Grain Farmers & Friends Cover Crops That Work
From building soil health to managing weeds and improving resilience, cover crops play a major role in organic grain systems. Join us for a practical discussion exploring how organic grain farmers are using cover crops in real-world rotations, what species and strategies are working best, and the lessons learned from years in the field.
Hear directly from the farmers growing our food as they share their experiences, challenges, and the thinking behind their decisions — all while cultivating healthier soils and a more sustainable future for agriculture.
Meet the lineup:
Greg Dineen is a 41-year-old farmer located near Kenilworth, Ontario, currently in his 12th year farming organically. He farms alongside his wife, two young sons, and parents on 430 acres at the edge of the Dundalk Highlands. Their rotation includes corn, soybeans, wheat, rye, and black beans. A self-described “recovering (relapsed?) engineer,” Greg enjoys machinery design and is currently leading a project with the University of Guelph on ultra-low-cost electric grain drying. His farm trials have included top-dressing cereals with hog manure and digestate, twin-row and swathed soybeans, snow-combined corn, and low-population corn in organic production.
Dean Martin and his two sons operate Harrow Organic Farms in Harrow, Ontario, farming 1,500 acres of certified organic grains and oilseeds across Essex County and Pelee Island. Dean has been cash cropping for over 40 years and began transitioning to organic production in 2005. A University of Guelph graduate (83A), he is a former director of The Seed Corn Growers of Ontario and a past speaker at both the Southwest Agricultural Conference and the Guelph Organic Conference.
Phil Oegema transformed his 1,200-acre family farm to organic production in 2012. Today, Oegema Grains grows organic crops using innovative tools and farmer-led practices while also operating an organic elevator supporting fellow farmers. As the 2024 President of the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association, Phil champions practical solutions and innovation in sustainable agriculture.
The discussion will be moderated by Dr. Erica Shelley, helping guide an engaging conversation on organic grain farming and cover crop strategies.
Free to attend. Registration required.
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