Andrew Hammermeister, Ph.D., P.Ag.
OACC Manager

Phone: 902-893-8037
Fax: 902-896-7095
ahammermeister@nsac.ca

The role of Post-Doctoral Fellow with the OACC offers me an exciting opportunity to make a contribution to organic agriculture and environmental sustainability. I am particularly interested in developing and promoting sustainable organic farming systems. Hailing from Saskatchewan, I have a special interest in organic production research relevant to the prairies as well as the Maritimes.

My primary role is to coordinate and conduct research associated with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) funded project “Transition and Sustainability Strategies for Organic Farms”. In this project we are investigating the importance of livestock and forages in organic farming systems. Compost from ruminant (e.g., cows and sheep) and monogastric (e.g., poultry and swine) are important sources of nutrients in organic systems. Perennial forages contribute to soil building, nutrient availability and weed control. In this four-year crop rotation study, we will investigate the effectiveness of various combinations of these treatments in relation to soil building, crop yield, weeds and financial cost/benefit. The research is being conducted in collaboration with many researchers and is being replicated in Manitoba under the supervision of Dr. Martin Entz at the University of Manitoba.

My other responsibilities include conducting research related to using forages as mulch in cereal crops and overseeing on-farm research projects in Nova Scotia and Alberta.

Having grown up on a mixed farm in Saskatchewan, and with family still farming, I am very interested in agricultural research. My undergraduate degree in Soil Science provided an excellent foundation for my M.Sc. research in Land Reclamation where I investigated the use of coal ash as a soil amendment. A strong interest in studying the interaction between soil and plant led to my Doctoral research in Applied Ecology.

I look forward to the opportunity to make a strong contribution to the organic industry while at the same time experiencing another part of the country with my family.