is particularly useful for communities that are not close to a farmers’ markets as it makes local farm products accessible, and is organized in such a way that a central pick up point makes delivery simple.

  • Marketing Cooperatives

    • Northumberland Lamb Marketing Co-op
      (Nova Scotia)

      “We adopted a business model dedicated to the current welfare of the participants in the business - all the sheep farmers who sold their lambs through the co-op - and not to the welfare of the co-op itself through capital accumulation. We did not try to drive anyone out of business but rather to provide service and ‘product’ better than anyone else and provide the best return we could to the farmers. (Northumberlamb is still functioning on the same principles.)” (Excerpt from The Ram’s Horn )

      Contact information:

      24 Brookside Branch Road
      RR # 2 Truro Nova Scotia B2N 5B1
      (902) 895–4262

    • La Récolte de Chez Nous (Very Local Harvest)
      This farmer owned co-operative in South Eastern New Brunswick is an example of how local food systems can work.
    • Abattoir Cooperative (Nova Scotia)
      Brookside Abattoir Co-op Limited

      RR #2, Truro
      Civic No. 24
      Nova Scotia B2N 5B1
      (902) 893–8994 Fax (902) 893-0426

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