Cyber-Help for Organic Farmers: Directory of Useful Online Organic Farming Links & Resources

The Certified Organic Associations of BC provides support for this site: encouraging organic and alternative food production in Canada by improving accessibility to organic farming content online.

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Directory of Useful Online Organic Farming Resources

See also our page, The Business of Farming, for more business-related links

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CANADIAN - NATIONAL

Organic Federation of Canada. Co-ordinating regulation, providing information
Agriculture Policy Framework. Federal and Provincial initiative: "Putting Canada First".
Biotechnology Notices of Submission Project. Submissions Posted For Public Comment
Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA). National cattle identification program
Canadian Organic Growers. National information network for farmers, gardeners and consumers.
Canadian Organic Livestock Association. Promotion and support
Farm Advisory Services. Canadian Farm Business Management Council
Nutrition Labelling. Govt. of Canada information and regulations
Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada. Research to improve the sustainability of farming
Plant Hardiness Zones. Interactive map.

CANADIAN PROVINCIAL

Alberta government Organic Industry Listings. Certifiers, growers, processors.
Organic Food Council of Manitoba. Provincial chapter of Canadian Organic Growers
Acorn. "The Voice of Organics in Atlantic Canada".
Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC. Invests federal and provincial funds to help the agri-food industry adapt to change.
The Land Conservancy of BC. Conservation Partners programme.
Going Organic Network of Alberta. non-profit, promotes organic growing and consumption.
PEI Certified Organic Producers Co-op
BC Agriculture Council Represents collective interests of BC agricultural producers

CONSUMER INFORMATION & ACTIVITIES

Organic DB. Searchable database of Canadian organic restaurants, farms, farmers markets and suppliers.
What's on My Food. Link pesticide food residue data with the toxicology for each chemical
Household Products Database. Health and safety Information
Integrity in Science Database. Corporate ties of scientists, academics, and non-profit organizations

COURSES & TRAINING

Courses in Organic Agriculture (OACC)
Listings of organic training and learning programs in agriculture across Canada (Gov.of Canada)

SUSTAINABILITY, ENVIRONMENTAL FARM PLANNING

Food Security: A sustainable food system that maximizes self-reliance and justice(BC PHSA)
Broken Limbs Movie that finds hope in sustainable agriculture
Climate Friendly Farming: Mitigating global climate change
BC Cattlemen's Association. What is EFP?
Ontario E.F.P..
Alberta E.F.P.
British Columbia E.F.P.

Planting the Seeds from Hadas Levy

FARM WORKERS

Career Focus Program. Contributes to projects that employ recent graduates in agriculture and related fields
* Employees and Volunteers. Employment, apprenticeship, farm-stay etc.

GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS AND BIOTECHNOLOGY

The Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) has identified consumer resistance to GM wheat and unresolved issues about segregation of GM and non-GM wheat as the major obstacles supporting their ongoing opposition to the commercial release of GM wheat. The CWB recently released these comments in response to the May 2009 joint statement signed by various grain producing groups in Canada, the US and Australia vowing to work together to bring genetically modified (GM) wheat to market to save the global wheat industry.

Agbios. Public policy, regulatory, and risk assessment expertise for products of biotechnology.
Canadian Biotechnology Action Network promote food sovereignty
Organic & Non-GMO Report Information
Institute for Independent Impact Assessment in Biotechnology. Non-profit
Effects of Three GM Corn Varieties on Mammalian Health - International Journal of Biological Studies
GMO Compass News, background and information
Greenpeace Shoppers Guide
Health Canada Development of new food products, especially GM: approval, regulations, labelling
Non-GMO Project. Non-profit collaboration of manufacturers, retailers, processors, distributors, farmers, seed breeders and consumers
Saskatoon Organic Agriculture Protection Program Grassroots political action
GMO information resources Downloads and web sites.
GM contamination incidents in Canada.
GM Labelling by country. World map showing which countries use labelling for GM foods.
GM Watch. Focus on the use of hype, propaganda and spin to promote this technology
Seeds of Deception. Information on the dangers.

INSPECTION, STANDARDS & TESTING

*Soil (Canada and USA) and Water (BC, Alberta) Testing Labs & Services Contact information for soil testing labs
Independent Organic Inspectors Association. Training and networking
Organic Crop Improvement Association. Research, education and certification services
Organic Materials Review Institute. Lists of materials allowed and prohibited
Organic Trade Association. Promotes products, protects standards in N. America

LEGAL

* Acts, Codes & Regulations: for British Columbia and Canada.

NGOs and ADVOCACY ORGANISATIONS

Agribusiness Accountability Network. Promotes Collaborative Responses to Corporate Power.
Agriculture of the Middle. Seeks to renew the disappearing sector of mid-scale farms
Beyond Factory Farming Coalition. promote ecological livestock production
BC Rural Women's Network: to influence change with government and industry
BC Food Systems Network. Goal: eliminate hunger and increase food security in BC
Californians for GE-Free Agriculture. Non-profit, works with farmers, the media and consumers
Cornucopia Institute Research, advocacy, and economic development to empower farmers - partnered with consumers - in support of ecologically-produced local, organic and authentic food.
FarmFolk/CityFolk Society. Working together for a sustainable, local food system
Genetic Resources Action International. Promotes people's control over genetic resources
Henry Doubleday Research Association. Research and promote organic gardening, farming, food
Land Stewardship Project. Promotes sustainable agriculture and communities
Network of Concerned Farmers. Aims to protect the rights of farmers to grow non GE crops.
Organic Farming Research Foundation. Fund on-farm research projects in North America

ONLINE INFORMATION & PUBLICATIONS

Northwest Berry Grower News (Berries Nolorthwest)
Sustainable Agriculture Radio Show Archive (ATTRA)
Video Clips about Organic Farming (Xtension)
Agri-Digest. Pan-Canadian Journal of Issues in Agriculture
Best Organic Management Practices: Farmers' Perspectives (U of Sask., PDF - 2MB)
Scientific Findings About Organic Agriculture
British Columbia Organic Grower. All copies archived.
Organic Processing Magazine: digital or print versions available in North America. Currently (2010) free
Food Technology Buyers' Guide. Ingredients, packaging, services
Organic Agriculture Information Access. Pre-1942 USDA publications related to organic agriculture.
Organic E-prints. Open access archive for papers related to research in organic agriculture
New Agriculture Network. Seasonal advice to field crop and vegetable growers interested in organic agriculture
Country Guide magazine Canadian Farming News
On Farm Research Guide. Basic plot layout, statistics for the layperson and other useful advice. [pdf 1MB]
Acres USA. Commercial-scale organic and sustainable farming
USDA National Agriculture Library: Searchable database of articles. Requires log-in.
Organic Agriculture Statistics Worldwide. Downloadable book
Organic Farming. Publications List
Organic Farming Research Foundation: Introduction, information, links
Permaculture: Introduction, information, links (see also video below)
Ram's Horn. Monthly journal of food systems analysis
International Society of Organic Agriculture Research. Research and teaching
Montana State University. Extension publications on agriculture
Organic Ag Info. U.S.searchable database of research and information
Organic-research.com . An online community for organic farming and food
History of Organic Farming. Wikipedia
Sustainable Farmer. Information about how to raise food and fibre mindfully
Jobs Search the Organic Trade Services database for organic-related jobs.
Texas Cooperative Extension. Agriculture business publications
Water, Agriculture & You. Rodale publication on improving water quality [pdf 7MB]

Permaculture on a Canadian Farm - Part 1 of 2 -->
Watch Part 2
More information at Permaculture Canada

Blogs
ACORN Blog - Atlantic Canadian Organic Regional Network

E-MAIL NEWSLETTERS

ATTRA -National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service - Weekly Harvest Newsletter
Canadian Organic Grower’s E-Newsletter
Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada's monthly E-zine
Rodale Institute's weekly newsletter
The Organic Centre's monthly: The Scoop
Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources' newsletter
BioFach's monthly newsletter

Free Archives (must be a member to receive current newsletter)
OMRI Materials Review Newsletter
PCO newsletter

PESTICIDE AND HERBICIDE INFORMATION See also: Pest & Weed Management

Beyond Pesticides - Identifying risks and promoting non-chemical and least-hazardous management alternatives.Environmental Health Perspectives - peer-reviewed research and news.
Pest management regulatory agency - label search for Canadian registered pesticide products
Natural Resource Defense Council information website on pesticide dangers
Protecting Your Organic Land from Unwanted Chemical Sprays - (MOSES)
Extoxnet - The EXtension TOXicology NETwork - pesticide toxicology
Pesticides - Where to Find - Environment Canada
The Pesticide Data Program Data on pesticide residues detected in selected foods.
Glyphosate effects on diseases of plants - Johal & Huber
Pesticides in Produce - Handy wallet guide

IMPLEMENTS, SEEDS, TOOLS & TECHNIQUES See also: Machinery, Equipment and On-Farm Storage

* Organic Seed Sources: Chart showing all varieties available
Seeds of Change: The Changing Nature of Seed Ownership and Control in Canada
Irrigation Calculator: for determining irrigation schedules - Gaia College, BC, Canada
Organic Seed Alliance: Supports development and stewardship of agricultural seed - USA
Seeds of Diversity Canada. Save rare seeds to promote diversity
Renewable Energy and Agriculture: A Natural Fit. Solar, wind, biomass

U.S.A.

Alternative Farming Systems Information Center. Part of the U.S. National Agricultural Library
Health Observatory. Public health policy information.

EUROPE

European Network for Scientific Research Coordination in Organic Farming.

EVENTS

Guelph Organic Conference. A leading annual North American organic agricultural event.

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