Organic farmers get $8 million in funding

The organic farming industry in Canada is getting a federal investment of up to $8.3 million to help grow the sector.

The organic industry is one of Canada’s fastest growing agricultural sectors.

Retail sales of organic food products have grown by double digits on average over the past decade, with current sales estimated at $5.4 billion across the country.

The research investment, which includes an additional $4.4 million in contributions from industry, will help the sector enhance productivity through better soil health and fertility management, advance crop breeding research, improve pest management and evaluate the environmental impacts of organic farm practices.

Agriculture and Agri-Foods Minister Lawrence MacAulay also announced an additional investment of $292,555 to the Organic Federation of Canada to assist in streamlining the review process of the Canadian Organic Standards and improve the Canadian organic industry’s competitiveness and international market access.

“This funding will allow researchers to continue improving the sustainability of agricultural practices, which is at the heart of organic production,” said James Robbins, president of Organic Federation of Canada.

“The Canadian Organic Sustainability Framework supports the entire organic value-chain and review of the Canadian Organic Standards, which is essential for maintaining our integrity and competitiveness on the world stage.”

There was a moment of intense silence as thousands gazed towards the sky to see Gary Ward tumble, twist and turn his high energy monoplane in ways that didn’t seem possible at Air Show Atlantic 2018 in Slemon Park last weekend.

Ward shot his MX2 design aircraft thousands of feet high, before he intentionally stalled, allowing the plane to fall lifelessly toward the ground, only to soar safely and gracefully upward just in time. For those safely perched on the ground, it’s a thrill to watch, but these supersonic manoeuvres are no easy feat.

“On some manoeuvres I pull an eight gravitational force sometimes a nine, but it’s not sustained. It’s very intense what I do, and during an air show people always say to me, ‘Oh you must be having a great time.’ Well not quite so much. As soon as I come out of one manoeuvre I get set for the next,” he explained, after his feet were firmly planted back on the ground.

What makes this death-defying performance, which can reach speeds of more than 250 miles per hour, even more amazing is that Ward is a 77-year-old aerobatic pilot.

“I work out on a regular basis doing push-ups, pull-ups and all sorts of other exercises to keep fit for flying,” he grinned.

“This is my fourth time performing in the P.E.I. air show and it’s always a pleasure to come back here,” he said.

“When I’m flying it’s about one thing – entertainment. My job out there is to make people happy and give them something to enjoy.”

Ward has performed for 21 years in air shows across the United States and Canada. He started flying at 15, much to the surprise of his family. Gary Ward shoots his MX2 aircraft thousands of feet into the air, before he intentionally stalls, allowing the small plane to plummet toward the ground, only to soar safely upward just in time. Gary Ward waves to the thousands of spectators left breathless after his death-defying performance.

“I was discouraged at first to take flying lessons,” he said. “I lived in a small rural American town called Georgia and my family worked in lumber.

Aviation is difficult, for the most part, and you really need to have a passion to get there because it’s expensive to get a licence and build up enough time with airlines.

“I have a passion for aviation, for flying, and I have flown airplanes, but recently I got my helicopter licence.”

Flying may be second nature to Ward, but he still knows what’s at stake.

“You need a healthy respect for aerobatics. Fear is what will get you in trouble.”