Transitioning to an organic farm? Let Thompsons Ltd. help

Jan 10, 2018

Rob Wallbridge is Thompsons’ organic specialist

Transitioning from a conventional farm to an organic operation can be a slow process, but Thompsons Ltd. can help a farmer every step of the way.

“A field has to be managed without any prohibited inputs for at least 36 months before an organic crop can be harvested from that field,” Rob Wallbridge, Thompsons’ organic specialist, told Farms.com. “If a farmer sprayed a herbicide in June 2017, it would be July of 2020 before an organic crop could be harvested.”

During that transition period, Thompsons provides farmers with the tools necessary to manage their land based on organic standards, says Wallbridge.

“We would work with farmers to develop a crop rotation that meets the fertility needs of the farm,” he said. “We would help them with weed control, we can supply organic soil amendments, perform soil testing and help them build a plan that uses organically approved materials.”

Help with the transition to organic production is only one of many organic services Thompsons offers.

Once producers harvest organic crops, Thompsons can help growers find a market for their organic corn, soybeans or wheat.

Thompsons has 13 locations in Ontario, some of which act as receiving hubs for organic crops.

The Mitchell, Ont. location receives organic corn, the Hensall and Port Albert locations receive soybeans, the Granton branch receives wheat and the Kent Bridge location receives black and white beans.

Wallbridge and other members of the Thompsons team will be at the Guelph Organic Conference in January.

Producers are also invited to Thompsons’ Field Crop Growers Meeting on Jan. 27 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.

The meeting is free to attend and will include grain market information and soil management strategies. Lunch will also be provided.

Anyone interested in attending must register by Jan. 15 by emailing Rob Wallbridge or calling him at 613-724-9287.

Top photo: Rob Wallbridge
Photo: Thompsons

Video: Women in Ag. The Promotion of Female Farmers through Social Media | Madalyn Thayer | TEDxBGSU

Less than 1% of Americans are farmers. The majority of those farmers are men. Many people have minimal experience with farms and agriculture. High schools are getting rid of their FFA programs and many colleges, including BGSU, do not have agricultural programs or classes. There is a new social media phenomenon where women are making content based on their farming endeavors and gaining lots of traction. Education is the one of the most important parts of agriculture, because the more people know the more they will emphasize with farmers and create policy that benefits everybody. Female farmers have taken to social media sharing their experience in the agricultural world. These women are breaking stereotypes and educating everyday citizens about farming which is extremely important for the future of agriculture. Madalyn is 19 years old and will be gradated with her bachelors degree in communication on December 2024. She lives on a farm and have spent lots of time working in agriculture. She has her own farmers market and love learning about all subjects, especially agriculture. She was on the BGSU Firelands Student government from 2021-2023 as a CCP Ambassador and was awarded the 3&1 communication excellency award in April of 2024. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.