Dairy Farm

Fanny Lebrun is the driving force behind Les Marequiers, a Belgian non-profit dedicated to regional food autonomy. Through their flagship program, Semences d’Ici (which translates to Seeds from Here), Fanny works to strengthen the local organic seed sector. Prior to that, Fanny started the seed company Cycle en Terre by herself then built it into a citizen-owned seed cooperative.

In this episode, Fanny shares the logistics and challenges of scaling a seed business from a one-person operation to a ten-person team. We discuss Fanny’s transition into Les Marequiers and how she is trying to bridge the information gap from academic research to the practical realities of the farm. We also talk about the organic disease and pest management guide she has recently written.

In the deep dive, Fanny and I talk about growing carrots for seed. We get into the difficulties of growing seed carrots in humid, short-season climates, covering overwintering roots in a simple cellar and how to balance the harvest of primary and secondary umbels.

Enjoy the conversation!

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Support the Seed Farmer Podcast

https://www.farmerspreadsheetacademy.com//supportpodcast

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Episode links

Les Marequiers website

https://lesmarequiers.be/

French organic disease and pest management guide:

Gestion des bioagresseurs en production de semences potagères biologiques.

https://lesmarequiers.be/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/SDI-Dossiers-LesBioagresseurs.pdf

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Use code HARVESTREADY

for 50% off the Harvest System Designs course

https://www.farmerspreadsheetacademy.com//courses

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Stay in Touch

Follow the Seed Farmer on instagram

https://www.instagram.com/danbrisebois.farm/

Get my weekly seed newsletter

https://www.farmerspreadsheetacademy.com/seeds

Order Tourne-Sol seeds (Canadian orders only)

https://fermetournesol.qc.ca/

Get my new book The Seed Farmer

https://danbrisebois.com/seedfarmerbook

❤️ Thanks for listening!

DeereManual.com has multiple user manuals to browse

Kubota Tractor Corporation has partnered with SB Mowing to provide advanced equipment and support large-scale property transformations, while expanding a fast-growing community-focused initiative that is reshaping the lawn care industry.

BASF marks five years of Safety Scouts by providing free farm safety kits, supporting Kids FarmSafe Week, and helping Canadian farm families teach children safe and responsible farming practices.

A new children’s book uses farm life to teach young readers about self-worth individuality and finding purpose through simple language and relatable characters.

Today, let’s talk about how to set you up for successful seed harvests this summer. Taking a little time right now to make sure you have the right tools on hand means you can just head to the field and get those seeds when the weather is right!

Today’s minisode is all about

• Setting up your Seed HQ for your summer seed work • Choosing your seed harvest tools • Building field screens • And protecting your lungs and bodies from all the dust and sharp bits

Enjoy the show!

🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱

Use code HARVESTREADY for 50% off the Harvest System Designs course https://www.farmerspreadsheetacademy.com//courses

🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱

Support the Seed Farmer Podcast https://www.farmerspreadsheetacademy.com//supportpodcast

🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱

Stay in Touch Follow the Seed Farmer on instagram https://www.instagram.com/danbrisebois.farm/

Get my weekly seed newsletter https://www.farmerspreadsheetacademy.com/seeds

Order Tourne-Sol seeds (Canadian orders only) https://fermetournesol.qc.ca/

Get my new book The Seed Farmer https://danbrisebois.com/seedfarmerbook

❤️ Thanks for listening!

Dreher said his interest in agriculture developed after gaining firsthand exposure to farm life.

New Holland donated two tractors powered by alternative fuels for research on how some farming practices can help fuel the tractors in the future

AgRevolution has partnered with IHRA and Ellis Park to supply tractors, services, and training, showing how farm equipment supports racetracks and horse racing venues.

This year marks the tenth anniversary of EMILI (Enterprise Machine Intelligence and Learning Initiative), the culmination of a group of community leaders working towards a common goal: to grow Canada’s economy, with a specific focus on advancing agtech in the Prairies. Jacqueline Keena, Managing Director, explained that EMILI “is an industry-led non-profit committed to driving agriculture innovation, partnership, and engagement. We provide innovators access to leading-edge equipment, technology, and production practices to increase productivity, sustainability, and profitability across the agriculture and agri-food sector.” At the heart of it all are the partnerships that EMILI cultivates between producers, industry leaders, investors and innovators. These stakeholders work together “to grow a sustainable, economically resilient digital agriculture industry.” This work is done in a number of ways. “We know that Canadian agriculture can lead the world through transformative innovati