The AgriPost
May 27, 2022
The Cattle Business is Tough at the Best of Times
Allan Munroe, the owner/manager at Killarney Auction Mart, said the extended drought, cold, harsh winter, and extended cold spring months hurt the cattle industry. In May 2021 due to the drought the Killarney Auction Mart sold cow/calf pairs almost every week. It was heartbreaking at the time. Submitted photos After an extremely challenging year, life for cattle ranchers and farmers is not getting any easier.
By Harry Siemens Allan Munroe, the owner/ manager at Killarney Auction Mart, was moved by the plight of a struggling cattle producer and friend so he wrote and posted this article on the Auction Mart’s Facebook page. It garnered over 50,000 views in the first 12 hours after posting. “After an extremely challenging year, life for cattle ranchers and farmers is not getting any easier,” said Munroe. “Most have spent the last 12 months fighting to keep the grass in front of their animals
all summer. They baled straw, cat-tails, Kochia and anything else to have enough feed for the long winter. Despite a good open fall, winter set in before Christmas and is struggling to give up. Calving is always a challenging time.” “Those that calved in January-February-March made full use of their facilities and barns with one of the coldest winters in recent history. They needed to be on their game 24 hours a day to keep calves alive and protected from the extreme elements,” Munroe continued.
“When we finally reach April, the weather is going to get more temperate and make for easier calving. For many producers, spring weather means they can handle more cows at calving time with a much smaller investment in barns, sheds and expensive infrastructure,” said Munroe. Fast forward to what happened with the weather in April and May. The frustrated auction mart owner said that normally quads, calf-catchers or horses and ropes can handle most situations.
“Cows have no problem weathering a spring storm but two weeks of snow, rain, and 80 km/hour winds is more than most can take,” said Munroe. During the storm, it is pure survival mode. However, the cows get exhausted and calve in less than usual conditions with the extended cold, wet, windy weather. “I have never seen mature cows drop their calf and walk away as I witnessed during the last storm. The calf then needs to go somewhere warm and Continued on Page 3...
AgriInsurance Seeding Deadline Extended for Soybeans Manitoba Agriculture and the Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC) recently announced the extension of the AgriInsurance seeding deadlines for soybeans starting in 2022. The full coverage seeding deadlines for soybeans are now June 8 in Soybean Area 1 and June 4 in Soybean Areas 2 and 3. In addition, soybean growers in these areas will now be eligible for insurance if planting occurs in the five days following the full-coverage seeding deadline. However, coverage will be reduced by 20 per cent. The full-coverage seeding deadline for Soybean Area 4 continues to be May 30 with no extended seeding deadline coverage. These changes are permanent and will be part of the AgriInsurance contract going forward. The changes were made in consultation with the Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers Association after a review of available data and agronomic considerations such as growing season length and the use of varieties that are more adapted to Manitoba conditions since the seeding deadlines were last considered. These changes are not expected to materially change the risk to the AgriInsurance program and therefore there is no change to premiums as a result. MASC is not considering seeding deadline extensions for other crops at this time. The final spring seeding deadline for many major crops is June 20. AgriInsurance contract holders who are unable to seed by June 20 due to wet conditions are eligible for Excess Moisture Insurance. MASC clients are encouraged to connect with their MASC Service Centre if they have questions about AgriInsurance or are looking for resources to assist in dealing with wet conditions. For a full list of MASC seeding deadlines, visit masc.mb.ca/seeding-deadlines.
May 27, 2022
The AgriPost
Still Not Too Late for Seeding But Cutting it Close
By Harry Siemens In January and February, farmers’ attitudes shifted 180 degrees from concern about continued drought to seeing a spring with adequate moisture to plant and get descent germination compared to 2021. For some farmers they were able to plant in mid to late May their corn and soybeans, others are waiting for floodwaters to recede and soils to dry up. On May 5, Brunel Sabourin of Antara Agronomy of St. Jean-Baptiste, MB said it would be late when this water runs off for those farmers affected by the Red River flooding. With the river’s crest almost three weeks later than usual compared to previous flood years combined with additional rainfall, farmers have started rethinking original seeding plans. Depending on when they can get on the fields, corn will probably be the first crop to be swapped out said Sabourin. “As we get into June, nobody will want to put in corn. In late May and early June, oats can be a challenge to yielding light oats that don’t fill because it’s too warm during grain fill,” he said. He thinks that this might not be a good year to have light oats although back last fall when oats prices were attractive; farmers signed up many contracted acres. It is a limited market and it quickly fills if when there are many good quality oats. No one wants to be caught with light oats this year he said. He sees Canola as a safer bet on the later fields depending on when it freezes in fall. With supply problems for chemicals, seeds and fertilizer, most producers had put a lot of fertilizer down last
Gilbert Sabourin, who farms near the Red River, took this photo from his house window. He said that he does not have a phobia of the water; he is getting frustrated with the amount of water still surrounding the farm in May.
fall when prices were fairly attractive for fall application and weather conditions were better. “So from that standpoint, most producers are in good shape,” said Sabourin. With seeding for many crops starting simultaneously, it may cause some localized logistical issues for some, bringing in fertilizer. For those farmers it compresses the season. Sabourin said there is more opportunity for denitrification. “If we get some daytime highs in the mid-twenties to the high twenties, we could lose a lot of nitrogen fertilizer to denitrification once the water recedes from fields and until it dries up,” he said. “It’s a bit of a catch22. Our yield prospects are dropping the longer seeding is delayed. So the less fertilizer theoretically we’ll need, but we also have the higher risk of losses, which can be a real concern.” He said there is still good potential yet because it is not super late as long as producers can get on to the fields in the last part of May, or early June. “We will need the weather to cooperate for sure,” said Sabourin. However, a year ago, farm-
ers were so short of moisture causing some to shift into other crops with many areas desperately needing moisture. “Heard anecdotally from a couple of farmers; some very dry areas had a significant rainfall around September, early October, last year,” said Sabourin. “Our heavy clay soils shrink and swell with moisture. So we had big cracks in the ground, but it almost seemed like it sealed off the top six to 12 inches. As the clay got wet it expanded, then the rest of the water did not have as much of a chance to infiltrate leaving some areas lacking total subsoil moisture fill up.” Another farmer near the Red River, Gilbert Sabourin, who is live on his island farmyard near St. Jean-Baptiste said late Saturday, May 20, “Heck no. Water level tonight compared to last night is 2 inches higher! We are just 6.75 inches lower from the high eight days ago! Last night, I had to go to Grand Forks, ND, and came back today. I was shocked by the amount of water still between Drayton and Grand Forks yet! Lots to come yet! Not a phobia of the water; getting frustrated with the amount of water still - when you look at the calendar!”
Brunel Sabourin with Antara Agronomy let farmers know that if they think their fields are still too wet to cross, their sampler can still be used. The company is set up for wet conditions and ready to get those soil tests Submitted photos done right away.
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The Cattle Business is Tough at the Best of Times
Continued from Page 1...
Submitted photo
dry and fed colostrum to have a chance of living. These conditions would be hard enough with a few cows, let alone many,” he said. Then came the post-storm challenges. While pulling calves inside during the storm saves their lives, no one wants to bottle feed a significant number of calves. “The first task at hand is to find mothers for these babies and hope they love each other. The next part is keeping them healthy after the storm. That is when the scours, pneumonia, coccidiosis and other issues appear,” he said. With another Colorado Low on the horizon, there is no time for a break as either the pens get put back in shape or cattle get moved to a (hopefully) drier location. The constant barrage of Mother Nature’s wrath is wearing out the livestock producers and armchair quarterbacks that criticize what they do from their comfortable indoor quarters and skyrocketing expenses. “Steaks and hamburgers don’t come from the store; they come from the labour and efforts of our dedicated cattle producers. So let’s show our appreciation for them whenever possible,” said Munroe. Munroe said the extended drought, cold, harsh winter, and extended cold spring months hurt the cattle industry. In May 2021 the Killarney Auction Mart sold cow/calf pairs almost every week. It was heartbreaking at the time. “The guy would pull up with his trailer and look at the sky, just hoping to see a rain cloud, and then he’d open the door and let all his heifers out that he’d hoped to breed for replacements that year,” said Munroe. A good friend, beside himself called on a Friday while calving out a bunch of cows had gone through the first two storms and didn’t know how he’d make it through the third one. “My wife said, well, you’re not waiting until tomorrow. So, I went home and loaded up my teenage daughter and a few horses, and we headed out there Friday evening, and we spent all weekend until Monday afternoon, just trying to help out. And one of the tougher weekends I’ve had to deal with; the workload and the stress caused by the weather and calving cows and everything I described in that article,” said Munroe. He started touching base with staff and some producers on Monday, seeing how they’re doing because they’re not alone. Everyone’s fighting with it, he said. “I’m very concerned about their mental health and everything else, the viability of some of these operations as they struggle because everything seems to be a struggle right now, and we need a win for them,” said Munroe.
EPA Proposes Approval of Canola Oil Fuel Pathway under RFS By Harry Siemens
Calving out in the muck. “I have never seen mature cows drop their calf and walk away as I witnessed during the last storm,” Munroe said.
May 27, 2022
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on April 12 published a proposed rule to approve the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) pathways for renewable diesel jet fuel, heating oil, including from Canola/rapeseed oil via a hydro treating process. EPA’s assessment proposes that these fuel pathways meet the lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction threshold of 50 percent required to generate D4 biomassbased diesel and D5 advanced biofuel renewable identification numbers (RINs) under the RFS. Based on its analysis, the EPA said it finds that renewable diesel, jet fuel and heating oil produced by Canola oil are eligible for D4 biomass-based diesel RINs if made through a hydro treating process. Jim Everson, the Canola Council of Canada (CCC) president, said Canolabased biofuels offer tangible emissions reductions, primarily because growers have a strong track record of sustainable production practices. As a result, Canola-based biofuels have among the lowest carbon footprints globally, reducing lifecycle GHG emissions by up to 90 per cent compared to fossil diesel.
“It means that canola now has a pathway, or market access, if you like, to the US Renewable Fuels program,” said Everson. “In the past, it has to do with creating biofuel and mixing it with traditional diesel fuel.” This new system takes canola oil into the refining process mixed with diesel fuel. The new product is chemically equivalent to traditional petroleum diesel but has less GHG emissions because canola is a feedstock. Everson said the US decision provides Canola growers access to the US biofuels program but takes another step toward a larger market of renewable fuels, jet fuel, and other home heating uses. According to Everson approval of Canola for those purposes could be this summer. “We expect a comment period but are pleased that EPA has accepted the petition that the United States Canola Association made to them,” said Everson. He said the producer will be able to haul Canola to a
Canadian processing plant and then the oil will go to a refiner or a renewable fuels petroleum maker. While government programs and other Canola processing plants will sell to the biodiesel market, Japan and other countries depend on Canadian Canola oil as food oil. Everson said globally Canola will always be a prime vegetable oil used for human food. “It is, we think, the most healthy and versatile vegetable oil available on the global market. It’s all about increasing yields and finding ways to use new breeding technologies and improve our yields to meet the global demand.” Western Canadian farmers seeded about 21.5 million acres in 2021 but the drought cut the yield upping the price. “There’s strong global demand, so I think the signal to growers is to keep planting significant Canola acres,” said Everson. “Here’s hoping for a normal weather year
Jim Everson, Canola Council of Canada president is encouraged that Canola may now have a pathway, or market access to the US Renewable Fuels program.
so growers can produce a big crop.” Everson thinks that the US agreeing to allow Canola in renewable fuels provides a new and exciting marketing opportunity for growers. “I think it gives them diversification from other markets and a relatively predictable market environment because it’s here in North America,” he said. “I think it’s good for the growers and the industry.”
Western Canadian farmers seeded about 21.5 million acres of Canola in 2021 but the drought cut the yield upping the price. Submitted photos
The AgriPost
May 27, 2022
Things Aren’t as They Always Appear Farming hurts. The three biggest challenges facing farmers in Canada have government stamps. Carbon tax, taxing farmers and food producers into oblivion while causing everything else to go up by leaps and bounds. Next, the Feds claim the production of cereal grains contributes the most to climate change and consequently
makes noises about requesting fertilizer use reductions when growing crops. From where will the food come? You may wonder why I did not mention the current flooding and too much water causing later and later seeding this spring? That is truly a Mother Nature phenomenon that we can only workaround and our farmers are very good at doing so. With gasoline and diesel fuel prices climbing higher and higher, the government relies on so-called carbon taxes to stop climate change. So yes, there might be some. Next, Canada’s Minister of Agriculture Marie-Claude Bibeau participated in the G7 agriculture ministers meeting in Stuttgart on May 13-14, 2022, to address the global challenges that the agricultural sector faces today by taking concrete actions to contribute to all Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs). All seven ministers stated how greatly troubling the expected severe consequences for global food security and nutrition the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine is causing. Its impact on Ukraine’s internationally significant agricultural sector places global food security and nutrition under severe strain. Further, it intensifies worldwide humanitarian needs for which President Putin and his accomplices bear the full responsibility. “The war has intensified pressure on global food systems, which are already facing the increasing impacts of climate change, environmental degradation, other conflicts and the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a further rise in hunger and malnutrition. Also further exacerbated by export restrictions.” Isn’t this a whopper considering what MP Bibeau and PM Trudeau are doing to the
country back home and done without any invasion of war machines? “We note with great concern the severe effects that the recent high in prices for agricultural commodities, exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, is having on the economic situation, especially of vulnerable people, and hence on access to healthy diets, in particular in developing countries.” Oh, and energy and freight prices increase production costs all along the food chain. Supply disruptions and high prices for fertilizers and other inputs, reducing their affordability and therefore use, with the likely resulting decline in harvests in many countries, will put additional pressure on global food security and nutrition. Ok, we have solidarity amongst G7 Ag ministers presenting a unified position on their support for Ukraine and criticism of Russia and
how the lack of food will starve people. The only way to stop people from starving is the carbon tax. However, as my friend and colleague Jack Dawes of Yorkton, SK pointed out other issues affecting Canada also crept into some of the talks. For example, the ongoing irritation between Canada and the US over dairy-related supply management issues also caused a response. United States Ag secretary Tom Vilsack referred to a side discussion with MP MarieClaude Bibeau of Canada. “I’m hopeful that the nature of my conversation with the Canadian minister underscores the significant level of disappointment, in that she’s capable in the trade representative and Canada’s capable of reading between the lines in terms of what’s next. And maybe what’s next doesn’t have to happen.” Jack described it as this
complicated dairy issue that centres around TRQs or tariff rate quotas. Under the US/ Mexico/Canada agreement, Canada can maintain a number of these TRQs on certain dairy products. However, the US has gained some traction in its contention that Canada is undermining the value of those dairy TRQs for US farmers and exporters, limiting access to quantities negotiated under the agreement. “Now, as we understand it, in January, the USMCA panel agreed with the US that our allocation of dairy TRQs is inconsistent with the agreement,” said Jack. Where the matter goes from here, only the Feds know. According to the Manitoba Dairy Farmers chair, the tricky part is how the feds tackle this, keeping in mind that it doesn’t shake up the dairy supply management too much and satisfy the United States of America dairy industry political vehicle.
Seeding Progresses Likely into June By Elmer Heinrichs Long-delayed seeding of crops across Manitoba is slowly getting into full swing with farmers picking fields dry enough to begin seeding crops like wheat and peas. Despite being several weeks behind schedule this year due to the cool and wet conditions farmers are slowly getting out onto their fields. Farmers are extremely concerned about seeding delays, leading some to switch corn or soybean acres into canola and spring wheat and planned field pea acres may also see a decline. Many fields still have wet spots, and farmers are seeking their driest fields to plant almost any crop, while still dodging soft areas. Cool conditions persisted into late May, with lower corn heat unit (CHU) accumulation leading growers to consider the time frame left for crop maturity. Manitoba Agriculture’s
Dane Froese said some crops are in the ground, mostly in the Roblin and Swan River Valley area. In a May 17 Manitoba report seeding progress stood at about 4 per cent, far behind the 5-year average of 50 per cent. Pockets of the central and southwest regions are further ahead, while other parts of the interlake, northwest region and the Red River Valley nearest the river remain in water. A report for central said soils have dried substantially and planting has started for a majority of farmers with only a few locations too wet to start anywhere. Carman to Elm Creek, as well as Roland, Arnaud and WinklerMorden areas and west along the escarpment has seen the most progress. Seeding attempts in eastern region are underway with many farmers starting by planting corn, but total corn acres are expected to drop if
crop can’t be seeded quickly. Farmers have harrowed or done light tillage ahead of seeding, but the bulk of seeding will be after the May long weekend. Over the mid-May weekend spring seeding of wheat, oats and barley was more widespread on dryer areas across all regions that were missed by rains. Corn planting is about 10 per cent done in the Red River Valley. Very few canola crops have been planted to date as farmers concentrate on longerseason crops. Or those more sensitive to seeding date like peas, wheat and corn. Some canola is being broadcasted and harrowed or coultered in.
It is expected that canola acres will surpass Statistics Canada’s estimated area as a result of multiple delays to begin seeding and some switching out of long-season crops. Some field peas have been planted at Swan Valley and other places dry enough to support machinery, only limited seeding of soybeans to date, with no reports of edible bean being planted. Despite the wet conditions, pulse specialist Dennis Lange sees dry beans going in around and after the May long weekend and expects quite a lot of soybeans to go in as well. Manitoba’s winter wheat
Emerson area fields during the crest of the Red River flood 2022.
fields seemed to have come through the winter fairly well, but growth remains slower than normal due to wet conditions and cool days. Potato planting has begun in some areas of the province. As of Friday, May 13, Vikram Bisht with Manitoba Agriculture, said roughly five thousand acres have been seeded, most of these in the Shilo to Carberry area, and some near Winkler. Pastures are starting to green up in most regions but regrowth has been slow, and nearly all regions remain short on feed supplies, with the delay in turning cattle out to pasture.
Photo by Myriam Dyck
The AgriPost
Bibeau Concludes G7 Agricultural Ministers’ Meeting in Germany
Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Marie-Claude Bibeau, met with other G7 Agriculture Ministers in Stuttgart, Germany on May 13 and 14. MEL/Photothek
In mid-May, Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, concluded her trip to Stuttgart, Germany, where she took part in the annual G7 Agriculture Ministers Meeting (AMM) to advance shared priorities and discuss Canada’s agricultural interests regarding trade, supply chains, food security and environmental sustainability. Throughout her visit, Bibeau took part in conversations with her counterparts to support the development of more inclusive and resilient food systems through innovative solutions. She also highlighted Canada’s steadfast commitment to supporting the Ukrainian people, who have been impacted by Russia’s illegal and unjustifiable invasion. For the first time, Bibeau met the Ukrainian Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food, Mykola Solskyi. The two ministers discussed Russia’s
war of aggression on his country and its consequences for Ukraine and global food security. During the meeting, Bibeau reiterated Canada’s commitment to work with the G7 countries to step up efforts to help Ukraine continue its agricultural production for the upcoming harvest season and exporting, including by alternative routes. Bibeau, along with her G7 colleagues, strongly condemned Russia’s actions against Ukraine. The Ministers also emphasized their commitment to provide support to ensure the ability of Ukrainian farmers to feed their population and to contribute to global food security. “This G7 Agriculture Ministers Meeting has reaffirmed our commitment to join forces in the face of global challenges. The pandemic, extreme climate change and the impacts of Russia’s un-
warranted attack on Ukraine are undermining food security and driving up prices,” said Bibeau. To date in 2022, Canada has committed $245 million Canadian dollars to support the humanitarian response and meet urgent needs on the ground in Ukraine and neighbouring countries. While in Germany, the Bibeau announced Canada’s intention to double its funding to the Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS). This investment will give countries new information about fertilizers, seeds and other inputs to help reduce price volatility, and fight global hunger. The G7 Ministers also committed to agricultural diversity and sustainability to mitigate climate change and halting and reversing biodiversity loss, management of nutrients in agriculture, fighting against Antimicrobial
Resistance (AMR) in agriculture and food systems and the urgency of solving food loss and waste. At the G7 Agriculture Ministers Meeting, Bibeau met with Cem Özdemir, host of the Agriculture Ministers Meeting and Minister of Food and Agriculture of Germany; Stefano Patuanelli, Italy’s Minister of Agricultural, Food and Forestry; Arata Takebe, Japan’s State Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; Tom Vilsack, the United States’ Secretary of Agriculture; Victoria Prentis, United Kingdom’s Minister of State for Farming, Fisheries and Food; Janusz Wojciechowski, European Union Commissioner for Agriculture; Julien Denormandie, France’s Minister of Agriculture and Food; Mykola Solskyi, Ukrainian Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food; Ulrik Knudsen, Deputy Secretary General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD); and Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). During these meetings, Bibeau reiterated Canada’s engagement as a committed and reliable partner in agricultural trade, global food security, and taking action on climate change. “The agriculture sector has shown resilience and we will coordinate our efforts to support it, while staying the course on our climate commitments,” added Bibeau.
Federal Government Funds Future Generation of Agricultural Leaders Three organizations targeting Canada’s young farmers will share funding up to $2.1 million to support development opportunities for Canadian youth in agriculture. With funds under the Federal Government AgriCompetitiveness Program, these organizations will deliver important programming and initiatives that help to develop the future generation of agricultural leaders. Canadian 4-H Council (4-H Canada) will receive up to $1.8 million over two years to develop new curriculum and resources that empower youth through leadership programs, aimed at growing their practical knowledge and skills in key areas concerning Canadian agriculture. Through this
project, 4-H Canada will reach an increased number of youth in diverse audiences, create new mentorship opportunities and advance awareness of Canadian agriculture, food literacy and exciting careers in the agrifood sector. Established more than 100 years ago, 4-H Canada is one of the country’s most wellrespected positive youth development organizations. 4H in Canada has more than 23,500 members and 7,800 volunteers. Canadian Young Farmers’ Forum (CYFF) will receive up to $195,168 over two years to build industry capacity and provide training and education to young farmers across Canada. With this support, CYFF create
new initiatives to address specific needs for the reality young farmers are facing today, in order to provide them with the additional knowledge and skills required to increase their operations’ profitability and efficiency. Canadian Young Farmers’ Forum is a national, not-for-profit organization established in 1997. Together with 11 provincial/ territorial Young Farmers associations, it provides development opportunities for young farmers aged 18 - 40 across Canada. Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers (COYF) will receive up to $119,724 over two years to support its seven regional recognition events, as well as its three-day national recogni-
tion event. These events are held each year to recognize young farmers who exemplify excellence in their profession and to promote the tremendous contribution of agriculture to Canada and its economy. Funding will also be used to increase agriculture awareness and support the continued positive growth of public trust in the agricultural sector. Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers Program recognizes young farmers who exemplify excellence in their profession. It is an annual competition, open to participants 18 to 39 years of age. Seven regional competitions lead up to the national event where two national winners are chosen each year.
May 27, 2022
Agri-Food Exporters Welcome Normalization of Canola Trade with China Dan Darling, President of the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA) issued the statement below regarding China’s lifting of restrictions affecting Canada’s canola exports. Dear Editor: Agri-food exporters are very pleased that trade is going to once again be normalized with China, a significant export destination for our sector. This has been a long time coming and we are thankful for the leadership Minister Ng and Minister Bibeau have shown in helping restore market access as well as being champions for rules-based trade for agri-food. [This] news sends an important signal that food security is an issue that requires global solutions and cooperation, and that free and open trade is one of the best ways to ensure food remains plentiful around the world. Exporters of all sizes are facing numerous challenges these days. The road to recovery will go through trade while also helping fight climate change and restore vitality in our supply and value chains. We look forward to continuing to work alongside Minister Ng, Minister Bibeau and the federal government to further market access priorities with China such as re-establishing trade flows for beef and pork
Beef Sector Builds on Global Consumer Loyalty Recently, the Federal Government announced available funds of up to $3.6 million to ensure the beef industry has the necessary resources to seize new export opportunities to remain competitive and continue to be a sustainable driver of economic growth. The additional funding builds on a previous AgriMarketing investment for Canada Beef of up to $4.9 million to build consumer loyalty to the Canadian brand, address market access issues and strengthen trading relationships. Under the AgriMarketing Program, this funding will be used to support Canada Beef’s efforts to boost beef and veal exports globally through initiatives that aim to increase trust in Canada’s beef sector. Project activities will help to bolster Canada’s global beef brand and build stronger relationships with global trading partners. This will help producers become more competitive and grow beef sales in important international markets, while supporting the continued growth and success of the Canadian beef industry, which contributes billions to Canada’s GDP. In addition, this project will support training and elearning activities at the Canadian Beef Centre of Excellence (CBCE), a state-of-the-art training facility. These activities will help industry increase knowledge around the advantages of Canadian beef, enable it to promote the excellence of Canadian beef and help to increase public trust in beef products. In 2021, Canada exported 508 million kg of beef to international markets, valued at $4.47 billion. Additionally, Beef production contributes approximately $21.8 billion to Canada’s GDP.
May 27, 2022
Ag in the Classroom to Focus on Canada’s Next Generation of Farmers By connecting youth directly with farmers to learn how our food is produced and showcase the vital role that farmers play in our food system, the Government of Canada is hoping to inspire and build the next generation of young farmers to ensure a strong, sustainable Canadian agriculture sector. The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, MarieClaude Bibeau has announced up to $415,000 in support for Agriculture in the Classroom Canada (AITC-C) during the kickoff of the Canadian Agriculture Literacy Month (CALM). CALM is celebrated annually in March and encourages students to learn about and celebrate Canada’s incredible agriculture and food story. AITC-C, a national not-for-profit organization, is the voice for agriculture education in Canada. Together with its ten provincial members as well as industry partners, the organization delivers accurate, balanced, and current curriculum-linked agri-food resources, programs, and initiatives that are based on science. AITC-C received approximately $55,000 through the new federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) AgriCommunication Program to support activities related to a recent promotion of virtual farm tours. Additionally, AITC-C will receive nearly $360,000 under the AgriDiversity program to expand its thinkAG initiative, which is designed to help Canadian students learn about, and inspire interest in, the many diverse and exciting career opportunities in agriculture. “As always, we are thrilled to continue our collaborations with AAFC through this most recent announcement of funding,” said Johanne Ross, Executive Director, AITC-C. The support will be leveraged alongside other AITC-C donors to ensure initiatives such as CALM and thinkAG continue to grow and thrive with useful tools for educators and experiences for students. Reaching the young people of this nation, our future leaders and decision makers, is key to ensuring continued public trust and growth in Canada’s agriculture and food sector.”
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Grain Grading Changes Begin This Year Updates are coming to the Canadian Grain Commission’s Official Grain Grading Guide this crop year. Following consultation with sector stakeholders through the Western Standards Committee and Eastern Standards Committee, the Canadian Grain Commission is implementing a series of grading changes that will better meet the needs of the agriculture sector in Canada and grain buyers around the world. Upcoming changes include mildew standards for eastern and western red wheats. Current mildew standard samples for Canada Eastern Red Spring (CERS), Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) and Canada Western Red Winter (CWRW) wheats are being replaced. The changes update standard samples for No. 1 and
No. 2 CERS wheat effective July 1, 2022 in eastern Canada and No. 1 and No. 2 CWRS wheat effective August 1, 2022 in western Canada. The mildew standard for Wheat, No. 3 CERS, Wheat, No. 3 CWRS, and Wheat, No. 3 CWRW will no longer be used as a grading factor for those grades. The standard samples are being updated after the Canadian Grain Commission conducted extensive research over multiple years, which found that mildew had minimal impact on flour yield and refinement, dough properties, and baking quality. However, mildew remains a grading factor for other grades as it can provide additional quality protection to accompany sprout tolerances. Changes are coming to splits tolerance for No. 2 Canada Green Peas as well. The splits tolerance in No. 2
Canada Green Peas will be changed from 1% to 3% effective August 1, 2022 across Canada. This change is in response to the Canadian agriculture sector advising the Canadian Grain Commission that the 3% splits tolerance better reflects how the sector is handling and exporting No. 2 Canada Green Peas. Updates to the tolerance for inconspicuous admixture in canola are effective August 1, 2022 across Canada. The tolerance for inconspicuous admixture in the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 grades of canola will be changed from 5% to 1.0%. This is in response to quality concerns that were discovered with canola samples that contained 5% admixture and will help to ensure Canada’s reputation for high-quality canola. Coloured beans will need to be registered to be eligible for the highest grades.
Effective August 1, 2022, only Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) registered varieties of coloured beans will be eligible for the highest statutory grades for beans in Canada. Most coloured beans currently being grown in Canada have completed the variety registration process. Coloured beans include but are not limited to black beans, cranberry beans, pinto beans, red kidney beans, red Mexican beans, and yellow eye beans. Included in the update is excreta tolerance for domestic mustard seed in the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 grades of domestic mustard seed from 1 kernel-size piece per 500 grams to 0.01% effective August 1, 2022. This change is to bring it in line with excreta tolerances for other official grains while ensuring stringent quality control.
Canada Aims to Increase Grain Product Exports The Federal Government is recognizing the grain sector as a major driver of economic growth domestically, with demand for Canadian export grain products on the rise from global markets by earmarking nearly $4.4 million, over two years, to support three industry organizations in their efforts to grow Canada’s grain exports. The funds are coming from the federal AgriMarketing Program. Cereals Canada Inc., based
in Winnipeg, will receive up to $3.52 million to reach international new markets by promoting the high-quality aspects of Canadian wheat and durum wheat. Canada Grains Council, based in Ottawa, will receive up to $461,000 to help increase and diversify Canadian grain exports to international markets and seize domestic market opportunities. The project will focus on reducing the potential impact of technology-related non-tariff
trade barriers (NTBs) related to plant breeding innovation for Canadian grain exports. The Prairie Oat Growers Association, based in Regina, will receive up to $417,000 to help increase demand for Canadian oats by promoting the health and environmental benefits, as well as the diverse uses of oats. “Funding from the Government of Canada allows Cereals Canada to leverage our value chain membership investments enabling us to continue to pro-
vide customer technical support and market access success on behalf of our farmers, exporters, developers and processors,” explained Dean Dias, Chief Executive Officer, Cereals Canada Inc. The Canadian grain industry generated a record $32.2 billion in farm cash receipts in 2021, with exports also setting a record by value at more than $24.5 billion. Canadian wheat, barley and oats are shipped around the world to over 84 countries.
Expanding Export Opportunity for Small and Medium Ag Businesses The COVID-19 pandemic has created challenges all along the value chain for producers seeking to reach new international markets, and making investments in these efforts is critical to securing the future of the sector. The Federal Government has announced additional funding of nearly $1.8 million for the Canadian Food Exporters Association (CFEA), over two years, to help open and maintain markets for Canadian exporters around the world and to facilitate the entry of numerous small and medi-
um-sized enterprises (SMEs) into international markets. Increased exports for SMEs translate into economic development for the communities where they operate, while simultaneously raising the profile of Canadian food and beverage products on the world stage. This strategic investment could help small and medium businesses seize new market opportunities and continue growing Canada’s annual agriculture and food exports. “Small and medium sized producers contribute enormously to the economic prosperity of their local
economies and communities. Our government recognizes the critical role they play, and we are committed to supporting them in pursuing new export opportunities,” said Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. “This investment will help Canadian products reach consumers across the world, while also providing valuable economic benefits here at home.” The goal of the funding commitment is to support the CFEA’s efforts to build relationships, create networks, identify opportunities and gain familiarity with poten-
tial new markets in more than 15 countries in Asia, Europe, North and South America, and the Middle East. Related activities will highlight Canadian products and producers, and leverage Canada’s reputation for high-quality and safe food while creating opportunities for SMEs to showcase their products. It is also hoped this investment will contribute to helping improve global food security. In 2021, despite the challenges presented by the pandemic, Canadian agriculture and food exports hit a new record of over $82 billion.
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A Farm Icon Remembered:
Bruce Campbell
Bruce Campbell, Ron Arnason and Jacob Wolgemuth. Western Canada’s leading supplier of feed and nutrition services to the livestock and poultry industries celebrated 50 years in business with a celebration in Landmark in August 2004. File photos
By Harry Siemens Bruce Campbell, an Icon in agriculture, died peacefully on Tuesday, May 17, 2022 at the St. Boniface Hospital after a short illness. Born June 25, 1936 he grew up on the family farm at Chater, Manitoba. He attended Clinton School, Brandon Collegiate and graduated from the University of Manitoba Faculty, of Agriculture in 1958 with a major in Animal Science. Upon graduation, he joined Feed Rite Mills. In 1968, fuelled by the vision and entrepreneurial spirit, Bruce purchased a 50 per cent interest in a rural feed business in Landmark becoming the sole owner nine years later. From that point, he quarterbacked a team of partners and outstanding employees in turning Landmark Feeds Inc. into one of western Canada’s leading agribusiness companies. At the same time, he became well known as a businessman with vision and high integrity.
Bruce Campbell and Jacob Wolgemuth. “I don’t know, I really can’t say. Nobody could have even brainwashed me into thinking that this could turn out this way,” said Jake Wolgemuth, on the man who started the company fifty years back in August 2004.
According to a write-up in honour of his induction into the Manitoba Agricultural Hall of Fame, Campbell made significant contributions to the development of the livestock industry in Manitoba. He helped new producers start their operations, spearheading financing for the first caged layer barn, supporting and encouraging the development of the supply management system for poultry and dairy, promoting genetic improvements, using AI, and high health hog standards. During that time the swine side of the business, Elite Swine Inc., had grown to become Canada’s leading swine infrastructure company. He was also instrumental in encouraging Maple Leaf Foods to locate their hog processing plant in Brandon. Doug Redekop of La Broquerie, MB who coined the term for Campbell, as an Icon shared his experiences as a friend, employee, and doing business with him. “I remember Bruce as a visionary seeing the future before it happened. He could anticipate trends and he was almost like Wayne Gretzky,” said Redekop. “You want to be where you envision the puck to be going not where it is now.” He recalled how Campbell used to call on his fatherin-law’s place selling feed. “My wife tells a story about how she used to sit on Bruce Campbell’s knee in the kitchen of their house.” Doug and Sandra Redekop worked for Campbell in different capacities for almost 25 years together with the company making it an exceptional relationship. However, the relationship went beyond the job, said Doug.
He always wanted to know what was going on in one’s personal life. As Campbell’s assistant, Sandra at many a function would do this for him so he could remember people and names: “Okay now, scan the room. These are the people, and tell me again, how many children do they have, their names spouse’s name?” Doug said every relationship was a symbiotic relationship. “It was never a what can this do for me attitude but what can it do for us.” Randy Wolgemuth of Steinbach knew Bruce Campbell as a business partner and, most importantly, a mentor. “Boy, did I ever learn stuff from that man. He always made me feel important as he did everyone else and did not ignore anyone,” said Wolgemuth. “Of course, the business was business, but there was always a personal touch. I remember him talking about not going too far afield. Start at home and work your way out. Don’t leave a whole bunch of geography in between. So yeah, it was terrific.” Not only was Wolgemuth involved with Campbell, so was Jacob, Wolgemuth’s father. “So it’s like one big family, and who owns what isn’t that important.” “My father was very close to him, but Bruce was right there. I would privately sometimes think of him as I had two business dads; my biological father, a great dad and a business advisor, and then there was Bruce Campbell who was right there beside me,” said Wolgemuth. “And it wasn’t always with words, but just watching how he did business, taking care of the customer. It was incredible.”
May 27, 2022
May 27, 2022
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May 27, 2022
FCC Ready to Work with Fertilizer Canada Customers Impacted by Avian Flu Calls on
Farm Credit Canada (FCC) says it is prepared to work with customers concerned about financial hardship due to the impact of avian influenza, a devastating disease for poultry operations. “We are monitoring the situation closely and talking with our customers to let them know we are prepared to help them overcome any short-term financial issues that might arise as a result of this highly contagious and deadly bird flu,” said Michael Hoffort, FCC presi-
dent and CEO. “That’s why we’re offering flexibility for customers experiencing financial pressure as a result of avian flu.” To date, the virus (H5N1) has been detected in several poultry farms across Canada. This affects live birds, bird products and by-products impacting chicken, turkey, ducks and egg sectors, as well as poultry input suppliers and processors. FCC is prepared to help customer poultry operations directly affected by the disease or by
bans placed on farms in the proximity of infected farms, which could potentially lead to cash flow problems. FCC will consider additional short-term credit options, deferral of principal payments and/or other loan payment schedule amendments to reduce the financial pressures on producers impacted by avian flu. FCC will also offer flexibility and even a combination of options based on the individual needs of its customers, since each farm financial situation is unique.
“We are ready to help our customers through these circumstances that are beyond their control,” Hoffort said. “By working together, we can all play a part in helping poultry producers overcome this challenge. It’s the right thing to do.” Customers impacted by avian flu are encouraged to contact their FCC relationship manager or the FCC Customer Service Centre at 1-888-332-3301 as soon as possible to discuss their individual situation and options.
Manitoba Summer Fair is Back – Better than Ever! The Manitoba Summer Fair is back on June 8 to 12 at the Keystone Centre in Brandon. The Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba in association with Heritage Co-op is also excited to welcome everyone back to the premiere summer event. The midway features exciting fast-paced rides, family-friendly entertainment, barrel racing and top of the line miniature and heavy horse shows. “We are ready and raring to go for the Manitoba Summer Fair June 8 to 12,” said Kathy Cleaver Provincial Exhibition President. “The Manitoba Summer Fair is a much-anticipated tradition in
Brandon and is the unofficial kick-off to summer. We are very busy with plans to make this one our best yet!” Fireworks will help celebrate the return of the fair on opening day Wednesday, June 8. The pyrotechnicians from Archangel Fireworks will set off the show at dusk. The Provincial Exhibition is proud to continue its partnership with North American Midway Entertainment for Brandon’s largest midway show. The midway will feature Majorland with all the returning favourite rides including the new ‘Star Dancer’. For the kids there’s Kiddieland featuring the Dragon
Coaster, Spidermania and of course the Slide. Aside from the mouth-watering food vendors along the midway, the Manitoba Summer Fair offers family-friendly entertainment over the five days including The Hockey Circus Show, Doodles the Clown and KidZone. Thursday afternoon features the Seniors Tea and Dance in the Dome Building and Westman Disability Day, an opportunity for those with limited abilities to enjoy the fair at their own pace from 1 to 3 pm. Barrel Racing takes over the Westoba Ag Centre on Friday night. On both Sat-
urday and Sunday fair-goers can see Hackney ponies as well as the smallest horses, Miniatures and the largest, Draft Horses while they compete in the Westoba Ag Centre arena. New this year is Market at the Dome for shoppers looking for locally made and sourced items. For those thirsty adults, the Beer Garden offers a cold beverage to share with friends. Sunday morning’s Pancake Breakfast Under the Dome runs from 9am to noon. Be sure to follow the Provincial Exhibition on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for live updates.
Exporters Optimistic About Pulse Market By Elmer Heinrichs With the renewed enthusiasm for a free trade agreement with India, Canadian exporters are maintaining an upside bias in the global pulse market. Canadian exporters seeing the recently signed India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (IndAus ECTA) are encouraged
as Canada and India continue to negotiate a new trade agreement, the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and a Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA). India and Canada are targeting an interim pact on a free trade agreement (FTA) before the end of this year. Although India is the largest pulse pro-
ducer and consumer, Canada was the largest exporter of pulses to India in 2019, with an import quantity of 1.2 million metric tons. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) estimates the seeded area for peas in 202223 to be marginally higher from the previous year at 1.65 hectares. Production is forecast to increase to 3.8 million
metric tonnes (MT) with total supply rising sharply to 4.0 MT. The AAFC expects that Canada’s lentils seeded area for 2022-23 will be unchanged at 1.8 million hectares. However with trend yields, production is forecast to rise sharply to 2.5 million MT and supply is expected to increase to 2.75 million MT.
‘Keep It Clean’ Issues 2022 Product Advisory Keep it Clean has released its 2022 Product Advisory to inform Canadian growers of potential market risks associated with certain crop protection products when used on some crops. “Keep it Clean encourages growers to review the 2022 Product Advisory,” said Krista Zuzak, Director
of Crop Protection and Production for Cereals Canada. “We also recommend growers always consult with their grain buyers before applying any products on the Product Advisory to keep their crops market-ready throughout the growing season.” Product/crop types included in the advisory this year are
Fluopyram (new) as, “do not use” on malt barley and “be informed” for use on barley for feed or food; Sethoxydim (new) as “be informed” for use on lentils and chickpeas; Chlormequat, “be informed” for use on malt barley; Chlorothalonil, “be informed” for use on chickpeas; Glufosinate as “do not use” on
lentils and “be informed” for use on dry beans ; Glyphosate, “be informed” for use on wheat, oats and pulses and “do not use” on malt barley and Saflufenacil as “do not use” on malt barley. For their 2022 product advisory go to keepitclean. ca and choose the Tools and Resources tab.
Government to Develop Solution to Fragile Supply Chain While Fertilizer Canada is pleased the Canadian Pacific Rail (CP Rail) work stoppage was very brief, they are calling on the Federal Government to proactively engage with other sectors that have collective agreements expiring in 2022. Fertilizer Canada represents manufacturers, wholesale and retail distributors of nitrogen, phosphate, potash and sulphur fertilizers. The industries who rely on rail to ship their goods to both Canadian and international customers need a permanent solution to problems within Canada’s supply chain, they said in a statement. “Disruptions, such as work stoppages, jeopardizes our country’s position as a reliable trading partner on the world stage and have devastating impacts on farmers, the economy, and food security in Canada and around the world.” While Fertilizer Canada respects the collective bargaining process, “We are disappointed the outcome of CP Rail’s negotiation resulted in a work stoppage. The impacts of the two-day stoppage will be felt for weeks to come.” “We are pleased that the work stoppage has ended,” said Karen Proud, President and CEO of Fertilizer Canada. “However, there are several other collective agreements expiring in 2022. Canada cannot afford for these agreements to expire and another work stoppage to occur. It is now vital the federal government develop a long-term approach to fixing problems within the supply chain so Canada can continue to be a reliable trading partner.” Rail is crucial to the transportation of Canadian fertilizer, domestically and internationally, and a work stoppage has crippling effects on the economy and agriculture sector, especially, during the crucial spring seeding season they stressed. “Fertilizer is the most important input for crops grown in Canada and around the world, helping farmers produce maximum crop yields,” added Proud. “The agriculture sector is already experiencing supply challenges compounded by the war in Ukraine and needs assurance we will be able to get crucial fertilizer product without concern of work stoppages.” They believe the Canadian government has a responsibility to make sure that domestic supply of agriculture products is moving freely and there is unimpeded trade and cross-border mobility between Canada and the US which is essential, particularly for the fertilizer sector, due to the highly integrated nature of the supply chains. According to industry figures, 75 per cent of all fertilizer produced and used in Canada is moved by rail and the industry is dependant on rail to move product across the country and into international markets. Since 2019, their members have dealt with a strike at CN, the Port of Montreal and now CP. “Our member companies operate in a global marketplace and need a transportation system that is not under threat of disruption every two years,” read part of their statement.
Rail is crucial to the transportation of Canadian fertilizer, domestically and internationally. File photo
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May 27, 2022
Flooding and Heavy Moisture Delays Seeding in Manitoba By Harry Siemens While some farmers and residents are fighting the mighty Red River and its tributaries as it floods fields, roadways and some homes south of Winnipeg, many farmers are itching to start seeding. “We had a few frustrating days of learning a new drill.
But I am grateful that we got that done when we didn’t have much ready,” said Ron Krahn at Rivers, MB on Saturday, May 7. “So we have a field of wheat in.” Eric McLean said it will be a shotgun start this year in the Westman region noting that several farmers hit a few fields already to get the bugs
out of seeding equipment. “If it doesn’t rain much this week [May 9], there’ll be lots of activity building into the weekend and some dryer conditions and sunshine next week,” said McLean. McLean said if it does not rain seeding will start about midweek. Most of the snow has melted in the bush lines
while water is still moving through the low areas making it impossible to get between spots he said. “Hopefully frost goes out this week, and then I think the puddles will go away and we will be in full swing,” said McLean. “If it rains; then we’re always at the mercy of the weather.” Gilbert Sabourin, who could walk across the Red River in August of 2021 due to severe drought, is now living on an island surrounded by floodwaters which is his farm yard that was kept safe by flood-proofing after the 1997 flood with a huge earthen dike. Sabourin said it is now a waiting game as to when seeding will start. “This is a much later crest; someone mentioned 2009 had crested around April 27,” said Sabourin. “We will be much later than that now and will need a heat wave and strong winds to dry the land as water goes down.” Depending on the weather and moisture, June 1 is a more realistic target for him. Simon Ellis of Ellis Seeds farms at Wawanesa, MB. He said that with the good snow pack and spring rains his area has improved immensely compared to extremely dry soils a year ago. “These rains have helped us out and given us some moisture to get the crop planted and growing,” said Ellis. “I think right now we’re probably good until June, I would expect.” He does not consider the rainfall excessive but will know better once he gets into the fields. Land is drying up rather quickly, and the water seems to be soaking into the ground. “I’m thinking there must have been a lot of room for moisture in the ground,”
Gilbert Sabourin, whose farm is surrounded by water, said seeding will be much later this year and will need a heat wave and strong winds to dry the land as water goes down. Submitted photos
Farming at Rivers, MB, Ron Krahn said they had a few frustrating days of learning a new drill. But he is grateful that they were able to get a field of wheat in even though they did not have much ready.
observed Ellis. Ellis has seeded wheat before May 1 over the last two years, but record crops planted with a May 15 start
turned out good at the end of the season, said Ellis. “I’m still optimistic that we’ll plant by May 9 and get things underway,” said Ellis. Ellis planned ahead by ordering seed, fertilizer and crop protection products. He incorporated fertilizer last fall and his herbicides and fungicides are in the shed ready to go. “When we heard about the stories and worries of shortages, we got our inventories of chemical and seed in place,” said Ellis. Being in the retail seed business he knows that, oats and pea seed are in short supply along with some other crops, but crops like wheat and soybeans have a very good supply. “I hope everybody has a good season and stays safe,” said Ellis. “It might take a few extra hours this year, given that our planting window is a bit shorter or tighter. So hopefully, get rest when you can and good luck to everyone.”
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May 27, 2022
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Are You Looking for Sunshine Too? By Joan Airey In over 50 years of gardening I have never had to wait this late to have my garden worked. It’s May 20 and my garden is a mud bog as many are, in Manitoba this year. My son says it’s better than no moisture as there is grass for the cattle. I have my own garden tiller but I’m getting Gary from Hamiota to till it first thing in the spring. Many of my neighbours get him as well to till there garden, so when
the sun shines for a few days his phone will be ringing off the wall. I have heartfelt sympathy for the families that are experiencing flooding in Manitoba. I visited Walkers Greenhouse last week and picked up a few extra plants to grow alongside the ones I’d started myself. While we were there, Travis was potting up salsa packs containing everything you need to grow to make salsa. After he made several,
Visited Walkers on a dull rainy day and the bright blooms through the greenhouse brightened my day. Photos by Joan Airey
he mentioned them on Facebook and they were sold immediately so when we left he was making up more. Because of several requests for Wisteria Inpatients last year, he has an abundance on hand this year. The Walkers had hosted an open house the Saturday before we were there and with ten staff members working they had a line up an hour long going through the cashier. Besides very bedding plant you can think of they have potato seeds, plus many seeds, and a cooler with fresh shoots grown just down the road by Brown Sugar Produce. Another local greenhouse I plan to visit is the Trestle Greenhouse owned by Eleanor Beever right in Rivers. I’ll be looking for her Giant Pansies, Bubble Gum Petunias, and Fresh Bite Peppers which produced tons of small peppers for me last year. My plan was to visit her greenhouse by now but weather etc. has made it impossible.
By the time you read this I hope to have my plants bought as there is a high demand for plants again this year. Last week when a neighbour and I were discussing gardening she told me, that a local green thumb, told her she takes a kettle of hot water and waters the row where she is planting her carrots, then plants her seed and she always has good germination. I picked up an extra package of Big Boy seeds the last time I was in Brandon at Peavey Mart. While there I met an elderly gentleman who was buying fertilizer for his tomato plants. He told me he uses 10-52-10 to fertilize his plants when young and 20-20-20 when they are in the garden. I use the fertilizer stakes in the garden. Hope you are gardening outdoors soon! Both greenhouses I mentioned can be found on Facebook.
Ryes to the Occasion Understanding how a crop will grow in various places is key to getting more farmers to grow it. Rye is a cereal grain grown in parts of Europe, and although not a commonly grown crop in other regions, its characteristics makes it a valuable option for farmers. Researchers in Estonia studied how rye grows in Estonia and the United Kingdom. They tested different varieties of rye with different fertilizers. Estonia has colder winters and more snow when compared to the United Kingdom. “We reported the results of the Healthy Minor Cereals project experiment conducted 2013-2018,” explains researcher Ilme Tupits from the Estonian Crop Research Institute. “The aim was to investigate how winter rye cultivation can be extended to different climatic regions in Europe.” In the experiment the researchers grew four different varieties of rye in Estonia and the United Kingdom. The varieties each had slightly different characteristics. Tupits said that to grow well in Estonia, a rye variety must be winter hardy and resistant to snow mold infection. They applied four kinds of nitrogen-containing fertilizer in two different amounts to the winter rye. Three of the fertilizers, cattle slurry,
farmyard manure, and biogas digestate are used in organic farming. The fourth one, mineral nitrogen, is used in conventional farming. Tupits said that mineral nitrogen is readily available to plants after it is applied in the field. However, nitrogen from organic fertilizers is slowly absorbed by plants over the growing period. “Rye needs less nitrogen than other cereal to form a yield,” said Tupits. “This is what can make it a beneficial crop. The exact amount of nitrogen in the cultivation of rye depends on the geographical location, weather conditions, the nutrient content of the soil, and the variety grown.” Their results showed that mineral nitrogen and biogas digestate resulted in higher yield and seed protein content in both Estonia and the United Kingdom. Biogas digestate is material leftover from the production of biogas from cattle manure. Tupits noted it is a good organic fertilizer option for crops like winter rye that have a lower nutrient requirement and to the other cereals in organic farming. Some rye varieties were more winter hardy than others. In addition, some were more resistant to snow mold than others. Snow mold can devastate a farmer’s yield. Another issue rye growers’
face is lodging. This happens when the stem of the cereals goes from standing straight up to bending to the ground. This can occur during strong wind or rain and may be due to some disease issues. Some varieties are less likely to experience lodging than others. It comes down to the specific needs at the growing site, Tupits said. Their research results will help farmers pick the best variety of rye for their area. “Overall, the quality of the grains really depends on many parameters,” she said. “These depend on the properties of the soil, the air and soil temperature during the growing season, occurrence of plant diseases, and more. Varieties that are suitable for cultivation everywhere do not exist. Farmers select cereal varieties according to the soil and climatic condi-
tions of their location.” Tupits said this research is a powerful collaboration between scientists and breeders, and the study was meant to help farmers, flour producers, and bread makers. Currently, winter rye is cultivated in only a few countries and bread made from rye is not widely consumed. Rye bread is a historically traditional food in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Ukraine, Poland, and Germany. Even though research has shown the many health benefits of rye, many people don’t eat it. “We have offered rye bread to guests at our research institute and visitors are in awe at how delicious it is,” Tupits said. “I believe that more research on rye will help to better organize agriculture and food production for a growing population in a changing climate.”
Winter rye waves in the breeze at the Estonian Crop Research Institute. This variety is called Sangaste, named after the location at which it was bred in 1875 by Baltic-German count, Friedrich Georg Magnus von Berg. It is still commonly grown in Estonia today and used in foods such as rye bread. Photo Credit: Estonian Crop Research Institute
Popular Wisteria Inpatients brightening a dull rainy day at Walkers Greenhouse east of Rivers, MB.
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The Importance of Ag Education for Us All By Brenda Hunter With Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) hard at work, it is satisfying to realize that the next generation will know the importance of agriculture in our society and have full awareness of where our food comes from and how it is produced. Founded in 1988, the Manitoba chapter of AITC is an affiliate of the parent organization, AITC Canada. It is a not-for-profit, charitable organization dedicated to developing curriculum-linked programs, resources and activities for teachers and their students of all ages and grade levels, in an effort to promote agriculture. As their website points out, “Food connects us ALL to agriculture. In a complex and changing world, it is more important than ever to inspire the next generation to care about the food they eat,
Ethan Lang.
Hailey Gorrell. Photos courtesy of Benita Shwaluk from Shoal Lake School.
where it comes from, and how it gets to their plates.” “The program is important to me as a teacher because it covers many Manitoba curricular outcomes, giving the students a hands-on opportunity to learn where our food comes from,” said Beth Norrie, a Grade 4 teacher at the Oak Lake Community School, who has been utilizing the AITC programming for approximately 15 years. “It is well researched and top notch and is a great way for students to gain a full authentic experience and understanding with first-hand information from experts.” That is the hope of AITC. Their vision is that every student in Manitoba will know where and how their food is grown; that every teacher will be provided the tools necessary to inspire the next generation of agriculture innovators and leaders as well as the public at large, and that every Manitoba resident understands the challenges that face Manitoba’s largest industry with respect to feeding the world in a safe and sustainable manner. “I am so proud of AITC for creating such a brilliant program,” said Benita Shwaluk, a Grade 7 and 8 science, math, technology and art teacher at the Shoal Lake School. Shwaluk, who was raised on a farm in her formative years and is surrounded by family who farm, can vouch for the authenticity and correctness of the subject matter. Shwaluk has been accessing programming from AITC for the last eight years and reports that the students love it, often inquiring as to when they are going, “To do more of the Ag Adventure?” Shwaluk’s colleague, Jacqueline Hawkins, who was raised on a farm just north of Hamiota, was first introduced to AITC last year
“It is crucial that our young people understand the critical role that food production, processing, distribution etc. plays on a global scale. This program helps to introduce them to the idea that what they do is critically important to the world,” said Benita Shwaluk, a Grade 7 and 8 science, math, technology and art teacher at the Shoal Lake School.
and started utilizing their resources in her first year of teaching, with a simple seed experiment as a fun, slightly competitive way to assist in teaching a unit on weather, to her Grade 5 students. “The program grabbed my attention immediately and I knew I wanted to implement it in my classroom,” she said. She explained that in exploring and completing units, the students not only have a deeper understanding of farming, but how farming utilizes knowledge in a variety of school subjects. The students begin to comprehend how school translates to life outside of the classroom and how education, in what seems to be an unrelated area, can be put to use in real life. “Having grown up on a farm, I believe I was taught valuable lessons and lifelong skills,” commented Hawkins. “I want students to be educated in this field, to understand the environmental and economic impacts agriculture has on our local communities as well as the province as a whole.” “My students are very connected to agriculture,” said Shwaluk of teaching in a rural setting. “They know about farming. [However], I feel that our students under-
estimate the importance of farming. They don’t realize its global importance. They learn that food security is a major issue in many parts of the world. It is a bit of a ‘light bulb’ [moment] that some people can’t or don’t know how to grow food. It is crucial that our young people understand the critical role that food production, processing, distribution etc. plays on a global scale. This program helps to introduce them to the idea that what they do is critically important to the world.” AITC refers to this as “fostering agricultural literacy”. They claim that “an agriculturally literate citizen understands where their food comes from, the important role agriculture plays in their everyday lives, and the relationship between agriculture and the environment; food; fibre; energy; animals; lifestyle; technology and the economy,” otherwise known as the six pillars of agricultural literacy. The programs are free and easily accessible for teachers, parents or students. The method of delivery allows for flexibility so as to best fit into class curriculums, and the virtual programming provides the opportunity for all schools and/or families to be involved.
Egg Farmers Double Egg Donations Across the Country Egg Farmers of Canada recently announced a contribution of approximately 3.5 million fresh, local, highquality eggs to food banks across the country as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact Canadian food security in every province and territory. With the pandemic extending into the new year, Food Banks Canada appealed to Canada’s more than 1,200 egg farmers from coast to coast for more local eggs to ensure that fresh, nutritious food be made available to anyone and everyone who
needs it. As longstanding supporters of food banks across the country and their mission to relieve and prevent hunger, Canadian egg farmers from BC to Nunavut to Halifax have emphatically responded to the call to give back. “Canadian egg farmers have always worked together in support of our communities and Food Banks Canada, with their dedicated team of people and volunteers plays an essential role in our farmers’ continued support,” said Roger Pelissero, Chair of Egg Farmers of Canada.
“We’re aware that these are especially challenging times for so many individuals and families. For this reason, it is crucial that we remain compassionate and continue to support people the best way we can.” As we hit the almost twoyear mark of the pandemic, visits to food banks across the country have risen by 20%, according to Food Banks Canada. The increased donation of fresh, local eggs, a staple food that serves as an excellent source of protein will support food banks’ wide-reaching efforts to help
our most vulnerable in our communities. “It’s been another tough year for those who struggle with hunger, including our neighbours and friends in all communities in Canada,” said David Armour, Interim CEO of Food Banks Canada. “With food bank use continuing at record levels, it’s more important than ever to come together as a country to find new and innovative ways to provide healthy, nutritious food for those who need it today, while moving the needle on policies that will prevent hunger tomorrow.”
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Census Results Highlight Changes and Challenges in Agriculture By Elmer Heinrichs The agriculture industry is one that must always adapt quickly to multiple challenges, such as extreme weather events, trade disputes and fluctuating prices. More recently, the COVID-19 pandemic added to these challenges in the form of labour shortages, disruptions in the food supply chain, and rising input prices. All of these issues play a role in the well-being of farm operators. In view of these challenges, collecting information about the status and resiliency of the agricultural sector is important. Statistics Canada, in releasing results from the 2021 census of agriculture, provides new information about emerging trends and issues faced by farm operators in Canada. Census data indicates that trends identified in previous census cycles, such as industry consolidation and aging of farm operators, have continued in 2021. At the same time, the agriculture industry is adapting and modernizing, with higher rates of technology adoption, renewable energy production, use of direct marketing solutions, and sustainable farming practices. Manitoba stands out as the province with the highest proportion of farmers under age 35, quite possibly because of the province’s high density of Hutterite colonies. But even so, it points to a lot fewer operators farming much bigger spreads in the future. The latest census also shows that livestock inventories and acreage for prominent crops have remained quite stable and even increased modestly since 2016, suggesting that farmers have proven to be resilient in the face of COVID-19 challenges. The industry has also been characterized by the emergence of niche sectors, as evidenced by the increase in the total reported area for greenhouses. The census counted 189,874 farms, a moderate decrease of 1.9 per cent from 2016. While farms in Canada reported a 3.2 per cent decrease in total farm area from 2016, the total area for hay and field crops increased slightly, by 0.3 per cent, to 92.9 million acres in 2021. Farms classified as oilseed and grain continues to make up the largest proportion of farms in Canada. There are now 65,135 oilseed and grain farms, accounting for 34.3 per cent of total farms. This was followed by beef and feedlots (20.9 per cent). Meanwhile, 82.7 per cent of total farm area was accounted for by these two sectors, totalling 127.1 million acres. The number of female farm operators has increased for the first time since 1991 and women now make up 30.4 per cent of total farm operators. The latest census also highlights how farmers are responding to climate change by investing in more resilient farming practices. Land practice methods include in-field winter grazing or feeding, rotational grazing, plowing down green crops, planting winter cover crops, and having shelterbelts or windbreaks. In 2020, 64.5 per cent of farms reported such land practices, up from 53.7 per cent in 2015, the census says. And one in eight farmers reported renewable energy production, with solar energy the most commonly reported form. The number of farms reporting investments in solar has increased 66.5 per cent since 2016. Statistics Canada defines a farm as “a unit that produces agricultural products and reports revenues or expenses for tax purposes to the Canada Revenue Agency.”
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May 27, 2022
Understanding the Climate Effects of Grazing Agriculture The Great Plains of North America is well known for a rich history and expansive grasslands. This region is synonymous with ranchers herding cattle across the plains and a valuable resource for a growing population. Today, that work continues. Huge tracts of Prairie still support livestock, especially cattle. The land might not be as well-suited for growing grain or vegetables, but grasslands can contribute to feeding people by feeding animals first. Like all types of agriculture, grazing on prairies has an environmental impact. Scientists, farmers, ranchers, and consumers are
increasingly trying to balance food production and protecting the environment, so it is important to understand how one affects the other. “Increases in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere greatly affect climate around the world,” said Jean Steiner. Steiner directed the US Department of Agriculture’s grazing laboratory in Oklahoma. “Agricultural land exchanges greenhouse gases with the atmosphere, and how we manage agriculture affects the amount of greenhouse gas exchange.” Steiner and her team recently set out to understand the
Soil greenhouse gas monitoring chamber, mid-season. The photo was taken at a native tallgrass prairie site at Grazinglands Research Laboratory in El Reno, Oklahoma. The study focused on monitoring three major greenhouse gas sources, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide.
impacts of greenhouse emissions from grasslands. Only with this knowledge can scientists hope to steer agriculture toward climate-friendly solutions. Steiner’s team studied four pastures in Oklahoma. Three of the pastures were native prairies. One was a planted pasture made up of a single species of Old World bluestem grass. Unlike the planted pasture, the native prairies host many species and receive less fertilizer. The scientists were especially interested in three major greenhouse gas sources. Carbon dioxide is perhaps the most well-known. How-
ever, methane and nitrous oxide are even more powerful at trapping heat, so it is key to understand how much of these gases are emitted too. “These processes are not well-understood in grasslands used for grazing livestock, which can lead to lost opportunities to improve the systems. There is also misunderstanding by consumers about the role of agroecosystems in the global challenges of climate change,” said Steiner. The team found that in this hot, subhumid area, all the sites emitted carbon dioxide. Plants absorb this gas when they are growing. But during the rest of the year, enough
A close-up of mature, Old World bluestem grass located at the USDAARS Grazinglands Research Laboratory in El Reno, Oklahoma. Plots of grass like this were studied to understand the impacts of greenhouse Photos by Brekke Munks emissions from grasslands.
carbon dioxide is given off to make the grasslands net emitters. As the climate becomes hotter and drier, maintaining a net uptake of carbon dioxide becomes more challenging. The biggest differences between sites came from nitrous oxide and methane. “All sites emitted small amounts of nitrous oxide, and the non-native site, which received fertilizer application, emitted the largest amount of nitrous oxide,” said Steiner. With nitrous oxide being three hundred times stronger at trapping heat than carbon dioxide, this difference really adds up. The different grasslands varied in their methane footprint, too. “An important finding was that soil organisms absorbed methane from the atmosphere at all sites, with the native sites absorbing more methane than the non-native site,” Steiner said. Cattle also give off methane as they digest grass, so it’s helpful that grasslands can absorb some of that methane back into the soil. Future research will have to study how the huge tracts of grasslands can offset the methane from grazing animals. The findings are a first step toward understanding the cli-
A plot of Old World bluestem grass with cattle grazing in the background at Grazinglands Research Laboratory in El Reno, Oklahoma. Compared to native prairies, this planted pasture has fewer species and requires more fertilizer.
mate effects of grazing agriculture, which often receives less attention than cropland agriculture, does. The results could help farmers start to control their emissions, especially when it comes to fertilizer and nitrous oxide or diversifying species in planted pastures. “It is important for producers to understand the impacts of land management on greenhouse gas emissions,” said Steiner. “For systems that are fertilized, the timing and formulation of fertilizer needs to be managed to minimize losses to atmosphere, both for environmental and economic reasons.”
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Intrauterine Vaccination Offers Potential Alternative to Needles By Harry Siemens Intrauterine vaccination to protect sows, gilts, and piglets from Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea shows promise as an alternative to needles. Researchers with the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) and the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDA) both in Saskatchewan are exploring intrauterine vaccination as an alternative to needles to improve the safety of personnel and avoid accidents such as needle breaks or skin bruises. Dr. Pooja Choudhary, a postdoctoral fellow with VIDO, said most commercial producers breed pigs by artificial insemination so the uterus is easily accessible during each reproductive cycle. Dr. Choudhary said the idea is to add the vaccine into semen bags before insemination and deliver it to the uterus where it can generate an immune response. When formulating the intrauterine vaccine, the focus is that the vaccine should not affect sperm function and generate a strong antibody response in the gilts, sows, and colostrum. The goal is to achieve a single-dose protective vaccine for mums and piglets. “We can formulate vaccines that do not affect sperm function and sow fertility,” said Choudhary. “However, we need a few doses to get the
immune response and protective immunity at some level. Therefore, we must improve to get a single-dose vaccine to protect the gilts at the firsttime pregnancy.” Since 2014 the push by the swine industry to transition to group housing for gilts and sows makes it challenging to handle the animals for routine practices such as vaccination. In addition, most vaccines are delivered with a needle which can be challenging for animal workers and stressful for pigs. “Thus our team is exploring an alternate route for vaccination that could work well within current animal husbandry practices,” said Choudhary. “It can improve barn personnel safety and avoid accidents such as needle pricks usually associated with intermuscular or needlebased vaccines.” Dr. Choudhary said the goal is to formulate the vaccine against PED a viral disease of pigs affecting both newborn piglets and adult pigs. In newborn pigs it can cause watery diarrhea, dehydration, and a death rate of up to 100 per cent. In contrast, it presents mild symptoms in adult pigs and can cause diarrhea, depression, and reduced reproductive performance. PED was not known to be present in North America until identified in the US in 2013. Since its emergence, it has killed
Dr. Pooja Choudhary a postdoctoral fellow with the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization in Saskatchewan is researching intrauterine vaccination to protect pigs from Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea as an alternative to needles. Submitted photo
over 8.5 million piglets in the US alone. According to the Swine Health Information report, the PEDv activity jumped in February this year and interestingly associated more with adult herds rather than finishing herds. To protect against PEDv, they generate antibodies in colostrum and milk during pregnancy and it remains the most effective way to safeguard neonatal suckling piglets. “The preliminary research phase will take several years before a product becomes available commercially. However, we are making
good progress and getting encouraging results,” said Choudhary. “The next step in the research is to formulate the vaccine into nanoparticles. Hence they are not in direct contact with sperm and potentially can induce a robust immune response and protect both sows and their piglets.” Dr. Choudhary said this project excites her. Once established for PEDv they can target other swine diseases like porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRS), another significant infection impacting pregnancy in pigs.
Funding Boosts Organic and Climate-Resilient Farming The federal government has committed up to $750,000 for SeedChange to achieve an enhanced Canadian seed system that is equipped to support the development and long-term competitiveness of farmer-bred grain and vegetable varieties for organic and climate-resilient farming. Globally, Canada is recognized as a leading producer, processor and exporter of high-quality seed for a wide range of crops, providing over 60,000 jobs. The project aims to implement demonstration sites across the country to evaluate and showcase farmer-bred and/or Canadian-grown varieties that thrive in organic and climate-resilient farming
conditions. It will create a range of knowledge-transfer tools and learning opportunities for farmers, seed companies and researchers in their region. It is expected that the project will increase commercial adoption and use of Canadian-grown seed, enhance the practice of farmer-led plant breeding methodologies and increase market trade opportunities in the value chain. “Seed diversity is a crucial tool for climate change adaptation, which is why SeedChange works with Canadian organic farmers and seed growers to preserve seed diversity and breed new varieties on their farms,” explained Leticia Ama Deawuo, Execu-
tive Director of SeedChange. “This new funding from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada will increase the adoption of Canadian-grown varieties of grain and vegetable seed among organic farmers and increase climate resilience in Canada’s agricultural sector.” The funding, under the Canadian Agricultural Strategic Priorities Program, will help to support Canadian seed by diversifying it’s varieties to consumers and provide new opportunities to farmers. By reaching new consumers and markets, the agricultural economy will continue to grow, keeping the sector positioned for long-term competitiveness. International seed
trade includes: germplasm exchange, global research and development programs, contract production for export, and marketing new varieties imported into Canada. In 2020/2021, Canadian seed exports were supplied to over 113 different countries and were valued at approximately $851 million. The top 5 importing nations over this period were the United States ($379.0 million), China ($96.6 million), Japan ($39.7 million), India ($29.9 million), and Turkey ($26.5 million). The total economic impact, both direct and indirect of the seed industry in Canada is estimated at over $6 billion annually.
May 27, 2022
The World is Running Out of Oil – Vegetable Oil By Sylvain Charlebois Its funny how sometimes we take the simple things in life for granted. Cooking oil, or vegetable oil, is certainly one of them. Our appreciation for vegetable oil will likely reach new levels in months to come. Oil prices have increased by 25 per cent in just the last six months. While palm oil went up 50 per cent, canola oil is up 55 per cent on average. The world is slowly running out of vegetable oils. Vegetable oils aren’t just about frying things. This ingredient is in many things we eat. All household kitchens and restaurants use vegetable oils. Major companies will buy vegetable oils to manufacture the food we buy daily. Pasta, cookies, chocolate, mayonnaise; many dry and baked goods contain vegetable oil. It’s one of the most universal and versatile ingredients we have at our disposal. Palm oil is the big one, given how affordable it is. Recently, Indonesia, the largest producer of palm oil in the world, announced it would no longer export its oil. The embargo started on April 28. Indonesia accounts for 55 per cent of palm oil exports. That’s huge. Since the price of palm oil had increased by 40 per cent in Indonesia, the government believed it had no choice. Malaysia, the second-largest exporter, is experiencing unprecedented labour shortages affecting palm oil production. The country accounts for 31.2 per cent of palm oil exports, according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity. Although many condemn the use of this oil for environmental reasons, the fact remains that several companies buy this product. Nestlé, Mondelez, Ferrero Rocher – most big food companies need it and we eat it every day. For sunflower oil, the situation is even worse. Ukraine, the victim of a brutal invasion, is the largest exporter of sunflower oil in the world. The country exports around 5.4 million tonnes of the oil, half of the quantities found across the globe. Russia, responsible for 25 per cent of sunflower oil exports, will have difficulty finding customers due to sanctions imposed against it. For Canola oil, Canada, the largest exporter, must contend with last year’s abysmal growing season. The drought was so severe that our country had to import canola to meet our demand for vegetable oil. So there are hardly any reserves to start 2022. And finally, there’s soybean oil. Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil are among the largest exporters of soybean oil. These countries have also been hit by major droughts and anemic production in recent years, creating supply problems everywhere. Even if other major exporting countries like Holland and Germany have good harvests in 2022, it won’t be enough to cover the anticipated deficit this year and possibly next year. The importance of an ingredient that we have all taken for granted in our kitchens will then become much more evident. What could help is to lessen the amount of vegetable oil used for energy. About 15 per cent of all vegetable oils are used to support the production of biofuels. We could see some countries divert some of that production for more food-related vegetable oil use, but that’s not a given – far from it. As we navigate this global food crisis, we expect more countries to instinctively ban exports and even hoard commodities to secure supplies. Each decision will add more pressure to the market, raising prices across the board. Over the next several months, things will most certainly get ugly to the point where many people will experience famine or acute hunger. In fact, more than 100 million people could suffer, and Dr. Sylvain Charthat would be devastating. Despite lebois is senior director of the agri-food all of this, Canadians are the lucky analytics lab and a ones. Our grocer may ration vege- professor in food distable oils, but we should feel lucky tribution and policy at Dalhousie University. just to have access to them.
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May 27, 2022
Rivers Hosts National Contestants Participating in Plowing Match
Meghan Cameron competed in the Junior Conventional Plowing Championships.
By Joan Airey Beautiful spring weather welcomed participants from across Canada to Rivers for the 2022 Canadian Plowing Match event. Participants arrived in Rivers on May 1 to have a few days of practice plowing. Tuesday evening every one gathered at the local Rivers’ Sportsplex for a meet and greet when competitors also drew for their plots. There were twelve competitors, six judges, seven board members and too many family members and friends from across Canada to count. “Jim and Linda Sache came from Chilliwack, B.C a dis-
tance of about twenty-one hundred km while Willie and Joy Dunlop came from Nanaimo on Vancouver Island a distance of twenty-three hundred km. The Sterling family consisting of three brothers, one accompanied son who turned three while here and Grandpa making three generations came from Pain Court in Southern Ontario. They told me it was thirty hours driving in a semi,” said Tom Ryall president of Manitoba Provincial Plowing Association. “They brought two tractors and plows where one of them plowed seniors and came in third. The other plowed Junior and won. Most
contestants would have travelled well over fifteen hundred km. The oldest visitors attending were Orville and Ruth Fried both in their eighties. They travelled with their truck and camper from just west of Toronto. The couple who traveled the longest distance to be spectators were Seamus and Marg Crowley from Maytown, Ballycotton, Ireland.” Wednesday morning the competitors paraded from the Ryall acreage to the plowing field led by Tom Ryall with the Canadian flag on his tractor. Since I have never competed in a plowing match and never attended one until they
Photo by Joan Airey
came to our area a few years ago, I asked Tom to explain a few things to me. I’m sharing this information with readers because every year I see more spectators attending the event when it is held in our area. “The plots are inspected to make sure they are similar as possible, some might have stones, ruts, wet patches, deep wheel tracks or any other faults that would not give each competitor a fair chance,” commented Ryall. “This year all the plots were very good and even.” Knowing nothing about plowing, living on a zero till farm I asked Ryall what the plows are inspected for.
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Declaration of Eligibility Changes Coming For This Crop Year Canadian producers will see changes to grain delivery declarations for the 2022-2023 crop year. Starting July 1, 2022 in eastern Canada and August 1, 2022 in western Canada, declarations of eligibility will be required across the country. Only grains subject to variety registration based on quality considerations will require a declaration. As a result, certain grains will no longer need to be declared under regulation. The Canadian Grain Commission is making this change after consultations with stakeholders. Previously, the declaration of eligibility requirement applied to all grains regulated by virtue of the Canada Grain Act and only applied to western Canada. Declarations are a way to assure the dependability and quality of grain at entry into the Canadian licensed grain handling system. They support Canada’s commitment to allow US-grown grain to receive an official grade under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). “The declaration supports Canada’s quality assurance system while meeting our commitments under CUSMA,” said Doug Chorney, Chief Commissioner, Canadian Grain Commission. “We’ve simplified the declaration requirement to only apply to those grains where registration includes quality factors. This is a more flexible approach that better responds to the needs of the Canadian grain sector.” By requiring information on variety registration at the time of delivery, declarations help to preserve the integrity of the Canadian grain quality system. The declaration form confirms that the variety delivered, bought, and sold is eligible for the kind of grain and class.
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Funding Focused on Red Meat Exports The Canadian Meat Council (CMC) is slated to receive financial support from the Federal Government of up to $543,271 to grow Canada’s red meat exports. With funding under the AgriMarketing Program, the CMC will implement a global market strategy that aims to maintain existing markets and identify new opportunities to diversify trade. In collaboration with the Canadian Pork Council (CPC) and the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA), the CMC is undertaking activities such as trade advocacy missions, engaging with in-market intelligence specialists, and arranging inspection visits by international officials to demonstrate compliance with food safety standards for export. This work will help build and strengthen relationships with foreign industry partners and boost Canada’s reputation for high-quality and safe products. Increasing exports could benefit Canadian producers and processors by stimulating economic activity and helping to grow their sales in international markets. The entire Canadian red meat sector represents the largest source of farm cash receipts totaling over $16 billion in 2021. Exports in 2021 were worth more than $9.4 billion.
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Rivers Hosts National Contestants Participating in Plowing Match
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He explained they are inspected to make sure they comply with all the regulations, there are a lot of things that are not allowed such as three wheels is the maximum on the plow, tail pieces (an extra piece on the end of the mould board) must be a certain size, they must not have any adjustable extensions, you must have a safety device to prevent the plow suddenly dripping down when you are doing adjustments and only three sighting poles are allowed when you are doing your first run. No marks or guides are allowed on the front of the tractor these are a few of the rules that come to mind said Ryall. “The number of stewards can vary at a competition usually about one to every five or six competitors. Their job is to make sure everyone obeys the rules and that includes the public, a competitor is not allowed handle the plowed area or remove any grass or stubble,” said Ryall. “You are allowed only to get off the tractor on the unplowed side. Spectators are not allowed to walk on the plot at any time until the judging is finished.” At a Canadian Plowing Match there are generally two judges from each province which would be two teams of three judges. First place winners were Brian Davenport from Ontario in Senior Conventional. Matthew Sterling won the Junior Conventional and Tom Evans
Mike Strotman from BC placed second in Senior plowing on a beautiful warm sunny day near Rivers.
won the Senior Reversible. Matthew Sterling also won a thousand-dollar scholarship towards attending an Agricultural College. Lucas Townsend from Ontario placed second in Junior conventional plowing and received a scholarship to attend college also. Junior Competitors must be eighteen and under and must not have reached their nineteenth birthday before the end of the year. Friday evening was a Celebration banquet held at the Rivers Sportsplex where awards were presented to the top contestants. First place senior competitors will compete in the World Match slated for Estonia in 2003.
Lucas Townsend competing in the Junior Canadian Plowing Championships placed second and received a scholarship. Photos by Joan Airey
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Manitoba Pork Presents Industry Awards
By Harry Siemens
Most if not all participants at this year’s annual meeting of Manitoba Pork Council (MPC) in Winnipeg, MB in April most like felt it was a novelty to attend a public farm meeting in person after two years. As part of its 57th, AGM Manitoba Pork presented pork industry awards to Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute (PAMI) in the Innovation category and the founders of HyLife Ltd. in the Industry Builder category. MPC recognized PAMI for the many important research projects in conjunction with Manitoba Pork, including manure treatment systems, a disease response trailer, and a self-contained, transportable system to respond, contain and mitigate disease spread quickly and humanely. MPC recognized Don Janzen, Denis Vielfaure, and Claude Vielfaure as Industry Builders as the founders of HyLife Ltd. In 1994, the three Vielfaure brothers, Paul, Denis, and Claude partnered with Don Janzen to form Vielfaure-Janzen and build Tritek Sow, a 2,000-head barn. In 1997, the company converted the barn to house 6,000 head, the largest in Canada. Vielfaure-Janzen added many more barns and in 2003
combined all barns under the name Hytek. In 2005, Hytek became HyLife. HyLife’s reach spread across the province and around the world. In 2008, HyLife purchased a plant in Neepawa that staffed 350 people, processing 1,300 hogs a day. HyLife has grown to over 4,500 employees across multiple countries, processing over 14,000 hogs a day. In 2019 HyLife sold half of its shares worth close to half a billion dollars to a company in Thailand. Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CPF) operates in 17 countries and exports products worldwide. At that time, company president Claude Vielfaure said the company had looked to expand its business in Canada, and it made sense strategically to partner with them. Claude called it an excellent opportunity to get a strong shareholder and continue the booming growth in the last few years. Manitoba Pork and its producers have donated $10,000 to the Canadian Red Cross to support the Ukraine humanitarian crisis appeal. Chair Rick Préjet said the Canadian Red Cross is actively responding to humanitarian needs in Ukraine through immediate and ongoing relief efforts. He explained that Red Cross teams are on the ground in
Manitoba Pork Council recognized Don Janzen, Denis Vielfaure, and Claude Vielfaure as Industry Builders as the founders of HyLife Ltd. From L - R - Denis Vielfaure, MPC chair Rick Préjet, and Claude Vielfaure.
Ukraine offering support, including food, water, clothing, hygiene kits, first aid training, medical supplies, and aroundthe-clock physical and mental health care. The Canadian Red Cross has launched the Ukraine humanitarian crisis appeal to respond to those affected by the crisis. Canadians can donate online at redcross.ca or text UKRAINE to 20222 to donate $10. Manitoba Pork Council also launched its 2022 producer survey to gain vital feedback from producers across Manitoba. “This survey provides MPC with a snapshot of the industry’s current state to identify areas in which we can better serve producers.” Registered MPC producers are asked to fill out the survey
for each of the premises’ land locations possessing a Provincial Premises Id # on which they raise pigs. To take this survey, visit surveymonkey. com/r/MPCPremises. The survey should take about 1015 minutes to complete.
Manitoba Pork Council general manager Cam Dahl and chair Rick Préjet said the Canadian Red Cross is actively responding to humanitarian needs in Ukraine through immediate and ongoing Submitted photos relief efforts.
PAMI Wins Pork Innovation Award
For 47 years, the Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute (PAMI) has studied, designed, built, and tested machines, machine components and processes. Their scientific approach, coupled with hands-on lab and in-field testing provides real, tangible solutions to client problems. PAMI’s skilled team of engineers, agrologists and technologists are committed to operational excellence through research, innovation, adaptation, and knowledge transfer while also being the voice of the customer. Manitoba Pork has partnered with PAMI on many important research projects. In 2014, cases of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDv) were discovered in Manitoba. PAMI’s team quickly mobilized to assess disease spread, manure application, virus survivability, incubation, and infectivity among others. Subsequent research of Manure Treatment Systems proved valuable to developing capital and operating cost metrics.
In 2019, PAMI designed and built a Disease Response Trailer, a self-contained, transportable system to respond, contain and mitigate disease spread quickly and humanely. This disease response trailer is the first of its kind in the world with patents pending. “We are honoured to receive this award from Manitoba Pork Council. Our team does an incredible job and they deserve to be recognized for their achievements,” said Leah Olson, CEO, PAMI. “We are looking forward to working with Manitoba Pork Council again in the future to build on this research.” Over the years, many things have changed, but one constant remains, PAMI’s passions are firmly rooted in agriculture and their contributions have directly contributed to the growth of the pork industry. Through onfarm research projects like these and many others, working with industry partners from MLMMI, Universities and veterinarians, PAMI
has provided the agriculture industry with needed information to help guide disease
management, production practices and others to ensure a sustainable future.
PAMI’s passions are firmly rooted in agriculture and their contributions have directly contributed to the growth of the pork industry. Submitted photos
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Does Cyber Security Exist? My first few years in the insurance industry were filled with an overwhelming amount of learning and a lot of conversations that left me speechless. As much training as there is for learning the nuances of insurance coverage, there is very little training that prepares us for the unique personalities that I get to deal with day-to-day. One conversation that I will never forget was with a business owner nearing retirement. The conversation turned from weather to politics and then retirement savings and investments. He talked for a while about his frustration and lack of trust with the volatile market those days, and then proceeded to share that he has 100% of his investments in Sealy Posturepedic. While I was pondering the strategy that would have you put all your eggs into one basket shortly before retirement, he clarified by telling me that he had 100% of his investments in Sealy Posturepedic, stored between his mattress and his box spring! I still laugh at that conversation and I don’t know if I was able to say another word to him after his response. I thought of this conversation again this week when talking to an IT Security Expert who advised that there is a growing trend amongst security experts like him to no longer document any sensitive information, especially passwords on their devices where the information could be exposed. This growing trend is caused by increased activity in cyber-crime, and more uncertainty with some of the latest vulnerabilities with IT security. When it comes to password security, a quick search will lead you to the best tips, tricks and strategies to create passwords that will be un-hackable. “A strong password in only five steps.” I also found a great article that promises you will have strong passwords if you follow 6 tips, then 7, 8 and finally, the one we have all been waiting for – the 9 tips and tricks to creating un-hackable passwords! Next will be retina & finger print scans, followed by 50 digits of unconnected letters, numbers and special characters. Password security is important, but by itself it is not enough. Aside from password security, there is a substantial number of cyber crime situations related to human error. While it might be nice to tell everyone on social media the year you graduated along with your mother’s maiden name as part of a quiz, it is baiting you to provide information that can be used to hack into your accounts. Clicking on the flashing offer for 90% off a new tractor, new shoes, new purse or a burrito seems too good to be true because it likely is. A new trend that we are now seeing are emails that are being sent that look incredibly legitimate asking for your accounting team to update the bank information for automatic payments as your contact now has a new bank that they are working with. If there are not proper checks and balances put in place, this is a quick way to send a transfer to the wrong institution thinking you are paying a bill, only to have the money transferred into the wrong hands. Does this make you dream of the days of fax machines, cheques and snail mail all over again? Before you run out and buy a new mattress and box spring to store your passwords and retirement savings, here are a few tips to protect your business from cyber-crime: 1. Work with security professionals. There are excellent IT professionals across the prairies that will help you manage this risk. 2. Educate your staff that has access to your systems. What may be common sense to you may not be common sense to me. 3. Don’t have all of your eggs in one basket – make sure that you have back-up information and infrastructure to allow you to continue your business in the event that data is compromised. Finally, 4. Is to acquire cyber insurance to transfer the financial risk of cyber crime to an insurer. Be sure to seek advice and purchase insurance from those who understand your business! David Schmidt is an Account Executive and Rempel Insurance Brokers in Morris, MB, specializing in insuring farms and businesses across Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Contact office 204-746-2320, Text 204712-6618, email davids@rempelinsurance.com or visit rempelinsurance.com.
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Late Seeding Affects Fertilizer Pricing By Harry Siemens Seeding rotations in Manitoba may fall by the wayside for some farmers as rain continues. Mixed farmer Ian Smith at Argyle, MB said the Terraco fertilizer dealer at Stonewall during in the week of May 11 would result in many producers using 25 per cent less fertilizer because of the high price. “I will also cut back on fertilizer, but there will be fertilizer when I need it,” said Smith. “We have the moisture this year. The grain and hay will still grow with less fertilizer, but both grain and grass will not grow without moisture like last year. Smith was in the Fisher Branch and Arborg areas on Friday of the same week delivering pork. “The dugouts are full and water laying in the pasture and the fields,” he said. “But it will dry up. The good thing is the dugouts have water in them and the hay fields are getting green. We need heat.” Ryan Dyck, territory manager-Manitoba with ADM Agri-Industries located in Lasalle, MB, forwarded his company’s May 20 weekly fertilizer update. Fertilizer values globally have slipped over the last several weeks due to the delay in seeding caused by wet weather in North America. It has slowed demand and lessened market liquidity. As of May 16, the USDA reported that the US corn crop was 49 per cent planted, behind the five-year average of 67%. In addition, progress in the Northern Plains, such as ND and MN, was 37 per cent behind the 5-year average. “The situation in much of Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan is similar,” said Dyck. “Agronomists and field scouts estimated seeding progress on May 16 in Saskatchewan was at 33 per cent, well behind the 5year average of 53 per cent. Seeding progress in Manitoba was 46 per cent behind the five-year average, as of May 17.” According to the ADM update, the market remains divided on the price direction. “Bulls argue that continued high commodity prices, high production costs, trade flow disruptions, tight S&D’s selling and distribution, and arbitrage opportunities point to flat or higher prices,” said Dyck. “However, bears point to demand destruction caused by weather and high prices, regionalized pockets of oversupply, and absent liquidity as justification for current softening.” ADM Fertilizer has lowered urea prices by $100/ton over the last few weeks to reflect the global market softening. Short for New Orleans, Louisiana and domestic manufacturers, values at NOLA have begun to slip slightly in the last few weeks as wet weather slows seeding progress and presents limited demand in the key pocket. “An India Urea tender that closed on May 11 has India looking for 1.6 million tons of Urea,” said Dyck. “Prices offered by suppliers were in-line with NOLA, showing a global downtick in the Urea market. The market widely anticipates a summer-fill price reset past the spring season; thus industry participants are hesitant to carry-over inventory.” Brazil was paying a significant premium to the NOLA and Canadian market for phosphates when it last surfaced for demand a few weeks ago noted Dyck. Still, the lack of recent transactions makes price discovery challenging. “Mixed expectations around a reset value of phosphates makes carrying over excess spring tons into summer less concerning, likely keeping nearby spring values relatively firm against Urea,” added Dyck. Potash values have continued to trade relatively flat. A small price reset is expected in the summer due to significant supply chain dislocations caused by the absence of Belarusian Potash from the global marketplace. Dyck said ADM provides a transparent model with a fertilizer app that has forward pricing options up to 12 months out and great Intel connecting farmers to information that was very limited in the past. “This allows farmers to forward pricing [their] fertilizer to match grain sales to lock in the margin,” said Dyck.
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Calculate the Value of Creep Feeding Spring Calves By Peter Vitti Spring calves can easily be crept-fed in a number of ways; from home-made grain rations to well-balanced commercial feed pellets. All of which can be directed into a traditional creep feeding program, which can add extra saleable weaning-weight by fall-time. Unfortunately, this premium growth may not always be nutritionally necessary or profitable. Therefore, a little homework is necessary in order to calculate the value of creep feeding spring calves in 2022. The first thing that I recommend is that producers assess the body condition of their cows throughout the pasture season and determine as to how well; they are milking and their spring calves are growing. Another thing that they should look at is the condition of their pastures at the same time. Good milk and high-quality pasture often diminish the benefits of otherwise good creep feeding programs. Many people often wait and put out creep feeders during late-summer, when decreasing milk production of the average cow meet only 50% of her growing calf’s requirements and pastures are maturing. It has been my experience that in these cases; calves start to nose at the creepfeed for a few weeks (1 kg/ hd/d) and then consumption starts to rapidly increase until weaning (re: 3 kg/hd/d). Other people put their creep feeders out, much earlier - as in the case of last summer, when drought-stricken pastures were not able to support milk production of brood cows as well as draw significant calf nutrition from poor grass. Dried-out pastures makes any creep feeding program for spring calves more of a nutritional necessity, but given an average year with timely rainfalls, it will be its profitability that largely determines producer interest to creep feed their spring calves. Consequently, I have calculated the economics of creep feeding calves for 2022, which targets 60 lbs of extra weaning-weight gain in a 100-day creep feeding program and I compare it to that of a non-crept animal. As the following table illustrates (right): 1. Predicted feeder prices during this fall-time and 2. Current feed prices are the two primary factors with
equal consideration that determine the profitability of creep-feeding. For example, I have spoken with several cow-calf operators and there is a general conscious that an autumn calf price of $2.30/lb (CDN $) and a home-made creep ration (barley, DDGS and cattle mineral) drawn up for about $500/mt - puts creep feeding in the profitable territory, yet pencils out a nominal profit of about $20 per calf. To some of these producers, it makes creep-feeding hardly worth the effort of moving creep feeders out to pasture, when solely based upon such pure economics. Furthermore, it is generally assumed that creep feeding is more valuable when calf prices are relatively high as they are in 2022. However, the truth of the matter is - the higher the calf prices, the greater the volatility and market discounts as calves increase in weight. In my particular example, the price cwt discount from 500 to 600 lbs feeder cattle was $12 cwt (USD), which results in a pro-rated 60 lb rate of about $7.20 cwt. If this final pro-rated discount was narrower by only a few dollars cwt, more profit would be realized. Aside from the current calf prices and market discounts, one of the best ways to improve the value of creep feed-
Spring calves can easily be crept-fed.
ing is to improve creep feeds with the best feed efficiency. As a beef nutritionist, I have entered in this spreadsheet; three different creep rations and estimated their feed efficiencies (re: X lbs feed/1.0 weight-gain), namely; a cowcalf screening pellet @ $ 400/ mt (FE=11.00), a home-made diet (as mentioned above) @ $ 500/mt (FE=8.00) and a commercial 14% calf creep pellet @ $590/mt (FE = 6.5). Assuming the same predicted autumn calf price of $2.30/lb and $12/cwt market discount; profit per calf due to creep feeding was $ 8.20, $19.11 and $ 23.61, respectively.
Submitted photo
Despite the profits among these diets narrow in scope, it is interesting that the more expensive creep diet is the most profitable due to its highest feed efficiency. A friend of mine, whom runs a 400-head cow-calf operation doesn’t mind that the true profit due to creep-feed his calves is near the breakeven point in 2022. That’s because he retains most spring calves until February of the following year and finds creep feeding during late-summer gives him the best opportunity of a trouble-free weaning season and then getting them onto backgrounding diets with ease.
Table 1: Despite the profits among these diets narrow in scope, it is interesting that the more expensive creep diet is the most profitable due to its highest feed efficiency.
The AgriPost
Growing Premium FoodGrade Non-GMO Soybeans
May 27, 2022
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Community Gardens Build Neighbourhoods By Elmer Heinrichs
Kyle Friesen said that their 500-acre crop near Altona yielded very well last summer, even during the dry growing conditions and credited it to Sevita’s breeding program that focuses on characteristics specific to Manitoba. Submitted photos
By Harry Siemens Manitoba farmer Kyle Friesen, who is 38, will grow Sevita food-grade nonGMO soybeans as part of their farm’s rotation for the third straight year. His 500acre crop yielded well last summer, even during the dry growing conditions and credited it to Sevita’s breeding program that focuses on characteristics specific to Manitoba. “With non-GM and foodgrade soybeans, I mean you get paid a premium for your end product bringing more value to the end product than what you are from a generic soybean destined for the oil crush business,” said Friesen. Most non-GMO soybeans go into the food-grade market and are further processed into soy milk and tofu. Some of those soy-based products generate more value. Their farm’s experience growing dry beans helps them manage non-GM soybeans effectively because it takes more management than regular GMO soybean varieties. Sandy Hart, business manager of Sevita International said their exclusive Canadian genetics and food-grade quality standards are in high demand worldwide and have a reputation for excellence with some of the largest and most progressive soy food manufacturers. Sevita International is a private Canadian fully-integrated soybean company operating at every stage in soybeans’ value chain, including a research and breeding program. “We have a seed brand in North America that we purchase from our farmers, our customers and commission that for sale overseas in some of the highest value soybean
markets in the world for food use, particularly in Japan, but throughout other areas of the world.” While around for about 25 years, only ten years as Sevita four independent Canadian companies joined in 2012 operating first in eastern Canada. The company has developed genetics that performs in the earlier maturing areas of Canada, such as Manitoba, to be competitive with some of the commodity GMO lines. The resulting protein and other food qualities are sought by buyers overseas. “It’s an opportunity to expand our contracting base into western Canada to differentiate our GM soybean distribution business with Ceres Global Seeds by offering a food-grade program in the West,” said Hart. Manitoba growers planted well over a million acres of GMO soybeans in 2021. Sevita is still limited at about 25,000 acres of non-GMO beans in Manitoba last year. “For us, it’s important to do things the right way, by which I mean the genetics have to perform for the farmer and the end-users on board with purchasing product from a new region, as it is a slow process,” said Hart. Hart said that Sevita is testing new genetics in Saskatchewan but commercially only in Manitoba. Although Friesen near Altona, MB has not made an exact comparison he thinks the non-GMO yields are comparable to the GMO soybeans. Hart said while yields vary overall the non-GM varieties compete in yield with the average GMO soybean yield on the farm. “And that’s important,”
said Hart. “No amount of premium makes up for a very significant yield drag; the food market won’t bear that. So we need to be competitive on yield.” Growers will save a little money on seed costs, spend a bit more on chemicals, but at a competitive yield and a premium in the $2 to $2.50 range, it is attractive depending on the soybean price basis in the US. Sevita is the largest Canadian exporter to Japan, the upper tier of the food market for food-grade soybeans by far the most advanced from a food science perspective. Hart said that Japan finds, “A lot of unique value in our genetics, not just protein and non-GMO, but things like different pace profiles right down to how it works in their manufacturing equipment.” They have also sold a lot into China and some other low-value markets are getting started. “We’re not traders but suppliers,” said Hart. “It takes time to build up volumes and sustainable demand with a food maker, just trying to get the production started, make sure we can get the quality where it
needs to be and introduce it to our buyers throughout that process.” Friesen said growing nonGM soybeans are much more like a dry bean requiring different chemistries and techniques to control weeds. The acquired knowledge and experience in dry beans lent well to non-GM soybeans he said. They grew some dry beans on marginal dry bean ground, noticing productivity was not as good as on better acres. Soybeans are much more adaptive to that kind of soil he explained. However the profitability on the marginal dry bean ground is better with non-GM soybeans than with dry beans. Soybeans tolerate dryness better so they are less at risk than some alternatives. “It is nice knowing that the end-use for our product is going for food; it just gives you a bit closer connection to the consumer than the more generic crops,” said Friesen. “With much snow on the ground, if I compare my optimism today to a year ago with the overall perspective in the field, grain prices, and snow covering, I’m fairly optimistic.”
Sandy Hart, business manager of Sevita International said they have to be competitive on yield because no amount of premium makes up for a significant yield drag; the food market won’t bear that.
Community Gardens provide a space to grow fresh produce and flowers. You may not have access to a space to garden, or you may have too much shade or poor soil a community garden offers an excellent solution. Gardens are first and foremost about access to fresh tasty food. However they are about more than growing and harvesting herbs and vegetables. They are about connecting neighbours with each other thus strengthening community ties and about learning and improving mental and physical health. Community gardens are especially beneficial for city dwellers that have no land to claim for garden plots. Fresh vegetables become affordable and nutritional intake improves, along with the benefits of the increased physical exercise they engage in. Gardens can also transform the aesthetics of neighbourhoods when lots which might remain overgrown and unsightly are used and they also improve air and soil quality. Community gardens can lessen negative environmental impacts by reducing food transportation costs as well as waste. Think of grass clippings and leftover food items such as egg shells that are composted and returned to enrich the soil. Let’s not forget the social aspects of running a community garden. There’s no doubt social ties are created and affirmed as groups gather to plan, share ideas and work together. And it can be a good time! Gardens can improve economic opportunities as volunteers gain skills not only in gardening and food production, but also in relating to others in their own group and in dealing with a food bank or farmers market. Community gardens are located throughout Manitoba including in Winnipeg and on up to the provinces northern regions and in our rural cities and towns like Steinbach, Altona and Winkler. At Steinbach’s community garden located at the Mennonite Heritage Village they have developed an additional one to encourage nutritional, mental, and physical well-being for the community. Participants are encouraged to plant a garden with a family member, a friend, or a new neighbour. Altona, which has had a community garden for several years, is holding a seed and plant swap day on May 28 to start the season. Along with a tour, there are free mini-workshops. Gardeners at the Altona Community Garden benefit from hands-on guidance and advice on caring for plants, as well as shared resources and advice. At the city of Winker the community garden has blossomed over the years, and has expanded to 164 plots. Even with a number of other community gardens in the area, including Eden Health Care Service’s garden, the city’s plots are always in demand.
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May 27, 2022
The AgriPost
The Perfect Storm for GGC to Lead the Hog Industry ‘Road to 2050’ Net-Zero Emissions Initiative
The Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) have announced the creation of a climate solutions initiative to help meet Canada’s ambitious goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. “As part of Canadian grain farmers’ ongoing leadership as environmental stewards, we continue to look forward to ensure our competitiveness,” said GGC chair Andre Harpe. “The farmer-driven path to net zero must reflect what farmers have done and can sustainably do in the future, which is why GGC has decided to lead this important initiative.” “The ‘Road to 2050’ will propose a path forward that focuses on innovation, research and beneficial management practices. This will boost productivity while continuing to enhance soil quality, improving the carbon sequestration potential of crop land and reducing emissions,” added Harpe. “This decision represents a practical and proactive approach to tackling climate change.” In addition to identifying opportunities for the sector to continue its contributions to GHG emission reductions, the ‘Road to 2050’ is intended to guide government policies and programming directed at Canada’s grains sector, ensuring farmers are supported in their efforts. All recommendations will reflect farmers’ priorities, providing direction for legislators and policy makers who are making investments in research and incentivizing adoption of beneficial management practices. GGC reaffirmed they are committed to being a leader in this area and finding solutions that align Canada’s climate goals with the unique needs and opportunities of the sector. They believe Canadian farmers are poised to capitalize on this opportunity, as they have a demonstrated history of innovation. Farmers have been proactive in steadily decreasing their carbon footprint through the adoption of numerous practices that improve soil carbon sequestration, without the need for regulation. Since 1981, there has been a 10 per cent reduction in net agricultural GHG emissions in Canada, primarily driven by beneficial management practices in the regions where crop production is most intensive. This reduction in emissions has been accompanied by a period of historic growth in crop yields and agri-food exports, meaning farmers have been producing more food with fewer emissions. “We recognize that governments around the world are taking important steps to fight climate change and the reality is that Canadian farms can continue to play a major part in Canada’s efforts,” said Harpe. He is confident that public and private sector collaboration will be a key component of ensuring resiliency in food production systems while moving to reduce emissions. Immediate next steps will involve seeking potential partners as GGC develops solutions for farmers and government, supported and guided by the establishment of a scientific advisory committee. “Through innovation, we must continue to find ways to produce even more food to support a growing world population while maintaining our track record of constant improvement when it comes to sustainability,” Harpe explained. “Canada’s grain sector is up for the challenge.”
By Harry Siemens
Cam Dahl, the general manager of Manitoba Pork said the combined effects of African Swine Fever (ASF) and COVID, last year’s drought and the invasion of Ukraine have created an almost perfect economic storm for pork producers. Dahl said there are large swings in what farmers get for their product and input costs. First the impact of COVID. While Canadian producers and processors have weathered COVID well, that is not the case worldwide. Farmers are facing a lot of disruptions in the market right now, generating a lot of volatility and uncertainty said Dahl. Uncertainty and volatility always come with a price. “We see markets disrupted in China, for example, significant shortages in containers and flow disruption,” said Dahl. “It means processors, shippers, and exporters need to have more inventory in case of further disruptions so that comes with a cost.” Without a doubt, African Swine Fever has caused major disruptions in the world market hitting Europe and devastating Chinese pork production. While this supports prices in Canada, he is not sure how long that will last or how far ASF will
spread, causing significant uncertainty. The third factor is the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. The Black Sea region is a significant supplier of cereal grains and feed grains with 16 percent of world corn exports and almost 15 percent of world wheat exports from Ukraine last year. Combine that with high prices caused by the drought in North America; those high prices are only going higher because of the impact on the reduced supply with the Ukrainian invasion. “Who would’ve thought three years ago if you said that feed and wheat would be over $10 a bushel,” said Dahl. “I think many people would’ve laughed at you. But we’re not sure when those prices will come back down, squeezing the profit and loss margins.” The price volatility continues with what a producer receives for their pork making risk management more important. “Risk management, forward contracting, focusing on the margin, not necessarily just the price of feed, but trying to lock in that margin,” said Dahl. Discussions with governments need to be ongoing on how business risk management programs can be structured to meet this uncertainty
and volatility that the hog industry faces by adjusting AgriStability said Dahl. It is not only producers trying to navigate volatility, it is also processors and consumers and the price they pay for good quality pork. The Black Sea region was a major food supplier, especially for grains and oilseeds. So we can expect upward pressure on prices and the disruption in the supply chains. That always comes with a cost said Dahl. “I have heard it said that we used to have a just-in-time international trading system that was efficient and low cost,” he said. “Now, we’ve moved to a just-in-case, where everybody along the chain has to hold more inventory, and prepare for disruptions. All of that comes with a cost.” This causes the prices for food that consumers buy to inflate. Because of all these disruptions, whether drought or the war in Ukraine, the impact of COVID, or African Swine Fever, those impacts will result in increased pressure on consumer prices. On the positive side, Canadian agricultural value chains have proven resilient throughout the pandemic. Production and processing capacity has bent but not broken. “We continue to deliver on our promise of safe, high-quality food
Cam Dahl the general manager of Manitoba Pork said Farmers are optimistic that our pork will continue to see rising demand in global markets. As a result, most are looking for ways to grow the sector here in Manitoba, both in production and processing. Photo by Harry Siemens
for Canadians and consumers worldwide,” said Dahl. “This is a competitive advantage.” At this year’s annual Manitoba Pork meeting, Dahl said that with all the uncertainty facing producers, one might have expected pessimism to be the predominant emotion at the event, but that was not the case. ‘Farmers are optimistic that our pork will continue to see rising demand in global markets. As a result, most are looking for ways to grow the sector here in Manitoba, both in production and processing.”
Canadian Plant-based Seafood Company Selected in Global Competition Protein Industries Canada is celebrating its project partner New School Foods having been named a semi-finalist in the XPRIZE Feed the Next Billion competition. One of 31 teams to reach this milestone, New School Foods is in the running to receive a portion of the $15 million prize. Founded in 2020 and based in Toronto, Canada, New School Foods Inc. develops whole-muscle, plantbased seafood that emulates the same texture, taste, nutritional benefits and cooking experience of conventional seafood. Each XPRIZE team is tasked with developing structured chicken breast or fish fillet analogs that have the same taste, texture and cooking experience of conventional chicken or fish. New School Foods, which produces whole-cut seafood made from plants, is
focused on a filet of fish that looks, cooks, tastes and flakes just like salmon. “We’re thrilled and humbled to be named a semifinalist alongside so many impressive companies. Our team has been hard at work during the last year developing novel production methods and formulations and it’s exciting to see our R&D investments paying off,” said Chris Bryson, New School Foods’ Founder and CEO. New School Foods has been making quick progress in developing its prototypes and novel production method. Full creation and commercialization of the product, which is being developed in part with a co-investment from Protein Industries Canada, can help Canada reach its environmental sustainability goals while diversifying its plant-based food offerings,
helping the country meet the growing global demand for plant-based foods and ingredients. “New School Foods’ innovative work is helping change Canada’s agrifood sector, and Protein Industries Canada is proud to have been a part of their story so far,” Protein Industries Canada CEO Bill Greuel said. “This is exactly the sort of project we hoped would be chosen when we helped push the XPRIZE forward in Canada. New School Foods is developing a plantbased food product that’s sustainable, innovative and delicious, which is exactly what consumers around the globe are asking for.” If successful, the next step in New School Foods’ XPRIZE journey is being chosen as one of the 10 finalist teams, which will split $2.5 million. These teams will move forward to a
final round of product development, at the end of which a grand prize of $7 million will be awarded to one winning team. Second and third place teams will be awarded $2 million and $1 million respectively, and one team will be awarded a $2 million bonus prize for developing a sustainable product at a low cost. The 10 XPRIZE finalists will be chosen near the end of 2022, with the winners announced in early 2024.
New School Foods develops whole-muscle, plant-based seafood that emulates the same texture, taste, nutritional benefits and cooking experience of conventional seafood.
The AgriPost
May 27, 2022
Prevention is Key in Stopping Ketosis in Dairy Cows Ketosis is the most common metabolic syndrome affecting lactating dairy cows between 5 and 30 days in milk. There are the visible clinical cases, but much more common are the subclinical hidden cases, which are identified by DHI milkketone testing. Identification and implementation of a transition feeding program in the close-up dry pen and in fresh-cow group is vital to preventing ketoses in many high-milk producing dairy herds. Last year, I was made aware of about a half-dozen DHI confirmed cases of subclinical ketosis by dairy producers. Outlined in detail are three of them as follows: Case 1 – 130-cow dairy – The producer called me and said that a number of her cows in the fresh-cow group were lethargic and were not eating their well-balanced TMR as well as she had liked. The close-up dry-cow pen, which usually held 15 cows, now housed 23 cows, which was crowded even before these new arrivals Case 2 – 140-cow dairy – The producer had limited facilities and fed his faraway dry cows (40 days) and close-up dry cows (20 – 21 days) in the same pen. All cows were fed a single dry-cow diet of barley silage, grass hay, a kilo of dry-cow concentrate. Any cow that was days away from calving, was pulled and put into the fresh cow side of the lactation barn. Case 3 – 108-cow dairy – The nutritionist that balanced their early lactation diet - pulled several kilos of barley silage (containing 17.0% starch) and substituted
grass hay in order to increase the milkfat to 4.0%. Palm fat was maximized to 400 grams per head per day. The total Mcal of the dairy diet was balanced at 42.0 Mcal per head per day. Each case often exhibited at least a 20% DHI incidence of subclinical ketosis in cows within three weeks of post-partum. The dairies in #1 and #3 had early lactation cows with a predominant drop in body condition of at least 1.0 BCS within the first five weeks of lactation, and dry matter intake during this time stalled to 22 - 25 kg. In contrast, the cows in #2 tended to be over-conditioned at calving and several weeks afterwards (BCS of 4.0 – 4.5). Their dry matter intake was also challenged during the first 100 days of lactation. I suspected that fatty liver syndrome occurred in many of these ketotic cows. As a long time dairy nutritionist, I believe that the common denominator in all three barns was the afflicted fresh cows were unable to acquire sufficient amounts of dietary energy in order to meet their respective demands of early lactation or negative energy balance (NEB). Specifically in both healthy and ketosis cows, when energy-enriched carbohydrates (containing glucose) are in short supply for milk production, the dairy cow must burn her own body fat to produce energy Body fat mobilization produces non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs); transformed back into energy-rich glucose. Normally, NEFAs support liver functions and provides fatty acids for butterfat. However, when too
many NEFAs are produced for glucose transformation, a good portion of these NEFAs end up as poisonous ketones. It is these circulating ketone bodies that lead to toxicity associated with both clinical and my three sub-clinical ketosis examples. The first case is a good example of how; lower than expected dry matter intake, could limit energy intake due to a lack of bunk space, despite a well-balanced lactation diet. Or in the third case; a lactation diet did not contain enough available energy (reduced starch levels) to support steadily increasing milk production during
Early lactation cow.
early-lactation. Not to be forgotten, case #2 is also a testament that pre-partum dairy cows need a nutritious closeup dry cow feeding program, which is separate from the faraway and early-lactation feeding programs. Such a good close-up dry cow diet should be palatable which ensures that prepartum cows are consuming about 12 kg of dry feed, daily. The diet should contain moderate energy forages
with some room for leadfeeding grain. Close-up dry cows (even fat cows) should not be allowed to lose bodyweight in this period. Once cows calve, early lactation rations should contain enough effective forage fibre to promote good rumen function, yet carry enough available dietary energy to support increasing milk production. The goal here - is to build up dry matter intake in these early lactation cows to about 3.5 – 4.0% of their
Submitted photo
bodyweight at about 9 – 10 weeks after calving. Tying it all together is good bunk management in both closeup and fresh cow pens. Setting up these transition feeding programs is basically setting up a ketosis prevention plan. They literarily minimize NEB, which is nothing less than preventing excessive mobilization of body fat and in this way; ketosis can be stopped in dairy cows.
The Manitoba Youth Beef Round Up Scholarship The Manitoba Youth Beef Round Up committee’s Scholarship applications is now open until July 1, 2022. The scholarship is open to applicants who are a Manitoba resident, between the ages of 17 and 25 as of January 1 of the application year. Qualified applicants must be a member of the Manitoba Youth Beef Round Up, past or present, and demonstrate a strong level of activ-
ity within the beef industry and their community and be pursuing a post-secondary education, preferably in an Agriculture related field. Successful applications must be in their second semester of post secondary school. Each Scholarship is in the amount of $1,000 to go towards studies at a recognized post secondary or graduate institution. If the recipient is not cur-
rently attending post secondary institution, then the money will be entrusted in their name for a maximum of 3 years. Previous applicants not chosen as recipients may also reapply. The top 5 applicants will be selected to interview at Manitoba Youth Beef Round Up and the final recipients will receive their scholarships at the awards banquet.
For further information on how to apply or download the application form go to mbyouthbeefroundup. weebly.com/scholarship. Completed forms should be sent no later than July 1, 2022 to Manitoba Youth Beef Round Up, Scholarship Committee at Box 370, Oak Lake, MB, R0M 1P0 or by email to amrimke@ rfnow.com.
DUC Delivers 106 Habitat Projects with Conservation Support A report from one of the country’s largest and longest-standing conservation organizations shares the positive results it’s having on biodiversity and climate change thanks to support from Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Natural Heritage Conservation Program. During the past two years of the program, Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) has delivered 106 habitat projects in areas of the country with the greatest conservation need. In total, the projects conserve 12,126 hectares (29,964 acres) across Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario. Working landscapes in these provinces are home to high numbers of species at risk and have experienced high rates of wetland and grassland loss. Using a diverse suite of conservation tools delivered in partnership with farmers, ranchers and other private landowners, DUC is helping create healthier habitats for wildlife, guard against the effects of extreme weather and improve Canada’s natural environment. “The positive impact we’ve had on key landscapes through the Natural Heritage Conservation Program is significant,” said Larry Kaumeyer, chief executive officer for DUC. “Rich in biodiversity, these areas provide natural solutions to some of the most pressing environmental issues, including flood and drought prevention, water purification and climate change mitigation. The tremendous environmental services they provide benefit all Canadians and are worthy of our collective investment.” As a chosen delivery agent for the Natural Heritage Conservation Program, DUC is required to raise the necessary funds to match the government’s investments. “Our conservation community continues to step up and support our efforts. Their generous contributions ensure that we maximize the environmental returns, which is extremely important given the limited funding available for conservation,” said Kaumeyer. The positive impacts these 106 habitat projects are having on both wildlife and people are outlined in the report, titled: “Saving our water, wildlife and wild places: Ducks Unlimited Canada and the Natural Heritage Conservation Program.” Highlights include flood protection. The wetlands conserved and restored by DUC will help retain more than 6.7 million cubic metres of water on the landscape every year. That’s more than 2,700 Olympic-size swimming pools worth of water. Projects that created carbon storage. DUC’s conservation and restoration efforts will prevent the release of almost 1.9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents stored in the soils and sediments of wetlands and grasslands. Water quality benefited. The wetland conservation activities implemented by DUC have prevented an estimated 10 tonnes of phosphorus and 32 tonnes of nitrogen from entering rivers and lakes. Support for species at risk. Grasslands conserved and restored by DUC are estimated to provide habitat for more than 5,300 nests per year for priority grasslandnesting species. This includes the federally threatened chestnut-collared longspur and the Baird’s sparrow a species of special concern in the Canadian Prairies. Critical protection for pollinators’ habitat conserved by DUC is supporting 80 documented species of bees. DUC is currently completing additional habitat projects with funding received from year three of the Natural Heritage Conservation Program and is looking ahead to advancements it will make in the program’s fourth year. Environment and Climate Change Canada has set a goal of securing 200,000 hectares (494,211 acres) by 2023.
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The AgriPost
May 27, 2022
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Wild Pigs the Most Invasive Large Mammal By Harry Siemens Dr. Ryan Brook, a researcher with the University of Saskatchewan, told the Manitoba Pork AGM the risks associated with the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) have stimulated an increased interest in Canada and taking action to deal with wild pigs. “Wild pigs are easily the most invasive large mammal on the planet,” said Brook. According to Brook, they
Dr. Ryan Brook a researcher with the University of Saskatchewan told Manitoba Pork that wild pigs are easily the most invasive large mammal on the planet.
do $2.5 billion worth of crop damage in the continental US every year and in Canada as well. While crop damage is a problem impacting water quality is another. He said they do not have sweat glands so they wallow in the water and mud and defecate in the water stirring up salmonella, creating E. coli and a lot of dirt. “You see this nice beautiful clean wetland or stream and then the wild pigs move in and the water gets dark and unusable,” said Brook. They eat anything, from adult whitetail deer to small mammals, birds, frogs, and substantially impact ecosystems. However, the one that keeps Dr. Brook awake at night is the spread of disease. They can potentially harbour disease and parasites and infect humans, pets, wildlife, particularly livestock. With the spread of ASF at a critical point, especially in Europe, Asia and Africa it is a big concern to the domestic pig industry, he said. “We know from Asia and
Europe that wild pig types can harbour and spread that disease,” said Brook. “That’s why Canada has such a huge interest in doing something now to control and eradicate.” Dr. Brook said some countries in Europe had fenced every inch of their border with other countries trying to keep those wild pigs out to keep them from spreading ASF. In Manitoba, he said everybody needs to pull together. The beef, pork, crop sectors, the wildlife and the environmental folks all need to work together on this he stressed. No one industry will get ahead of this, but there are different values at risk and, obviously, the domestic pig sector is arguably the most at risk. “We need to do more trapping, mapping and identifying where they are and removing the wild pigs from the landscape and trapping is great,” said Brook. “Manitoba is doing some and plans to do more, but getting in front of this now, especially because of so many established populations.”
Brook said Manitoba needs to remove feral pigs in whole groups, called a sounder of pigs. “We need to find a group of 12 and remove all 12 using a helicopter, using ground traps, using trained; not hunters, but eradication teams on the ground who can be effective, well-trained and well-equipped teams that can remove the beasts,” he noted. In western Canada last year government programs removed close to 200 animals. He said that is a nice start but far short. That number needs to be more than 2,000 animals per year to start, and that is not eradication. “If we increase by ten times, I think we might start to see the population stop reproducing so quickly,” said Brook. “So we need to have a big concerted and, frankly, multimillion-dollar effort here to find and remove pigs.” He said that the powers that be need to recognize that neighbours have wild pigs too. Some in North Dakota and Saskatchewan has over half of all wild pigs in Canada. Brooks said that Mani-
People can check out the Canadian Wild Pig Research Project on FacePhotos by Harry Siemens book or follow @RyanKBrook on Twitter.
toba can do everything right, but until Saskatchewan does the same thing, Manitoba will still struggle along that border. “We need much effort to get in front of this, especially in 2022 when the problem has persisted for 40 years,” said Brook. All governments including the Manitoba government and Manitoba Pork and others have a lot of information available as well as the Canadian Wild Pig Research Proj-
ect on Facebook or follow @ RyanKBrook on Twitter. Brook’s Facebook page has downloadable interactive maps for GPS units, phones, tablets or computers and sees where the wild pigs are in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, or Alberta. If you are a producer and worried about wild pigs, users can zoom in on their farm, turn that layer on and see how many pigs are in that area. “That is a wildly popular tool,” said Brook.
Swine Health Information Center Expands Pathogenic Disease Monitoring By Harry Siemens The Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) in Iowa has advised pork producers to focus on biosecurity in response to higher-than-expected Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea and Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome in certain states. SHIC released its monthly domestic and global swine disease surveillance reports in its April newsletter.
Associate Director Dr. Megan Niederwerder said PED virus levels have been higher than expected in Nebraska, Oklahoma and Iowa since the beginning of the year. “We’re hopeful as the weather warms the cases of PEDv will drop over the next month” said Niederwerder. “But, unfortunately, the PRRS virus cases also increased in Missouri, Nebraska, Illinois and Indiana.”
Associate Director Dr. Megan Niederwerder of the Swine Health Information Center is hopeful as the weather warms the cases of PEDv will drop over the next month although the PRRS virus cases have increased in Missouri, Nebraska, Illinois and Indiana.
One of the exciting things highlighted in the SHIC report is that the diagnostic labs tested almost 40 thousand cases of gastrointestinal diseases. A promising sign is the various coronaviruses and TGE virus suspected in 40 thousand cases tested negative over the last 12 months. “When we see increases above what we would expect of any diseases, we have to go back to biosecurity procedures and protocols to reduce the risk of transmission from farm to farm,” said Niederwerder. The SHIC also encouraged pork producers to question their feed suppliers about biosecurity protocols and sources of feed ingredients. As part of research conducted by Kansas State University on behalf of SHIC two feed mills and three breed-to-wean facilities diagnosed with Porcine delta coronavirus (PDCoV) were investigated for possible connections. SHIC executive director Dr. Paul Sundberg said when common feed mills are part of an outbreak it presents an opportunity to look at their possible role. So researchers
looked at what transpired on the farms and the feed mills supplying those farms. “There wasn’t any evidence that the feed mills were directly involved in spreading PDCoV to different farms,” said Sundberg. “And researchers found no evidence through the supply chain indicating that feed or feed delivery was associated with those outbreaks and that’s a good thing.” He thinks that other things may have occurred on these farms that caused them to break simultaneously. Still, researchers wanted to make sure that feed was not implicated and was ruled out as a source for PDCoV. Dr. Sundberg said producers must ask questions because feed has transmitted foreign animal diseases and suggested asking how feed mills monitor for pathogens and whether they are sourcing supplies from regions where a foreign animal disease is present. If feed source is from a pathogenic region they should source supplies from somewhere else. Dr. Niederwerder said that the number of diagnostic labs and pathogens has increased since this reporting
Executive director Dr. Paul Sundberg of the Swine Health Information Center said there was no evidence that feed mills were directly involved in spreading Porcine delta coronavirus to different farms.
system started. “We added Influenza A to our detection system giving us real-time data on the Influenza A detection in the US swineherd with additional funding to add Influenza A,” said Niederwerder. “We’re always looking for the priorities for the industry to make sure that we are covering the pathogens of interest in these disease monitoring reports,” she added. Influenza A is one of the three major causes of respiratory disease in US swine and that also includes Myco-
plasma hyopneumoniae and PRRS virus. Therefore, from the advisory group’s perspective, adding the Influenza A virus is a crucial component of broadening and increasing the number of disease agents as part of the report. The next step is to standardize the data across the different diagnostic labs. The finally step would be to enable reporting as aggregate data to give producers and veterinarians an idea of the general diagnostics and detection for Influenza A across US swine.
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May 27, 2022
Finding the Best Lentil Varieties for Every Farm Lentils are an important and popular food in many parts of the world. They are also a nutritional powerhouse. This versatile legume is a great source of protein, carbohydrates, and fibre, and high in mineral nutrients and vitamins like iron, zinc, magnesium, potassium, and vitamin B. However, not all lentils are created equal. Lentil genetics can affect both the quality and yield of lentil crops. Environmental factors like rainfall and soil conditions can also impact lentil crops. Even the same lentil variety
Lentils provide a host of nutrients, including minerals such as zinc, iron, and selenium. Photo Credit: Susan V. Fisk
can have vastly different yields and nutritional profiles when grown in different environments. In a new study, researchers evaluated how genetic and environmental factors affect lentil crops grown in different parts of Montana. “Understanding how the environment and genetics affect lentil crops is key,” said Chengci Chen, lead author of the study. “It allows growers to select lentil varieties that can adapt to different environments and produce high yielding and high-quality crops.” Chen is a researcher at the Eastern Agricultural Research Center at Montana State University. The study was conducted at five test sites spread across Montana. The locations had different soil and weather conditions, and the researchers evaluated four varieties of lentils at each study site. Although
the study was conducted in Montana, the results have worldwide implications, said Chen. More than 60% of global lentil exports originated in the northern Great Plains in Canada and the United States. “Our findings are significant for food and nutrition security across the world,” he said. Chen and colleagues showed that environmental factors had large effects on lentil yield and starch content. In contrast, lentil genetics had more influence on protein concentration and some of the macro- and micro-nutrients, such as phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, iron, zinc, and sulfur. Results indicate that lentil nutrition can be biofortified by combining breeding efforts and judicious selection of varieties and farming locations. The study provides vital information to lentil farmers.
“Growers can select specific varieties of lentils to match conditions in different geographical regions,” he said. “This can help them produce lentil crops with high nutrient values.” But developing lentil varieties adapted to diverse environments to produce stable yield is also important. “That’s because environmental conditions can vary not only in different locations, but also from year to year in the same location,” said Chen. Demand for plant-based proteins, such as lentils, has grown steadily in recent years. “Increasing lentil production and quality can help address this higher demand,” said Chen. Lentils can also play a vital role in battling malnutrition. Our bodies need various minerals to be healthy and to thrive. Lentils are rich in several of these minerals. “Min-
Different classes of lentils harvested in the Eastern Agricultural Research Center at Montana State University. Lentils serve as a vital source of nutrients for humans, and more than 60% of global lentil exports originated in the northern Great Plains of North America. Photo Credit: Chengci Chen
eral malnutrition is a major global health concern,” said Chen. “Enhancing the mineral content, especially micronutrients, of lentils would benefit to human health in many parts of the world.” Chen and colleagues discovered the degree of influence from genetics and the environment on lentil yield, protein and starch levels, and mineral contents and links between them. “These findings can allow breeders and growers to breed and select
lentil varieties that have inherited high protein and mineral content,” said Chen. The study also showed that lentil protein and starch concentrations are negatively correlated. In other words, lentil varieties with high starch content tended to have relatively low protein levels, and vice-versa. Chen is currently working with breeders to develop lentil varieties with higher yields and enhanced nutritional profiles.
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Rye Provides an Alternative in Swine Rations By Harry Siemens The University of Saskatchewan and the Prairie Swine Centre suggested that hog producers use rye to replace corn, wheat, or barley swine rations. Researchers evaluated a high-yielding hybrid variety of rye developed in Germany that is less susceptible to ergot. Ergot, a mycotoxin reduces the feed intake and growth of animals that consume it and can be fatal. Dr. Denise Beaulieu, an assistant professor with the University of Saskatchewan, said as long as the energy
Dr. Denise Beaulieu an assistant professor with the University of Saskatchewan conducting research at the Prairie Swine Centre on diets said the take-home message is that pigs will do fine with 40 to 50 percent rye in the diet, but the diets must have a higher energy composition. Submitted photo
content of the ration remained high, diets containing up to 40 percent rye resulted in feed intake, growth and carcass composition similar to that of corn or wheat-barley based diets. A plant breeding company in Germany developed the new hybrid variety of rye that has a lower incidence of ergot due to more uniform development and flowering and it performs well in drought conditions. The new varieties are widely available in Canada. “But as an animal scientist, I’m very excited because it isn’t quite as susceptible to ergot,” said Beaulieu. “Ergot is a mycotoxin that affects rye and animals that consume it would see decreased feed intake and reduced growth.” Research 20 years ago showed that rye could be a substitute for wheat and soybean meal as an excellent feed although it was not widely used nor grown for feed because of the ergot issue. Instead farmers were growing rye specifically for the brewing industries. “With these new varieties, we think the acreages will increase and there could be more available for animal feed,” said Beaulieu. “With fewer ergot worries we want to understand how to include
it in feed rations.” One advantage is that as acreage increases and even if the grade drops the animal feed industry would have another alternative feed ingredient. “We’re trying to diversify our rations making us less dependent on the traditional grains and giving us more flexibility,” noted Beaulieu. Dr. Beaulieu said rye provides a good source of energy, amino acids and proteins. However, the fibre composition is slightly different, making that the focus of this research, on how fibre might affect feed intake. Several studies in Alberta and some preliminary work at the University are showing that pigs fed diets with up to 40 to 50 per cent rye content did well. Feeder pigs fed a lower energy diet did not do well until rye was increased to the higher energy level. Also when a diet contains lower energy, pigs will eat more to compensate. Dr. Beaulieu said that the current experiment is focused on testing that hypothesis. The Prairie Swine Centre conducted the experiment with 160 pigs at about 60 kg of body weight split between gilts and barrows with five pigs per pen. The pigs went from 60 kg to market weight
at about 130 kg. The pigs received diets formulated with high and low energy, but some had a bit more energy than others, like corn-based or wheat barley-based diet with 40 per cent rye. With the high-energy diets, the pigs did fine with the inclusion of 40 per cent rye. The research showed that there was no difference in growth, feed intake, body weight, or carcass composition. But with the lower energy diet, without rye and high wheat content, the pigs did fine but ate more. “We think it’s something to do with its fibre,” said Beaulieu. “The take-home message to producers is the pigs will do fine with 40 to 50 per cent rye in the diet, but the diets must have this higher energy composition.” She said some lab work remains on why this is happening. “They’ve collected fecal samples to look at fibre digestibility in these pigs to see why they didn’t compensate,” said Beaulieu. “What’s happening with feed intake? But currently, any swine nutritionist or feed producer could use the information. If they want to include rye in the diet, they must formulate their diets at a higher energy level.”
Greenhouse Study Confirms Flood-Tolerant Varieties of Soy If you’ve ever looked at food labels in your local grocery store, you’ve probably seen soy listed as an ingredient. Even though soy is widespread in our food, that doesn’t make the production of soy any easier for growers. One challenge facing soy growers is flooding. Flooding is a major cause of crop loss worldwide. As weather patterns change, experts expect severe weather events like flooding to occur more often. Luckily, the growers aren’t alone in facing this challenge. A study recently published in Crop Science found some answers which may be help-
Carbon dioxide was pumped into the hydroponic system using a flow metre. This delivers a specific amount of gas to the water. The research was conducted in a greenhouse, allowing for better control of variables, and faster research results than typical field studies. Photo by Derrick J. Harrison
ful to soy growers on land that is flood-prone. Derrick Harrison and a team at University of Arkansas worked on the project. They conducted studies in greenhouses, which previous studies have shown to be reliable in breeding studies. This team was testing the reliability and consistency of screening germplasm in hydroponic systems in the greenhouse. The end goal was to determine how different varieties of soy react to flood conditions. Greenhouse studies can control more variables than field studies, which are subjected to variable conditions. Uncontrollable conditions in the field, such as fungus or insects, produce symptoms in soy similar to flood stress. This can make the results of field trials less reliable than greenhouse studies. Greenhouse studies can be performed year-round, and yield results as quickly as five weeks, versus the typical 90day cycle time for field system flood screening of soy in the Midsouth. With these benefits in mind, the research team for this study designed several experiments. All experiments relied on hy-
droponic systems and were self-contained, offering more control. What first seemed like a tangle of tubing, air tanks, and potted plants, was organized and maintained by the team. “In flooded conditions, plants are deprived of oxygen,” said Harrison. “Our system pumped carbon dioxide into the water under controlled conditions. Carbon dioxide can displace oxygen in the solution that would otherwise be available for plant uptake. Ambient air was pumped into the solution for the control group.” The team tested four scenarios. The first test examined soilless mediums for starting soy from seed. The second test assessed the system’s reliability with a variety of soy known to be sensitive to flooding. The third test compared multiple varieties of soy for flood tolerance. Finally, the fourth test compared greenhouse trials with field trials. “The greenhouse hydroponic system showed reliability, efficiency, and promise as a method for selecting soy based on flood tolerance,”
said Harrison. “When compared to similar field trials, the greenhouse hydroponic system outperformed field trials. The new method allows for better viewing of results in a controlled setting.” This will help find flood-tolerant varieties in a faster, more reliable setting. Importantly, the study confirmed prior research that determined six varieties of soy that were tolerant of flooding conditions. It also confirmed four that do poorly in lowoxygen environments. This can help inform soy farmers who live in flood-prone areas when choosing flood-tolerant varieties. Although further validation of results is needed, this study marks an important resource for improving the water-logging tolerance of soybean. Screening for flood tolerance under hydroponics allows for the control of other abiotic and biotic stresses, is effective year-round, and is fast with a five-week cycle time. The next plan is to test more varieties of soy plant materials in USDA collections using this hydroponic greenhouse system.
May 27, 2022
Plowing Match History Discovered In British Columbia By Joan Airey A rocking chair, trophy, medallions and score cards awarded to W. Pentland in 1925 for the highest score in Class 19 and under were donated by his son to Hope For Children Thrift Store in Langley, BC. Fiona who works at the Thrift Store let the Canadian Plowing Association executive know that they had been donated thinking they might be interested in acquiring them. Jim Sache, who lives at Chilliwack BC one hour drive from Langley, thought when he and wife Linda started out to see them that they originated in his province. Sache is the director of the Canadian Plowing organization for British Columbia. “It was the height of COVID when we drove to Langley to see them so I sat in the car while Jim visited the store to check them out,” said Linda Sache. “He purchased them and decided after he found they originated in Manitoba to donate them to the Manitoba auction to send Canadian’s to the World Plowing Match in Estonia in 2023.” Jim and Linda had traveled to Rivers, MB this year for the Canadian Plowing Match held on May 4 to 6, bringing the artifacts with them. Thursday night during the fund-raising auction at the Legion Hall in Rivers bidding was fierce between Tom Ryall who is president of Manitoba Provincial Plowing Association and Matt and Aimee Townsend from Blyth, Ontario. Matt and Aimee were the winning bidders but unknown to Tom their plan was to donate the chair, trophy, medallions, and score cards to him so he could keep them in Manitoba where they originated. The Townsends son Lucas competed in the Junior Conventional Plowing. “My Dad used the plough he bought in 1973 when I was born to coach his three kids and his grandchildren including Lucas in completive plowing. Our interest in plowing spans three generations. We thought to donate the chair so it stayed in Manitoba was fitting,” commented Townsend. “Ploughing is spelt ploughing on the cup. It is the only time I have seen it spelt that way in Canada,” said Ryall of how the word is normally spelt outside of North America. Ryall is interested in Trophy won by W. Pentland in finding more history on the under 19 class in 1925 as well as some other of his winplowing competitions nings. Photos by Joan Airey in Manitoba.
Rocking Chair won by W. Pentland in a plowing competition in 1925 in the nineteen and under class.
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