The Agri Post
June 26, 2015
Manitoba Pork Hopes for Speedy US Repeal of COOL By Harry Siemens
Canada Files Retaliation Request with WTO By Les Kletke Federal Agricultural Minister Gerry Ritz wants the US to stop dragging its feet and repeal the Mandatory Country of Origin Labelling (M-COOL) legislation. The US is out of options and retaliation cannot be avoided by drawing out the WTO process. Canada is disappointed that the US is attempting to prolong the WTO process by requesting arbitration,” said Ritz in a statement released Jun 17. In early June the Minister of International Trade, Ed Fast announced that Canada requested authorization from the World Trade Organization (WTO) to retaliate after the US was handed a 4th ruling against the US retaliation. Since it was implemented in 2008, the estimated to cost Canada’s livestock industry has been $3 billion annually. Last year agricultural trade between the two countries topped $51 billion. The trade relationship between the two countries has long been regarded as the largest in the world trading in goods and services that surpass $870 billion last year. Canada has requested to impose $3.068 billion per year in retaliatory measures against the US. “Despite the WTO’s final ruling that the US country of origin labelling measures is discriminatory, the United States continues to avoid its international trade obligations,” said Fast. “Our government will now move ahead under the WTO process and seek authorization for over $3 billion in retaliation. We continue to call on the United States to repeal COOL.” Ritz has made it clear that he supports the move to seek retaliatory action against the US. No one is sure where a trade dispute could end up and the Americans rely heavily on the Canadian market. It is the top agricultural export market for 29 US states and in the top 5 for 48 of the states. Canada did publish a list of the commodities, which could be impacted in the Canada Gazette in June of 2013. Ritz said that Mexico is getting involved as well. Mexico has long argued the impact of COOL on its livestock industry as well.
Ag Minister Gerry Ritz is calling for fast action by the US to repeal COOL or Canada will retaliate.
“The Canadian and Mexican governments will continue to work closely to resolve this important trade issue with the United States in order to defend our farms and ranchers and maintain jobs and economic prosperity throughout America,” said Ritz. Reaction within America has been mixed with some groups calling on the government to move quickly to resolve the issue while others like R-CALF say it should stay in place. On June 10, the House of Representatives in a vote 300 to 131 voted to repeal the mandatory country of origin labelling requirements for beef, pork and poultry. The legislation would still leave in place country-of-origin labelling requirements for several other commodities, including lamb, venison, seafood, fruits and vegetables and some nuts. “The only way for the United States to avoid billions in retaliation by late summer is to ensure legislation repealing (country of origin labelling) passes the Senate and is signed by the president,” said Ritz.
Andrew Dickson General Manager of Manitoba Pork is hoping for change, soon. Dickson, just back from a trip to Washington DC said the Americans took the first step when the US House of Representatives voted with a huge majority to repeal the COOL for pigs and cattle. “For the last three days I was in Washington with a small group from the Canadian Pork Council and we went around to 20 different offices of the senators and representatives in the US congress,” said Dickson. “It is very clear to us that it would pass by a good margin in the House, the repeal of COOL for beef, pork, and chicken.” He hopes strong Congressional support for the repeal of COOL will prompt similar action in the US Senate. Facing the threat of retaliatory tariffs on a wide range of products exported from the United States into Canada and Mexico, the US Congress voted, by a margin of 300 to 131, to repeal Mandatory US Country of Origin Labelling. Unfortunately, with the senate, it is a different scenario. Both houses have to propose legislation, and they are not necessarily in concert when they do this. They come together in what they call a conference and agree to final legislation. Dickson is hopeful the strength of the Congressional vote, combined with growing pressure from US industry, will influence the Senate to pass a similar bill. “Some major business coalitions have come together to oppose COOL, and not just farm organizations like the American Farm Bureau which finally said COOL needs to be fixed,” he said. “But major trade associations of companies on that target list, and they are coming forth and saying to the US government and to the Congress, get this matter fixed quickly.” “This is interfering in business, it’s going to affect jobs, it’s going to hurt people’s incomes, livelihoods on both sides of the border, and over a matter that can be easily resolved by simply repealing the legislation.” Dickson anticipates major pressure on the Senate to deal with the issue before it breaks for its summer recess. He noted that if action is delayed, senators could be left with too little time when they return in September to act before tariffs take effect.
Continued on page 3
1
2
June 26, 2015
The Agri Post
The Agri Post
June 26, 2015
3
Time to Move on from Protectionism to Trade Advancements By Les Kletke It is time to move on from the protectionism of the US COOL legislation. That is the feeling of Carol Keisser who operates cattle feeding operations in Kansas, Nebraska and Illinois. She is also a board member of Truth about Trade and Technology a nationwide group that sponsors the Global Farmers Roundtable in Des Moines in October. The group is focused on advancing trade and making consumers aware of safe food production practices. The US House of Representatives voted 300 to 131 to repeal COOL legislation. Ag Committee Michael Conway
said, “It has been a marketing failure.” North Dakota Stockman’s Association Steve Brook shared the same opinion that it had been a failure in an attempt to market all American beef and had in fact cost his state’s cattlemen money. Keisser said repealing the legislation is the only way to avoid a costly trade war with Canada and Mexico. In an editorial, she stated that COOL sounded good in theory and it even had a nifty acronymbut in practice, it turned out to be a gigantic mess. We learned that the vast majority of consumers do not care if the beef, pork or poultry they buy in the grocery stores is partly a product of Canada.
When they look at labels at all, it is to judge quality and price, not to discriminate based on national origin. A beef producer herself in 3 states and the CEO of CBarr Cattle she added, “The labels don’t make our meat safer. We already have regulations for that. All the meat sold in the United States, whether it’s from one of my feedlots in the US or the competitors feedlot in Manitoba, must undergo mandatory inspections.” She said the legislation not only failed as a marketing ploy but also made things more difficult for producers, as they were required to segregate livestock through ev-
ery stage of production. The USDA estimates that COOL cost American consumers $2.6 billion annually. R-Calf the greatest supporter of COOL legislation appears to have realized the prognosis an in its latest statement, voiced disappointment in the move from the US Congress to repeal the legislation rather than its longstanding position of fighting to the keep COOL in place. Keiser said the only workable option is to repeal the legislation and replace it with a system of voluntary labels. Consumers who really want to know where their chickens hatched will be able to acquire this information.
Drones Mapping Farm Land and Aiding Farmers in their Crop Decisions By Les Kletke Scott Hiebert believes that drones will have a place in agriculture in western Canada but he is realistic that the application is in the early stages. Hiebert is the Director of Operations for Green Aero Tech a Carman company that offers a full line of service around the unmanned aircraft. “We sell the UAV (unmanned Aerial Vehicle) and provide service as well,” said Hiebert. “But at this time I would recommend that a producer hire us and see what the unit can do and become familiar with it.” He likens the information from the units to where yield monitors and field mapping were about 8 -10 years ago. “We were at a point where the yield maps were pretty pictures but they could not be translated to on field practices, that developed and the information from
Pork COOL continued... Continued from page 1 He said the hope is cooler heads will prevail, and they will repeal the legislation in both houses then come up with something else, and before they take their summer break in August. Meantime Canada has proceeded with its case to the WTO and should have authority to take retaliatory measures by August to place tariffs on US products exported to Canada on approximately 130 categories of products, including office furniture, wine, pork, beef and ethanol. “Most people in the US farm industry recognize this is a failed experiment and need to go back to the drawing board here,” said Dickson. “There is no question there is more and more need to provide better information to consumers about their food.” He explained that Canada has country of origin labelling for some products but it is working, no one is filing a complaint and why not adopt something like Canada has. He said the message must go out that COOL has nothing to do with food security or safety, but from the American standpoint, it has everything to do with keeping Canadian live hogs and cattle out of the US market.
“...we are recommending hiring someone for the first year or two instead of buying a unit that does not provide the information you want and sitting in the back of the shed.” this tool will do the same.” He also acknowledged that the industry is developing rapidly and control of the units will become easier. “I would guess that in about two years you will have one button control,” he said. “At this point operation requires some training and much more effort; that will get easier.” While he does some mapping for individual farmers, he said the majority of his work is done for companies involved in the seed business. “We can provide them with maps of vegetative growth and that
can be translated to spotting disease problems but at this time there are not many individuals that can read the maps and gain an advantage so there is not much point in them getting a unit and mapping their fields.” He said his company is working with farmers and providing elevation maps. “That is the greatest practical application at this time,” said Hiebert. “For someone who is putting in tile drain the maps can give them an accurate elevation map of the land they are tilling.”
Scott Hiebert suggests farmers hiring a drone for their first experience and learning the potential of the tool before committing to a purchase. Photo By Les Kletke
Hiebert has obtained licences for all uses of the UAV and can fly the drones in any area. The price of the aircraft varies from $2,000 to $20,000. “You can start out with a $2,000 entry level UAV
but if you want something that will give you accurate mapping and recording features the price moves up fairly quickly,” he said. “That is why we are recommending hiring
someone for the first year or two instead of buying a unit that does not provide the information you want and sitting in the back of the shed.”
4
The Agri Post
June 26, 2015
Doing International Business Locally from Your Doorstep We are in an increasing global business with an increasingly local slant, and technology is making that easier. A trip to Western Canadian Farm Progress show made that painfully obvious. Some might accuse me of living under a rock for not knowing how many companies there are offering drones. If that is the crime, I plead guilty but as I walked the aisles of displays, I could not believe how many displays were offering the service. A year or two ago the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle was somewhat of novelty at a farm show, now it appears to be mainstay, there had to be a half dozen. I remember when mobile communications were in that category, now there is not a single cell phone seller to be found on the premises. The applications for these aircraft is increasing exponentially daily (that means really fast) and by the time I got home I am sure the information I had gathered was dated, but that is the way our industry is going and you have to be running to be keeping up, never mind getting ahead. Remember when yield maps were new and variable rate application of fertilizer was becoming a reality, now it is a given, that is the droning a field is right now. I am not sure that droning is the right verb but there will be one created to describe the process of flying over a field and gaining a bunch of information. Then someone will figure a way to use that information and allow you to better manage you farm on an even smaller unit basis. The other end of the spectrum and not the other end of the show had more international visitors than ever before. I chanced upon and Oklahoman as I registered who was there to visit with whom he called, “The good folks from Westfield, who build a pretty good grain auger. They are the biggest in the world,” he said. I told him I was familiar with the firm. Another turn had me meeting face to face with a couple of visitors from France who were touring Canada to see the potential for their tillage equipment. Currently it was a bit small but they were sure they could make bigger units to fit the market. The old adage about thinking globally and acting locally is no longer prophetic; it is the mainstay of the business of agriculture. Tools and applications are now available at our doorstep to make better managers on a very intensive basis, down to managing huge fields like small plots. Thinking globally acting locally is not leading edge, it is the only way to survive and thrive in a business that continues to change. The question now is how you get the information about what is new and how do you decide on what has a practical application on your farm. There were an awful lot of expensive toys at Farm Progress Show; the good managers will buy the ones that fit in their sandbox.
Another Bump in the Road for M-COOL Repeal The M-COOL saga continues to evolve, as the people who keep fighting for a North American livestock industry want to see the US government repeal the legislation as it pertains to beef, pork and chicken.
There are those, namely the R-CALF organization in the United States that really wants to keep M-COOL as it is, basically, to shut the borders to Canadian and Mexican live cattle and hogs. And M-COOL is doing a very effective job helping RCALF meet its objective; in the meantime hindering the cattle processing industry, which is short of live cattle, and to a lesser degree the hog processors, too. The US House of Representatives repealed M-
COOL by a large margin and now it is up to the US senate to do the same. In the meantime, the Americans throw in another hitch, and a stalling tactic. Ag Minister Gerry Ritz and Ed Fast, International Trade Minister issued the following statement in response to the US decision to seek arbitration at the World Trade Organization (WTO) on the amount of damages caused by COOL. The decision comes after Canada requested WTO authority to impose retaliatory tariffs of more than $3 billion annually on US exports due to damages caused by COOL. “Canada is disappointed that the US is attempting to prolong the WTO process by requesting arbitration,” said Ritz. “The US is out of options and retaliation cannot be avoided by drawing out this process.” The joint statement, states the Chief Economist for the
Catching the “Creep” Regulatory creep is an ongoing problem in all industries, agriculture included. Recently, the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association voiced its concern about a good example of such creep. It concerns a re-evaluation of the popular herbicide “glyphosate” by the Pest Management Review Agency (PMRA). All registered pesticides are reassessed every 15 years concerning potential human health and environmental risks. The process is quite lengthy. For glyphosate, it started all the way back in 2010. PMRA published its proposed decision and the good news is that glyphosate will still be registered for all agricultural applications for which it’s now in use. The PMRA invited comment on their plan; a good summary of it can be found on the Health Canada website under, “Proposed Re-evaluation Decision PRVD 2015-01, Glyphosate”. What’s the problem? It’s nothing really major. But that’s how regulatory creep works, by slowly ratcheting up the restrictions until one day they all add up to a big problem. Think of it as the proverbial slippery slope. One of the proposals in this case says that going into a field after it has been sprayed with glyphosate should be restricted for 12 hours. Not a big deal, right? How often by Rolf do you go back and scout a field immediately after you’ve Penner sprayed? Generally, the scouting is done beforehand. But that’s not the point. As anyone who has sprayed the rolfpenner@agripost.ca stuff can tell you, it dries very quickly. Science shows us that residue isn’t easily passed onto workers and even if it did, it doesn’t cause any health problems. The Wheat Growers suggest instead that, “The labels not specify a time limit but should instead indicate that field entry is allowed once the herbicide application has dried.” Another concern was the proposed tightening of buffer zones around waterways. The Wheat Growers point out that they, “Appear to have been put in place without any evidence that current practices are causing problems.” They make a good point. Some may say it’s only common sense to increase such buffer zones, but if it’s never been shown to be a problem then further restrictions really shouldn’t be needed. In general, and to be fair, the PMRA does take a very science-based approach to crop protection products and that’s a good thing. It does acknowledge how important and valuable glyphosate is to Canadian farmers. The Agency correctly notes that glyphosate is good at controlling all sorts of different weeds and has helped reduce the amount of tillage needed. Unfortunately, more and more we see knee-jerk reactions based on emotion and the appeasement of activists rather than on that of sound science. The pesticide bans in various cities are good examples of these, where dandelions and other weeds now flourish on what should be grassy parks and lawns. But even those agencies with the most rational, evidence-based approaches are under constant lobbying by pressure groups looking to take more tools out of farmers’ hands. Even a simple thing like reminding regulators of the benefits of a particular product can be useful in counteracting some of the negativity. In this case, the Wheat Growers reminded the PMRA that glyphosate also, “Allowed farmers to considerably reduce the use of other herbicide products, some of which may pose greater risk to human health or the environment,” and that “By controlling certain perennial weeds,” control and profitability benefits can be realized over a number of years. It’s important that all farm groups keep a vigilante eye on these government agencies, specifically watching out for regulatory creep, as well as new restrictions that may one day be on the table. Kudos to the Wheat Growers for catching this one and voicing their concerns.
Penners Points
United States Department of Agriculture saying it is costing the American industry alone some $2.6 billion (USD) annually. “Canada is confident in our assessment that COOL is causing more than $3 billion in annual damages to the Canadian cattle and hog industry.” “In all previous rulings, the WTO has found Canada’s economic analysis regarding COOL to be robust. Our analysis was quantified by Daniel Sumner, a worldrenowned specialist in agricultural economics,” said Fast. “Our government’s position remains unchanged. The only way for the United States to avoid billions in retaliation by late summer is to ensure legislation repealing COOL passes the Senate and is signed by the President.” Andrew Dickson, General Manager for Manitoba Pork says the R-CALF people are not happy campers….they lost but won’t admit it. Using phrases like sovereign simply indicates their protectionist leanings on this matter.
“They are blowing smoke. Canada filed its request for tariff authorization several days ago and the WTO will now proceed with forming an Arbitration Panel……USTR objected to the amount Canada submitted,” said Dickson. “We will get a ruling on the amount within the next two months. There are no options for USTR to stop the process other than argue about the amount.” The House is tired of the issue and started the legislative process to get the COOL clauses on beef and pork for retail cuts repealed. There will be much hooting and hollering while the Senate works out its position and then the two bodies will come to Conference and pass a final bill. Hopefully this fall, he added. Jim Long a hog commentator said COOL has hurt Canadian swine producers financially. Several slaughter plants in the US will not take Canadian pigs due to the COOL ramifications and the others that do take Canadian hogs, do so at a
discount. “The cost to the Canadian industry according to the Canadian government is in the billions,” said Long. “Since COOL implementation, the Canadian hog breeding herd has declined by over 20 percent. Not all the decrease is attributable to COOL, but it certainly was a major factor.” He expects that when the Americans repeal COOL, there will be more of a free flow of pigs from Canada. “The eastern Corn Belt with the new swine plant in Michigan being built will be short hogs,” said Long. “We expect this will lead to market hogs from Ontario, which is short packer capacity to come to eastern states. Capacity might be a different story with most hogs staying there as long as Canadian Packers stay price competitive.” He said COOL was not effective as a marketing plan for consumers’ confidence. It was effective in hurting Canada’s swine industry, and to a lesser extent, the US packers, too.
The Agri Post
Actions Speak Louder than Rhetoric: Money Talks On April 30, 2015, the Government of Manitoba released their last budget before the provincial election scheduled for April 2016. This budget set out the priorities of the NDP government, not only for this year, but also as a large part of the platform the NDP will stand on going into the next election. There is a concerning lack of attention being paid to the needs of rural Manitobans in this recent provincial budget. Funding to the Agriculture, Food and Rural Development Department has been cut in every area – every budget line. This past December 4 the “Farm and Food Awareness Act” was introduced with the intent to raise awareness of local By Jon Gerrard food and farming but the NDP have cut the funding to the very programs that work towards those ends. This places more pressure on industries to advocate for themselves. Together with our federal conservative government’s cuts to Agriculture research and the loss of the Canadian Wheat Board to foreign investors, we are seeing a drain on Manitoba’s essential agriculture industry and its ability to grow and stay competitive, both nationally and on the world stage. I have previously written about the excellent work of the Small Scale Food Manitoba working group. The group has now been disbanded with no clear plan for the implementation of their valuable recommendations. This move by the NDP government to take no action on behalf of farmers has been underscored by the cuts in Agriculture, Food and Rural Development budget. Our waterways and our land are the essence of a strong agriculture community and industry in Manitoba. Yet, we are witnessing provincial budgetary cuts across the board in conservation and water stewardship. Flood protection lines in the infrastructure budget have flat-lined this year as well. Many of our farms are still experiencing the effects of the 2011 flood. Many farmers along the Assiniboine are still waiting for answers and action from this NDP government. The Keystone Agricultural Producers indicate that the 2014 flood lost Manitoba’s farmers up to $1 billion and affected 25% of arable acres. It’s increasingly clear and very concerning that our NDP government appears to be overlooking the best interests of rural Manitobans and our province’s vital agricultural sector.
Desire for Grain Price Control Drives G3 Port Plans G3 has announced it may build a new grain terminal at the West Lynn terminal on the North Shore of Vancouver’s Burrard Inlet. G3 is the joint venture of US-based multi-national grain company, Bunge Ltd., and the Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Co. (SALIC), owned by the Saudi government. It was given the assets of the now-privatized CWB in early April in return for a promise to invest $250 million in the company. While some are cheering the news of another port facility, others see it is more evidence that ending the farmer-directed single-desk Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) has made our grain system less efficient and has allowed grain companies to become more powerful and profitable. The single-desk CWB coordinated transportation from country By Jan Slomp elevator to port vessel so that the existing port facilities were well utilized and grain moved on time, even ahead of schedule. For example, the CWB co-operated with different terminal owners to achieve efficient loading of 50-60,000-tonne Panamax vessels, since no single elevator company was, or is, big enough to load them in one shot. Single-desk efficiency often resulted in despatch payments, the bonus paid by vessel owners for fast service. Because the single-desk CWB sold grain on behalf of farmers, we also received the dollar benefit thus earned. The 2013-14 bottlenecks were not caused by lack of terminal capacity, but resulted from the lack of co-ordination due to the destruction of the Wheat Board’s single-desk. The grain companies actually benefited immensely from the logistical problems by using transportation delays to justify devaluing farmers’ grain with wide basis charges, while pocketing millions in excess profits. More terminal capacity, whether inland or port, worsens farmers’ position when the added storage capacity is under the control of the grain companies instead of farmers. G3 and the “Big 3” – Cargill, Richardson and Viterra – would all benefit from the proposed West Lynn facility, as it enables them to store larger quantities of grain, which increases the buffer between farmers in the countryside and their end-use customers. This “holding tank” creates room and time for grain companies to widen their margins by buying from farmers as low as possible, then controlling the outward supply to maximize the selling price to customers. Like captive supply in the beef sector, expanding grain company storage capacity just helps depress the price paid to farmers. No doubt, G3 can afford to build an expensive new terminal. It was just given the assets of our CWB, is partly owned by the one of the worlds’ wealthiest governments, and stands to make billions selling land-locked prairie grain to the former customers of the single-desk CWB. Agriculture Minister Ritz promotes high yields and trade volumes that benefit multinational corporations, yet we know from our single-desk CWB experience that prosperity for prairie farmers comes from efficiently moving and selling “enough” volume for premium prices, while putting the money into farmers pockets. It is painful to hear our government talk about adding value and developing export markets for grain companies after unilaterally destroying an institution that did exactly that on behalf of farmers especially after handing its remaining assets to a company jointly owned by the state of Saudi Arabia, a country notorious for human rights abuses. Jan Slomp is the President of the National Farmers Union and farms near Courtenay, B.C and can be contacted at 250-898-8223 or 403-704-4364.
June 26, 2015
5
Manitoba Farmers Re-Seed, Smaller Canola Crop Forecasted By Elmer Heinrichs Canadian canola acreage is forecast to be down five per cent to about three million acres under pressure from lower prices, disease concerns, an easing of previously overtight crop rotations and lower input costs for alternate crops. Seeding of canola began earlier than normal but then delayed by frost and snowy weather. Reseeding of canola was higher than normal, hitting a three-year high in Manitoba, with anecdotal reports of some fields being seeded three times. Despite these setbacks, canola development is considered to be near to ahead of normal, with the Canola Council of Canada encouraging farmers to actively field scout for flea beetles. Production is forecast to fall by 4% to 14.9 Mt, assuming normal yields. Agriculture and AgriFood Canada, in its June 2015 outlook, said it
expects the supply of canola to decrease by 11% as lower carry-in stocks complement the drop in production. Despite tighter supplies, Canadian canola prices are forecast to fall from 2014-15 on lower world prices for oilseeds, vegetable oils and protein meals with losses limited by the depreciation of the Canadian dollar against the US dollar. In addition, acreage in Manitoba seeded to wheat and barley is up as some areas not seeded last year due to excessive moisture and a reduction in summer fallow acres are seeded.
Average prices for both crops are expected to be up slightly this year.
6
The Agri Post
June 26, 2015
Telling the Story of the Food We Eat By Les Kletke Lynn Crawford did not set out to tell the story of agriculture to food consumers; her goal was to find the freshest food she could to make the best quality meals for her restaurant. The fact that she is a celebrity chef with extensive exposure on the Food Network gave her and advantage and has expanded the profile of farmers along the way. Crawford was one of the Farm Forum Experts presented by Farm Credit Canada (FCC) at the Farm Progress Show. Her celebrity status added to the number of people attending her presenta-
tion and she spoke to them in the same straight forward way that has made her Pitchin In food show a hit. She does not know everything about the agricultural industry but she does know that she wants the freshest food possible as ingredients for her restaurant offerings. Crawford wandered through the audience before her presentation asking them about their home farm operations, and while here phraseology betrayed her lack of agricultural knowledge her open, forth right approach made up for it. Crawford has been the Executive Chef at the Four
Seasons hotel in New York and Toronto, took to the stage explaining to the audience how much she had learned during the production of Pitchin In, her popular television on the Food Network. She brings to the forefront the hard work that goes into growing the food we eat with her visiting farms and fishing enterprises to get the very freshest ingredients. During the production of the show, she has visited dairies taking part in the milking and on chicken farms collecting eggs. “You work hard and most people have no idea of what is involved,” she said. “It was an opportunity for me to get in-
volved and see what is required in the business of producing the products I use in cooking.” Crawford said it is a message that needs to be told and it is up to farmers to take the story to the public, the story of what is required in the business of food production and to get quality food to the consumer. The consumer has little interest in how hard the individual works, they want to know that there food is safe and fresh. “That is the message that you have to take to the consumer, about the quality of food and what is required to get it to them in that state,” said Crawford.
World reknown chef Lynn Crawford has become famous for visiting farms and trying her hand at daily tasks. Photo by Les Kletke
Canadian Sheep Industry Streamlines Assurance Programs The Federal Government recently announced a $348,090 funding strategy for the Canadian Sheep Federation (CSF) to combine sheep and lamb production assurance systems under the nationally recognized Food Safe Farm Practices (FSFP) Program. The financial support will allow the Canadian Sheep Federation to integrate the National Sheep Biosecurity Standard and the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Sheep into the FSFP. This will provide assurances that sheep and lamb have been raised under an integrated farm program that addresses food safety, biosecurity and animal care. For 2014, Canadian farm cash receipts for sheep and lambs totaled nearly $157 million. The Food Safe Farm Practices Program is an on-farm food safety program that examines all areas of production and outlines good production practices designed to minimize food safety risks and produce a safe and high-quality product.
The Agri Post
4-H Adds Canadian Twist to Brand By Les Kletke 4-H Canada has a new logo, one that incorporates the Canadian Maple Leaf, a suitable addition to the logo for the organization that began in Roland, Manitoba more than 100 years ago and today has independent organizations around the world. The beginnings of 4-H are recognized in a museum housed in the former Royal Bank building in Roland that was opened in 2013. The announcement that has been termed the biggest make over in the history of the organization came at the organization’s annual meeting in New Brunswick. It is the first time the logo has been changed in more than 50 years. But this is more than a change to the logo. “Today we honour our proud past and create a bright future together,” said Shannon Brenner, CEO of 4H Canada. “Agriculture has changed dramatically since 1913, and so has 4-H. The very pillars of the 4-H program, hands on learning, youth leadership development, enrichment of rural communities will help youth meet the unique challenge and opportunities they face in our changing rural communities and in
an employment sector focused on innovation and technology. 4-H has answered the call of our changing world and agriculture sector.” A recent study by Employment Canada concluded that for 2013 to 2022 there will be almost 74,000 projected job openings in Canadian agriculture, but only 49,000 projected job seekers. “4-H members continue to impress me with their dedication to their communities and passion for creating solutions for the world around them,” said Derrick Rozdeba, Manager of Integrated Communications for Bayer Crop Science. Bayer has been a longtime supporter of 4-H Canada. The announcement also made note of the organization’s commitment to develop globally minded citizens which is par-
ticularly appropriate as the organization prepares to host the Global 4-H Summit in Ottawa in 2017. 4-H Canada has 25.000 members between the ages of 6 and 24 and relies on nearly 8,000 volunteers to be the grassroots of the organization. “Our work was guided by the cornerstones of honouring 4H’s core values and respecting the heritage of the organization, and evolving our logo to reflect 4-H’s proud history and legacy while also signalling our optimism about the future,” said Randy Mowat Chair of the logo task force.
June 26, 2015
7
8
The Agri Post
June 26, 2015
EVENTS...
Ontario’s Salford Acquires Manitoba Company Valmar By Les Kletke Acquiring a Manitoba firm known for granular metering systems was a good fit for an Ontario manufacturer of tillage, seeding and fertilizer equipment. Salford Manufacturing acquired Valmar Airflow in May of this year and staffed a joint booth at Farm Progress Show in Regina, Saskatchewan. The Ontario Company has a manufacturing facility in Iowa and is looking to expand into the Corn Belt with its equipment. “The company acquired BBI, which produces granular applicators last October and now with the addition of Valmar we have a strong product line that will work well in the corn growing areas,” said Geof Gray, President of Salford. Valmar equipment has been used on Salford seeding and fertilizer equipment for a while. “The engineering departments of the company will be a good fit,” said Gray. “They have been working on similar equipment and will be able to help each other with the chal-
lenges they face.” Ray Rivard, one of the original partners of the Elie Company agreed that it was a good match that will expand the companies reach. “We will have more exposure with the increase in sales staff and will be able to reach markets we could not have on our own,” said Rivard. Gray does not intend to build a full line equipment manufacturer. “Companies like ours have a niche and we need to work that niche and be innovative,” he said. “Most of the innovation in agriculture comes from smaller companies that can adapt to farmers’ needs and requests then they go mainline.” Salford does not have its own dealers rather it has built a strong dealer network that carries short line equipment. “That is where we fit and if we recognize our role there is a place for us in this industry. We need to be innovative and develop our niche,” said Salford. The company manufactures a line of vertical tillage equipment that Gray hopes will help grow their
reach into their niche market. The pair of men was part of a large contingent of staff on hand at the Farm Progress Show, which they rated as a two way street. “Yes we would like to sell equipment,” said Gray. “But this is an opportunity to get feedback from our customers and to find out what farmers want.” Rivard agreed, “Sometimes new machines come about through new ideas but many times it is from requests by the farmers or manufacturers.” He remembered the early days of Valmar, “We were applying Avadex granular by air and the application was spotty, Monsanto asked us to develop a monitoring system for the applicators and soon we were in the ground application business. “This is our chance to listen to farmers when they say, this is good but what about doing this?” he said. “Many times farmers are asking for new sizes, and wondering if we can make things bigger,” said Gray.
Manitoba Great Western Harness Racing – From Saturday, July 4 – Sunday, July 5 in Morris. From Thursday, July 16, the annual Manitoba Agricultural Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place at 1:30 pm at the William Glesby Centre, 11 2nd Street NE, Portage la Prairie. Manitoba Stampede From Thursday, July 16 – Sunday, July 19 at the stampede grounds in Morris. Stampede, rodeo championships, agricultural fair, music, food and much more.
Raymond Rivard of Valmar and Geof Gray of Salford say the purchase by Salford is a good fit and will benefit the Manitoba company. Photo by Les Kletke
Canada Regains Market Access for Live Swine to Chile The Federal Government has re-established market access to Chile for live swine; a market that industry estimates was worth approximately $350,000 in 2013. Canada had been Chile’s main supplier of live swine for over 10 years, prior to 2014 when Chile suspended imports of live swine and porcine blood products from countries with reported outbreaks of the Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus (PEDv). Chile is a priority market with two-way merchandise trade reaching $2.86 billion in 2014. Canadian merchandise exports to Chile in 2014 reached $1.14 billion, an increase of 42% over 2013.
Threshermen’s Reunion and Stampede - The 61st annual Threshermen’s Reunion and Stampede from Thursday ,July 23 – Sunday, July 26, at the Manitoba Agricultural Museum 3kms south of the junction of Highways 1 and 34, at the Austin Corner. Featuring a working 20-building Homesteaders’ Village, farming demonstrations with horse, steam and gas power, vintage fashion show, home handicraft displays, heavy horse events, antique car show, live entertainment and rodeo. Cost Adults $15, Children 6 – 12, $8, Children 5 & under Free. Rodeo cost additional to Reunion. Adults $12, Children 6 – 12, $6, 5 & under Free.
The Agri Post
June 26, 2015
9
10
The Agri Post
June 26, 2015
Ducks Unlimited Initiative Hopes to Increase Winter Wheat into Crop Rotation By Les Kletke An initiative sponsored in part by Ducks Unlimited would like to see winter wheat acres increase across the prairies. Lyse Boisvert is with Ducks Unlimited and is part of the Western Winter Wheat Initiative. She spends her time visiting producers and helping design agronomic packages that make the crop a viable economic option. This year winter wheat acres are half of what they were the previous year in Saskatchewan, the prairies largest producer. Boisvert would like to see them come back to the 500,000 acres of 2014. “The planting conditions last fall were far from ideal, and we saw the acreage drop because of it,” she said. “Long term the goal is to have a million acres of the crop across the prairies.” Boisvert said that the crop has seen the benefit of new breeding programs and offers good yields and strong disease resistance
Lyse Boisvert’s goal is to have a million acres of winter wheat in western Canada. Photo by Les Kletke
packages. “We work with experienced producers to help them develop a solid agronomic package and believe that is the way to demonstrate how valuable the crop can be,” she said. “Farmers are always watching their neighbours and if we can get an innovator in each area to grow a significant acreage it gets other people watching and trying the crop.” She recommends the crop go into canola stubble to trap snow. “That was a problem last year with it being so wet,” said Boisvert. Over the long term, she sees another challenge. “As soybean acres increase there is less stubble to plant winter wheat into, so we have to work on other strategies,” she said. “Last year I had some producer ’s plant winter wheat after peas and that means virtually no stubble,
they have a good stand this year but that is because they got snow cover early, they didn’t have the same stubble to trap snow.” “I also had some co-operators put the crop on chem fallow which is not ideal but they were committed to getting some crop in and that is what was available last fall.” She said that producers who have committed to the crop and apply good management practices will see it as a good fit in their rotation. It is the same case that has been made for the crop in recent years; it reduces pressure on equipment at seeding time and begins the harvest earlier. “The new varieties offer increased yield and some good disease resistance, so the crop has really come along but we need to keep building the number of acres.”
Manitoba NFU Convention Set for July National Farmers Union (NFU) Region 5 (Manitoba) will host a discussion with farmers who direct market and producers involved in Supply Management at their 2015 Convention on July 11 in Portage La Prairie at the Legion Hall. The theme of this year’s convention is “Connecting our Farms”. “We’re inviting a variety of stakeholders to put their heads together and come up with solutions to move agriculture forward,” said Ian Robson, Manitoba NFU Coordinator. “Supply Management has kept families on the farm for over four decades. At the same time, there has been growth in the local food movement, which has created more interest and opportunities for direct to market farms. Discussing how these farm types fit together in the bigger picture of the farm movement is vital at this time.” The other half of the convention will focus on Supply Management. “We are inviting supply management farmers and small scale producers to join a brainstorming session to suggest ways direct marketing and supply management can complement each other into the future,” said Robson. The National Farmers Union is recognized for its support of cooperative farm marketing, such as supply management, food sovereignty, as well as its strong policy research work. Presentations include “Soil and Culture” to commemorate the UN’s International Year of the Soil by lecturer Gary Martens, a presentation on Trade Agreements, and a wide ranging discussion on how public policy connects to our farms. Everyone is welcome, members and non-members alike. The convention starts at 10 am and runs until 5 pm. Registration is $15 for members and youth, and $25 for nonmembers. A soup and sandwich lunch is included. Following the convention there will be a potluck barbeque and-social time. Attendees are encouraged to RSVP to mb@nfu.ca or call 204-741-1017.
The Agri Post
Bean App Now Available The Manitoba Pulse & Soybean Growers (MPSG) Bean App is now available in
the App Store for free download to Apple device users. The Bean App also features a brand new Seeding Rate Calculator to determine the most economical seeding rate in addition to the previously existing Soybean Plant Stand Assessor and Soybean Yield Estimator
tools. All of the tools available in the MPSG Bean App are great examples of how the results of scientific research can be applied directly to production practices. The Bean App can be downloaded free from the App store or iTunes for Apple devices or as a web
Farm Equipment Manufacturer Carre Sizes Up Prairie Market By Les Kletke Charles Adenot made the trip from France to Regina, Saskatchewan and did not sell or buy any equipment but he was not disappointed with the trip. He and his boss Benoit Carre of Carre Equipment headquartered in France were at the June, Canadian Farm Progress Show to see if their equipment would suit the western Canadian market. The company began over 80 years ago manufacturing planters for the market in France and today they export to North Africa, Russia, Canada and the European Union. “We specialize in mechanical weeding equipment for row crops,” said Adenot. “We build equipment that can travel at higher speeds and do a good job in a row crop.” He said Carre equipment is intended to be used at speeds of 8-10 miles an hour. The pair had recently been to Russia where they visited a farmer who had 46,000 ha of sugar beets. “The farms there are very large and they have a need to get more and bigger equipment but we find that their understanding of machinery and maintenance is somewhat lacking,” said Adenot with a smile. The company has some product in Russia along with a manufacturing facility in Omsk, Siberia. During their tour, Adenot and Carre incorporated every province from Quebec to BC. “We had interest from sugar beet growers in Quebec and some small acreage in British Columbia,” said Adenot. The pair had found the least likely market in Saskatchewan. “We don’t have the size of equipment that producers in Saskatchewan want,” said Adenot. “Most of our units’ maximum size is 10 metres that is a bit small for this market, though we do have a harrow that is 24 metres.” Adenot who is the Mar-
Benoit Carre and Charles Adenot of Carre Equipment say their present equipment is a bit small for the Canadian market but they will work on models for export to Canada. Photo by Les Kletke
keting and Export Development Manager for Carre said the firm is concentrating on getting some of its units into Manitoba and Alberta to evaluate the response and consider the possibly of building bigger units for the Canadian market. They are taking preliminary steps to establish a dealer network in Canada. “We are one of the leading manufacturers of vertical tillage equipment in Europe and we think that will see greater attention in Canada in the next few years. We’ll pursue that market,” he said. The pair had little intention of selling their equipment on the preliminary trip but was pleased with the reaction they got from western Canadian farmers. “We see the work that has been done with reducing tillage and think that our equipment would be a good fit here,” said Adenot. He added that the company is also concentrating on expansion into Africa. “We see that there is real potential for any equipment that helps conserve moisture,” he said. “The vertical tillage equipment will be a good fit as African agriculture develops.” The company has several units that can be combined with seed drills for minimum soil disruption during seed placement. In the late fall of 2015, Carre has plans to start selling an agricultural robot called ANATIS which was
developed in partnership with NAI?O Technologies a leader in agriculture robotics. The field robot assists farmers and vegetable farmers in their daily work by independently hoeing and helping with decisionmaking through monitoring crops with data acquisition and processing of key indicators. It uses GPS to navigate and can be connected to a smartphone or a tablet.
application for Android, Blackberry, and Windows at manitobapulse.ca. Seeding Rate Calculator determines the optimum seeding rate by first identifying the target plant stand. The optimum target plant stand fluctuates depending on soybean price and seed cost. A suggested
June 26, 2015 seeding rate is then calculated based on expected seed survival, which is farm specific depending on equipment, field conditions, seed quality. Plant Stand Assessor can be used to assess live plant populations 3-4 weeks after planting and provide feedback based on scientific
11
research conducted in Manitoba. The Soybean Yield Estimator can be used in late summer to estimate soybean yield. An estimate of soybean yield is an aid to help with judging storage capacity and for budgeting.
12
June 26, 2015
The Agri Post
The Agri Post
June 26, 2015
21
Annual Charolais Pen and Picnic A Success By Joan Airey
Shawn Airey presents Bert McDonald JMB Charolais of Brookdale with Grand Champion Charolais Pen Over-All Award with Brian Coughlin (judge).
Cattlemen from across Canada attended the Manitoba Charolais Association Pen and Picnic 2015 held June 12 at HTA Charolais Farms in Rivers. According to organizers, show entries were up from last year. Brian Coughlin owner of Cornerview Charolais, from Cobden, Ontario judged the show and to add excitement got everyone involved in a “You Be the Judge” Jackpot Competition. For $5, attendees could try their hand in judging. Winning judges were Bert McDonald and Katie Steppler who tied to win the Jackpot. Katie Steppler was a repeat winner as last year she placed the animals in the correct order. All class winners received a jacket sponsored by Manitoba Charolais Breeders. After the pen show a supper and dancing event was enjoyed. On Saturday, members attended the Canadian Charolais Association meetings in Brandon. Brian Coughlin was elected Canadian Charolais Association President, Andre Steppler, Miami, as first Vice-President and Rod McLeod as second VicePresident. Andre Steppler will be in charge of Advertising and Promotion for the association.
Hans Myhre presents Bryce Olmstead and Bert McDonald of JMB Charolais with the Overall Grand Champion Pen for JMB MS Dateline 403B and her calf JMB MS Tangerine 417B. Bert McDonald and Katie Steppler both won the “You Be the Judge” Jackpot Competition. This pair was also the crowd pick. Photograph from left to right Hans Myhre, Bryce Olmstead, Judge Brian Coughlin, Katie Steppler and Bert McDonald.
Shawn and Tanya Airey, HTA Charolais Farms receive an award from Rob Gilland for Overall Charolais Female with Heifer Calf at the MCA Pen Show.
Doug Hunter of Hunter Charolais presents Carman Jackson, High Bluff Stock Farms, Inglis, Manitoba with the award for Get of Sire Pen. Photos by Joan Airey
Manitoba Feed Mill First to Use New Infrared GrainSorting Technology Standard Nutrition Canada Co. a Winnipeg feed mill will receive 50% funding for new technology of $1.1 million to install two new infrared grain sorters said Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development Minister Ron Kostyshyn and Federal Minister of State (Finance) Kevin Sorenson, on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, said in a recent announcement. “This investment will help recapture more value from Manitoba’s grains and create new marketing opportunities,” said Minister Kostyshyn. “The damage caused by fusarium and ergot can be a significant cost for Manitoba’s farmers and across the entire industry. This new infrared equipment is an innovative solution, with significant financial and environmental benefits.” With the new technology Standard Nutrition Canada Co. becomes the only company in Canada country using infrared grainsorting technology that can identify as well as remove grain infected with fusarium head blight or ergot before it is made into animal feed. The infrared technology increases the overall grade and quality of grains, which allows sales into higher-value markets. It is expected to increase the value of Manitoba grains by $4 million annually. Standard Nutrition Canada Co. will be investing an additional $1.1 million in the project and expects to hire eight more people increasing their workforce to just under 100. “The sourcing of clean high-quality grain has become a major issue in our region,” said Jason McNaughton, President and General Manager of Standard Nutrition Canada Co. “In many cases these grains are shipped to markets over long distances, which also decreases the margin potential for our growers. This investment by our company and governments is a key step in reclaiming the value of local crops while maintaining the integrity of the food we produce.” In 2014, Manitoba wheat farmers lost an estimated $400 million in revenue due to fusarium damage, a disease that also affects barley and corn. The ergot fungus can become a major problem with wet growing conditions. The toxins it produces cannot be removed during processing and are dangerous for animals and humans if consumed. Currently, grains infected with these diseases sell at a greatly reduced price or may even end up in landfills. It is estimated that the new infrared technology will reduce grain waste by 24,000 tonnes every year in Manitoba.
22
The Agri Post
June 26, 2015
Veteran Riders Nearing Manitoba Border By Les Kletke It is a long way from the Calvary arriving to save the day, but the Canadian veterans ride is on its way to Manitoba. The ride is the brainchild of Paul Nichols and began in Victoria, BC in April making its way through Saskatchewan by late June. It has several stops planned in Manitoba including the Big M Stampede and an event in Richer. Cathleen McMahon com-
mitted to the journey when she first heard about it and thought it was worth taking her children out of school for to make the journey across the country. “They will learn so much about our country and the geography,” she said. “That is worth much more than a month in the classroom.” McMahon has found that meeting the veterans has taught her children even more. “The interaction with the veterans at each stop
is more important than I could have imagined,” she said. That is what this crossCanada journey is about, meeting and recording the thoughts of Canadian veterans. Few people can take a summer to ride across the country on the slow moving caravan but that is not the point, it is about a series of stops across the country. “We have been overwhelmed by the response and the events,” said McMahon. “So many communities have opened their doors to us and had events centered on our visit.” That was what Nichols intended but his response has been greater than he ever dreamed. Communities have planned events and parades around the visit from the ride, but most important is the recognition that veterans get in their community. “We have veterans that come back and their community doesn’t even know who they are. Some don’t want the recognition and that is fine but this tour gives them the
The ride will be going across Manitoba in July and stopping at a community near you, take the time to welcome these veterans in your community. Riding is optional but if you are a vet and would like to register for the ride, you can visit www.communitiesforveterans.com.
opportunity to visit with other veterans and share their story if they would like,” said Nichols. The entourage includes a “recorder” who captures
the stories of Canadian veterans who stop by. “Veterans are asked to share their stories,” said McMahon. “Some want to remain anonymous and
some tell their stories relating to their communities, that is up to them and we will be collecting the stories in a book at the end of the ride.”
Wheat with Chlormequat Chloride Not Accepted in US Market Wheat producers delivering their grain to handling facilities will be required to declare whether Chlormequat Chloride was used in their crop. Chlormequat Chloride is the active ingredient in a new plant growth regulator product marketed in Canada as Manipulator, and while approved for use in Canada, the US has not yet given it the thumbs up. As a result, Canadian Grain buyers, especially those who are accumulating stocks for a US destined sale, will be requiring farmers to fill out a legal declaration stating whether their crop contains Chlormequat Chloride. According to the Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association, no mistakes can be made here in order to preserve the trade relationship Canada has with the US. “We raise these concerns to ensure that individual producers and the reputation of Canadian export sales are each protected and preserved,” said Freg Greig, Chair of the organization. “Producers and grain exporters must work together to respect and protect our market relationship with the United States.” Any intentional or unintentional mistake in declaration traced back through retained samples will expose individuals and their farms to significant liability.
The Agri Post
June 26, 2015
23
Lowering On Farm Storage Costs to Increase Profit By Les Kletke Something that multinational grain companies have known for years is that the price of grain does not properly reflect the cost of storage. In Canada, these grain companies have relied on farmers to store their crop on the farm until it is delivered it to the elevator. In comparison, the American grain industry developed a different model with little on farm storage and larger facilities at mostly farmer owned co-operative elevators. The US system also developed a more rapid movement of grain to export positions or domestic users. Canada has relied heavily on exports which has caused supply chain bottle necks at ports and seasonal difficulties, as multi nationals are moving to more and faster high through-put facilities. Because of this, farmers are taking a serious look at the cost of on farm storage. Jason Bouchard is the Manitoba Manager with Brandt Agriculture and he said that the grain bagger his company has developed is proving an attractive option in several situations. “We have fellows
who look at it as surge capacity,” said Bouchard. “If they are getting a larger than normal crop they want something that they can use for that particular crop. They don’t want to build permanent storage for one time use.” The unit is powered by a 50 hp tractor, which places the grain into a bag that can be as long as 300 feet. “It doesn’t have a high horsepower requirement and that is a bonus in a busy time when tractors are in use on things like the grain cart,” he said. The cost of the initial unit is significant but the price of bags for storage is roughly 6 cents a bushel. The bags are limited to one time use because they are split open when removing the grain. “We have fellows who use them on land that is further away from their main yard site,” he said. “They can put the grain in safe storage as they harvest and move the grain home later or use that for their first delivery.” Bouchard said that some producers are using the storage system for their regular storage rather than invest in permanent storage. “Storage can cost as much as a dollar a bushel and for fellows that are rent-
Renewed Support for Manure Management Financial Assistance Program Funding for the Manure Management Financial Assistance Program (MMFAP) has been renewed for another year to help ensure all eligible farmers have an opportunity to make improvements that will benefit their operations and the environment. Since it was introduced in 2011, the MMFAP has invested more than $8.4 million in 92 Manitoba hog operations to build additional manure storage capacity on pig farms with less than 300 animal units to eliminate the need for winter application, repair manure storage structures and reduce the risk of leakage and install manure treatment systems to better manage manure phosphorus. “Manitoba Pork is pleased the government has renewed the MMFAP for another year,” said George Matheson, Chair, Manitoba Pork Council. “This program is helping Manitoba pork producers find solutions to manure management problems.” The government contribution can be used for up to 65% of project costs, to a maximum of $100,000 for manure storage repairs, $125,000 for new manure storage systems or $375,000 for manure treatment projects. To be eligible for the program, an applicant must be incorporated and own, rent, lease, manage or control agricultural land used to produce pigs, the minister said, adding they must also have completed an environmental farm plan. The application deadline is July 10. For more information, visit gov.mb.ca/agriculture under Environment or visit a local GO Office.
ing the majority of their land the acreage can change from year to year. They don’t want to build storage based on an acreage that could change significantly in a year or two.” The lower cost of the storage also helps with the cash flow. “Capital costs are significant and grain storage may not be the best return on investment, so fellows are looking at this as an option that helps the cash flow.”
Brandt Manufacturing is changing the way grain is stored on farms and in the field. Photo by Les Kletke
24
The Agri Post
June 26, 2015
High Quality Alfalfa is Solid Green Nutrition for Lactating Dairy Cows When I was teenager on the family dairy farm, I used to love the fresh smell of alfalfa that I just cut down with our old International Farmall tractor. Later on, I would rake it into swaths in order to let it dry in the sun and bale it the next day. Even today, when I visit a dairy farm and somebody is cutting alfalfa, it always brings back those great memories. Sometimes, I still think of alfalfa as only high-protein forage, which when compared to other dairy forages such as low-protein corn silage is not bad judgement. On a pure alfalfa strand, its crude protein normally ranges from 18 – 25% (dm, basis) as well as a soluble protein fraction (loosely defined as available protein that is soluble in rumen fluid) of 20 – 22% of CP in dried hay and 40 – 55% of CP in alfalfa haylage. Every so often as a dairy nutritionist, I will increase the amount of alfalfa forage in a stalled-out diet in order to meet various protein requirements of lactating dairy cows. Other times, I will use it to extend the soluble protein content of the entire diet, so I can manipulate the rumen microbes and as a result, cows excrete porridge-like manure, a sign of optimum feed digestion. Luckily, it doesn’t take much to remind me that good quality alfalfa forage is more than a good source of dietary protein for dairy cows because it contains a lot of dietary energy. For example, the net energy of lactation is estimated for alfalfa hay with a relative feed value (RFV) at about of 150 and has a net energy of lactation value around 1.30 Mcal/kg compared to 1.45 Mcal/kg estimated energy for typical corn silage. Some of this dietary energy comes from alfalfa’s relatively high non-structural carbohydrate content
(NSC), which is between 25 – 30% of its dry matter weight; consisting namely of highly digestible pectin (12 – 13%), starch (2 – 3%) and nominal sugar. The remainder is locked away in its structural fibre (35 – 40%), which is released during microbial fermentation in the cow’s rumen contributing to alfalfa’s total energy value. Most of this high quality dairy alfalfa, whether we put it up as hay, wrapped bales or haylage for high milk producing cows is often harvested just before the flowering stage – a target of pre-bud to late-bud stage. Such forage quality declines rapidly as soon as the alfalfa buds appear, because lignin (as mentioned, very resistant to rumen fermentation), builds up in alfalfa as the plant matures. Cutting at this pre-bud stage or early vegetative stages may result in desirable high protein – lower fibre alfalfa forages that work well in a balanced dairy diet, but tonnes per acre could compromise forage inventories that are needed later in upcoming months. It’s also no secret that weather plays a big part in whether alfalfa can be harvested at these ideal vegetative stages in the first place. However as long as the sun shines and rain stays away; making dried alfalfa hay bales is a straightforward process. It is a matter of drying the plants below 15% (without inoculants or preservatives), so it can be properly baled and stacked without problems. Otherwise, tough alfalfa hay (greater than 18% moisture unless treated with preservatives) is an ideal environment for mould growth. Mould reduces diet palatability, consumes essential nutrients, and can produce toxins that hurt
animal health and reproductive performance. In light of this consequence, many producers have forgone making hay bales and have turned to wrapped bale silage and haylage as alfalfa forage for their lactating cows. That’s not to say that ensiling alfalfa is any easier. In fact, it is particularly challenging to ensile alfalfa due to its natural buffering abilities and less than ideal quantities of water-soluble carbohydrates to be fermented into lactic acid that preserves the harvested alfalfa crop. Furthermore, the extent of alfalfa fermentation in wrapped bales, agri-bags, or in bunker silos is largely determined by the cut and successful wilt of the alfalfa swaths to an ideal moisture between 50 – 60% compared to about 65% for corn silage. In addition, the crop must be tightly packed to minimize oxygen exposure and thus assists anaerobic (lactic acid) fermentation. Just the other day on a dairy farm, I took a good sample of properly fermented alfalfa haylage that had a slightly acidic smell (something like cold sauerkraut), strands of wilted alfalfa leaves that could be picked out from stems and had a beautiful golden-green color. On the other hand, I have come across alfalfa haylage that was put up too wet; a slimy mess that reeked of rotten peanut butter (undesirable butyric acid production) or too dry, which was caramelized, a sickly sweet smell and looked like tobacco. It is this experience of the good, bad and ugly that I strongly advocate the proper harvest and storage of alfalfa forage. It is the only way that I can appreciate alfalfa’s solid green nutrition and use it in successful diets to support high milk production in lactating dairy cows.
Funding to Benefit Soybean and Corn Production $1.2 million Federal Government funding will go towards purchasing new equipment for 11 research sites across Manitoba. Research equipment purchases will include weigh wagons, trucks, planters, a tractor, a fertilizer applicator, a combine, a row-crop combine header, a grain analyzer and tillage implements. The Manitoba Corn Growers Association (MCGA), MPSG, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the University of Manitoba collaborated on the projects that will look at increasing production in soybean and corn across western Canada. “These funds will allow researchers in Manitoba to continue supporting our crops and cropping systems by performing advanced research with precision and accuracy using equipment that mimics what producers are actually using on their farms,” said Francois Labelle, MPSG Executive Director. According to industry projections, soybean and corn production in western Canada could exceed 14 million acres over the next 10 years.
The Agri Post
June 26, 2015
25
The Cockshutt Combine Tiller Revolutionized Farming Along with moldboard plows, the Cockshutt Plow Company Limited also built disc plows. Disc plows were used for sticky soils, which pose problems for moldboard plows. Cockshutt built both horse and tractor drawn disc plows ranging with one disc to five discs at 30 inches in diametre. Along with Cockshutt built plows, Cockshutt also sold the Angell Disc Plow from the Ohio Cultivator Company, which came in 6 ft, 8 ft and 10 ft sizes with 20-inch discs. Selling the Angell all o w e d Cockshutt to offer a more complete line of t i l l a g e equipment with minim investment. However, in 1931 Cockshutt took the Angell concept and made a huge leap forward. Cockshutt designed their version of the Angell making a number of improvements along with one important innovation that of mounting a seed box on the machine. This machine they called a tiller combine. The Cockshutt Tiller Combine featured 24-inch disc blades mounted 7 1/2 inches apart. All blades were mounted on a rotating shaft that was raised and lowered by a power lift. The depth of penetration of the soil could also be adjusted. The seed box dropped the seed down tubes running close to the back of each blade. The blade followed behind throwing dirt over the seed. For 1931, the Cockshutt Tiller Combine was a revolutionary all in one concept, as the machine was a plow, light disc and seeder. Only one field operation was necessary in the spring, eliminating fall plowing that saved time and money.
Most importantly, it conserved moisture by reducing cludes several Cockshutt Tiller Combines including a soil erosion as the stubble was left on the field to trap Cockshutt Tiller Combine painted the Canadian Co-operasnow and slow down the wind at the surface. Wind erotive Implements limited orange. sion was reduced because the combine tiller left a rough The Expo at the 2015 Threshermen’s Reunion features the field surface. The tiller combine did not pulverize the soil Cockshutt family of companies. If you have equipment built either which also aided in reducing soil erosion. Given the by Cockshutt or Frost and Wood, you should consider bringdrought conditions of the 1930s, the Cockshutt Tiller Coming it to the Cockshutt Expo. Contact the Museum office at bine was the right machine, at the right time. 204-637-2354 to make arrangements. In 1931, Cockshutt sold 100 units. While this number is small, 100 units was a significant achievement since the early 1930s was hit with a widespread and serious drought, a collapse in farm prices and the beginnings of severe economic depression. As further proof that the concept was a good, one other farm equipment manufacturers quickly copied the Cockshutt Tiller Combine in the following years. The Manitoba Agricultural The Cockshutt tiller combine was a revolutionary all in one concept, as the machine was a Museum’s collection inplow, light disc and seeder. In this horse, drawn four-foot wide model the operator had a seat
“Right Mix” for Soybean Crushing Plant A new feasibility study funded by the Canada and Manitoba governments and industry partners found the province has the right mix of production and market demand to support a soybean crushing facility.
The study determined a crushing facility would be economically viable, based on the growth of the province’s soybean acreage and the demand for soybean meal in the western Canadian livestock industry. A soybean crushing plant would bring many benefits for agriculture, according to the study, including an expanded local market for soybean growers, the ability to avoid rail transportation
needed to export commodities like soybeans, a new, local protein feed source for livestock farmers and overall economic benefits, estimated at $190 million per year, based on facility construction and job creation. Manitoba currently produces 18% of all soybeans grown in the country, more than 1.25 million acres. The study estimates soybean acreage could quadruple in western Canada over the next de-
cade, partially in response to growing global demand for the crop, as well as processed soybean meal and oil. Currently, most soybeans grown in Manitoba are either shipped to the US or China for processing. The study did not identify a specific site in Manitoba for the crushing facility and did note the economics of the operation could be further improved by crushing canola as well.
26
The Agri Post
June 26, 2015
Efforts to Protect Bee Health are Paying Off
Modern Technology Enables Business to Thrive By Joan Airey Being raised on a farm and involved in its operation, Melissa McRae wanted to live near her parents farm so she could be involved in the operation of Mar Mac Farms and also have her own graphic design business. “After graduating from Lethbridge College with a diploma in Communication Arts, majoring in Advertising and Public Relations, I
moved to Saskatoon. I worked for T Bar C Cattle Co. Ltd as a graphic and web designer, building and maintaining agricultural based websites as well as designing catalogues and other promotional print advertisements. After getting two years’ experience I decided it was time to start my own business,” said McRae. McRae started Prairie Pistol Designs, which she runs from her home south
of Brandon. She is also actively involved working on her parents farm. “In the purebred livestock, good photographs are worth a thousand words so I spend a lot of time shooting pictures and videos of show/ sale cattle as well as pasture shots for the websites and catalogues I design,” she said. Online bidding on cattle sales is becoming more popular every day. Sometimes a buyer cannot drive to a sale because he has to be on the farm to tend to his cattle. If bad roads or distance makes it impossible to attend a sale, a cattleman can watch sales on their computers live with a company like DV Auction that McRae works for at bull sale time. She said that ten years ago one never dreamed they would be watching a cattle sale live on their computer and bidding over the internet. While others may phone their bids to someone, they know attending the sale and that person will bid for them. Modern tech-
Melissa McRae owner of Prairie Pistol Designs sets up online bidding for a bull sale in Neepawa. Photo by Joan Airey
nology makes it possible to have photographs or videos sent to someone halfway round the world in minutes. Cattlemen are making use of Facebook, Ingram and
other internet social media to promote their cattle too. The technology is helping the Canadian cattle business be known around the world for their excellent genetics.
Numbers hot off the press from Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency shows that the seed industry’s unprecedented action to protect bee health is having a very positive impact. “We have been working collaboratively with our seed industry partners to reduce risk to bees and to ensure the overall health of our environment,” said Dave Baute, Canadian Seed Trade Association (CSTA) President. CSTA members and farmers carry a heavy responsibility to produce high quality and affordable food for a growing world population while minimizing the impact on nature. As soon as bee deaths after seeding became an issue in 2012-2013, the industry immediately took unprecedented action and joined together to reduce the impact. PMRA’s reporting of an 80% reduction in bee death incidents since 2013 shows that these efforts are successful.
The Agri Post
June 26, 2015
27
Canadian Attendance Increases at International Farm Trade Shows By Les Kletke Sandra Willer is the Marketing Officer for Agri Technica an agriculture trade show held in odd number years in Frankfurt. The even years are balanced off with a show that concentrates on the livestock industry. When asked why a western Canadian farmer would go to a German trade show, Willer is ready with a smile and explained, “It is the best place to see the latest technology and to hear information on the issues that are affecting you on your farm.” “We have 39 ha of display space in 25 pavilions,” said Willer. “The entire show is inside and brings together not only technology but forums that discuss the leading issues in agriculture.” She emphasised that language will not be an issue. “There is translation for
any issue that has an international flavour.” While she staffed a booth at the Farm Progress Show in Regina, Willer’s knowledge of Canadian geography was noteworthy. “We have had a Manitoba pavilion at the show for years,” she said. “I have worked with Bill Tierhuis to bring Manitoba firms to the event and give them exposure to the international market place.” “We would be happy to secure more exhibitors,” she continued. “We would welcome them but at this point most have already committed to the show so we don’t expect to get many more exhibitors at the event this year. We are here to talk to farmers and make them aware of how important the show is and that it will show them technology that works on their farm.” The 7-day show in November features 2,900 exhibitors and attracts
450,000 visitors to Hanover, Germany. It also features over 200 forums on various aspects of agricultural production. Willer said that international visitors have stayed steady though their home areas have changed. “A few years ago the South American visitors were most common, then there were years of strong Eastern European attendance, we have seen an increase from Africa but Brazil and Argentina have stayed strong,” she said. The show has collaborated with a Canadian company to provide tour packages for Canadians. Sawyer Asmundson is with Leader Tours in Calgary and focuses her effort on the Hanover show. “We have a tour package that attends the show and also includes some farm visits and a bit of sightseeing,” said Asmundson. The pair acknowledges a German trade show is not
Sawyer Asmundson and Sandra Willer have assembled a package tour for Canadian farmers to attend Agri Technica in Germany in November. Photo by Les Kletke
on the calendar for every Canadian farmer but the number of Canadians attending the show is on the increase. “We try to make that easier,” said Asmundson. “And we promise to have the latest in technology,” added Willer. “There is information that will apply to Canadian farms, I am sure of it.”
Opening Soon a Prairie Super Centre Near You By Les Kletke Super Centres are not a concept reserved for American retail giants like Wal-Mart or Target; farmers may soon be getting supply Super Centres dedicated to their input needs if a fund raising program underway reaches its goal. Allan Beaton is with Farmers of North America and he said the group has kicked off an investment campaign with the final goal of establishing seven Super Centres across the prairies that would be able to supply famers with a competitively based product while allowing investors to get the return on the product that is sold. “It is a separate concept from FNA,” said Beaton. “It is open to investors who meet three criteria; they must be members of FNA, Canadian and farmers.” The definition of a farmer is a bit more relaxed than the other two and can be applied to someone who rents his land to another producer or has been in production in recent years. The program began in mid-May and in the first
month generated $6 million in investment capital. The goal is $15.3 million to begin construction of the first Super Centre. The plan is to build the first centre at Belle Plain to service Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The facility will be able to handle up to eight semi-trailers at a time and load out 50 tonnes of dry product an hour. The second location is planned for central Alberta and the third or fourth within Manitoba. Beaton said the site locations are strategic to allow delivery across most of the prairies with minimum transportation costs. “Right now we have more members in Alberta and Saskatchewan but it is in proportion to the number of farmers in Manitoba,” he said. “Over all the percentage in all three provinces is the same.” FNA is concentrating on the future Super Centres for the time being putting on hold ideas for a grain marketing system. The organization had made serious efforts to purchase the Canadian Wheat Board facilities but was rejected in favour of
Art Klassen, right of FNA, says that spring is not the best time to have an investment drive for the company’s new Super Centers but has been overwhelmed by the response to date. Photo by Les Kletke
an international partnership. The group has maintained its focus on cutting out a retail marketer and allowing investors to have a return on their share in the distribution network. It is not a cooperative and returns will be allocated from dollars invested. “It might not show a good return in the early years as we get established but we expect that within 4 or 5 years there should be a good return for investors,” he said. “They also have the
benefit of getting their inputs at a reasonable cost and more competition is always good for pricing.” Beaton acknowledged that May is not the prime time to contact farmers, as they are busy seeding and cash flow may already be tested. “We have a sales staff that will be calling our 5,000 members in the next couple of weeks with the details of the offering,” he said. “At this time we are very encouraged by the response we have had.”
28
The Agri Post
June 26, 2015
Crop Conditions Vary Across Western Canada By Harry Siemens Bruce Burnett, a weather and crop specialist with the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) said dry conditions on the western prairies combined with a widespread frost that hit Manitoba and Saskatchewan will result in dramatically reduced yield potentials. Kevin Surfas at Lethbridge, Alberta who farms 40,000 plus acres said, “Many of the crops are past the stage of rain helping this year. It is very dry and they have not received any to speak of this spring. There wasn’t any snow cover either so things are dry.” Burnett said with the exception of some green feed crops still going in the ground in middle of June, in some of the wetter areas, spring planting across the Canadian prairies is complete, about two to three weeks ahead of last year. “Unfortunately the reason that we managed to complete the seeding
as quickly as we did was the fact that we’ve been relatively dry across the prairie region,” he said. “In some cases, crops that have emerged are only partially emerged so there is some difficulty in terms of the emergence of the crop.” He points to the combination of dry conditions and an extensive frost several weeks ago that forced farmers to replant a considerable amount of canola, especially in western Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan. “When you distill all of this, although we planted the crops two to three weeks earlier than normal, we really are going to see another year where we have slower than normal early season growth,” said Burnett. “This will result in a crop that farmers will harvest at a normal time or slightly later than normal so we are now looking at mostly a September harvest for a lot of these crops.” Burnett said there is an
extensive dry area in western Saskatchewan and through most of Alberta that has already influenced yield potentials so those farmers are looking at yields that are well below normal across that entire region. “While on the eastern side of the prairies, we’re seeing yield potentials that are a little closer to average and, in parts of Manitoba, there will be some above average yields as well,” he said. Burnett said farmers across western Canada put in more barley, durum wheat, and pulse crops this year and less spring wheat and canola. “Strong pulse prices have also resulted in a significant increase in acreage of pulse crops with prices the main factor influencing the decisions this year,” he said. “We’ve seen the price drop for many commodities and that’s influenced farmers’ planting decisions. Of course the pulse crops were stronger in terms of
Planning What to Market as Manitoba Crops Ahead of Normal By Harry Siemens Educated younger farmers and agronomists continue to take the agricultural industry forward in western Canada as the 30-year-olds take over the farms from their fathers and those who choose agronomy. Jason Voogt, Regional Agronomist for Richardson Pioneer works out of Carman as a professional with sound unbiased agronomics. The company has three agronomists in the province like Voogt working the various regions. “I’m providing agronomic support to the location I’m based out of with 60 percent of my time providing agronomic support, training, and expertise to the staff and the growers in the area around the Mollard location between Sperling and Brunkild,” he said. “The other 40 percent would be providing the same type of agronomic information support and training to other locations in our region including Letellier, Killarney and Brandon.” When people come from the west, as they enter Manitoba the crops really look good compared to the rest of western Canada where moisture is lacking he noted. “In our region especially, considering the challenges we’ve had this spring already with moisture and frost at the end of May,” said Voogt. “A couple of different frost events within this region and of course and you know how variable frost can be and some areas got hit far worse than others.” He said even when one adds all these things together, growers are cautiously optimistic that they have a very good crop setting up. Even some of the reseeded canola and replanted soybeans came out of the ground very quickly with the potential of an above average harvest. Voogt said while difficult to get very specific because it varies by area, in his general trading area, in the Red River Valley soybeans are either flat or down a bit in area. He sees more cereals, a little extra corn, oats, and a few more acres of sunflowers. Canola is also flat to slightly down a little replaced by cereal crops too. When it comes to marketing, Voogt said the majority of growers feel there is more flexibility in marketing their wheat now even though there is a steep learning curve for some growers. “You still hear the odd producer say that when we had the wheat board monopoly, at least they knew what they needed to grow, hard red spring wheat, or at least the CWB needed to find a home for it,” said Voogt. “Now that completely falls on the lap and the decision making of the grower.” Making that decision more difficult is that farmers have the opportunity to grow many other wheat varieties, especially the dark northern varieties from North Dakota that have higher yield potential. “But the challenge for them is do they grow more bushels or better quality with higher protein, and can I achieve both,” he said. “Even though I think overall it is a plus and positive, but the challenge for some is they don’t always know what they need to produce.”
prices so that’s resulted in the increase in area and the durum prices were stronger as well so that’s why you’re seeing the increase in area.” For the most part farmers don’t shift a whole lot when it comes to different crops because rotation decisions play such a vital part in what they plant from year to year. Also the know how and crop specific equipment affects planting decisions. However, as Burnett said when certain commodity prices move in either direction, a certain amount
of acres planted moves along with the prices. He said barley increased because it is a relatively inexpensive crop to grow and the malting bids were reasonably strong at the
beginning of the year. “So we’re seeing the combination of price and some of the agronomic factors influencing farmers’ decisions,” he added.
Seeding Finally Completed with Crops Showing Promise After Recent Rains By Elmer Heinrichs With a cooler week, and the odd rain shower, farmers are again looking ahead to warmer temperatures as June ends and crops advance. After all, harvest time is little more than a month away. The province’s weekly crop report for June 15 says seeding operations in Manitoba are essentially complete for the 2015 season, with the exception of some greenfeed crops. While crops benefitted from earlier warm June temperatures, current cooler weather is slowing crop growth. Nevertheless, farmers have made good progress on weed control operations. Weed control and fungicide applications, where warranted, will remain a priority for producers as crops develop. Fungicide applications in winter wheat for leaf disease control and suppression of fusarium head blight continues. Quite a few canola fields in western Manitoba sustained frost damage and have been reseeded. Anastasia Kubinec, oilseed crop specialist with Manitoba agriculture, food and rural initiatives, said another oilseed crop, flax, was also affected by frost and some fields have been reseeded. Manitoba growers planned to seed three million acres to canola, 145,000 acres of flax, and 125,000 acres of sunflowers this year in central regions. The week began with warm, dry weather leading to very good growing conditions.
There was light to moderate amounts of precipitation reported mid-week across the region, with the Red River Valley receiving the highest amounts. Some hail was reported in the Crystal City area causing limited damage. The Red River Valley received more rain over the weekend with amounts ranging from 20 to 30 mm, while the western side of the region received little or no rainfall. Some hail was also reported east of the Red River causing moderate to severe damage in a narrow band of cropland. In the areas of higher precipitation, water is standing in low areas of fields and some crop yellowing is evident. Seeding in Central region is reported as 100 per cent complete, including reseeding. Spring cereals are growing well, with excellent tillering noted. Early-seeded canola plant stands are less than optimal but improving. Canola development ranges from emerging to 4-6 leaf stage. A few fields are in the rosette stage and should reach bolting stage soon. Some canola is also starting to flower in the Portage area. Reseeded canola is emerging well. Field peas are up to the sixnode stage, with soybean development ranging from first to second trifoliate stages. Many early fields are reported as having heavy weed pressure. The warmer temperatures improved corn stands, and is developing well. Sunflower growth ranges from emerging to two true leaves and reports of cutworms continue requiring regular monitoring.
Winter wheat and fall rye are reported to be in good to excellent condition, with only a fraction of acres rated as fair. Fall rye is heading out, and winter wheat is in full flag to early heading stage. Field spraying operations were being hampered by intermittent rains, wind and wet field conditions in the Red River Valley but in the western areas producers made good spraying progress. Field crop seeding is complete in eastern regions. Cereal crops range in development from four leaves with tillers, to very early flag leaf emergence. Winter wheat has headed, canola ranges from seedling to rosette and soybeans, sunflowers and corn are all growing with vigour. For most of the week good to excellent growing conditions allowed crops to develop rapidly. Rainfall accumulations in the east ranged from just two to over 50 mm with northern districts receiving greater amounts during isolated thunderstorms over the weekend. Soil moisture in crop, hay and pasture lands are rated as adequate to surplus. Some aerial spraying was done to avoid track damage in wet fields. Overall, field crops are rated in good condition. Some producers are waiting for fields to dry up to seed greenfeed. Pastures are slow growing, and low spots are still fairly wet. Most livestock is out on pasture, and alfalfa is being put up as silage.
The Agri Post
Summertime Heat Stress Hits Beef Cattle Hard By Peter Vitti I always feel sorry for beef cattle in an open field that cannot escape the hot summer’s sun. The other day, I was driving along a pasture that had about thirty black Angus cow-calf pairs. Not a tree or waterer in sight. All the animals were crowded together, cows were not grazing and their calves were not nursing. I am pretty sure these cattle were suffering from summertime heat stress. As this temperature/ humidity chart illustrates (source University of Nebraska), beef cows and calves like the ones that I saw, suffer from heat stress at any time when the Temperature-Humidity Index (THI); a gradient humidex scale based on 76 F (24.4 C) degrees and 85% humidity is exceeded. A THI of above 75 is considered dangerous to the well-being of beef cattle because they are unable to maintain a normal body temperature of 101.5 F (38.6 C). Luckily, there are some summer management practices that producers can use to help cattle cope with heat stress. Such practices at best will only lessen heat stress in beef cattle rather than eliminate it. Instead, such cows and calves (and if breeding bulls are still out on pasture) will not return to optimum stages until the weather cools off. During the “dog days” of summer, I would expect heat-stressed cows to slow down any significant grazing during the hottest parts of the day. If they don’t catch-
up at night, overall, nutrient intake could be reduced and milk production could be irreversibly compromised. Furthermore, slightly heatstressed calves do not often nurse well and do not go up to the creep feeders. It has been my experience that such cow-calf loss of nutrition leads to significant lower weaning weights at the end of the pasture season. Consequently, lower weaning weights mean lower revenues, too. Consider a 300 cow-calf operation with spring calves that typically gain 2.0 lbs per day, only to stall out during a 21-day “heat-stress” period at the end of July into August. When these calves are sold in the fall (assumed at the same time of the year); my calculation for their failure to gain weight and subsequent reduced income is as follows: 300 spring calves x 2.0 lb/hd/ d x 21 days x $ 2.25 (demonstration autumn price – weaned 600 lb steers) = $ 28,350.00. That’s nearly a loss of $30,000 revenue directly due to heat stress. While heat stress in the cowherd may ultimately lead to loss of good weaning weight and income, it also can play havoc on the whole cowherd’s future reproductive performance. Research shows that heatstressed cows are more likely to remain open, because they are less likely to ovulate, have irregular estrus cycles, may have poor conception rates, and suffer from a high rate of early embryonic deaths at two different times of pregnancy. Cows that experience early embryonic loss during the
first week of pregnancy appear as repeat breeders (return to cycling), while cows that experience fetal death later-on come back to cycling at the end of the breeding season. A similar fate awaits late season breeding bulls. They become temporarily infertile due to heat stress due to excessive heat built up inside their testes, which causes sterility or damage to the immature sperm cells. Fortunately, these bulls will recover, but only about 60 days after severe extreme hot weather dissipates, a period that coincides with the natural process of sperm production and maturation. Regardless of these effects upon cattle by summer heat stress, there are still many pro-active steps that can be implemented to help reduce its negative impact upon their general well-being and performance: 1. Lots of cool clean water must be provided. The water surface area should be sufficient for a large number of cattle to drink at the same time, and the water flow within the waterers and tanks should be replenished, quickly. 2. Cows and calves should have access to trees and other forms of shade. Open buildings and pole-sheds with light colored roofs can be used to provide shade. Windbreaks will provide shade, but they reduce air movement and sometimes contribute to heat-stress. 3. Adjust pasture management. Under rotational grazing systems, rotate the cattle through pastures more quickly. This change allows cattle to graze more digestible pasture forages that lower their internal generation of heat from fibre fermentation. 4. Feed a nutritious and palatable creep feed to nursing calves. It is also a good idea to frequently check the creep feeders, and not allow them to go empty. 5. Provide salt and a good commercial mineral at all times. Pasture studies suggest cattle need more sodium, potassium, and magnesium under heat stress. 6. Implement a good fly control program. Many producers implement insecticide ear tags and use cattle back-rubbers, dusters and oilers. Eliminate shallow pools, muddy areas and other fly breeding spots. By the middle of July into August, weeks of unbearable hot summer weather seems endless. We can help grazing cattle and calves hit hard by heat stress by implementing these coping techniques. The payback is better than expected calf growth and mature cowherd reproduction performance.
June 26, 2015
29
Elimination of PED in Manitoba Expected Within Months By Harry Siemens This is not the time to relax biosecurity in the hog industry despite the great work the entire industry is doing to stop PED virus. For many months, producers would walk into their facilities hoping against hope they would not see sick baby pigs in the morning. To have their piglets get the disease and go through the process of cleaning it up, eradicating the disease is not easy, and has cost those producers at least one production cycle, if not more. According to Dr. Megan Bergman, Manitoba’s Chief Veterinary Officer expects swine barns in the province infected with Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea to be free of the infection within the next couple of months. Manitoba identified its first case of PED in February 2014, and since then the deadly disease infected a total of five farms, including two sow sites and three finisher sites. Dr. Bergman said so far strategies aimed at ridding the farms of the virus are quite successful. “The strategies in use to eliminate PED from a farm are developed through consultation with herd veterinarians and information gathered from PED infected regions,” she said. “The affected herds and their vets have worked really closely with the CVO to implement the best strategy for their circumstances. Finisher operations are able to empty their barns, thoroughly clean and disinfect them and then test the barn to ensure that they’ve eliminated the virus prior to repopulation.” Bergman said next is that they implement a testing strategy when they introduce healthy pigs to ensure that they do not become infected with PED and that helps to determine they have actually eliminated the virus from the barn. “It’s a bit more challenging when we’re dealing with things like sow barns,” said Bergman. “These facilities are not as easy to clean and disinfect and often you don’t end up in a scenario where you actually empty out the barn and so we have to find ways to be able to work with the producer to help him become disease free and also manage the farm at the same time.” She said one of the strategies they use is to ensure the pigs on site in the farm develop immunity as quickly as possible. That
includes strategies such as back feeding and also start to monitor those swine to make sure they can detect when they stop shedding that virus and the cycle of the virus is complete within the pigs in the barn,” she added. “Once that happens then we can start moving forward with the cleaning and disinfection process room by room in those facilities so it does take time and a lot of dedication but our folks are working very hard to do that.” Dr. Bergman said then they can evaluate pigs and piglets when they come into the barns so that they continue to maintain a negative status. According to the provincial agricultural department in Saskatchewan, while environmental testing has detected positive or suspect positive samples of PED and Swine Delta Corona virus, the province’s swineherd remains free of the infections. Since March 2014 the department has kept monitoring high risk or co-min-
gling sites such as slaughter plants and assembly yards for PED, Swine Delta Corona virus and TGE, because all three are reportable diseases in Saskatchewan. The department also receives reports of suspect or positive results from producer-submitted samples. Saskatchewan Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Betty Althouse said during the last reporting period they detected SDC suspect or positive samples at three sites including a truck wash, in stored feed, on an on-the-farm loading dock and a truck wash was found to be positive for PED. “The biggest thing to take note of is so far we have no herds or facilities with pigs actually infected in the province so any of the detections we have found to date have been environmental ones,” said Althouse. “We’ve had a few suspected positives for PED over time and probably a lot more of SDC infections picked up.”
Three Year Tri-Partner Agreement on Nutrient Management Renewed The Manitoba government, the Canadian Fertilizer Institute (CFI) and Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) have renewed their shared commitment to sustainable agriculture practices and environmental protection through appropriate fertilizer use. The three-year agreement reaffirms support for the Right Source @ Right Rate, Right Time, Right Place approach to nutrient management, commonly referred to as 4R Nutrient Stewardship. As a result, the CFI will fund and implement extension and data-collection projects across the province focused on sustainable fertilizer use in the agricultural sector. “Farmers in Manitoba are utilizing 4R Nutrient Stewardship to improve agricultural productivity and minimize impact on the environment,” said Clyde Graham, Senior Vice-President, Canadian Fertilizer Institute. The Province and these two organizations first signed a 4R Nutrient Stewardship agreement in January 2013. Since that time, partners have reached more than 1,500 people with information about this approach to sustainable agriculture by developing training resources and making presentations to farmers and agronomists, creating a YouTube video featuring a farmer talking about implementing 4R Nutrient Stewardship on his farm and creating an interactive learning station used to engage and educate people about water movement and management, water quality protection and farming practices. 4R Nutrient Stewardship was established in co-operation with government, researchers, farmers and the public and ensures nutrients are used in a way that protects the environment while enabling producers to achieve economic success. “Application using the 4Rs maximizes fertilizer performance and minimizes its effect on the environment,” said Dan Mazier, President, Keystone Agricultural Producers. To learn more about 4R Nutrient Stewardship, visit farming4rfuture.ca.
30
June 26, 2015
Agricultural Risk Management Task Force Consultations Scheduled Manitoba farmers and other agricultural stakeholders are invited to provide their input about agricultural risk management programs at a series of upcoming public consultations or through an online questionnaire. “The task force appointed earlier this year is making good progress and we now want to hear directly from those most affected by agricultural risk management programs and climate-related challenges,” said Agriculture, Food and Rural Development Minister Ron Kostyshyn. “This is important work that will guide our government’s direction in the years to come and the task force provides the best platform to hold discussions with industry stakeholders and the public.” The minister noted Manitoba farmers have said existing business risk management programs do not adequately address the risks that arise from climate-related challenges such as spring flooding and excess rainfall. “We are following through on our commitment to review existing programs and consider options that will be more predictable, comprehensive and sustainable for farmers and governments,” the minister said. “I look forward to hearing from Manitobans as part of the task force’s work.” The Agriculture Risk Management Review Task Force will focus its consultations on the ability of current programs to protect and provide a foundation for Manitoba’s agriculture industry as it deals with a changing climate, Kostyshyn said. Seven public consultations have been scheduled: - Melita, Town Hall, on July 9, at 9:30 -11:30 am. - Swan River, Westwood Inn on July 13, at 7:30 - 9:30 pm. - Dauphin, St. Viator’s Roman Catholic Church, on July 14, at 1:30 - 3:30 pm. - Arborg, Arborg Bifrost Community Centre, on July 20, at 1:30 - 3:30 pm. - Portage la Prairie, Canad Inns Destination Centre, on July 21, at 1:30 - 3:30 pm. - Beausejour, Sandy-Salteaux Spiritual Centre, on July 27, at 1:30 - 3:30 pm. - Morris, Morris United Church, on July 28, at 1:30 - 3:30 pm. Written submissions will be accepted until September 30 and should focus on gaps or challenges with current risk management programs, and any adjustments or alternatives to current programs that could be considered, the minister said. An online questionnaire will also be available. The questionnaire and additional information on how to send written comments will be posted online shortly in the Quick Links section at gov.mb.ca/ agriculture. The task force has been asked to review the ability of current tools to effectively manage risk and identify gaps. They have also been asked to identify new policy and program opportunities that may advance the ability of the agriculture sector and government to manage risk issues and the economic effects of a changing climate. The task force’s members are Bill Uruski (Chair), Derek Brewin, Doug Chorney, John DeVos, Frieda Krpan and Goldwyn Jones. A final report with recommendations will be submitted to government by the end of the year, the minister said.
The Agri Post
2015 FFarm arm FFamily amily of the YYear ear Ed and Kathy Friesen of Kleefeld were named the 2015 Farm Family of the Year at a June ceremony in Winnipeg where they were joined by MLA Kelvin Goertzen and Hanover Reeve Stan Toews. The Friesen’s own and operate Friecrest Holsteins, a dairy farm that they began in 1999. Ed is active in many dairy industry boards and they take pride in hosting groups and providing tours of their operations to increase awareness of the farming industry. The Farm Family of the Year award began in 1966 and presented by the Red River Exhibition Association.
The Agri Post
June 26, 2015
31
32
June 26, 2015
The Agri Post