In the summer of 2024, the Regenerative Organic Oats (ROO) program was in full swing across the fields of participating Prairie farmers. Program coordinators conducted various field monitoring techniques and collected soil samples for laboratory analysis. This hands-on experience offered invaluable insights into the soils these farmers are regenerating, highlighting their efforts to optimize crop yields, store more water in the soil, and increase soil biology.
In a small nook in Northern Alberta, there is a huge community of organic farmers who support, learn, and build each other up to continue creating their community of practice. This community can be found in La Crête. Alberta, and that’s the home of 58th Parallel Organics.
It was the middle of August, and crops were eagerly heading to seed when Julia, our ROO Program Coordinator, drove 10 hours north of Calgary, AB to visit Joash on his farm, 58th Parallel Organics. The trip was long, needless to say, but the change of scenery from southern desert land to northern boreal forests made it all worth while. As Julia drove further and further north, the tall, deciduous trees start getting bigger and bigger, and soon she found herself on a road that twisted and turned between dense, cool forests that provided great respite from the heat of late summer. There were rolling hills in the distance as well as an abundance of small ponds and lakes along the highway. It was so quiet when she stopped by the side of the road, and she was amazed at the absence of birds chirping and wind blowing. It was nearly silent, and definitely an experience to behold.
When Julia arrived at Joash’s doorstep, the two of them got acquainted and Joash led them into his farm fields, where the ROO monitoring techniques took place. It was lovely to be able to talk to another human after a long day of being alone in the car. Joash farms about 2,500 acres of land around La Crete, and he incorporates a field crop rotation of oats, peas, and cover crops into his farm management. Joash was fantastic company, and the two of them discussed his role in the community up in La Crete. Julia could tell right off the bat that he is a great leader, and has a tremendous responsibility acting as a liaison between milling companies and the local organic community.
One of the highlights of the day was when they found themselves in Joash’s organic oat fields, and they performed a Brix assessment using the oat leaves. The Brix results they pulled from the oats were amazing, reaching all the way up to 19. This means that the plant is creating an abundance of energy for itself, and this leads to pest resistance since the sugars are nearly unpalatable for some insects.
Interestingly enough, the two of them found caterpillars munching on weed leaves within the same fields. This is a great example of weed control that does not require mechanical interference and occurs naturally in an ecosystem! The caterpillars feed on weeds in the fields and — so long as your cash crop remains un-eaten — the weed population declines and your crops are free from pests! It was a great moment to see how plants function in a natural ecosystem built on the fundamentals of the ecological processes.
At some point in the day, Joash dug a shovel under the roots of his oat plants and pulled out a few stalks. They looked at the roots together and found a gorgeous rhizosphere coating deep, branched oat roots. The integration of soil biology and the root microbiome is crucial for healthy plants to grow, and it made the day even better knowing that the oats are doing a great job at exchanging nutrients and fortifying their bodies.
A big thanks to Joash at 58th Parallel Organics for such an awesome day. Julia was so appreciative of his enthusiasm and eagerness to complete the metrics and learn more about regenerative agriculture. Joash has a bright future in the regenerative sector, and we can’t wait to see where he goes!
To learn more about the ROO program, visit our Regenerative Organic Oats (ROO) page on our website.