Program
& Speakers
March 25
Conference: Ballroom B
Trade Show: Ballrooms A & C
While we do our best to bring you the program as advertised, program and speakers are subject to change.
9:00am-9:45AM - Registration & Trade Show
Come early, get registered, and visit our great exhibitors before the show gets started.
Take look at our exhibitors list.
9:45am-10:00AM - Welcome addresses
Will Oddie, SaskOrganics President
10:00Am-11:00AM - Value of Legumes and Forages in Building Soil Productivity
Dr. Jeff Schoenau PAg FAIC, Professor of Soil Science and SMA Chair, Dept. of Soil Science, University of Saskatchewan
11:00Am-11:55AM - Selecting for Success: Approaches to Organic Variety Selection, Farmer-Led Breeding, and On-farm Testing
Michelle Carkner, PhD, Research Associate, Natural Systems Agriculture Department, University of Manitoba
11:55Am-12:15PM -Managing Turbulent Trade Relations with USA
12:15PM-1:30PM - LUNCH & trade show
Enjoy a conference meal and network, then head over to the trade show!
1:30pm-3:00PM - Regeneration of soils through Biological Farming methods
3:00PM-3:50PM - Equipment Talk: Inter-row Cultivators
3:50PM-4:15PM - Spray Drift Incidents – Investigations
Yuliia Koch, Regulatory Manager, Crops and Irrigation Branch, Government of Saskatchewan
Brett Rumpel, BSc, AAg, Forensic Agrologist, Crops and Irrigation Branch, Government of Saskatchewan
4:15PM-4:30pm - REfreshment Break
Grab a coffee or tea and network before the Annual Meeting
4:30pm-5:30pm- SaskOrganics Annual Meeting
5:30PM-6:30PM - Cocktails, trade show, networking
Enjoy a beverage, visit the trade show, and network with fellow attendees.
ORGANIC BANQUET
March 25,
Ballroom B
Tickets sold separately from conference passes.
6:00PM - Banquet Registration
If you are just joining us, come early to get registered, enjoy a cocktail & some networking before evening program gets started.
6:30PM - Organic Banquet Meal
7:15pm - Welcome
SaskOrganics
7:20pm - 7:35PM SaskOrganics Education Scholarship Award Presentation
Meet the Education Scholarship Award Recipient for 2025
7:35PM- Banquet guest speaker- The Life of A Bee: The Inside Story on One of Agriculture’s Most Underappreciated Contributors
Geoff Wilson, MSc, PAg, Provincial Specialist Apiculture, Crops and Irrigation Branch, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
8:30Pm- Announcements & Closing Remarks
Banquet Closes at 9:00pm
March 26
Conference: Ballroom B
Trade Show: Ballroom A & C
While we do our best to bring you the program as advertised, program and speakers are subject to change.
8:15AM-8:45AM - Registration & Trade Show
Come early, get registered, and visit our great exhibitors before the show gets started.
Take look at our exhibitors list.
8:45AM-9:30AM - Soil Testing for Organic Production
Sarah Wilcott, Research Technician, Department of Plant Science, University of Manitoba
15 min Q&A with Sarah Wilcott and Michelle Carkner
9:30AM-10:30am - Managing forages in extensive systems – Challenges and opportunities
Bart Lardner, PhD, PAg, Professor, Department of Animal & Poultry Science, University of Saskatchewan
10:30Am-11:00AM - Refreshment Break & Trade Show
Refill your coffee or tea and visit an exhibitor or two before the next session.
11:00AM-12:00pm - Women In Agriculture: Charting the long country road towards equality
12:00PM-1:30pm - Lunch & trade Show
Enjoy a conference meal and network, then head over to the trade show!
1:30pm-2:10pm - Early Seeding in Organic Wheat
Kui Liu, PhD, Research Scientist, Agronomist, Swift Current Research and Development Centre, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada
2:10pm-2:50pm- Testing before Investing: How pilot scale production can increase profits
Bryan Lung, P.Eng, Director of Operations, Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute (PAMI)
SESSION SUMMARY COMING SOON
2:50pm-3:45pm - Organic Livestock Producer Panel
Heather Daoust, Schmitt Organics
Bryce Lobreau, Co-Founder of 8Acres
Marc & Cheryl Norleen, 4G Land & Livestock
3:45pm - Conclusion & closing remarks
Conference End
Dr. Jeff Schoenau, PAg FAIC
Professor of Soil Science and SMA Chair
Dept. of Soil Science, University of Saskatchewan
Dr. Jeff Schoenau PAg is a professor of soil fertility and professional agrologist who works in the Department of Soil Science at the University of Saskatchewan. He holds the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture Soil Nutrient Management Chair in the College of Agriculture and Bioresources. He was born in Saskatchewan, completed his undergraduate and graduate degrees in the 1980’s in the College of Agriculture at the University of Saskatchewan and has worked there since. His research, teaching and extension activities deal with soil fertility and fertilizers, nutrient cycling, and soil management practices in prairie cropping systems. He also farms with his spouse Lynne near Central Butte, Saskatchewan.
Michelle Carkner, PhD
Research Associate, Natural Systems Agriculture Department, University of Manitoba
Dr. Michelle Carkner is a research associate in the Department of Plant Science at the University of Manitoba. After obtaining her B.Sc (Agr) from the University of Guelph, she has been conducting organic agronomy research and extension for over 10 years on the prairies. Michelle's research investigates crop adaptation strategies and low-input nutrient cycling. She is currently working on projects in Zimbabwe and Canada, and is the Director of Research and Partnership for UM's LEAP project.
Tia Loftsgard
Executive Director, Canada Organic Trade Association (COTA)
Tia has been the Executive Director of the Canada Organic Trade Association since 2016. With extensive experience working in the organic food industry, Tia co-founded Camino chocolate (La Siembra Co-operative) as the first Fairtrade and organic certified cocoa and sugar company and went on to hold senior roles with Fairtrade International in Canada and the United States. She sits on the Technical Committee for the Canadian Organic Standards review, the Aquaculture Standards Interpretation Committee, chairs the Technical Committee for Organic Equivalencies and is the North American ambassador for IFOAM International.
Gary Zimmer
Organic Farmer, Consultant, Author
Gary Zimmer was raised on a dairy farm in Wisconsin and went on to further his education in dairy nutrition. He runs Otter Creek Organic Farm, together with his family in his home state of Wisconsin. Gary co-founded Midwestern Bio Ag- a Biological/organic fertilizer and livestock mineral company. Gary has authored three books on Biological Farming and has consulted on Biological farming all over the world.
Will Robbins
Maida Vale Farm
Will Robbins (Maida Vale Farms) is a 4th generation farmer from Laura, Saskatchewan. After graduating from the University of Saskatchewan with a B.A. and M.A. in Philosophy, he returned to farm with his parents on a mixed organic grain and cattle operation. Will spends his non-working hours playing bike polo, hockey, very loud guitars, and enjoying the company of his partner and rapidly growing son.
Ryan Potts
Organic Farmer
Ryan Potts grew up on a family farm near Shellbrook, Saskatchewan where they have always farmed organically. Their farm grows a combination of oats as well as legumes.
Living on the farm sparked Ryan's interest in agriculture which inspired him to continue his education. He studied Agronomy at the University of Saskatchewan where he was able to expand his knowledge and skills. After completing his post-secondary education, Ryan began working in grain procurement at MGM Seed and Grain in Saskatoon where he purchases grain directly from farmers, which is then processed at their mill to create a range of organic products.
Yuliia Koch
Regulatory Manager, Crops and Irrigation Branch, Government of Saskatchewan
Yuliia Koch is a regulatory manager with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, Crops and Irrigation branch, based out of Regina. Yuliia manages the regulatory unit responsible for pesticide licensing, pesticide investigations, and pest management.
Brett Rumpel
Forensic Agrologist, Crops and Irrigation Branch, Government of Saskatchewan
Brett Rumpel is a Forensic Agrologist with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, Crops and Irrigation Branch, based out of Regina. Brett conducts investigations in areas of pesticide misuse, including drift.
Geoff Wilson, MSc, PAg
Provincial Specialist Apiculture, Crops and Irrigation Branch, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
Organic Banquet-Guest Speaker
Geoff Wilson is Saskatchewan Agriculture’s Provincial Special, Apiculture. Geoff grew up in Ontario and got his first colonies of bees at the age of 15. He worked for a commercial beekeeper in southern western Ontario to help put him through his undergraduate degree at the University of Guelph. Geoff worked for the Ontario Beekeepers Association’s Tech Transfer Program as a research technician immediately after completing his B.Sc. The work focused on a combination or applied research and extension, which turned into an opportunity to obtain a M.Sc. at the University of Guelph. Geoff briefly ran 500 colonies of bees in eastern Ontario before accepting the position of Provincial Specialist in Saskatchewan in 2009. Geoff’s current position allows him to work with beekeepers to maintain health bee colonies through biosecurity, mite management and improving best management practices. Geoff runs some honey bees of his own, allowing him to keep current and test management options to ensure that they work.
Sarah Wilcott, MsC
Research Technician, Natural Systems Agriculture Department, University of Manitoba
Sarah completed an MSc. in Soil Science at the University of Saskatchewan in 2019 and then began working at the University of Manitoba as a research technician at the U of M. Sarah works on the long-term agronomic studies at the U of M whose research topics including organic cropping systems, diversity in cropping systems, greenhouse gas emissions, weed control, and cover crops.
Bart Lardner, PhD, Pag
Professor, Department of Animal & Poultry Science, University of Saskatchewan
Dr. Lardner is a Professor in the Department of Animal and Poultry Science at the University of Saskatchewan where he mentors undergraduate and graduate students and teaches beef cattle nutrition and forage management. For the past 30 years, his research has focused on applied beef and forage management including water quality, summer and winter grazing systems, heifer development, applied genomics and industry impact on the environment. Dr Lardner works closely with producers to ensure applicability of results back to industry.
Nettie Wiebe, PhD
Organic Farmer, Past-President of the NFU
Nettie Wiebe farms near Delisle, Saskatchewan, growing organic grains and pulse crops and gardening. She served in elected leadership positions of the National Farmers Union for ten years and was the first woman to lead a national farm organization in Canada. Under Nettie’s leadership, the NFU helped build the global peasant, small-scale farmers, and indigenous people’s movement, La Via Campesina (LVC). Initially the only woman on the International Coordinating Committee of LVC, she encouraged and inspired women to take their rightful places as key actors and leaders in defending food sovereignty, ecological health and the diverse cultures of rural communities. Retired from teaching ethics at St. Andrews College, University of Saskatchewan, she remains an active participant in public discourse on sustainable agriculture and rural communities, women’s equality, human rights and food sovereignty. She received an Honourary Doctorate of Laws from the University of Alberta in 2018.
Kui Liu, PhD
Research Scientist, Agronomist, Swift Current Research and Development Centre, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada
Session 4
Dr. Kui Liu is a research scientist based at the Swift Current Research and Development Centre. He earned his Ph.D. degree in Biology focusing on organic cropping systems from Dalhousie University. Kui’s current research takes a systems approach to evaluating genotype × environment × management interactions, with a particular emphasis on the wheat-based diversified cropping systems. As an agronomist, Kui’s work is centered around advancing management practices that improve yield, resource use efficiency, and the overall resilience of cropping systems.
Bryan Lung, P.Eng
Director of Operations, Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute (PAMI)
Bio coming soon
Heather Daoust
Organic Farmer, Schmitt Organics
Heather grew up on the family organic farm and pursued a career in business after graduation. This led to many entrepreneurship endeavors including HS Performance Horses, an equine therapy and horse training business, Schmitt Organics, a farm to fork beef business, and Shift Organics, software designed to help make the organic certification process easier for all members, certifiers and inspectors. With an obvious love for the land and promoting organics, Heather and her family settled by Zenon Park SK to continue to grow the cattle herd, implement grazing and cropping practices and promote organics through business opportunities, sharing nutritious food with family and friends and managing their farm organically.
Bryce Lobreau
Co-founder of 8Acres
Bryce Lobreau is an organic farmer based in southwestern Manitoba, dedicated to regenerative agriculture. With a passion for raising and finishing organic cattle under animal welfare approved standards. In 2020 he co-founded 8 Acres Beef, a venture that has successfully brought his high quality beef to consumers across Canada. Bryce is excited to welcome more like minded ranchers to the 8 Acres family of Ranches.
Marc & Cheryl Norleen
4G Land & Livestock
Marc and Cheryl are dedicated farmers located south of Raymore, where they manage a diverse and thriving operation. Together, they farm 5,000 acres, growing both conventional and organic crops, reflecting their commitment to sustainable and innovative agricultural practices. Their farm also includes a 45 cow/calf pair operation to maximize profits on marginal land.
In addition to their crop and cattle enterprises, Marc and Cheryl run an 8,000 hen organic poultry operation, producing eggs for consumers who value high-quality, sustainably raised products. Their ability to balance these various aspects of farming demonstrates their skill and passion for the land and animals they care for.
Beyond the business, Marc and Cheryl are proud parents to five children, who are actively involved in the farm’s daily operations, helping foster a deep connection to agriculture for the next generation. The family’s commitment to farming and their community runs deep, and they take great pride in raising their children in a hands-on agricultural environment.
The family’s work is more than just a livelihood—it’s a way of life. Marc and Cheryl are fully immersed in the rhythms and rewards of farm life and wouldn’t have it any other way. Their dedication to the land, livestock, and family makes them an integral part of the agricultural landscape south of Raymore.
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