Seven case studies in sustainable agriculture

Abstract

Seven case studies of SA (sustainable agriculture) in Canada were conducted in the late fall/early winter of 1990/91. The primary objective was to provide examples of innovative SA practices that have been implemented by Canadian farmers. The farms were chosen to represent varying degrees of or stages in, implementation of SA practices, also to include representatives of the major types of farm operations in Canada and at least one farm from each of the 5 major regions of Canada. Each case study was investigated by a regional researcher who had some familiarity with the region and with SA. The farms included a market garden in Nova Scotia (the Kungls), a potato farm in New Brunswick (the McLaughlins), a dairy farm in Quebec (Ferme Fleuralic), a mixed livestock/crop/vegetable farm in Ontario (the Jeffrays), a cash crop farm (soybean, com, wheat) in Ontario (the Smiths), a grain/hog farm in Saskatchewan (the Baumls), and an orchard in British Colombia (Wayne Still). Each case study includes a detailed description of the farm and farm operation and a section on incentives and limitations to SA and on the farmer’s (or farmers’) outlook.