Organic farmers in P.E.I. receive agriculture award
Barnyard Organics is the 2021 recipient of the Gilbert R. Clements Award for Excellence in Environmental Farm Planning.
Mark and Sally Bernard received the award virtually on Jan. 29 at the P.E.I. Federation of Agriculture’s annual meeting.
This award, named after the late environment minister, is given annually to a farm which is economically viable, environmentally sound and socially responsible in the production and/or marketing of highquality food from a sustainable system.
Barnyard Organics is a certified organic farm where the vision for a self-sustaining and environmentally sustainable farm continues to be the goal. It is a diversified, family friendly farm with the love of the soil, placing a priority on organic integrity from seed to feed, and keeping products fair and accessible to the regional community.
Having started as a traditional mixed farm, a previous generation switched to dairy, then potatoes. The current generation aims to bring the farm back to its original state as a self-sustaining mixed farm, using traditional methods combined with many efficient modern production technologies.
The Bernards are strong proponents of soil health and have been involved in many onfarm research projects, investigating methods to improve the overall health and productivity of their soils. They both recognize the fundamental role and importance of healthy soils for the overall success and sustainability of their farm.
They produce their own compost using livestock manure from a neighbouring farm as the main feedstock and understand the importance of returning this source of carbon back to the land. They are adapting their crop and land management practices to incorporate more regenerative approaches and plan to introduce livestock grazing into their current production system.
The couple is heavily involved in the industry outside their farm. Sally is a former chairwoman of the Atlantic Canada Organic Regional Network as well as a current member of the National Organic Value Roundtable. Mark has served as an industry advisor with the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada, and both are heavily involved in 4-H.
In 2012, Mark and Sally were recipients of the Atlantic Outstanding Young Farmers Award. The farm received the P.E.I. Soil & Crop Improvement Association Soil Conservationist of the Year Award in 2018.
Barnyard Organics has hosted multiple farm tours inviting local and regional visitors as well as tours from the U.S. and national conference participants.