The AgriPost
April 24, 2020
Governments Must Help Farmers Secure Domestic Food Supply
Mary Robinson, president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture is calling on the federal government to immediately prioritize food production.
By Harry Siemens The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) hosted a virtual media conference on Thursday, April 16 to emphasize that domestic food supply needs to be the most significant government priority after Healthcare priorities in the fight against COVID-19. CFA represents 200,000 farmers across Canada, and the sole sponsor of the conference Food & Consumer Products of
Canada (FCPC), founded in 1959, is the largest voice of the Canadian food, beverage and consumer products industry. The association represents small independently, and privately-owned companies and large, global multinationals, all of whom manufacture and distribute in Canada. “We’ve worked hard to keep up with record spikes in demand for food, help employees stay healthy and continue upholding the most rigorous food safety standards. And reassure Canadians that food production and capacity are strong,” said Michael Graydon, CEO of FCPC. “Building on this immediate reaction, we focus on bolstering resilience in the food supply and Canada’s long term recovery. That’s why we join the CFA in calling for immediate action to support the front line and our food supply, Canada’s farmers.” Graydon applauded governments’ collaboration and consultation thus far to help keep food moving from farm to factory to store and ultimately to Canadians. As food processors, they buy 40 percent of Canada’s agricultural output and know that smooth farm operations are vital to maintaining steady supplies of affordable food. “We rely on Canada’s farmers and farm workers as the first link in the food supply
Keeping Canadians and Workers in the Food Supply Chain Safe
chain that will feed Canada through the difficult coming months,” he said. “In turn, one in eight Canadians rely on the food economy for their livelihood, and all Canadians rely on the essential food that we make. But there are real challenges that require immediate support to prioritize agriculture and food production now, as an engine for our post COVID recovery.” Mary Robinson, president of the CFA, said with so much uncertainty around the globe the CFA is calling on the federal government to immediately prioritize food production as well. “We must ensure Canada’s domestic food supply is secure, not only for the duration of this battle but long into the future,” said Robinson. “We do not mean to create panic. At the same time, it would be irresponsible not to sound the alarm about the realities Canadian farmers are facing. In times of economic crisis and global uncertainty, Canadians could always depend on farmers to do what we do best, grow food.” She emphasized Canadian farmers need immediate, meaningful help from the federal government to continue fulfilling that responsibility.
The Government of Canada is announcing $50 million to help farmers, fish harvesters, and all food production and processing employers, put in place the measures necessary to follow the mandatory 14-day isolation period required of all workers arriving from abroad. Protecting the health and safety of Canadians is the clear top priority in managing COVID-19, so the Government of Canada is working very closely with provinces, territories and stakeholders to maintain the strength of Canada’s food supply chain. Before the pandemic, the food sector was already challenged by significant labour shortages and it is anticipated there will be even more jobs to fill, requiring a variety of skills. In many regions across Canada, producing a variety of quality foods to be sold at affordable prices relies upon the contributions of experienced temporary foreign workers right from planting season to harvest, particularly for fresh fruits and vegetables. Fish, seafood and meat processing plants are also reliant on the addition of these workers. Temporary foreign workers play an important role in the Canadian economy with approximately 50,000 to 60,000 foreign agricultural, food and fish processing workers coming to work in Canada each year, which accounts for more than 60% of all foreign workers entering Canada under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Each year, despite the fact that the agricultural sector receives approximately 60,000 foreign workers, around 15,000 jobs remain vacant. This is an important reason why the Government of Canada granted an exemption for temporary foreign workers from travel restrictions to Canada, along with other foreigners with student and work visas, provided they adhere to a strict 14-day isolation protocol upon arrival. The rules of the mandatory isolation period have been clearly defined and distributed to the em-
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April 24, 2020
The AgriPost
Governments Must Help Farmers Secure Domestic Food Supply
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Agriculture, the foundation of the overall food supply, is at a tipping point. “If we do not as a nation address the rising challenges immediately Canadian consumers could see a decrease in the amount and variety of food at their local grocery stores, as well as higher prices in the months ahead,” said Robinson. Robinson said their first concern is the ongoing labour shortage and predictability and how that is impacting farms and food processing. Many Canadian farmers do not have enough workers to consider planting a 2020 crop. Besides, farmers see alarming uncertainty in their markets. “Not knowing if we will be able to get to market the food we grow is eroding the confidence our farmers need to invest the hundreds of millions of
dollars necessary to plant a crop.” She said farmers are making decisions about whether to plant a crop or leave fields unplanted or plant crops that require less labour and costly inputs like growing soybeans for animal feed instead of tomatoes for people. Another fear is that if planting does go ahead, will harvesting and processing be possible without sufficient labour or will crops rot in the fields, as in other countries. Robinson applauded the government’s announcement on Monday outlining the assistance to help offset some of the high costs to isolate temporary foreign workers as they arrive in Canada, a good first step but much more needs doing. She said the second issue threatening Canada’s food system is the
increasing and unexpected costs COVID-19 is generating for Canadian farmers. “Canadian farmers’ stress levels keep increasing. Right now, some farmers are so worried about the mounting challenges they are strongly considering halting their farming operations altogether.” “CFA and our members are asking the government to create an emergency fund, a financial backstop, so farmers in need can access funds to help them overcome mounting costs,” said Robinson. “Canadian farmers need to hear a clear commitment from the government to instill in them the necessary confidence for the 2020 planting season. Yes, the health of Canadians is vital, but the government must also have a strategy for domestic food security.”
A farmer combining his 2019 soybean crop.
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ployers, who themselves are committed to protecting the health of their communities and their workers. Government authorities will continue to proactively communicate and engage with employers, source countries and other stakeholders on public health requirements. Those who do not comply with the Quarantine Act or the isolation protocol will face severe fines and sanctions. Under proposed changes, employers could also face significant penalties, and a possible ban from the program, if they prevent adherence to the selfisolation order.
In addition to the responsibility of paying the workers for the two weeks during which time they cannot work, many employers are also responsible for providing workers with transportation and accommodations, as well as access to food and basic supplies needed to meet all of the conditions imposed by public health authorities. Recognizing the importance of this responsibility, the federal government will provide support of $1,500 for each temporary foreign worker, to employers or those working with them to ensure requirements are fully
met. The funding is conditional on employers not being found in violation of the mandatory 14-day isolation protocols or any other public health order. This program will be available as long as the Quarantine Act is in force and the isolation protocol is followed. As labour circumstances are different across regions in Canada, the Government will work with interested provinces and territories in the coming days to ensure this funding is delivered in a manner that meets their needs and best ensures quarantine requirements are met.
The AgriPost
April 24, 2020
Effects of COVID 19 on Canadian Agriculture
By Elmer Heinrichs Agriculture and agri-food sector play a critical role in distributing safe, high-quality food to Canadians. Maintaining the integrity of the agri-food supply chain during an emergency is seen as essential for all Canadians. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) is closely monitoring developments related to COVID-19 and its impacts on the Canadian agricultural industry. The government of Canada has taken the necessary steps to ensure that producers and processors can continue to operate effectively and keep supply lines open. The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, has been top of our mind the past few months. Health recommendations and government policy have been changing on an almost daily basis, but the growing impact the disease is having
globally merits serious attention. All sectors of society and business including agriculture are starting to see the negative effects of the pandemic beyond the illness itself. While these issues may seem minimal compared to the problems already facing farmers thanks to the 2019 season, the ripple effects are surfacing. Shipments of field crops, impacted by rail blockades in the past month, are now stuck in storage at ports across the country. Vancouver is particularly backed up, as shipping containers carrying Chinese goods would typically be used to transport Canadian agricultural products back across the Pacific Ocean to Asia. Now with a combination of decreased shipping lanes, lower demand and COVID-19 health concerns intercontinental trade has
slowed considerably. There is no conclusive evidence at this time that the novel coronavirus can be transmitted between humans and animals. As such, for livestock farmers and those working with animal byproducts, basic disease prevention measures should suffice. Canadian growers are coming off a one-two punch of difficult years, which test anyone’s resiliency. The agricultural population is smaller than it has ever been, and the industry has been dealing with a labour shortage even without the loss of seasonal workers. A recent change that impacts agriculture is that Canadians receiving the Canadian Emergency Recovery Benefit will be able to accrue up to $1,000 in wages before losing access to the benefit. The federal government is also providing support of
$1,500 for each temporary foreign worker, to make sure COVID-19 quarantine requirements are met. With various setbacks and concerns of how to manage the farm if any physical illness, COVID-19 or otherwise, were to occur, staying healthy – body and mind – is paramount. Mental health issues, like anxiety and depression, have a stronger effect when a person is already under stress. The recommendation to self-isolate is the status quo for many farmers isolation can be another pinch-point for mental illness. Whatever is happening in the world at large, agriculture remains a steady presence, continuing to do the hard work day in, day out. Keep informed, stay safe, and wash your hands – this too shall pass.
Call for Government to Declare Ag Sector as Critical Infrastructure John Barlow, Conservative Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Agri-Food, and Richard Lehoux, Associate Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Agri-Food is calling on the Liberal government to declare the agriculture sector as critical infrastructure to ensure that supply chains remain open. “As we fight the COVID-19 crisis, the ability for farmers and producers to do their job and keep feeding Canadians is paramount. Canadians need to know that while they stay home and practice physical distancing, grocery store
shelves will have the essentials they need,” said Barlow. “As we have seen in the past few weeks, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to disruptions in supply chains and outputs in the Canadian economy. This cannot happen to Canada’s agriculture sector,” continued Barlow. “That is why Canada’s Conservatives are calling on the Trudeau Liberals to immediately declare the agriculture sector as critical infrastructure. By declaring the agriculture sector as essential during this crisis, the agri-food supply chain will
remain intact and Canadians will be able to continue to count on access to safe and affordable food,” Barlow went on to say. “While the Liberal Agriculture Minister has stated that declaring the agriculture sector as essential is a top priority’ she has failed to follow through on this promise. The fact is that Canada’s farmers, producers and processors cannot wait any longer,” said Barlow. “Farmers and producers will be making key decisions in the coming days and weeks which will have a huge im-
Hours Reduced at Six Land Border Crossings The federal government is temporarily reducing hours at six Manitoba-US border crossings because of COVID19. The adjustments are now in effect. The Canada Border Services Agency announced that land ports at Coulter, Goodlands, Gretna, Lena, Windygates and Winkler would close as much as six hours earlier than
normal. Traffic has dropped due to quarantine restrictions and health measures put in place to stop the spread of the novel Coronavirus. No change is planned for the 24-hour port of entryexit at Emerson. The federal government continues to introduce border measures to limit the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
in Canada, the agency said. All non-essential traffic into Canada continues to be prohibited. The changes will be reviewed as the pandemic continues. The agency said it continues to ensure goods and services can cross the border so that the country’s economic supply chains and trade remain secure and open.
pact on Canada’s agriculture sector,” said Barlow. “It is important this vital sector be declared essential so farmers, producers and processors can move forward with the hard work of putting food on Canadians’ tables.” “Conservatives will continue to stand up for Canada’s agriculture sector and put forward constructive solutions to ensure Canadians are supported during the COVID-19 crisis,” said Barlow.
We at the AgriPost thank you for your continued suppor t. We are here to help you get your message out to keep your business going in these challenging times!
The AgriPost
April 24, 2020
Supply Chains in a Covid World This is my second column in the era of COVID-19. A full month after the first, one thing is clear: this virus is not going to blow over in a couple of weeks. Nobody really knows how long it will last. Another month? Two? One forecast says maybe a couple of years. The disruption is starting to show cracks in our supply chains as the whole world reorganizes to deal with the problems. First we saw a toilet paper shortage that mistakenly got reported as “hoarding”. Thanks to our hyperventilating media, this turned into a self-fulfilling prophecy. In fact, two very different markets exist for toilet paper, commercial and consumer. When more people stay at home they use more of the second. So consumer demand went up, but at first, anyways, the supply was static. The industry is adjusting. But paper mills already built around running at full capaci-
ty do not have enough wiggle room to ramp up production instantly. They have to reconfigure their production lines. Nor can commercial paper makers easily convert to making consumer brands. Food had similar challenges. We usually eat out a lot. Not only are restaurants and their staff taking a beating, so are their suppliers. They’ve got all sorts of product that has just stopped moving. On the other side of the equation, grocery stores can’t keep up with the increased demand of everyone now preparing meals at home. It’s not an insignificant shift. Some analysts estimate that during normal times more than half of food expenditures happen away from home. For certain items, like seafood, around 70% is eaten in restaurants. Part of the disequilibrium involves the people who
move things around, including truck drivers, warehouse staff, those who stock the shelves, and all of the quality assurance and safety inspectors along the way. In Wuhan, China, where all this started, more than half of the transport workers were sidelined because of the lockdown. If we see similar numbers here, look out. It takes a lot of real people to keep all this stuff moving. Costs are already increasing. Trucks now drive empty far more often and drop off a load in one location when it used to be three. Then there’s the increased carbon tax, which adds more to the bill. At the time of writing, a growing number of meatprocessing facilities around North America were in various stages of either shutting down, or trying to reopen after workers contracted coronavirus. The most significant was
Smithfield Foods, a pork processor in South Dakota said to be the largest in the world. It announced that it would be closed indefinitely. How far this will go is unknown right now, but a lot of labour-intensive jobs in food production just can’t be done under conditions of social isolation. It looks like dominos are starting to fall. Farmers are getting hit squarely in the pocket book, but can trouble for consumers be far behind? We have always been blessed with an overabundance of food in this country and the supply chain really is more of a network than a straight line. So it can adapt and reroute itself in response to all sorts of stress. But it’s never been put to the test in quite this way before. Everything has limits. In the absence of a vaccine or effective treatment the only way to keep workers safe is
Penner’s Points
going to be through the use of enhanced bios- By Rolf ecurity measures. That Penner means masks, gloves, face shields and copious amounts of hand sanitizer. But there again we already essential categories, regulathave a shortage of a lot of ing more and more activity. these things for our front line If they’re not careful, supply medical staff. chains for vital goods and serCountries all around the vices could suffer catastrophworld have taken an “every ic failure. man for himself” attitude toNo one knows better what wards these supplies, barring needs to be done than the them from shipping elsewhere. people who are already doNowhere are supply chains ing it. It may sound simplismore strained right now than tic, but the best thing to do in in the provision of personal most cases is just get out of protective equipment. the way and let them do what Leaders at all government they do best. If anything, they levels are taking a heavy- need roadblocks and speed handed approach to dealing bumps removed so they can with this virus. They have a do it faster and more effilegitimate public health role ciently. to play in trying to keep us Saving lives right now is safe and minimize damage, important. But healthy supbut they can go too far. They ply chains are what we need have started classifying busi- to get through this in the menesses into essential and non- dium to long term.
Reaching Out Goes Both Ways - to Give and to Receive
When calamities arise from fallouts like the pandemic COVID-19, the most affected people hurt, while those not so much reach out and help. On the Pipestone.com Facebook page on Friday, April 17, this appeared. “Tonight at Faith Temple in Sioux Falls, SD, PIPESTONE arranged for 10 pounds of pork to go with each family’s box, totalling a 7,000-pound donation. Every visitor was able to have pork loin, pork tenderloin and ground pork as well as some pork recipes to try at home. The pork funds to make the pork donations possible came from PIPESTONE with contributions from WholeStone Farms and SAM Nutrition. I spoke to Sylvia Wolters of Pipestone Holdings, and Pipestone, SD, one of the organizers of the event that fed 750 families, many of whom had nothing to eat. First off, Pipestone Holdings is a pig and veterinary animal health company that reaches across seven states in the Midwest, doing management for family farmers and their sows across the Midwest. Sylvia told me, “This pork give away started with big hearts, a caring attitude, and
a desire to give back to the needy in the area. But within this COVID-19 experience, we wanted to reach out even further to try and provide some protein into areas of people who probably may be out of a job right now, and more strapped for cash than ever before, and never had the experience of being hungry. And so feeding that need is where we wanted to step into that space.” I think that is the case too here in Manitoba where suddenly people find themselves at the end of the last pay cheque and still much of the month left - Maybe even more months to go without any more cash in sight. Sylvia reached out to a few people around, and for Sioux Falls, SD, “This is within an hour of our home office here,” she said. “So Faith Temple church in Sioux Falls, SD, has a food pantry giveaway every Friday. So we were able to connect with them and provide pork for all the families that came through today.” When I spoke to her this past Friday evening, she said that during our conversation, she had not yet closed the door to her car so she could take my call. I could hear her enthusiasm and excitement; that certain kind of hope that comes from reaching out to others in need. When growing up, I’d sometimes complain about
Faith Temple in Sioux Falls, SD and Pipestone with contributions from WholeStone Farms and SAM Nutrition arranged for food donations that included 10 pounds of pork to go into 750 families’ boxes, totalling a 7,000-pound donation. Every visitor was able to have pork loin, pork tenderloin and ground pork as well as some pork recipes to try at home.
being hungry. My mother, bless her heart would reply, “Harry, you aren’t hungry, you feel like eating.” For those people, Sylvia and her group fed that night; many experienced the real hunger pangs for the first time. Bless her heart. “We had 750 families that came through today, and every family received the box that would feed about three to four people. The Faith Temple folks have arranged for food to go in those boxes, and our contribution today from Pipestone was the protein piece. So we were able to provide about seven to 10 pounds of pork in every box for every family. So they have some ground pork, some pork tenderloins and pork loin in there. Unfortunately, these people don’t have ac-
cess to the protein regularly. So we were very fortunate to be able to take products that we raised and be able to put it in the hands of someone who was very in need.” Here is the other good part of what Sylvia and the Pipestone group did, but more importantly, raised the importance of all farmers. “We are very fortunate to be in an industry that raises food. That’s our job. We raise food every day and it’s very rewarding on multiple levels because we are able to provide the country, our nation, our people, our world with good quality food, and we specialize in pork. Now today, we gave it away to people who can’t afford to purchase it. But what we do every day is we love our animals, we take care of them well, we feed them,
and we care for them because they are what feed us. So that’s our passion, that’s our ministry, to be able to provide this service.” “We are just grateful that we can contribute to and provide pork for some people that are in need. Everybody is facing a challenging time right now, including the farmers, and everybody will pitch in and do their part to pull out of this,” said Sylvia. I echo those words as we work together often from behind four walls through the use of Social Mediums, telephones, and all other devices that hook up to the Net. May you continue to reach out to help others if you can, but also reach out with an empty hand when there is a need for kind words. We are in this together.
The AgriPost
April 24, 2020
FCC Lending Capacity Increases to Alleviate Financial Pressure
Farm Credit Canada (FCC) has received an enhancement to its capital base that will allow for an additional $5 billion in lending capacity. Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada made the announcement in late March following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s initial plan outlining more details on the Government of Canada’s plan to support the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. In that announcement, the government made a solid commitment to the agriculture and food industry to ensure producers, agribusinesses and food processors continue to have access to necessary capital at this challenging time. “Farmers and producers work hard to put food on tables across our country, and they should not have to worry about being able to afford their loan payments or having enough money to support their own families,” the Prime Minister said. “We are taking action now to give them more flexibility to meet the challenges ahead.”
“Like many Canadians, I am truly grateful for our farmers and food business owners and employees, who continue working hard so we all have quality food on our grocery store shelves and kitchen tables. Their continued work is essential to our plan to manage COVID-19,” Bibeau said. “The measures announced will provide farmers and food producers across the country with important financial flexibility they will need during these challenging times.” “If you are a producer concerned about having the cash flow required to plant your crop, or you are a food processor feeling the impact of a lost sale due to the financial downturn, FCC is here to support you in these uncertain economic times,” said Michael Hoffort, FCC president and CEO. “It’s in times like these that we are reminded how important Canadian producers and food processors are to our nation and to feeding the world.” Hoffort added that FCC will use its resources to find solutions that offer the best
chance for recovery going forward so the industry emerges stronger. Initially, the focus will be on assisting the industry in addressing cash flow challenges so that businesses can remain focused on business-critical functions rather than worrying about how to access funds to keep operating through this difficult time. “Supporting the industry will also take strong collaboration between banks, credit unions, FCC and other financial institutions,” said Hoffort. “FCC has served as a strong and stable industry presence for more than 60 years, and this current situation is no different. We will be working in partnership with other financial providers to offer the solutions needed by the agriculture and food industry to take on the challenges ahead.” As part of its ongoing support efforts, FCC also is asking existing customers who have cash flow or other financial concerns to contact the organization to discuss alternatives, such as loan payment deferrals and prod-
Welcome Mr. Darwin
Just about a year ago, we spent some time on one of the Galapagos Islands. These are the islands with the strange animals that exist in no other place. The place where Charles Darwin is credited with validating his theory of natural selection as part of the process of evolution. Had I know what was going to happen this year, I could have saved my travel budget. We are going to go through an evolution that makes what Darwin described look like a High School science experiment. Mr. Darwin made his observations on the Galapagos Island and is credited with the quote, “It is not the strong or the smartest that survive but rather those that are most willing to adapt to their environment.” Come on in, Mr. Darwin. What we are going to see happen to the economies of the world will be truly
amazing and some pretty big and some very smart (last year) players are going to end up like the dinosaurs, taking their place in history. I feel sorry for them, but that is about all I can do. They are going to be great objects for sentences that begin, “Remember when…?” As I pen this column I have been in self imposed isolation for just over 4 weeks. I see no change in sight. I expect this will carry on through most of the summer. I have already given up on seeing a baseball game, I don’t think the 50th Anniversary Celebration of Agribition is going to happen in November and I don’t plan on any international travel for the rest of this calendar. I may be wrong but I will be able to handle that. There are some players in the business of agriculture who are already adapting; there are seed companies that have developed delivery systems using “social distancing”. There’s a term that we did use a year ago and now it is common in
everyone’s vocabulary. There are also going to be some players who refuse to change or a just too slow on the draw, they will be to us, what buggy whip manufacturers were in the days of Henry Ford. Does anyone miss them? Not really. This is a tough time, this is the biggest challenge our generation and the next have faced, but it is real. Remember 20% interest rates? We got through that, and we will get through this but the bill our government will have is staggering. It will be with us for a long time, keep in mind Income Tax is still a temporary measure to pay for the War effort. How is that working out? It was not Charles Darwin that came up with the quote about the most willing to change will survive, it was Leon Megginson in 1963 in a paper titled “Lessons from Europe for American Business”. He was paraphrasing Darwin but very aware of the situation. Now is the time to be one of those that survive and that means being one of those that is most willing to adapt.
ucts available to assist with cash flow needs. “Each business’ financial situation is unique, so there may be a combination of options considered,” Hoffort said. “The bottom line is that FCC is being supported
by our shareholder to play a bigger role in supporting the success of the Canadian agriculture and food industry across Canada. The sooner we can discuss potential challenges, the more options we have.”
Customers facing financial pressure are encouraged to contact their FCC relationship manager or the FCC Customer Service Centre at 1-888-332-3301 to discuss their individual situation and options.
Foodgrains Bank Ready to Respond to Coronavirus Needs By Elmer Heinrichs Responding to the Coronavirus pandemic, Jim Cornelius, executive director of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFB) said, “We are carefully monitoring the changing situation and adjusting plans to do our part to help stop the spread of the virus and to keep people safe.” “The significant economic disruption being caused by the COVID-19 crisis is going to lead to growing hunger around the world as many countries do not have the financial capacity and so-
cial safety nets to support all the people losing their homes and livelihoods.” He said the CFB is working with members and partners around the world to help sustain their programs and support their efforts to respond to the crisis. As responsible citizens in this unprecedented global crisis, “We all have a role to play. We need to take care of one another, whether it is reaching out to neighbours and friends, putting together care packages for health care workers, or giving to public health organiza-
tions at the frontlines.” Just as we in Canada have deemed grocery stores and the expansion of our social safety nets as essential services our food assistance and feeding programs in developing countries are also essential for the families who rely on them, added Cornelius. At the Manitoba level coordinator Gordon Janzen is excited to see a new growing project starting up in the Somerset area. There were more than 30 grow projects last year.
The AgriPost
April 24, 2020
Drinking Your Milk Will Help Dairy Producers
David Wiens of the Dairy Farmers of Manitoba says the current situation is uncharted territory and will require patience from everyone.
By Les Kletke David Weins, the president of the Dairy Farmers of Manitoba, said that the current COVID-19 outbreak
has affected milk consumption in the province due to the closure of restaurants. It has had a dramatic impact on milk requirements in the
province and the country. “Since everything has gone to just-in-time delivery, that means that the impact on producers is almost immedi-
ate,” said Weins who farms at Grunthal. It is not just the lower consumption of milk that is impacting the demand for dairy.
“When you think of restaurants closing and only offering take out the consumption drops dramatically,” he said. “Pizza restaurants in particular use a lot of our product in the form of cheese, when they don’t need cheese, the processors are not making cheese and that means they don’t need the milk.” Manitoba is not dumping milk, and it has no intention of dumping milk. The province has had a program in place for over 25 years where excess milk is donated to processors delivered at no charge by transport companies. Processors then make cheese that is donated to the provinces largest Food bank. “All four of the western provinces are in a pool where production and demand are shared,” said Wiens. “That may mean overall our production is contributing to an over production in western Canada but we are not dumping milk in Manitoba.” Wiens is clear in his message. “We are in uncharted territory with this, we don’t have a playbook to handle this situation,” said Weins. “We are going day by day and trying to make the best decisions for the entire in-
dustry.” He said with a decreased demand for milk it has impacted farms in other ways. “Producers who have cows that they may have been planning to cull in 3 to 6 months are culling them now,” he said. “That can have an impact on the prices at the Auction Marts because more of these cows are going to market than is usual at this time.” He said that producers have another choice and that is to decrease their production by the way they feed their cows. “Producers have the option of cutting back from maximum production by reducing the ratio,” he said. “That would lower their total production. They will still be concerned about the health of their animals and providing adequate feed but it might be a lower quality.” An additional hindrance is that spring has been slow arriving he said. Even in mid April the ground on his farm is still frozen. “We need some heat to get things to green up, we would like to have the cows out on pasture in late May but that would require some warmer temperatures soon,” he said.
The AgriPost
Pandemic Circumstances Make Farming an Essential Service By Harry Siemens
Rick Bergmann of Steinbach represents pork producers from coast to coast as chair of the Canadian Pork Council (CPC). He tweeted this on April 14, “Canadian producers are in a dire state. Take a minute and imagine being on a sinking ship waiting for rescue. It’s not a good feeling.” In response to Janet Krayden, @CdnAgvocate on April 18, saying, “Replying to @JodiKoberinski @FoodProfessor and @CTVNews, Fyi Alberta is already at 25 percent unemployment. This is the economic powerhouse that pays for the majority of equalization. The US just announced $16 B aid for USA farmers and $3 Billion for oversupply, so farmers don’t have to cut back production.” In an interview with Bergman a few days earlier, he responded on what the current state of the hog industry finds itself. “So a great, great question. For the record, I’ve got more questions than answers on that as well. So as you know, the COVID-19 problem, the pandemic that the world is in, for sure affects so many different entities around the world,” said Bergmann. “There’s much angst and concern with producers affecting every aspect of our business for the most part. So again, when we think about food security and the importance of food, produc-
ers are doing whatever they can to continue to produce a protein source for their families, their neighbours, their country, and people around the world.” Bergmann who also runs a pork-related business in Steinbach said farmers keep producing food for people around the world, but are losing too much money at home. This means some may have difficulty staying afloat. He said pork is still moving outside of the country and domestically. However, with plants closing in the US the valuation has dropped. This has created a significant problem for a segment of producers in Manitoba because a robust amount of Isowean farms have been hit hard. Currently two largest pig processing plants in Manitoba, HyLife at Neepawa, and Maple leaf Foods at Brandon can remain open which continues to provide an outlet for finished pigs. Bergmann said that they have some excellent protocols in place, which will just further ensure healthy people going into the plants. “And that is super; we just hope it will continue, not only within our province but within our country, because those processing plants are our key to keeping everything moving properly,” he said. “In this time of chaos, it can be a defining moment for
our industry, for our sector. And I truly hope that’s what it’ll be. Where we, number one, work close together. We look after, not only ourselves but the people beside us. I’m thinking specifically of the sector now, but this applies in general terms. If we have that mindset of looking after each other, then we are looking after ourselves at the same time.” Bergmann said doing it right will also play an essential role in conversations with both provincial and federal governments, to ensure that the primary producer continues to provide a vital service and carry on their operations. “Because again, we’re not creating backpacks or computers, we’re providing a protein that keeps people alive. And, at this point in time, no doubt, Harry, you’re reflective of your ancestry, as I am with mine,” replied Bergmann. “Knowing that in some previous generations, food was hard to come by, and we want to avoid that. We really need to understand and continue to sell the point that it’s an essential service, that we’re providing sustenance for people around the world to live and to flourish,” said Bergmann. “And we hope that when the needs become extremely great, that we will have great support from the governments in regards to ensuring that that carries on. Because once that stops, then we’ve got bigger problems.”
Rick Bergmann said there is much angst and concern with producers which is affecting every aspect of the hog industry. Photo by Harry Siemens
April 24, 2020
Cattle Auctions See Increasing Numbers By Les Kletke Harold Unrau manages the Grunthal Auction Mart. He said that if capacity was reached he would look at how to expand the operation. Recently on a Tuesday in April it was apparent that there were too many cows on offer. “Fat cattle were off .20 cents a pound,” was his reply when asked about the regular Tuesday cattle sale. The price decrease was not a matter of too many cattle being offered at his facility it was a cross-country problem at auction marts. Grunthal Auction Mart has made as many adjustments as it could to deal with the COVID-19 outbreak and is looking to do more. “We have our regular buyers,” said Unrau. “And they are in the stands but we can not allow spectators or even the consignors of the cattle because of the regulations in place by the province. He ac-
knowledged that may have some impact on the prices of the day. “We might get some fellows who are looking for a couple of cattle for their pasture or around the yard,” he said. “They cannot be here now, and that might affect the prices on the odd lot, but those are not the fellows buying fat cattle. They are looking for a couple of head and might pick up what the regular buyers don’t want because they don’t fit with a large pen.” He said that the sale also featured a larger than usual number of cull dairy cows. “We would have some dairy cattle at this time but we had more than usual,” he said. “The demand for milk is off and guys are culling their cows. If they don’t need the milk, they don’t want to feed the cows.” David Wiens of the Dairy Farmers of Manitoba said that milk demand is off and producers are deciding to cull cows now rather than waiting for a couple of months longer. “So those cows are going to market.”
Unrau said a big impact on the price of fat cattle was the decrease in the capacity of slaughter plants because of layoffs. “Plants across the US and in Alberta are reducing their second shift, the capacity is down, and the buyers are not buying the cattle. That translates through all prices but hits the fat cattle hardest,” he said. He was candid about the long term situation. “We don’t know when this will turn around,” he said. “We have not seen anything like this before and it is something that is not going away quickly.”
The Gurnthal Auction Mart hosted an Alpaca sale this spring and manager Harold Unrau says it was different than a regular cattle sale but did provide some interest.
April 24, 2020
The AgriPost
The AgriPost
Seeding Likely to Start in May By Elmer Heinrichs Manitoba farmers are getting ready for the 2020 planting season, while the rest of the province continues to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. While a few farmers in across Manitoba may be out with equipment, seeding in late April, most are hoping for dry fields in early May for a quick start on the 2020 crop. Officially, spring of course arrived in March and farmers began to get ready, but with colder than normal temperatures and some April snow, spring seeding has been delayed. Now with the outlook for a serious Red River flood dissipating, Altona farm production advisor Dennis Lange is optimistic about the farm outlook. “We’ve had a bit of moisture, and of course it’s not really late yet, I expect to see farmers putting in a lot of crop in May.” Lange, who is also Manitoba’s pulse crop specialist, said he still expects up to
140,000 acres of edible beans, a small drop from 2019, and a further decline in soybean acres, which averaged only 28 bushels an acre last year. He also expects canola acres to stay pretty steady, and sees farmers seeding similar acreages to wheat and corn, with perhaps an increase in oat acres in light of some firmer prices. Manitoba farmers have been busy wrapping up last year’s corn harvest. Some have reported good quality, with some losses to livestock. Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) president Bill Campbell said farmers will have to wait until the snow clears and the ground dries enough to operate machinery for spring seeding. “Some areas are already pretty wet so it looks like May is going to be a pretty busy month.” Manitoba potato growers are feeling the impact of COVID-19, and Keystone Potato Producers Association expects 2020 acreage to be down, perhaps in the 67,000acre range.
The 2019 harvest was unusual in many respects, and it’s likely to lead to less than ideal 2020 spring seeding conditions. To mitigate seed and soil damage advisers are suggesting avoiding soil compaction, choosing crops carefully, proper seed placement and the use of a seed treatment. Many farmers have the ability to plant many acres in just a few days, and many crops in our rotation maintain a good yield potential until the beginning of June. While early plantings favour higher yields, it does not guarantee them, or quality seed at harvest. A first priority for farmers will likely be to get the crop off to a nice start by preparing a good seed bed as soon as the soils permit equipment access. COVID-19 adds a level of uncertainty to the challenges farmers already faced going into the spring seeding season with the potential for supply chain disruptions that interfere with their need for seed, fertilizer and crop pro-
tection products. Perhaps the farmers in our midst are the most able to adapt to self-isolating their families at home and yet still carry on with their business. It’s not all doom and gloom for agriculture. Interest rates are low, fuel prices have dropped, and currency levels favour exports all of which are positive indicators for farmers who must complete globally for market share. While it may not seem like an ideal outlook for central and eastern Manitoba, a few days of sunshine and warming temperatures as the month ends will clear the way for a busy May. Of course farmers have until early June to get their crops in, so a little rain delay in late April will not have much of an effect. It’s been a favourable spring for most farm fields, and with warmer weather most fields are snow-free and drying off quickly. So far it looks like a near ideal spring start for Manitoba farmers.
KAP Releases Results of Rural Cell and Internet Survey Almost two thirds of Manitobans who responded to a survey conducted by Keystone Agricultural Producers, the voice of Manitoba farmers, expressed dissatisfaction with their mobile phone and internet coverage according to a survey report released recently. This comes at a time when a vast majority of Manitobans are increasingly reliant on both networks due to social distancing protocols. “Farm operations require strong internet and cell cov-
KAP Survey results.
erage to conduct business and ensure that food continues to make its way to market,” said Jill Verwey, KAP vice president and chair of the rural policy committee. “We have heard deep-seated frustration from both farm families and non-farmers about the state of connectivity in rural Manitoba, and providers cannot continue to ask us to pay for a service that is subpar at best.” Many of the comments on the survey reflected an inability to be in touch in
emergency situations and with farm employees, a hindered ability to fully participate in business operations, or incurring additional costs to add a booster that works sporadically. There are also broad impacts for education, with respondents noting that they are unable to conduct schoolwork, access course materials, or participate in distance learning like webinars. “With thousands of Manitobans stuck in their homes and relying on internet con-
nections to accomplish important tasks like educating their children, we are all aware that present service levels are unacceptable with daily disruptions,” added Verwey. “The best time to fix these gaps was 5 years ago; the second-best time is now.” There were 1,557 Manitobans representing 113 municipalities that took the survey and respondents came from all parts of the province. A full report will be shared with both the federal and provincial governments, as well as major service providers, later this year.
April 24, 2020
Cereals Merger Creates a Single National Organization The memberships of Cereals Canada and the Canadian International Grains Institute (Cigi) have approved the amalgamation of both organizations under a unified governance and management structure. The approval of this merger follows four years of growing dialogue and collaboration between Cereals Canada and Cigi members and staff. “This merger brings together two strong organizations with a common vision to serve our members and build value for the Canadian cereals industry. Cereals Canada and Cigi have already established a close working relationship supporting the promotion of Canadian wheat and this merger will strengthen the benefits of this relationship” said Jean-Marc Ruest, Chair of the Cereals Canada Board of Directors. Cereals Canada was formed in 2013 to represent Canada’s cereal value chain across priority areas including market access, market development, advocacy and innovation. Cigi was formed in 1972 to support domestic and international processors with independent technical services such as end-use quality evaluations, milling and end-use support. “The merger represents an opportunity to align our efforts on behalf of the Canadian cereals value chain and ultimately strengthen the focus and impact of our activities. While unlocking new synergies, we will also be maintaining the key components and expertise that each organization brings to the table” said Trent Rude, Chair of the Board of Cigi. The consolidated organization will operate under the Cereals Canada name, and Cigi will maintain its brand as a division within the overarching organization. The organization’s approved governance structure also ensures that all members can shape and influence future priorities and initiatives. “Collaboration and transparency have been the guiding forces throughout this process, and will continue to be the cornerstones of the integrated organization,” said Ruest. “We are excited to support this next phase in the advancement of our mission to grow the Canadian cereals value chain. We look forward to continue working for the benefit of our members under a single national organization.” “The next major step will be the appointment of a CEO for the amalgamated organization. Our senior leadership team and staff will also continue to play a key role in guiding strategic planning with a view towards leveraging the opportunities of a fully integrated organization” concluded Rude.
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April 24, 2020
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MCGA Members to Benefit from Agronomist Field Visits
Morgan Cott, a field agronomist, scouts fields during the growing season helping to provide a bi-weekly field survey report to the members of the Manitoba Corn Growers Association right up until harvest. Photos courtesy of Morgan Cott
By Harry Siemens Manitoba Corn Growers Association (MCGA) is offering members access to its Corn Surveillance Survey to begin their pre-planting and throughout emergence with the use of field agronomist visits. The survey will provide a report for each field on a bi-weekly schedule, through to harvest. The MCGA summarizes the results of the field visits in a bi-weekly field production report, and the participating corn producers get a personalized report following each visit. Field agronomist Morgan Cott is looking for producers to volunteer corn and sunflower fields under the corn and the sunflower surveillance surveys through the MCGA and for the National Sunflower Association of Canada, (NSAC) with good representation from across the province. “It’s another set of eyes for them, a membership benefit where I scout those fields twice or every other week throughout the growing season, checking for everything that may or may not be happening,” said Cott. “I look for insect and emergence issues, checking how moisture and temperature and everything else, is affecting the growth of the crop.” Throughout the year, she
keeps an eye on pests, diseases and any developing trends, both the good and the bad. If a producer tries something new, she reports it as a benefit to fellow member producers. Trends can vary from methods within row spacing, different populations or tillage practices that someone has been trying out. The surveillance survey produces the field reports-weekly and everybody can sign up to access them on the websites. “This gets the information into everybody else’s hands, in case they aren’t getting it from elsewhere, a straightforward, unbiased checkin,” said Cott. “The same as the independent consultants, which is why producers are hitching onto them, which is great.” The growers’ associations do this because of their vast reach across Manitoba and beyond, hoping for more people to use these services, which she deems as an excellent source. An added benefit is her interaction with other commodity groups in other provinces and matching it up to Manitoba, comparing results using those other sources. Cott said, because 2019 was severely dry most of the year they learned some things about how it affected yields, overall harvest and how to
Corn and sunflower surveillance surveys are excellent tools and resources for participating members.
move into 2020. “Everybody’s trying to get that information straight and see how it’s going to affect us for this year,” she said. Last year she saw many clean fields and few pest issues, and because of the dryness, a more reduced crop that could be used for feeding. “And then we move into this year, which is going to be the polar opposite, I think, at least to start.” Cott initially projected corn acres to be about the same as last year, but has now forecasted less because planting will be more difficult and later for these crops which need warmth. Corn areas were abnormally high last year and she expects a slight drop for 2020 due to the price of grain. Growers planted about 430,000 acres of grain corn and even silage acres were up last year, too, which is excellent because those do not fluctuate too much. She projects sunflower acres to remain steady at 60,000 to 70,000 acres between oils and confects because contracting issues are not as stable in Manitoba. The Sunflower Association is working on this by helping producers with contracts. Since some crops remain in the field from last year, Cott suggests that farmers should focus on getting the entire crop off first. Many producers finished up their harvest this winter and spring with the frost staying in the ground for a little bit longer. But with warmer temperatures predicted farmers may find it hard to get on the fields and finish. Cott encourages producers to sign up their acres because, “The surveys are an excellent opportunity to have another set of eyes on your corn and sunflower crops and to keep learning about the potential of those crops on their farm.”
April 24, 2020
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April 24, 2020
The AgriPost
The AgriPost
April 24, 2020
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Interlake Cattle Rancher in a Good Place Currently
Tom Teichroeb, a cattle rancher near Langruth said the current situation with COVID-19 has some similarities to the fallout from the 2003 BSE disaster, but yet different because the demand for beef is very strong.
By Harry Siemens Tom Teichroeb, a cattle rancher near Langruth said the current situation with COVID-19 has some similarities to the fallout from the 2003 BSE disaster, but yet different because the demand for beef is very strong. The industry is in a spot dealing with plant issues, especially the Cargill plant near High River, AB which slaughters 36 per cent of all Canadian cattle. Capacity is taking a huge hit now as pro-
duction lines are cut. The reason Teichroeb is not panicking is that when the product is packaged, it has a home. “We’re dealing with issues for producers like during the BSE crisis because they can’t move the fats as quickly as they want. So they’re taking on extra costs and the plant can’t handle the volume.” This results in financial loads going back to some of the feedlots and some of the slaughter plants. Teichroeb is in calving sea-
son with 350 cows ready to drop their calves. He said in the big picture as a producer he has sold all his calves and will not have anything to sell until next year, February, outside of a few strays, odds and ends, and maybe some culls. But even that can wait until late fall, and the culls most likely can wait until late January of 2021. “So we’ve got time on our side to let the markets recover and get into a better spot.” He is in a good place and
has no need to worry about the self-isolation process because it is self-explanatory. “We’re just here. We’re not going anywhere, and so we’re in a good spot. So always a nice time of year, where we take time away from the rest of the world and pay attention to our calving season,” said Teichroeb. “The weather looks really; really good here in the next week-and-a-half, and so hopefully, we can get right into the swing of things. With a little bit of luck and Mother Nature cooperating, it should be a good calving season.” While Tom and his wife Michelle do not grain farm, they grow their feed, planting about 160 to 180 acres of corn for silage and some green feed. He hires people to custom plant and cut the silage in fall. “We have the equipment and the manpower to be able to put up our own hay.” Pasture management is crucial to the success of Teichroeb’s ranch in the Interlake. With two or three years of limited rainfall and a drought in 2019, encompassed by a record snowfall he was ready to take off his corn silage. He considers himself very fortunate and pleased with the current pasture conditions. However, looking at
them now, the grass looks more used last fall than other years. “Because we had such a good amount of rain and snow in the fall any amount of heat and warmer weather here, I do think the pastures will take off much quicker,” he said. “The other big difference is the amount of water in all the low spots in the sloughs. Our land goes right up against Lake Manitoba leaving us at that lower elevation and we do have lots of low-lying areas. In 2018 and 19, I could walk almost anywhere with leather shoes in the springtime, and that’s not the case this year. So from that perspective, we are in much, much better shape, and with any amount of spring rains and stuff like that, we are in a much, much better place.” Teichroeb spent a fair
amount of money on digging new dugouts and taking the opportunity while they were so low to either expand or work in other water infrastructure. Now every single dugout that he worked on over the last two years is overflowing which is a good scenario for his farm. He said that with the current conditions and the type of ground in the Interlake, because of so many years managing it using a coordinated grazing system, that if in one year or two years out of 10, you push the envelope a little bit harder on some of the ground, it does respond quickly. “Because it’s always about the root mass underneath, the topsoil allows it to respond. And if you haven’t abused that, typically, those pastures will recover very, very quickly.”
Teichroeb is in calving season with 350 cows ready to drop their calves.
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April 24, 2020
A Material Change in Risk
A topic that is important to consider with all of the change happening in our world right now is a simple clause in insurance policies that is important to understand – a material change to the risk is a standard condition in insurance policies that can void your coverage if not followed. Simply stated, if there is a material change in risk to the insurance company, the insurer needs to be notified so that they can adjust coverage, rating and properly assess the new risk. There are two common examples of a material change in risk that are common right now as our government is encouraging manufacturers to start producing new products to help with the fight against COVID 19, and at the same time they are also asking many businesses to close for a period of time to slow the spread of the virus. The first example of new products being manufactured for pandemic protection changes the risk for an insurance company. If a company previously manufactured something completely differently and has now altered their operations to make masks, ventilators, or other equipment, it is important to make your insurer aware of this change. This doesn’t mean that your insurer will not provide coverage for the new operations, but they have the right to underwrite the new exposure before approving coverage. The second example of a material change is the potential for vacancy of a building. The standard length of time allowed before vacancy must be reported to an insurer is 30 days, but this may be different depending on your insurance policy. As many businesses are closed temporarily, it is important to understand the requirements of reporting vacancy to your insurer, and also understand the requirements they will have once they approve the new operations – many will require periodic site attendance every 24 -48 hours to make sure the property is maintained and secure. In the midst of all of this, we are also seeing insurers reaching out to us as insurance brokers advising that they are willing to assist if there are businesses, homeowners and farms that have a new exposure that the current insurer is unwilling to provide coverage for. We have received offers for short-term policies to cover manufacturing of specific goods, as well as insurers specifically opening their appetite to help with vacant property insurance during this time. Do you have questions? Rempel Insurance Brokers Ltd. are open for business throughout this pandemic and are glad to assist you with your insurance needs throughout this and all seasons of life. We wish you health and rich moments with your family throughout this time. David Schmidt is an Account Executive at Rempel Insurance Brokers in Morris, MB, specializing in insuring farms and businesses across Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Contact office at 204-746-2320, Text 204-712-6618, davids@rempelinsurance.com or visit rempelinsurance.com.
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Outstanding by Definition
By Les Kletke Manitoba’s Outstanding Young Farmers (OYF) are concerned that the National Competition they take part in may need to take a different form this year but that concern is dwarfed by their concerns for the future of the industry. Katie and Andre Steppler of Miami were selected as the Manitoba representative for the National OYF Competition in November. The event is slated for Saskatoon and will be the 4th anniversary of the competition. “We are not sure that it is going to be an actual gathering,” said Andre. “It might be conducted with Skype interviews.” While it would still declare a National Honoree it would do away with the social aspect of the event. “We have heard so much about that aspect and it is what we were looking forward to,” he said. “The networking and the learning for other couples, and being able to bounce ideas off of other people like ourselves.” Like with so many other events timing is everything
and the gathering of people during the event might have to wait for next year. Time was on the Stepplers side this spring when the farm held its bull sale. “We had our sale early in March and were able to conduct it on the yard, with visitors coming to the farm. For the first time we sold 100 animals from a sale on our yard and that was tremendous,” said Andre. The Steppler’s, farm alongside three brothers and Andre’s father. Andre and Katie manage the beef portion of the farm operation. The farm also includes a honey operation and field crops. The Charolais association lists the farm as the second largest herd in Canada with 550 purebred cows. “We added 100 black Angus cows in a commercial herd,” he said. “So that we can see how our bulls do in a commercial situation and for the possibility of adding further generations to the farm.” The couple have three young children and Katie also works off the farm. While he is open to further expansion long term, he said that COVID-19 makes the
Katie and Andre Stepplar are this years Manitoba’s Outstanding Young Farmers and will be competing in the National Competition in November.
immediate future uncertain. He is a member of the local agricultural society which recently canceled its annual fair in Miami. “We didn’t know what the rules would be about gatherings and we also did not feel we could approach businesses about donations for the event,” said Steppler. “This thing is effecting every one and we don’t know how big an impact it will have and for how long. We just know it is affecting everyone.” He draws on knowledge from his involvement in the beef industry and BSE. “We thought things would turn around there and we felt the impacts for 10 years,” he
said. “This is much bigger and we don’t know how long it will go on.” The Steppler operation confirms Darwin’s theory of natural selection, “that it is those most willing to change that survives”. “We have undergone a lot of changes on the farm,” he said. “Increasing land prices have driven us to do a better job on the land we have. We have gone the route of riparian repair and rotational grazing to increase our production on the land we have.” The farm also has increased its legume production which has been beneficial as a feed source and provides flowers for the bee hive operation.
Security of the Grain Supply Chain Customers around the world have begun asking Canada for assurances that our supply chain will remain whole during the COVID-19 pandemic and that Canada will be an ongoing reliable supplier of grain. These are valid questions that are shared by Canadian consumers. The lack of flour in most grocery stores is an indication that some believe there might be a break down in supply in the days or weeks to come. I welcome the opportunity to provide assurances of the continued reliability of the Canadian supply chain amid the current crisis. As a leading global agri-food supplier, the Canadian industry fully appreciates the importance of meeting demand, especially in light of questions related to food security. To begin it is important to underscore that there are strong supplies available of Canadian grain, including wheat, durum, barley and oats. Canada’s farmers and grain handlers continue to be in a strong position to keep meeting demand both in Canada as well as abroad. Shipments of Canadian grain are currently moving at a rapid pace with no interruptions at inland elevators where farmers deliver their grain or at port terminals where vessels are loaded. No delays are anticipated.
Across the country, farmers are beginning the spring planting season. It would be wrong to assume that disruptions caused by COVID-19 won’t occur, but Canadian farmers have access to the seed, fertilizer and crop input products they need to plant the 2020 crop. In Canada, our flour mills are meeting the increased demand caused by a bump in home baking. We are not at risk of running out of flour. Our baking companies will continue to ensure that the products we love like bread and pasta remain on the grocery shelves. There are a few key reasons why I am confident that the Canadian supply chain will remain operational during the pandemic. First, shippers and exporters, along with the businesses that support them (e.g., railways and port operations) have established protocols to minimize the risk of infection to their employees. The health and safety of all workers is of paramount concern. Farmers delivering grain recently will have seen some of these measures in action, such as restricted access to elevator offices. This is a departure from normal business practice, but the proactive steps taken today will help ensure that these facilities remain open tomorrow. The
protocols put in place by links along the supply chain will also help ensure ongoing operations and minimize disruptions should infections occur. The people who work in agriculture and food value chains are another reason for having confidence in the reliability of Canadian supply. I am pleased that both provincial and federal government authorities have recognized the agriculture and food value chains as critical services and infrastructure and workers in these industries as essential. Canada’s farmers and those who work in agriculture and food value chains are central to efforts to provide essential services during the current crisis. Canada’s critical agriculture and food infrastructure could not function without them. Canadians and people around the world need a stable supply of food and feed products from Canada in this time of crisis. To maintain food security, it is critically important that we create the conditions that allow workers in our agriculture and agri-food businesses to come to work and that we acknowledge their significant contributions. The individual essential businesses that ensure that our grocery shelves are
stocked, and the needs of our international customers are met, do not operate in isolation. The Canadian supply chain is a partnership of many players. This includes farmers, grain handlers and exporters, railways, truckers, millers and bakers. These links are all supported by a network of public and private research across the country and built upon a foundation of a strong science-based regulatory system. The Canadian grain industry is well-positioned to help to meet the world’s demand for a secure food supply. Our supply chain is highly efficient and resilient, which is especially important and valuable during this time of crisis. Significant infrastructure investments by all parts of the value chain in recent years have added to the strength of our system. Delivering food and agricultural products is a priority for the industry, the Government of Canada and provincial governments. This priority and our commitment to meeting our customers’ needs are not going to change.
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Prevent Grass Tetany with a Magnesium-Mineral Program By Peter Vitti It wasn’t unusual that many producers fed a lot of straw and screenings to their beef cows this winter. That’s because last year’s hay or grain crop was so poor. Some of them told me that spring couldn’t come soon enough, when green grass started to sprout on pasture. As a beef nutritionist, I warned them – don’t let your cattle graze any lush pasture without first implementing a good magnesium-mineral feeding program to prevent grass tetany. Grass tetany is essentially a severe magnesium deficiency, which can have sometimes fatal consequences upon an unprepared cowherd. And nursing mature cows are susceptible cattle to it, because they require high levels of magnesium to support milk for their newborn calves. For example, a beef cow in peak lactation (6-8 weeks, post-partum) requires about 25 grams of magnesium compared to 15 grams needed as an overwintering pregnant cow. Such inadequate magnesium status in beef cows that lead to actual grass tetany can be traced back to low forage magnesium levels found in rapidly growing pastures, particularly those under frequent cloudy and rainy skies. These weather conditions are favourable to induce grass tetany on orchard grass, perennial ryegrass, timothy, tall fescue, crested wheatgrass, and bromegrass pastures. A lack of dietary magnesium
can also be found on cereal grain pastures. That’s not all – even some pastures that have been tested to contain adequate levels of magnesium of 0.20% for cattle, are responsible in causing grass tetany, anyways. Research shows that some lush pasture contains components that render their magnesium, biologically unavailable to cattle. Case-in-point: some lush pastures contain such high levels of soluble protein that when it is digested by cattle, it is converted into high pools of ammonia. Such excessive ammonia converts magnesium from grazed forages into a metabolically unusable form, which contributes to the cow’s failure to meet its dietary magnesium requirement. Similar high forage potassium levels (greater than 3%) also have proven to inhibit absorption across the cow’s rumen wall. Whether, they become magnesium deficient in either way, most afflicted cows exhibit similar grass-tetany symptoms. It may start with nervousness and progress to a lack of muscle coordination, staggering and finally a failure to stand. If not immediately treated, most animals die. Some of these clinical symptoms of grass tetany are mimicked in other nutritional imbalances such as milk fever, selenium toxicity, nitrate-tetany as well as lead-poisoning. Throughout my career as a beef nutritionist, I have only
was new and it takes a bit for people to adjust to that so we may have lost a few bids there,” The facility has been conducting sales for more than 25 years and he said the change is just a part of the business. Rimke and Bathos also have 450 cows in Registered Hereford, Red Angus and Black Angus Herds. As of April 20 they had about a 100 cows left to calve. “Calving has gone well,” said Rimke. “We have been happy with the way things went. It was a little colder than we would have liked but that is what the weather gave us so we have to work with it.” He had some Angus
Late Spring May Benefit Manitoba’s Honey Producers By Les Kletke
Don’t let your beef cattle graze any lush pasture without first implementing a good magnesium-mineral feeding program.
come across a half-dozen cases with a strong grasstetany connection. For example, a few years ago, I met a producer that grazed about 60 Angus brood cows and their calves upon 20 acres of lush swamp pasture. During a particularly cool and wet spring within a week of moving his cows onto this piece of land, he told me that many of his older cows became so skittish, that he could not come within several yards of them. He didn’t think much of it, until he found a couple of dead cows, both of which looked like they pawed the ground while lying on their side, before they died. To help producers in a similar situation as well as prevent other possible grasstetany, here are a few suggestions to implement into a practice magnesium-feeding program for nursing beef cows: - Feed a cattle mineral formulated with 8 - 12% magnesium at 3- 4 oz per head per day; from 3 weeks before cows and calves are allowed on pasture. In addition, their mineral program should have
a dietary ratio of potassium/ (calcium + magnesium) of less than 2.2 in their total diet (estimate pasture intakes on a dmi basis). The Ca/P ratio of this diet should also be around 2:1. - Feed salt blocks or in loose form on pasture. Salt (NaCl) has been shown to reduce the grass tetany in beef cattle, because in heavily nitrogenfertilized pasture - sodium binds nitrates, rather than the nitrate binding up magnesium and making it biologically unavailable. - Consider turning cattle out to pastures at a later date. Once grass plants are over 6” tall, much of the initial risk of grass tetany is finished. Some producers also continue to feed grass hay bales during the early days of the lush grazing. Other people avoid high-risk pastures all together. Finally, I recommend to work with your nutritionist and veterinarian when implementing these sound magnesium suggestions. As a result, you should be able to significantly prevent many cattle cases of grass tetany grazing spring pastures.
Prices Stable While Waiting on Greener Pastures By Les Kletke Albert Rimke said that prices are close to average at many cattle sales this spring and somewhat down for bull sales due to uncertainty in the beef markets. Rimke operates the South West Bull Development Centre with Ron Bathos at Oak Lake. Their sale in March generated close to average numbers. The facility offered bulls from their own farm as well as other consignors. “We have been a video sale for a number of years,” he said. “We had video of the bulls in the pens and the buyers on the farm are used to that but the online portion
April 24, 2020
bulls consigned to a sale in Neepawa and found the results similar to what was generated at the sale on their farm. “We were close to average or maybe off a bit but the prices were close to what we expected,” he said. He noted that prices were good for females. “Those could be going into a number of markets,” he said. “A lot of them went to one buyer and he could be looking for replacement cows, or expecting to sell them in the fall as bred cows. That market was good.” He said the bull prices were a bit lower which is most likely reflecting the uncertainty in the beef market.
“Fat cattle prices are off,” said Rimke. “So guys are not sure about the beef market and they are not as aggressive in the market when buying bulls.” He said their operation will have enough feed to carry animals through to June but would like to see things warm up so that pastures would begin to green. “We will be alright but we would like to see some heat and things turn green,” he said. His farm has several pens of young bulls and heifers which are sold by private treaty and he knows the warmer weather would help to provide some optimism in the industry.
At least one crop might benefit from what is rapidly developing into a late spring. A late spring might benefit the provinces honey crop. Mark Friesen is the president of the Manitoba Beekeepers Association and he said that a late crop gives bees a chance to build up before their main work begins. “They have not been working out at the gym all winter,” said Friesen with a chuckle. “So it is good to get the hives out and have the bees working some of the wild flowers and trees before the canola comes into bloom. A late spring means that the canola comes into bloom a bit later and that is usually beneficial for honey production.” Friesen runs 1,200 hives and lives at Morden. He said that typically his bees work some of the area of marginal land and natural vegetation of the Pembina Escarpment before they move into canola blooms Canola accounts for about 90% of the honey production in the province. Like every other sector of the economy the bee business has been affected by the outbreak of COVID-19. The disruption of international flights has left beekeepers uncertain if they will get the bees they need to populate their hives. Friesen is waiting on some queen bees from an American supplier. “Normally they would arrive by air,” he said. “But with flights only being allowed at 4 airports in Canada there has been a move to ground shipments and we are dealing with a company that is not used to handling a live product so there are some delays and some adjustments.” Importation of bees falls under the livestock regulations and that is also new territory for the company that is handling the shipments. Other beekeepers have orders from New Zealand and Central American countries and some of those flights have been cancelled entirely. Manitoba beekeeper may be forced to work with smaller numbers to populate their hives so that the delay waiting for larger numbers of bees into the summer becomes even more important. Friesen said that he is fortunate to have labour available in Morden but many beekeepers in the province rely on labour coming from Central America. The Federal government has offered some help with the Temporary Farm Worker’s program but that does not solve all the problems. “Many of these are skilled workers that have the knowledge required to work with bees, they come from Mexico, the Philippines and Central America,” said Friesen, “The entire situation is uncertain and now travel has become a much bigger issue.” These workers typically stay from May through August. Due to the length of quarantine time needed there may be a delay to getting enough workers. Manitoba normally has about 100 bee workers arriving in the province while across the country the number is about 500.
Many jobs filled under the Temporary Farm Worker program are skilled jobs that rely on workers from Central America
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April 24, 2020
Farmers’ Market Growers Left in Limbo By Les Kletke Dorothy Freund had to make decisions about this year’s crop well before the COVID-19 virus arrived and while it has caused concern she is hopeful the province will allow her to sell her produce at farmer’s markets this year. Freund sells her vegetable production under the Red Poll Farms banner at the Steinbach Farmers Market and is on the board. “We have been in discussions with members and the Direct Farm Market organization of the province,” she said. “But at this time we don’t know what the rules will be for farmers’ markets and distancing.” She would like the province to allow the markets to operate just as it did on April 18 when the government deemed greenhouses as essential services so that they could open. Freund does not want her production left hanging on the vine when it does ripen. She began making choices about varieties before the beginning of the crop year. She sources her seed from three different companies. “I spend a lot of time with my seed catalogues,” she said. “I start to go through them right after Christmas and order my seeds early.” Sourcing her seeds from a few different companies ensures that the right variety is chosen. “Sometimes one company won’t have a variety that I really like, or they may be the first to offer something, and you always want the newest,” said Freund. She said that does not always work out though and last year they seeded a lot from a new variety that was promoted as a great new development. “Well it looked to be doing well and we were excited about the fruit turning orange early but in the end the blossoms rotted,” she said. “It was the only variety that was hit by Orange Blossom Rot but if we had gone entirely with that our crop would have been gone.” She is already placing extra calcium in the soil to guard against this disease. Currently her operation relies on a small greenhouse to start seedlings before moving them to a hoop house. “That is not the answer to everything,” she said. “It gives us about a 2-3 degree advantage in the day time, and that means we have to open the ends and roll up the sides to keep the plants from getting to hot but it does not provide much protection at night, so while it gets cool we have to find some method of heating it.” Freund says her and her husband maintain a vigil on cold nights, stoke up the wood stove and use some electric heaters for auxiliary heat for her tomatoes. Her peppers go in the ground later. “There is a real demand for the early tomatoes; peppers are not as much of a premium for the early ones. Many are used for canning and that can be later in the summer.” For now she has her tomato plants under the protection of her green house and hopes for warm weather and an opportunity to sell her produce.
Dorothy Freund is hopeful she will be able to sell her produce at farmer’s markets this summer. She goes to two markets a week with the production of Red Poll Farms.
The AgriPost
Cleanfarms Aims to Recover Even More Ag-Waste
Over a decade of program operations, Cleanfarms has recovered for recycling or proper disposal 51,600 tonnes of plastic and other non-organic ag-waste from Canada’s agricultural sector. These materials consist of empty agricultural plastic jugs and containers; used grain bags; empty seed, pesticide and fertilizer bags; and old, unwanted pesticides and livestock/equine medications. It’s an accomplishment worth celebrating said General Manager, Barry Friesen, as Cleanfarms marks its 10th anniversary in 2020 with the unveiling of an anniversary logo. Providing farmers with stewardship opportunities to manage non-organic waste materials is what sets Cleanfarms apart from other agricultural organizations. “We recognize that we have a moral obligation to farmers and other Canadians to leave our world as good or better environmentally, than when we began,” Friesen said.
He admitted that with an estimated 40,000 tonnes of ag-plastic generated in the agricultural sector annually, recovering it with a zerowaste mindset is a tall order, but promises Cleanfarms is, “Just getting started.” For example, beginning this spring, Cleanfarms gets underway with a first-of-itskind national scale research project that will provide critical information to help agricultural plastic producers and Canadian farmers boost their ability to recycle agricultural plastic waste. Funded by the federal Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Canada, the first part of the study will be to quantify the types and volumes of on-farm plastic wastes and secondly, identify facilities that can manage or recycle these waste streams with the goal of creating a more circular economy for agricultural plastics. “The work will advance our understanding of the scope of agricultural waste and
drive on-the-ground solutions to help manage plastics and other waste materials to increase recycling rates and improve our ability to incorporate higher levels of recycled content in plastic products. Through this, we plan to transition agriculture as a full participant in the zero-waste circular economy. That’s one of the ways we hope to contribute to a better environment,” said Friesen. A top ag-waste contender for recycling is empty pesticide and fertilizer jugs. As most pesticides and fertilizers are purchased in the spring, that’s when growers find themselves with dozens of empty jugs and containers. The annual recovery rate for empty jugs stands at an average of 65% compared to the number of jugs Canadian farmers use every year, but Cleanfarms wants 100% of them back for recycling. “Sixty-five percent is good, but it still leaves lots of agplastic jugs that are not finding their way back to the
recycling collection system every year. Why? We know farmers want sustainable farm operations. So, we are doing everything we can to work with our partners in ag-retail and municipalities to improve convenience and collection. Now we need more farmers to work with us to get everyone of those containers back,” said Friesen. Cleanfarms’ mandate is to support agriculture to be both responsible and sustainable in all operations. As a non-profit stewardship organization funded by industry, its vision is to ensure all materials used for food production and animal management achieve the ultimate goal of zero waste. “Some countries like Germany, France and Brazil have made tremendous strides toward zero waste in agriculture. Cleanfarms believes Canada is a global frontrunner and the same is possible in the next 10 years in Canada,” Friesen said.
KAP Calls for Whole-of-Government Approach to Food Security Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP), the voice of Manitoba farmers, is calling on the federal government and the provinces to adopt a whole-of-government approach to food security to ensure that Canadians can continue to rely on stocked grocery store shelves. This is in response to the unprecedented market disruption brought on by COVID-19, including numerous processing slowdowns and facility closures, as well as other looming issues across the supply chain. “From the beginning of this pandemic, Manitoba’s agriculture industry has been working with both the federal government and the provincial government to address obstacles that have arisen,” said KAP president Bill Campbell. “While we appreciate that Manitobans and Canadians are focused on shortterm issues, we also need to keep our eye on the long-term safety and sustainability of the food supply chain.” Farmers have been left holding most of the risk when it comes to the global marketplace. After the 2019 growing season that saw China stop canola seed imports, dry con-
ditions, excess moisture conditions, labour disputes, rail blockades and now, a global pandemic, farmers have been dealing with volatile markets for all products. KAP is recommending that the provincial and federal governments immediately adopt a strategic, wholeof-government approach to emergency preparedness for the Canadian food supply chain. Supports under this approach would include: 1. Immediate Financial Assistance – allow workers on Canadian farms and in Canadian food businesses to have access to the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit and Employment Insurance benefits to ensure that there are incentives to work in support of Canadian food security during this situation. Current benefits make recruiting Canadian workers impossible and challenge retention of existing workers. Alternatively, modify either the federal Employment Insurance program or the provincial Employment and Income Assistance program to permit benefit recipients to seek full-time work in the agri-food industry while retaining access to benefits.
2. Business Risk Management – the federal and provincial governments need to work together to immediately provide a stimulus program under the AgriInvest program of no less than 5% of producers’ 2018 Allowable Net Sales. Further, AgriStability must have a coverage rate of 85% with no reference margin limit in 2020. The federal and provincial governments should also begin to prepare the background and calculate the extraordinary costs producers will have to take on to recover from COVID-19 to ensure expedited AgriRecovery programming. 3. Prioritize Agri-Food for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Testing – acknowledging food supply as a priority requires that the sector be given secondary priority, behind the healthcare sector, for access to PPE and diagnostic testing. The agri-food sector must have priority access to non-medical grade masks and gloves that prevent workers from potentially infecting colleagues and shutting down processing facilities. 4. Driver’s licensing – many producers are unable to move product to market without a
Class 1 license. Clarification is required as to whether producers will receive an extension on their license if they are unable to get physical exams to renew their license. Further, producers need to be able to keep their place in line once Manitoba Public Insurance resumes testing. Manitoba producers need more information as soon as possible if the licenses they earned under the Ag deferral for Mandatory Entry-Level Training (MELT) will be valid beyond August 31. We also recommend that government expand funding opportunities for MELT tuition, considering that most producers obtain their class 1 licence not to become professional truck drivers, but to perform one task amongst many others on the farm. “Farmers stand ready to help all levels of government through this extraordinary time, but farmers also can’t stand alone facing an unprecedented wave of uncertainty and risk,” Campbell added. “What we are proposing today will help agriculture move forward and allow the entire industry to focus on what we do best, feeding the world.”
The AgriPost
Doing Push-Ups in the Dairy Barn is Good Exercise
As a dairy nutritionist, I believe that good dry matter intake of a well-balanced dairy diet means everything for good milk production. More nutritious feed consumed by healthy lactating cows means they produce more milk. It also has been proven that higher dry matter intakes as well as less feed refusal can be simply achieved by providing more ration, whenever cows want it. Therefore, a well-thought schedule of placing their daily ration in front of them and pushing it up frequently helps dairy producers fill the bulk tank. Such routine takes advantage of the cows’ natural eating behaviour in which they will go up to the bunk and eat about a dozen meals of fresh feed a day, while spending about 5 to 6 hours in total eating time. This depends upon
the feed delivery time, their total milking time and how often feed is pushed up, and within easy access; the most dramatic peak in feed activity being when dairy cows return from the milking parlor or robot or when fresh feed is put down in front of them. Making sure that there is enough feed in the bunk at all times and pushing it up frequently, yields several feed consumption-related advantages, namely: - Higher dry matter intake/ milk production - It is estimated that peak DMI of an early lactation cow should be 3.6 - 4.0%, so an “average” 625 kg dairy cow consumes about 23 - 25 kg dairy diet (dmi, basis). For every 1.0 kg of DMI achieved at peak intake translates into 2.5 kg of milk per day. - Less digestive upsets - By
Automatic auger-type robot remixing and pushing up laid-down food every 2 1/2 hours.
pushing up feed and making it available to cows at all times, cows tend to exhibit less selective-feed/ sorting behaviour. Therefore, cows should consume more effective forage fibre, which stimulates active cud-chewing, which leads to a more stable ruminal pH and thus decreases harmful subclinical acidosis. - Less feed refusal - By pushing up the feed, it eliminates forcing cows to eat every last morsel. However, at some point, producers should clean up the “sticks and corncobs” of the daily TMR. Yet, there will be less refusal due to more homogenous meals. - Less competition among cows - When there is sufficient feed in the bunk at all times, it makes sense that competition among cows dissipates at the feed bunk. Timid cows can also get their fair share of feed, which should lead to their higher feed intakes and more milk produced. Such advantages have been well received by a dairy producer that milks 350-dairy cows, whom I have known for years. He recognizes that every extra bite of feed that a dairy cow eats, efficiently produces more milk and is key to his financial bottomline. Nevertheless, what feed he used to push up with an 18’ shovel along his free-stall feed bunk, is performed by an automatic auger-type robot (see illustration). I’ve seen it on the move as this self-guiding robot remixes and pushes up laid-down feed every 2 ½ hours. The only time it is not pushing up feed is during both milking times, when the producer’s cows need access to an alley-
way that leads from the loafing free-stalls to the milking parlor, which crosses the robot’s tracks. Such disruption is minor to the daily operation of feeding his cows, since my friend fills the feed bunk to full capacity just prior to both milking times. This attention to detail also allows the cows’ access to good fresh feed, once they return from milking. Consequently, the producer told me that his auger robot was a good investment, yet he recognizes that it’s no substitute for good dairy feed in the first place. He makes sure that his dairy lactation diet consists of high-quality and palatable forages as well as other feed ingredients and additives. Likewise, he implements timeless nutritional parameters; such as making sure that his cows’ diet contains at least 28% NDF, with at least 75% fiber coming from forage as well as placing NFC limits to 35 - 37%. Last, moisture content of the final diet is adjusted by adding hundreds of kilograms of water to achieve a 50% moisture level, which prevents feed sorting by dairy cows. Such feed and management practices are good testimony to other dairy producers. That by putting together a similar feeding plan into their lactation barn assures that good feed is in front of cows at all times. As a result, cows are encouraged to come up to the feed bunk and eat their daily fill, which fills their udders with lots of milk.
Double the Field Work this Spring By Les Kletke For many years by late April, Peter Reimer is out in the field seeding. This year his only field visits have been to check on the condition and realizing that little progress has been made during the spring thaw. “We like to get out in the last week of April and really hit full stride by the first week in May,” said Reimer. “That is not going to happen this year. Over the years we have found that early seeded fields are our best yields.” He acknowledged that it may be more than weather that accounts for the better yields.
“Part of that may be the first fields that dry is our best land, and yields are better any time, but we find that early seeding is a big benefit,” he said. Reimer farms heavy clay soils at Pilot Mound and said that he does not like to make more passes over the field than necessary. This year he has the results of a disastrous fall to deal with. “The ruts are still there from last year,” he said. “We knew when we went out to harvest that we were going to pay the price later, but we had to get the crop off as best as we
could,” he said philosophically. In a best case scenario fields might have dried up at least enough for him to do some field work and lessen the ruts on his field which in some cases run the length of the field. He is now faced with working each field just to get it into condition that he can seed. “We like to have an even seed bed especially for small seeded crops like canola, and looking at the condition of most of our land that is not going to be the case this year,” he said. He was not able to apply any chemical or fertil-
izer last year either. “Things are going to get pretty busy when it does warm up, we have two seasons of work to do and time is getting short,” said Reimer. While he is optimistic that he can follow his regular rotation, as spring drags on that might change. “We know that things are going to get later than usual and if we have any more moisture this spring we will be faced with changing plans on the go as a field becomes available,” he said. “We also know that seeding late means a late harvest and we don’t want to get into that cycle.”
April 24, 2020
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Meals Take Planning Ahead These Days By Joan Airey With everyone trying to self-isolate these days feeding your family takes planning. Having a grocery list on the fridge door is a good idea and before running out of a product add it to your grocery list. So that nothing is forgotten it’s a good idea is to take time before you go to the store to rewrite your list so products in the same section of the store are together. One can organize their shopping in a booklet and cross out the products as you put them in your cart. If you are able to work from home, first thing in the morning you could put soup in the slow cooker. Children of any age can help make meals. It not only keeps them busy but prepares them for when they leave home. This recipe for Slow Cooker Ham and Potato Soup is made with ingredients most country folks have in the fridge or on the pantry shelf. Kelly English co-owner of the Oak River Inn posted it on Facebook. Though Richard and Kelly’s restaurant is closed at the moment because of the pandemic, locals will be glad when it can reopen. I halved this recipe and cooked it in my 2.5 quart slow cooker. I used half of a ham steak cubed in the soup and that fed two of us, four meals along with a bunwich. Slow Cooker Ham and Potato Soup: 8 cups of potatoes diced 1 onion diced 2 large carrots peeled and chopped 1/2 cup chopped celery 16 ounces cubed ham 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper 1/4 cup flour 4 cups chicken broth 1 1/2 cups heavy cream (you can use whole milk) 1/2 cup sour cream Add the potatoes, onion, carrot, celery, ham, salt, pepper, chicken broth, to your slow cooker and cook on low 7-8 hours or high 4-5 hours. Using a potato masher, mash about 1/3 of the potatoes; don’t worry the ham won’t mash. Add the flour, heavy cream or milk along with sour cream and stir everything together. Cover and cook on high for an additional fifteen minutes. I found this recipe in my files and decided to use some of the apple sauce in my fridge. It’s a recipe I will definitely make again. Applesauce Raisin Muffins: 2 eggs 1/2 Tablespoon cinnamon 1 cup white sugar 1 teaspoon baking powder 3/4 cup oil 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 cup applesauce 1/2 teaspoon salt 11/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup plumped raisins Beat eggs slightly. Add sugar, oil and applesauce and beat thoroughly. Add dry ingredients and blend until smooth. Then Stir in raisins. The recipe makes about 18 large muffins. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full and sprinkle brown sugar on top of each muffin. Bake at 375 °F (190.5 °C) for 15-20 minutes. I didn’t sprinkle brown sugar on them. Homemade Macaroni and Cheese: This next recipe can be halved to feed two people. 2 cups macaroni 3 Tablespoons flour 1/2 cup chopped onion Salt and pepper 1/3 cup margarine 2 1/4 cups milk 2 cups grated cheddar cheese Cook macaroni as directed on package. Melt margarine in large frying pan to sauté the onion. Add flour, salt and pepper, milk; cook until it forms a thick sauce. Add cheese, cook until cheese melts. Put in a casserole dish. Bake at 350°F (176.6 °C) for 30 minutes. If you are looking for other recipes to use up what you have on hand you can visit my blog joanairey1.wordpress.com. Most of the recipes use ingredients that can be found in most country kitchens.
Applesauce Raisin Muffins.
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April 24, 2020
The AgriPost
Invasive Species Awareness in Manitoba
The Province of Manitoba has declared the last full week of April as Invasive Species Awareness Week. The Manitoba Weed Supervisors Association (MWSA) recognizes this week by highlighting just a few of the invasive plants considered to be a significant threat to the landscape of our province. Many of these invasive species are mistaken for wildflowers, but unlike native wildflowers, these species threaten agricultural productivity of both cultivated and non-cultivated land, as well as waterways and natural areas. The Noxious Weeds Act of Manitoba (NWA) requires control or destruction measures for different invasive plants. A comprehensive listing of noxious weeds is found in The Noxious Weeds Regulation, which contains schedules that rank plants according to their threat levels and specifies the areas of the province to which these levels apply. The Act requires that Tier 1 weeds must be eradicated without conditions. Examples of Tier 1 weeds that are currently negatively affecting Manitoba’s ecosystems are diffuse and spotted knapweed, orange hawkweed, red bartsia and tall waterhemp. Tier 2 weeds are also a significant concern, and include leafy spurge, common tansy, field scabious, and nodding thistle. The MWSA is comprised of and represents Weed Supervisors who are individually employed by Weed Control Districts formed by one or more Municipalities. Weed Supervisors are authorized through The Noxious Weeds
Act of Manitoba (NWA) to ensure problematic weeds are dealt with appropriately on all lands in the districts they cover. Weed Control Districts, first started in 1964, have developed programs to deal with invasive plants such as leafy spurge and red bartsia. Prevention measures, early detection and rapid response by Weed Supervisors are critical for saving habitats from these types of invasive species. Red Bartsia Red Bartsia is a forage and pasture invader that was accidentally introduced to the Gimli area in the 1950s. Red Bartsia is not a tall plant, reaching heights of just 15-30 cm, so it is a challenge to detect. The main identifier is the attractive reddish-purple spike-like clusters of flowers that form in late spring on the top half of the stem (see Picture 1). The leaves are small (about an inch long), narrow, and clasp the stem in pairs, and both the stem and leaves are hairy. One Red Bartsia plant produces 1,400 seeds a year, which stick to clothing, fur, and vehicles enabling them to travel long distances. Red Bartsia out competes native vegetation, forming large patches of red in hayfields, pastures and roadsides and is a serious economic concern (Picture 2). The economic impact of the Red Bartsia introduction in Gimli has been a key concern for the Interlake Weed Control District (formed in 1967). While control measures were undertaken in the late 60s, a truly effective program was not initiated until 1999. By that time Red Bartsia had in-
Red Bartsia
Photo by Fred Paulson, Interlake Weed Control District
Waterhemp
Photo by Tammy Jones, MB Agriculture and Resource Development
fested much of the Interlake region. The weed is being controlled on the area’s roadsides, but the cost is significant. In the 2019 season, a total of $181,370.85 was spent controlling the weed on the district’s rights-of-way. With the district’s total known Red Bartsia infestation at 1,692.65 miles (one side), extensive seed reserves in the soil, and seed viability in the nine year range, there is no easy, quick fix for this problem. Red bartsia has recently been detected in three new municipalities, which is alarming. It is imperative that all areas incorporate careful monitoring and aggressive control measures to prevent further outbreaks. As with any invader, the best control is to prevent its initial introduction. Tall Waterhemp This member of the pigweed family can rapidly establish patches and seriously decrease the yield of crops. The plant typically grows to 5 or 6 feet tall, with glossy, hairless and more elongated leaves (lanceolate) compared to redroot or smooth pigweed. Waterhemp is well-adapted to warm growing temperatures and intense sunlight, and is capable of producing up to a million seeds per plant that tend to germinate throughout the summer (Picture 1 – August 2019). Waterhemp is native to the US but was not considered a major agronomic problem until the 1980s when herbicide resistance and changing production systems that included more corn and soybean favoured the “weediness” of this plant. While this weed was a feature weed last year, the fact that in 2019, five municipalities in Manitoba have had new detections of waterhemp made it a feature weed again this year. The native habitat of waterhemp is wet, lowlying areas, but it is quite at home in reduced tillage and no-till environments. Watch for patches to pop up along field edges or near the field entrance. Waterhemp has very tiny seed, (similar to red root pigweed seed), so it is easily transported in equipment, with water and by wildlife. Removing small patches of waterhemp prior to seed set, and destroying the plants, is one of the most effective strategies to eradicate this weed (Picture 2). More information on Invasive plants either threatening or already present in Manitoba can be found in The Noxious Weeds Act and the Noxious Weeds Regulation, by contacting your local Weed District or at mbweeds.ca.
The AgriPost
Soybean Seed Trials Help Make Management Decisions
By Harry Siemens The Manitoba Pulse & Soybean Growers (MPSG) On-Farm Network Program produces valuable data for the industry. Megan Bourns, the On-Farm Agronomist, with MPSG said she is looking for farmer cooperators to participate in the Soybean Seed Treatment field-scale trial. “If you wanted to take a closer look at the benefit of using seed treatment on your soybeans, this is your chance to generate your dataset,” said Bourns. Farmer participants must establish the trial with their equipment, using a provided plot plan and manage the trial area the same as the rest of the field. Then harvest the strips using a provided weigh wagon or appropriate grain cart, to collect accurate yield data and be a member in good standing with MPSG. MPSG will provide research support by being available during trial set-up and harvest, collect data from the trial throughout the growing season and provide a trial report and a summary of similar trials. Bourns said that MPSG has conducted soybean seed treatment trials in the On-Farm Network for five growing seasons to date. Since starting the trials, they look for any yield difference at the end of the season. They set the trials up as large randomized plots and replicated strip trials comparing soybean with seed treatment and without seed treatment. “We aren’t getting a very consistent yield response with seed treatment compared to soybean without seed treatment,” said Bourns. “There are only eight yield increases out of a total of 41 sites conducted so far, which is a little bit surprising to us.”
The research study is now asking the question, why are there no yield differences? She said that there may be several different reasons, either the seed treatment is not as effective at reducing seedling root rot pressure, eliminating wireworm or seed core may receive pressure during the spring. Other research shows that seed treatment is not likely to be the case because it indicates that those products are quite effective against the different fungal pathogens designed to defend against and good at deterring wireworms competing on soybeans. She noted that possibly the pest pressure is not in every field and every year. “We’re looking at quantifying and digging into going forward, as we continue with these trials looking at quantifying the different pest pressure in the spring,” she said. Bourns would like this producer seed treatment trial to determine in part to what extent fungal pathogens cause problems. She hopes to answer the question whether there is a difference in disease pressure on the seedlings between soybean with seed treatment and without seed treatment. “And we’re also looking at getting a sense of what the wireworm pressure is like in each of the fields where we have a seed treatment trial going forward,” she said. When seed treatment trials do not show a responses or increased yields Bourns needs to make sure farmers do not back off from using the treatment altogether. She said what they saw across all 41 sites, eight had positive yield responses and were clustered in certain growing seasons, 2015 and 2016 while the majority of
Canadian citizens and businesses due to the impacts of COVID-19,” said Cam Dahl, President of Cereals Canada. “Canada is now the first CUSMA partner to provide formal notification of ratification. This is a key step towards enabling the agreement’s eventual entry into force, and we look forward to similar notification by the US and Mexico,” continued Dahl. “CUSMA will support greater stability and opportunity in a time of sig-
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Landmark Gets Face Lift
A landmark on the south west side of Rivers is under going renovations by its owners, the Froese Brothers, a farm family in the Rivers/Oak River area. The elevator was originally built by UGG and later sold to Cargill. It was then purchased by the Froese Brothers for grain storage when Cargill built a new elevator at Oakner. Scouting for soybean seedling disease Megan Bourns, the On-Farm Agronomist, with MPSG said she is looking for farmer cooperators to participate in the Soybean Seed Treatment field-scale trial.
Suspected wireworm from a 2019 seed treatment trial.
the yield increased with seed treatment compared to no seed treatment. She explained this is a good indicator that environmental conditions and soil feeding conditions in spring will affect specifically the disease pressure from fungal pathogens on soybeans. In 2017, 18 and 19 these years were all reasonably dry and this environmental condition probably played a role in reducing pest pressure. “That’s one of the reasons that we want to continue with these trials and look at quantifying that pressure in the trials to see how that relates to different growing season conditions,” said Bourns. “We’re not saying that soybean treatment will never work, but
we are looking to figure out where it does work and where it’s a good investment.” Uptake by producers in 2020 is a little slow and it is a bit more difficult finding growers who want to host seed treatment trials she said. She hopes more growers will decide to come on stream and participate in the On-Farm Network. “We have 41 of these trials on record, from a go-to group of about 70 growers that we work with regularly,” said Bourns. “We’re finding is a lot of growers have either hosted a trial or viewed our results and made up their minds feeling confident about their seed treatment management choices, whatever those might be.”
Cereals Canada Applauds the Final Steps for CUSMA Recently the Government of Canada announced that notification has been provided to the US and Mexico indicating that the domestic process needed to ratify and implement the Canada-United States-Mexico (CUSMA) free trade agreement has been fully completed. Cereals Canada applauds the Government of Canada for its efforts in advancing this important agreement. “Canada’s leadership in finalizing CUSMA is taking place against the backdrop of significant uncertainty for
April 24, 2020
nificant social and economic strain across North America caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Resilience enabled by a strong and predictable trading environment is more important than ever,” said Dahl. “The advancement of this agreement will support a predictable, progressive and modern framework for trade for the benefit of Canadian farmers and agri-food exporters. We are hopeful the agreement enters into force quickly, which will happen when the US and Mexico
provide formal notice of ratification. We call on these partners to move quickly in order to unlock the agreement’s benefits” said Dahl. “Throughout CUSMA negotiations, considerable leadership was demonstrated by Canadian Ministers and the Canadian trade negotiating team. Cereals Canada acknowledges the efforts of Minister Chrystia Freeland and Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau, who played a central role in promoting strong outcomes for Canadian agriculture in this deal,” he said.
FCC Reports Softening Farmland Values The average value of Canadian farmland increased by 5.2 per cent in 2019, the smallest increase over the past decade, according to the latest Farm Credit Canada (FCC) Farmland Values Report. The 2019 increase follows gains of 8.4 and 6.6 per cent in 2017 and 2018, respectively, and becomes part of a five-year trend of softening growth in average farmland values. In Manitoba, average farmland values increased by four per cent in 2019, following gains of 3.7 per cent in 2018 and five per cent in 2017. “The days of sharp increases in farmland values continue to be replaced by more modest growth,” said J.P. Gervais, FCC’s chief agricultural economist. “Changes in commodity prices, uncertainty around global trade and some challenging weather conditions may be tapping the brakes on an otherwise healthy and robust Canadian agriculture industry.” The highest provincial increases in 2019 were observed in two of the Atlantic Provinces, Prince Edward Island with an average increase of 22.6 per cent and New Brunswick with an average increase of 17.2 per cent. Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan reported average increases slightly above the national average at 6.7, 6.4 and 6.2 per cent, respectively, while British Columbia was closest to the national average at 5.4 per cent. Manitoba, Alberta and Nova Scotia had average increases below the national average at four, 3.3 and 1.2 per cent, respectively. For the fourth consecutive year, there were an insufficient number of publicly reported transactions in Newfoundland and Labrador to fully assess farmland values. Increases in farmland values reported across the country are as wide and varied as the factors that may have influenced them. Average farmland values have increased every year since 1993; however, increases were more pronounced from 2011 to 2015 in many different regions. Since then, Canada has seen more moderate single-digit increases in average farmland values. The COVID-19 pandemic makes the current economic environment challenging for farm operations and business owners throughout the entire food value chain. “Given the uncertainty, I expect farmers, ranchers and food processors to continue being careful with their investments,” said Gervais, encouraging producers to have and maintain a risk management plan that considers a broad range of possible economic changes, such as variable production, volatile commodity prices or disruptions to global trade. This year’s Farmland Values Report reflects factors that influenced average land values and prices in 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Any impact from the pandemic will be captured in future reports.
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Agriculture’s Narrow Opportunity to be a Trusted Supplier Amid COVID-19 Crisis By Harry Siemens Research Lead Dr. Al Mussell with Agri-Food Economic Systems said as nations respond to COVID-19 by limiting food exports, Canada has an opportunity to reposition its agriculture sector as a trusted supplier. Agri-Food Economic Systems has released an Independent Agri-Food Policy Note, which looks at the New Trade Economy of Food Security: Repositioning Canada. Dr. Mussell said some traditional exporting countries have started to enact various types of prohibitions on exports, be it quotas or taxes and that has implications for Canada in terms of keeping the capacity in place to export through this crisis. Under these policies it almost does not matter what commodity it may be, grains, beef, or pork. “There’s only a handful of countries that have the material capacity to export beyond what they need to feed their people, and Canada is in that group,” he said. “It underlines the importance of Canada being able to keep that export capacity in place as we navigate through this COVID-19 crisis.” Mussell said many rich countries are highly food insecure but still looking at their balance in terms of the food they produce relative to their demands; they need to import very high volumes of food. If Canada can maintain the export supply chains in place and be able to supply those markets when other people are backing away, that trust and that position earned could be precious.” Dr. Mussell said in a short period, the rules-based trade environment that has protected Canada’s market access has eroded as the larger countries have reshaped international trade for their benefit. “One way of escaping that dynamic is to forge lasting relationships with countries that are food insecure and have money to pay for food.” Looking at some of these issues Mussell said people and industry in Canada are still very much in an emergency response and management phase of this COVID-19 crisis. In the meatpacking and livestock operations, various emergencies call for juggling of food chains such as the cattle and beef, swine and pork. Mussell said Canada’s agricultural industry needs to determine what Canada brings to the table. The first targets should be commodities such as pork, beef, wheat, canola, a range of pulse crops and many others that Canadian farmers produce very efficiently, far beyond domestic needs and sustainably. He said that we need to look at the key markets that depend on imports of some of those staples. “Can we forge relationships with them that make us the anchor supplier? We don’t get into competition from or avoid to the extent that we can, competition from other countries that would like to undercut us on price and do all this in a WTO compliant manner,” he said. With the US government paying out, $10 billion in foreign payments and nine and a half billion announced earlier is compounding evidence that this kind of action by more prominent countries will chip away at Canada which cannot play that game. “We have to find a way to change the channel on it. And one way to do that is to try and forge bilateral relationships of one sort or another for agri-food that can secure us a market and get out of this sort of subsidy game and commodity agriculture,” said Dr. Mussell. He said the timing is vital with a relatively narrow window to operate in and leverage this crisis with countries who must be very concerned when they hear that Russia could limit grain exports, Kazakhstan wants to restrict exports of wheat products and wheat. To a country like Japan or South Korea, those announcements must be very concerning. “There’s a limited period to approach places like that and raise the issue; maybe we can forge an arrangement in which we could be the anchor supplier because we have a volume of staple products that are relevant to their demand in their marketplace,” he said. He said it is taking time to understand that. First, a lot of what Canada does in domestic agricultural policy is predicated on a stable and known trade environment over the last 25 years that has benefited Canadian production. “Once that starts to unravel, and we have clear signs that it is, we run the risk that our domestic Ag policy could similarly unravel. Into differences across commodities, provinces, and difficulties managing a budget for the various aspects of agricultural policy,” said Dr. Mussell. “If the trade is changing, Canada needs to change and domestic policy will need to align behind that. We have much work to do and this has all changed suddenly.”
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Proper Ventilation Key to Healthy Pigs, People, Productivity and Profitability
Dr. Brett Ramirez of the Iowa State University told producers at the 2020 Manitoba Swine Seminar the goal of ventilation in winter is to maintain proper relative humidity and concentrations of noxious gasses and in summer to maintain a temperature that will keep the pigs thermally comfortable.
By Harry Siemens Dr. Brett Ramirez of the Iowa State University told producers at the 2020 Manitoba Swine Seminar the goal of ventilation in winter is to maintain proper relative humidity and concentrations of noxious gasses. Then in the summer months it is important to maintain a temperature that will keep the pigs thermally comfortable. Ventilation in today’s modern production systems is critical for the health and comfort of the pigs, people and the environment. Dr. Ramirez said there are two significant challenges during cold weather. One is maintaining a thermally comfortable indoor environment, temperature, moisture, gas concentration and conserving energy to help keep operating costs down. There is a delicate balance between main-
taining proper thermal conditions and acceptable levels of air quality for cost-effectiveness. “If we have poor ventilation during these times, we can reduce building integrity, pig performance, drive up those heating and electrical costs and amplify all these other health effects inside the barn,” he said. Rarely is ventilation the number one cause of costly problems with the barn, but it is a factor that amplifies or can be a tool to help mediate situations and can drive up heating costs. Ramirez said poor maintenance and management of equipment could have heaters and fans run inefficiently. Poor air quality and too much moisture or too dry inside the barn during winter can lead to potential upper respiratory problems with pigs. “It comes down to profitability, making sure all those pieces are in place to maintain a profitable operation.”
He described the ventilation system by first tracing the path of the air. There is a primary opening on the outside of the barn to let in fresh air. This opening could be on a soffit or gable end. Next, the inlet for distributing fresh air is either in the ceiling or on the sidewall to help mix cold outside air with the warm, moist barn air. The system has a set of smaller fans for the minimum or low stage numbers to provide the fresh air exchange inside the barn operating on a static pressure to the driver of ventilation and those fans exhaust the air to the outside. Dr. Ramirez said there are five things associated with cold-weather ventilation a producer needs to watch. Global temperature in the room, too cold or too warm with an adjustment to temperature settings, making sure the sensors are in the right spot and the barn is well sealed and tight. Watch for cold drafts, especially if the barn has small pigs starting in the cold winter months he explained. “Make sure that those cold drafts aren’t dropping on pigs or causing them to be uncomfortable or locate and pile in certain parts of the barn that are undesirable,” he said. A producer must check for excess moisture that can cause condensation forming on the building surfaces. Shifting the room temperature, ventilation rate or check ceiling insulation as loose-fill can change and that might cause those surfaces to be cold which in turn forms condensation. This leads to premature wear on equipment and materials. Also, if that condensation is possibly near
exhaust fans, those fans need to be sealed better, and covers or plastic on the fans helps somewhat. Another point is checking for gas or odour that is noxious and undesirable. This is solved by improving air distribution or mixing in the barn, making sure the minimum ventilation rate is adequate and increased, if needed, to reduce those concentrations. And lastly, being on the lookout for static pressure. To remedy this is critical by making sure to seal the infiltration locations. Dr. Ramirez said the key to proper maintenance is to be aware and to develop an intuition for ventilation, going through the barn with a mindset of, “I’m going to focus on ventilation while doing thousands of other things every day.” Honing in on ventilation will help separate it from all the other tasks and help get things done timely and correctly. He recommended taking the time to know the settings rather than guessing what the proper settings should be. That comes through knowing the equipment and having the tools or sensors or handheld devices, whatever works and training the employees on how to use them. He said that the more people that know how, the more effective the management. When everyone knows what to do, prepare a checklist for each season. “This gives people almost a to-do list as we transition out of winter or into winter, into summer, out of summer, of certain forgotten pieces of equipment to get those back up and going the way they need to be for good operation,” he said.
Dr. Brett Ramirez said poor maintenance and management of equipment could have heaters and fans run inefficiently. Poor air quality and too much moisture or too dry inside the barn in winter can lead to potential upper respiratory problems with pigs.
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New UN Fund Launched to Help Prevent Rural Food Crisis in Wake of COVID-19
About 80 percent of the world’s poorest and most food insecure people live in rural areas. Even before the outbreak, more than 820 million people were going hungry every day. A recent United Nations University study warned that in a worst-case scenario, the economic impact of the pandemic could push a further half-billion people into poverty.
With the COVID-19 pandemic and economic slowdown threatening the lives and livelihoods of the world’s most vulnerable people, the UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) today committed US$40 million, and launched an urgent appeal for additional funds, to support farmers and rural communities to continue growing and selling food. IFAD’s new multi-donor fund, the COVID-19 Rural Poor Stimulus Facility, will mitigate the effects of the pandemic on food production, market access and rural employment. As part of the broader UN socio-economic response framework, the Facility will ensure that farmers in the most vulnerable countries have timely access to inputs, information, markets and liquidity. On top of its own contribution, IFAD aims to raise at least $200 million more from Member States, foundations and the private sector. “We need to act now to stop this health crisis transforming into a food crisis,” said Gil-
bert F. Houngbo, President of IFAD. “The fallout from COVID-19 may push rural families even deeper into poverty, hunger and desperation, which is a real threat to global prosperity and stability. With immediate action, we can provide rural people with the tools to adapt and ensure a quicker recovery, averting an even bigger humanitarian crisis.” With their movements restricted to contain further spread of the virus, many small-scale farmers are unable to access markets to sell produce or to buy inputs, such as seeds or fertilizer. Closures of major transport routes and export bans are also likely to affect food systems adversely. As entire production chains are disrupted and unemployment rises, the most vulnerable include daily labourers, small businesses and informal workers, who are very often women and young people. The return of workers from cities affected by lockdowns will put further strain on rural households, which will also stop receiving much
needed remittances. About 80 percent of the world’s poorest and most food insecure people live in rural areas. Even before the outbreak, more than 820 million people were going hungry every day. A recent United Nations University study warned that in a worstcase scenario, the economic impact of the pandemic could push a further half-billion people into poverty. “This pandemic is threatening the gains we have made in reducing poverty over the past years. To avoid serious disruption to rural economies, it is essential to ensure agriculture, food chains, markets and trade continue to function,” said Houngbo. “A majority of the world’s most impoverished people are already suffering the consequences of climate change and conflict. An economic downturn in rural areas could compound these effects, generating more hunger and increasing instability, especially in fragile states.” The Rural Poor Stimulus Facility will focus on the following activities: - Provide inputs for production of crops, livestock and fisheries to small-scale producers so that they can weather the immediate effects of the economic crisis. - Facilitate access to markets to support small-scale farmers to sell their products in conditions where restricted movement is interrupting the functioning of markets, including providing logistics and storage support.
- Provide targeted funds for rural financial services to ensure sufficient liquidity is available and to ease immediate loan repayment requirements to maintain services, markets and jobs for poor rural people. - Use digital services to share key information on production, weather, finance and markets. IFAD has significant experience in working in fragile situations improving the resilience of rural populations. For example, in Sierra Leone during the Ebola outbreak, IFAD-supported banks were the sole providers of banking and financial services in affected areas. They provided timely assistance during the outbreak and supported the renewal of the rural economy after the crisis passed. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, IFAD was already stepping up its programmes and calling on member states to increase investments in rural development to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 2 – ending hunger. “A timely response to the pandemic is an opportunity to rebuild the world’s food systems along more sustainable and inclusive lines and build the resilience of rural populations to crisis, whether related to health, climate or conflict,” said Houngbo. IFAD has received requests from governments in more than 65 countries to help respond to the impact of the pandemic. It has already adapted its projects and diverted funds to support this.
April 24, 2020
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Fertilizer Line Up for Successful Spring Seeding Season The Canadian fertilizer industry is ready to meet farmer needs this spring despite the challenges of providing an essential service during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a survey conducted recently, 90 per cent of Fertilizer Canada member companies which responded have enough product on hand or on the way to get fertilizer to their farmer customers in time for spring seeding. A successful growing season and harvest this fall will be critical to Canada’s long-term goal of recovery. Fertilizer, food for plants is responsible for about half of crop yields. “Our members are set to go. COVID-19 plans were quickly established at facilities, in conjunction with being declared an essential service, there was minimal disruption allowing businesses to operate at a normal capacity,” said Garth Whyte, President and CEO of Fertilizer Canada. “Fertilizer manufacturers, distributors and agri-retailers are doing everything they can to keep their customers, suppliers and employees healthy and safe,” said Whyte. “The general view is, so far, so good.” While the industry remains optimistic, there are business concerns related to COVID-19 including potential labour shortages, facility shutdowns and the reliability of the supply chain. However, the vast majority of the industry believes this season will be normal, if not above average in terms of fertilizer demand and crop production. The Canadian fertilizer industry has proven its adaptability in challenging situations to meet not only the needs of customers, but any worker along the supply chain. Once the Canadian economy works to bounce back from this challenging period, farmers and producers will undoubtedly play a leading role in the country’s economic recovery in the coming months. “The fertilizer industry takes our role in feeding the world seriously. And know that farmers rely on fertilizer in the spring to ensure a successful harvest in the fall,” said Whyte. “By investing in the use of fertilizer today, farmers are growing hope for tomorrow.”
Never Seen Before Message While Purchasing Garden Seeds
By Joan Airey Yesterday when I tried to order an early corn which I forgot previously to order when I placed my seed order with T & T Seeds the message came up, “Due to the current and extreme demand for seed in the past several weeks, we are temporarily restricting online and phone orders until after Easter weekend when we reopen in a few days. We will be in a position to serve you then.” This is a message I have never received before from any of the seed companies I deal with. Another company I wanted to try a new green bean from I was told they had sold out their regular
sized packages. Looks like more people are going to be growing their own food this year. If you are starting plants in your home or a greenhouse and can’t get out to buy new containers, the plastic containers that mushroom come in work great. You can plant your seeds in these and if you have saved cooked chicken containers these can be used to the cover or growing containers to keep the soil moist until the seeds germinate. If you have purchased new greenhouse kits with the 72-1 ½ inch cell packs and if you don’t fill one cell you can easily water the plants from the bottom by pouring
it in the empty cell. If you want to try companion planting there is a chart for vegetables available at almanac.com/content/companion-planting-chart-vegetables. While talking with one of my gardening friends, Brenda, she tells me spinach is growing from self-seeding last fall in their well protected garden. I’m planning to plant spinach, lettuce and radishes in my unheated greenhouse tomorrow. Yesterday it was 26.6 °C (80 °F) in the green house with only the sun’s heat. I’m going to try Seaside spinach from Vesey’s. It’s supposed to be bolt resis-
tant so let’s hope it provides a longer season of spinach for salads. Gardening magazines advise planting a crop for fall eating. I’m hoping this fall will be a little drier than last year’s so that I can plant seeds late in October or early November in order to have a crop early next spring. With the right light, you can grow tomatoes indoors all through the winter months. Just one encounter with a tasteless, artificially ripened imported winter supermarket tomato makes you want to grow your own tangy sweet tasting tomatoes in the off season. I’m going to try growing
an indeterminate variety of plum or cherry tomatoes as research to see which produces the best. A five gallon container should be the smallest used during this experiment. It is important
to note that you can take a cutting off your tomato plant next fall and start a plant or two but you’d have to make sure it was pest free before you took it indoors. Stay safe everyone.
Looks like more people are going to be growing their own food this Photo by Joan Airey year!
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April 24, 2020
Protecting Yourself Against the Evolving Coronaviruses By Harry Siemens and Dr. John Carr William Alford, the general manager for H@MS Marketing, said in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, H@MS was passing on some information to industry partners prepared by Dr. John Carr regarding Coronavirus and Pigs. “It is business as usual at H@MS as we all do our part to limit the spread of the virus,” said Alford. The processors continue to operate without disruption taking additional measures to ensure the safety of their staff and suppliers. He encouraged all to work together in the coming weeks and months as this virus runs its natural course. “Be vigilant and take all necessary precautions to protect yourself and your families through these extraordinary times.” Dr. Carr, a world livestock consultant, veterinarian, and lecturer, said pigs could not get COVID-19 and will not give humans COVID-19. To date, there is no evidence of any animal transmission with this new Coronavirus. The evidence is pointing to a person in Wuhan becoming the first case in November 2019. Carr referred to a report of the virus found in a dog in Hong Kong that the virus was found in but did not replicate, and the virus died out in the dog without producing any clinical signs. There are no cases of pigs getting COVID-19 in China. He said Coronaviruses are a vast family of viruses. They are so-called because when using an electron microscope, they look like the corona of the sun. This virus family is thousands of years old and the corona forms from a variety of spikes that stick through the oily envelope. The virus family lives in numerous species of mammal, birds and other reptiles. The many human transmittable forms of Coronaviruses known about, before 2019 are responsible for 15 per cent of the common cold cases. “But we also know of several types, which are very serious. These are Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). They are a difficult family to control, and vaccination generally produces inadequate protection. Their genetics are based on RNA which means they can easily change and makes them very difficult to control as new forms will continuously emerge. The animal population which includes human will have little or no immunity to the ‘new’ form. This is what happened at the end of 2019. “A new form of this virus appeared and is now going worldwide,” said Dr. Carr. “Our pigs can get their Coronaviruses which have a range of clinical problems, Porcine Epidemic Diarrhoea (PED), which affects the piglets’ intestines less than ten days of age with fatal consequences. Porcine Respiratory Coronavirus (PRC) affects pigs breathing, causing a mild cough and sneeze similar to our seasonal colds, which can be dramatic, but the pigs all recover. But these viruses do not infect people.” Dr. Carr said the change in PED to a more virulent form occurred following the interaction of the pig Coronavirus with a Bat Coronavirus. A similar history to what has happened for humans with COVID-19. These Coronaviruses do have a weakness, they have a layer of fat on the outside of the virus, and if removed, the virus cannot function. For this reason washing your hands carefully with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, ideally with a nailbrush, is a great idea. “Washing your hands to remove viruses can be difficult as illustrated by using a UV soap, which we use on our students to teach them good hand biosecurity.” The majority of the flu and colds appear to be more severe for the very young and old. COVID-19 is different because it affects older people. “In pigs with PED, we have something similar, but the other way round where pigs less than ten days of age get very sick but older than this, the clinical signs are relatively mild,” said Dr. Carr. “One of the facts might be that at birth, we received natural immunity to pathogens. The body takes 14 days or so to create antibodies, but these only protect us when we are infected a second time, not the first. As we get older, the innate (natural) defence mechanisms of the body become weaker, and we rely on our memory (antibodies) to protect the body.” With this virus, nobody has any memory because it is new. Once the first wave passes, this virus is likely to become part of the seasonal cold virus. “But this first passage is a painful lesson; we are all human, and in this together.”
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North American Pork Industry Sees Prices Falling By Harry Siemens The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) in the US is calling for immediate government intervention to sustain a farm sector essential to the US food supply. A long-standing labour shortage that has already limited pork processing capacity has become dramatically worse recently as plants suspend operations in dealing with rising worker absences. NPPC president A.V. Roth told reporters participating in a conference call recently this is backing up hogs on-farm, creating a financial crisis as hog prices plummet. An analysis by Dr. Dermot Hayes, an economist with Iowa State University and Dr. Steve Meyer, an industry economist projected that hog farmers would lose $37 per hog marketed or $5 billion collectively for the rest of the year. This is on top of nearly $5 a head lost in January and February and after trade retaliation, significant losses for export-dependent farmers over the last two years. “We are now a farm sector in dire crisis,” said Roth. “Farmers are already exiting the business, and the damage will worsen
without immediate government intervention. Producers need over one billion in pork purchases by the USDA to clear out a backed up meat supply, supplementing the agency’s food bank programs facing increased demand due to rising unemployment and direct payments to producers without eligibility restrictions.” Roth said America’s hog farmers are resilient and typically self-sufficient, but COVID-19 has created unprecedented circumstance, and swift government action needs to stabilize a sector that accounts for more than half a million jobs in rural America that are now at risk. Here in Manitoba, Tyler Fulton, the director of risk management with HAMS Marketing Services, advised pork producers to adjust their price expectations, set attainable targets and stick with those targets. Uncertain demand for pork, both domestically and internationally due to COVID-19, combined with expanding slaughter hog numbers, has resulted in the highest level market volatility in 20 years, driving dramatic declines in both the cash hog market and the futures. Fulton said it’s an extreme situation as producers watch prices collapse.
Back in the first week of April, weekly slaughter numbers were still up over 2.7 and even close to 2.8 million over the last several weeks. The year to date, slaughter is close to five percent larger than what it was this time last year. Those are significant increases as one applies those massive supply levels against this uncertain demand, and it directly results in no certainty as to what the near term future will bring, and that’s resulted in this steep decline in both futures and cash values. He sees a little support as those prices will find a bottom at some point. “Hopefully, we’re starting to see a little bit of support just because, with low prices, it should bring on increased consumption and be able to clear some of that product,” said Fulton. “Whether or not that comes from the domestic market or the export side or both is a big question. I still stand by the idea that markets are the best way to determine where that product should go, but the signals that people are getting from the markets are just murky,” he said. It is difficult to get a handle on what the demand is. As in every other commodity, something unique is happening. Food services or the
restaurant business has effectively dried up. Although some restaurants are opening for takeout in North America, there are fewer that are still open due to significantly reduced foot traffic. Fulton said there is a complete shift in where people are consuming pork. “I think that the producers are no doubt watching prices collapse. I know that there are some with protection, and should adjust your targets. Adjust your expectations as to what prices will be for really over the next six or eight months and stay disciplined to them,” stressed Fulton. “It’s best to try to remove the emotion from it and set what you think is an attainable target and stick with it. And if you have a good solid rationale as to why you set that target at that level, then that’s something that will, and especially if it hits, then that’s something that will help you sleep better at night.” He thinks that with governments supporting the industry in the background that this will hopefully bring some level of stability and assurances. He is surmising that with this kind of price shock, programs like AgriStability in Canada may kick in or some other support will be added.
Rally to Support Restaurants with #TakeoutDay Canada’s dairy, poultry and egg farmers have joined forces to support local restaurants across the country through the Canada Takeout campaign. The movement, which officially launched April 15, encourages Canadians to order from their favourite local restaurants that offers takeout or delivery on #TakeoutDay. With more than 800,000 food service jobs already lost nationwide due to COVID-19 and nearly 10 per cent of restaurants already closed permanently, the dairy, egg and poultry sectors are adding their voice to the Canada Takeout campaign. “Dairy, egg and poultry farmers proudly support our Canadian restaurant partners that are vital to our farm-to-fork ecosys-
tem,” said Benoît Fontaine, Chair of Chicken Farmers of Canada. “Our farmers play an important stabilizing role in rural Canada as a central part of our supply chain, providing restaurants with nutritious and sustainable agriculture products.” Together, Dairy Farmers of Canada, Chicken Farmers of Canada, Egg Farmers of Canada, Turkey Farmers of Canada and Canadian Hatching Egg Producers are working with Restaurants Canada to support their network as we navigate this extremely
difficult time together. “Canadian restaurants have been hit hard by the impacts of COVID-19, with nearly two thirds of the workforce now lost,” said Shanna Munro, Restaurants Canada President and CEO. “The outpouring of support from our industry partners has been incredible and we welcome and appreciate the help from Canadian dairy, poultry and egg farmers to aid restaurants that are still able to operate through takeout or delivery.” Ordering food whenever possible and posting on so-
cial media using the hashtag #TakeoutDay are some of the ways Canadians can help contribute to restaurants. They are also encouraged to engage with their favourite restaurants online by leave positive reviews, follow their social media channels, and like/ share their posts. Every little bit helps make a difference. Canada’s robust and diverse culinary scene is an integral part of our national identity. Visit CanadaTakeout.com for more information on how Canadians can support their local restaurants.
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April 24, 2020
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Imagine Picking Apples in Churchill By Joan Airey Wally Daudrich is a very resourceful person. Several years ago he built Lazy Bear Lodge in Churchill from reclaimed fire kill. Three years ago he expanded his greenhouse by purchasing and taking over the Boreal Gardens research farm located one mile southeast of Churchill, Manitoba. “The purchase of Boreal Gardens gave us a 40-acre farm which is the furthest north farm in Manitoba. We now have two greenhouses besides the original one located beside our staff house in Churchill,” said Daudrich. “We are planning on some major expansions on the farm this year including a sizable outdoor garden which would include some underground heating pipes below our growing area as well as some fencing and ability to cover soil or crops when needed.” Technically the pipes are carrying atmospheric air, but that is enough to force frost out and down and allow for more heat in the growing medium,” said Daudrich. Just like southern Manitobans the farm has tomato plant seeds growing indoors as well as cucumbers, corn, sunflowers, and pumpkins that will get transplanted into the greenhouse in three weeks. “In two weeks Deacon my son and right hand man will start planting our first indoor crop where we use repurposed bath tubs in the greenhouse. We find the tubs most efficient, even in our greenhouse,” said Daudrich. “The soil temperatures are mildly different from our ground soil mediums. Soil temperature right now one foot below surface in our greenhouse tubs are 15 °C. Daytime air temperature is around 23 °C. We are watering soil and turning over soil even though outdoor temperatures are around -20 °C at night and -15 °C during the day.” “Our limiting factor at this time is our night time air temperatures which are presently around 0 °C in the greenhouse. This is why we
are waiting another ten to fourteen days to plant. At this point we will start planting our upper greenhouse which is attached to our farmhouse and is significantly warmer,” said Daudrich. “Here we will plant carrots, radishes, and lettuce as direct non transplant crops. We expect then our first harvest of lettuce, carrots, and radishes in the last week of June during our first week of lodge operations which should be open as per our normal schedule.” To have enough soil for growing, they are building soil for their outdoor garden by mixing loam soil from a dried out pool of water in the fall, black mineral loam from a gravel pit and liquefying seaweed by putting it in a metal tank painted black. This mixture is full of nutrients and makes a great soil to grow a garden. This year as part of their goal at Lazy Bear Lodge and Expeditions they are adding an indigenous variety of southern Manitoba plum and apricot trees. Also part of their experimental mission is to plant a variety of southern Manitoba sweet corn. The Daudrich family has proven that you can grow in Manitoba a great variety of vegetables and serve your guests meat raised in Manitoba from near Swan River who have a variety of meats. The Daudrich’s also process within Manitoba. “We have full utilization which means that the young carrots get washed, tops cut off one inch from the orange root while the greens are blended with ground pine nuts, basil and a few other fresh ingredients added as a very tasty Pesto sauce,” said Daudrich. As I was interviewing the Daudrichs it was mentioned that they can now add apples to their mixture of rhubarb and wild blueberry pies. This desert sounds wonderful after eating one of their specialities like Arctic Char or a ribeye steak. It’s certainly on my bucket list to visit Lazy Bear Expeditions Lodge at Churchill again.
Pulled fresh carrots from the Boreal Gardens near Churchill, Manitoba.
They can now add apples to their mixture of rhubarb and wild blueberry pies
Photos courtesy of Wally Daudrich
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