Mfv150312

The Official Publication of Keystone Agricultural Producers

SPRING 2015 EDITION

MEMBER PROFILE

MURRAY and PAULETTE KLASSEN Hard work, family support and love of farming add up to success

KAP 31st ANNUAL MEETING Resolutions, photos, highlights

LYME DISEASE Farmer urges caution after contracting it

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The Manitoba Farmers’ Voice – Spring 2015

Published four times a year by: Keystone Agricultural Producers 203-1700 Ellice Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3H 0B1 phone: 204-697-1140 fax: 204-697-1109 e-mail: kap@kap.mb.ca website: www.kap.mb.ca

— KAP 2015 EX EC U T I V E —

Contents Cover Story / member profile

President Dan Mazier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (204) 720-4646

Murray and Paulette Klassen

Vice-president Justin Jenner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (204) 724-2477 Vice-president Glenn Young . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (204) 721-0792 District 1 Bill Campbell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (204) 724-6218 District 2 Dallas Timmerman . . . . . . . . . (204) 723-2704

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District 3 Reg Dyck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (204) 735-2886

Hard work, family support and love of farming add up to success

District 4 Kevin Stott . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (204) 371-4762 District 5 Edgar Scheurer . . . . . . . . . . . . (204) 781-0465

Features

District 6 Rae Trimble-Olson . . . . . . . . . (204) 871-1063 District 7 Simon Ellis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (204) 720-9155 District 8 David Wray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (204) 773-3224 District 9 TBA District 10 Kyle Foster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (204) 364 2358 District 11 Don Dewar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (204) 638-8433 District 12 Dwight Eisner . . . . . . . . . . . . . (204) 238-4434 Special crops/vegetable commodity groups Theresa Bergsma . . . . . . . . . . . (204) 745 6661

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12 Biosecurity more important than ever as new diseases move into Manitoba

KAP Annual Meeting Highlights, resolutions and photos

Red meat commodity groups George Matheson. . . . . . . . . . . (204) 791-5822 Supply managed commodity groups Murray Klassen . . . . . . . . . . . . . (204) 346-2508 Special interest groups Chuck Fossay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (204) 781-9843 Corporate Partner Farm Credit Canada EDITOR: Val Ominski

— STAF F — James Battershill General Manager Kathy Ulasy Financial Co-ordinator Val Ominski Communications Co-ordinator Alanna Gray Policy Analyst April Kuz Administrative Assistant Chandra Rempel Executive Assistant

Next advertising deadline: May 8, 2015 Manitoba Farmer's Voice is produced by Farm Business Communications — a division of Glacier FarmMedia

24 Young and successful Myron and Jill Krahn of Carman

27 Farmer urges caution after contracting Lyme disease

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President’s message

32

Public misconceptions about farming

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New KAP management team prepared to tackle emerging issues

Setting the record straight

GM’s message

Focus on efficiency has undermined railways’ ability to serve grain-shipping customers

Farmers’ Voice / S P R I N G 2 0 1 5

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MEMBER PROFILE

Murray & Paulette Klassen Hard work, family support and love of farming add up to success by Duncan Morrison

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Farmers’ Voice / W I NT ER 2014

M

urray Klassen has been in agriculture his entire life. Looking back, he says that his own tried and true recipe for farming success is really not much of a mystery to folks embedded in the biz like he is. He says a good farming life is made best by a lot of hard work and the support of family and friends. In fact, that personal recipe has worked all through Murray’s farming journey, leading him to the place in life that he and his wife Paulette now enjoy. Murray Klassen’s story started back in the 1960s. His grandfather ran a mixed farm near Altona, and as a youngster Murray helped out

Paulette works full time balancing the books and handling the administrative needs of the farm, while Murray and the farm manager take care of operations, maintenance and logistics.

doing what he could and learning the ropes. His grandpa had an excellent way of handling livestock, and Murray’s dad was particularly handy around the farm, too. Murray credits them both for teaching him so well. Through their mentorship, Murray had a natural connection with the farm biz and brought an early-formed, hard-working skillset that developed with age — from pitching hay, to driving trucks and tractors, to cleaning barns — that would serve him well down the road. As he grew older, Murray moved on to Morris, where he sold fuel and fertilizer. He believes his time in Morris was pivotal in nudging his farming career forward. His handiness and farm know-how soon landed him in the employ of John Wiebe, a poultry farmer and now a long-time friend. Murray operated as a key and trusted co-ordinator for Wiebe, ensuring most everything ran smoothly, from the logistics around truck deliveries of young hens and other fowl across Western Canada, to pitching in when eggs needed loading or when something needed fixing. The job also put Murray in daily conversations with Kevin Duddridge, co-owner of Keystone Hatchery, and a solid working relationship and friendship was soon developed. “Kevin and I talked daily,” Murray recalls. “His hatchery became a hub for pullet movement across Western Canada and the northern United States. Through my talks with Kevin, I saw an opportunity. By then I was married to Paulette, and in 1997, we bought our first poultry farm of commercial layers.” Murray and Paulette grew the farm and went from 18,000 laying hens per year to 30,000. In addition, they also raised baby chicks, bought from the hatchery, to pullet size (18 weeks), at which point they sold them as laying hens. They grew this side of the operation from 58,00 to 110,000 pullets a year. They also raised a thousand hogs a year. In 2001, the Klassen’s sold their existing farm and bought Maple Hill Farms near »

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COVER FEATURE / MEMBER PROFILE

Murray in one of five barns, empty between flocks; a far cry from when the flock (left) inhabits the space.

KAP is not a marketing agency. There are needs and things in our agricultural industry that have to be addressed, and the way to do that is to go through government. We need a strong voice and we need a collective voice — and KAP brings that.”

Steinbach, the area where Paulette hails from. They got out of pullets, laying hens and hogs — and instead got into broilers (meat birds) and breeders (hens that produce eggs for hatching). Today, Maple Hill Farms, which is a member of Granny’s Poultry Farmers Co-operative, raises 58,000 kilograms of broiler hens and 7,000 breeders each year through five barns on the property. The breeders produce over a million eggs per year. Known as hatching eggs, they are sold to hatcheries where they develop into baby chicks. The farm also includes a crops component. Between Murray and a friend, they farm over 2,400 acres of grains and oilseeds. Murray and Paulette form a strong partnership at Maple Hill Farms. Murray and farm manager Phil Gerbrandt take care of operations, maintenance and logistics while Paulette works full time balancing the books and handling the administrative needs of the farm. The couple are proud grandparents to

nine grandchildren ranging in age from 12 years to nine months (Mercedes, Jolie, Jaylyn, Brooke, Keagan, Lucas, Julien, Lexi and Amelie) from sons Justin (Marilyn), Joel (Erin), and Shawn (Holly). “The boys have all worked at home at one time in their lives and they still help out if and when they are needed,” says Murray proudly. “They all are pursuing their own careers.” Over time, the now 52-year-old Murray has stepped up his involvement in the poultry industry. In November 2013, Murray was elected by hatching egg producers to the Manitoba Chicken Producers board of directors. Murray is also the MCP representative with Keystone Agricultural Producers, and has recently accepted a position on the KAP executive board as the representative for supply-managed commodities. While his experience with KAP has been just over a year, he says he has been impressed by what he has seen. “My stint with KAP has thus far been really enjoyable,” he says. “I haven’t » CONTINUED ON PG 8

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Farmers’ Voice / SPRIN G 2015

As third generation farmers, the Jeffries look to us for next-generation advice. TD is committed to helping farmers build for the future. Dave Jeffries and his sons, Roland and Ernie, know a thing or two about farming. So, when it was time to expand the business, they naturally chose a bank that knew how to help. At TD, they found Agriculture Specialist Vince Puchailo, who helped implement a succession plan that involved Dave’s brother. Vince’s understanding of the complex process even impressed the lawyers handling the sale. A personalized approach to agriculture finance, like Vince’s, is something all TD Agriculture Specialists bring. Maybe it’s time you brought one to your farm.

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COVER FEATURE / MEMBER PROFILE

Murray and Paulette’s granddaughter, Brooke, with a chick that will develop into a broiler (meat) chicken. The Klassens produce 58,000 kilograms of chicken per year.

The chicken industry is excellent right now. We have a market and a marketing board that puts producers in a steady place.”

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Farmers’ Voice / SPRING 2015

been with them for that long of time but I am impressed with the leadership and direction of KAP. I believe they are working effectively and for the right reasons.” Ironically, despite an executive board position at MCP, it was Murray’s grain-farming background that also helped form his thoughts on KAP. “I’m also a grain producer and we need people on side with us,” he says. “KAP is not a marketing agency. There are needs and things in our agricultural industry that have to be addressed, and the way to do that is to go through government. We need a strong voice and we need a collective voice — and KAP brings that.” As a chicken producer, Murray is part of Canada’s supply-management system, which controls production of cheese, dairy, eggs and poultry via separate marketing boards. Farmers are allotted a certain quota which they can sell.

“The chicken industry is excellent right now,” he says. “We have a market and a marketing board that puts producers in a steady place. We are very fortunate and blessed to have the national industry. Let’s never forget that.” Locally, the Manitoba Chicken Producers represents the needs of hatching egg and chicken producers, providing leadership in maintaining a viable and stable chicken production industry. “We (MCP) are a provincial, farmerrun, organization whose main responsibility is to ensure that Manitoba farmers produce enough hatching eggs and meat chickens to meet the needs of the marketplace,” says Murray. “Our organization is completely funded through levies paid by registered farmers according to the number of eggs and kilograms of chicken marketed.” Murray points to the fact that MCP just allocated six new quotas to new entrants. He says this is a window into Manitoba’s chicken farming scene. “Is there room to grow in our industry? For sure,” Murray explains. “If chicken consumption keeps stepping up we have room to grow. Our supply management system takes out the highs and lows for producers.” Fully content with the farming life he has carved out, Murray looked back on his career and the life he and Paulette have built together. He paused when he spoke of the couple’s future at Maple Hill Farms. “We are of the mindset we are not looking at retirement,” Murray says smiling. “It’s more refinement. We work together and we talk a lot about our farm and our farm operations and what the future holds for us. But we’re in no hurry to leave what we are doing. Besides there are nine grandchildren, so there’s lots of “trainees.” And coming from the grandson that one time worked so closely on the farm with his own grandfather, you can bet those kids are going to learn everything their grandpa and grandma can possibly teach them at Maple Hill Farms. MFV

Here’s how KAP tackled the issues that affected you and your farm last year. $36-plus million in education tax relief As a result of KAP’s intense lobbying efforts, the Manitoba government created a rebate to return education taxes on farmland. This year, over $36 million has been put back in farmers’ pockets! KAP continues to lobby for school tax relief on farm buildings, and for limits on the program to be removed.

Railways ordered to move a million tonnes of grain per week KAP was instrumental in getting the trains moving last winter. As a result of KAP’s lobbying and publicity efforts, the federal government agreed the railways were not performing and ultimately passed legislation ordering them to haul a minimum of a million tonnes of grain per week. KAP will continue to lobby for rail service improvement during the review of the Canada Transportation Act.

Flexibility for manure and fertilizer application KAP successfully lobbied the provincial government to make the restriction on winter fertilizer and manure application flexible, based on whether the ground is frozen. This replaces the previous policy that solely relied on fixed dates every year, and will greatly improve farmers’ ability to get fall nutrients applied in a late-harvest year.

And the list goes on! Renew your membership for 2015, if you haven’t already done so, and ensure KAP’s work continues. You can pay with a single cheque of $210 and avoid check-offs. Go to kap.mb.ca, or call the KAP office at 204-697-1140.

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

New KAP management team prepared to tackle emerging issues head on and with a strong voice By DAN MAZIER, KAP President

This is my first column since I became president at KAP’s annual meeting at the end of January, and I would like to thank everyone who supported me in my decision to take on this new role. I have been involved with KAP since 2004, first with the Young Farmers Forum and then as vice-president since 2010. As well, I have chaired the Workplace and Employment Committee, and been a member of the Rural Development and Environment committees. I have truly enjoyed working on behalf of members, and now it’s an honour to continue doing so as president. I appreciate the trust KAP members have put in me as I undertake to continue moving KAP forward. We are recognized provincially and nationally as the voice of farmers, and I will work hard to maintain and enhance our reputation. I would like to comment briefly on our recent annual meeting, and the great attendance from the districts and from our stakeholders. We debated and passed 13 resolutions, including one to lobby the federal government for access by generic seed developers to patent traits at least seven years before traits come off patent, so there is adequate time to develop new plant varieties from those traits. (See page 20 for the complete list of resolutions.) Delegates heard from a variety of excellent speakers, including Murad Al-Katib, adviser responsible for grain transportation in the current Canada Transportation Act Review. There was also a panel discussion on local farm and food-processing successes with Lisa Dyck, creator of Cornell Crème ice cream, and Farmery Estate Brewery founders Lawrence and Chris Warwaruk.

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Farmers’ Voice / SPRIN G 2015

One of my key focuses during my term will be to support young farmers — through the policies we develop and the lobbying we undertake. I was particularly pleased to see the large numbers of young farmers and future farmers who attended the annual meeting. We were able to offer these young people a day of interaction with other farmers from their districts, as well as a crash course in KAP democracy. And of course, there was the bear pit session with Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development Minister Ron Kostyshyn and other government officials. One of my key focuses during my term will be to support young and

beginning farmers — through the policies we develop and the lobbying we undertake. I will also look for ways to encourage them to get involved with our organization, so they can feel the empowerment that comes with being the impetus for positive changes in our industry. I might add that KAP worked with staff from MAFRD to present the Young Farmers Conference in Brandon last month, where conference delegates attended a variety of sessions on business risk management. I want to point out that KAP will now benefit from having a young farmer perspective on our management team. I welcome Justin Jenner, one of our new vice-presidents, who will bring a fresh voice to the KAP table. I also welcome Glenn Young, our other vicepresident, who will bring the voice of experience to our team. Together, we will address the ongoing issues that include rail service, business risk management programs, sustainable hog sector development, the way we collect tax for education, sustainable drainage regulations, and producer payment security. We are also prepared to take up new concerns as they unfold in the same manner that KAP tackled the rail backlog last year — head on and with a strong voice. In closing, I would like to thank our past president Doug Chorney for the countless hours he devoted to KAP, and for mentoring me as I prepared to step into this position. Finally, I wish everyone a favourable spring, good seeding conditions and a safe season. Please remember: spot the hazard, assess it, find a safer way. Do this every day for yourself and your family. MFV

It’s not just what you plant. It’s how you care for it. You already know there’s a need for safety on any farm. But there’s knowing, and then there’s doing... especially since you aren’t the only one who works at or visits your farm. Family members, farm workers, contract workers, suppliers… not everyone will know the rules and responsibilities at your farm. As you plan your season, don’t forget your safety plan. Start by downloading your Farm Safety Checklist at

safemanitoba.com/farms

SECTION CROPS & LIVESTOCK HEADER

Biosecurity more important than ever as new diseases move into Manitoba By Ron Friesen

Clubroot underlines the importance of implementing biosecurity plans on Manitoba farms to prepare for new pests before they strike.

For over 100 years, the Boy Scout movement has lived by the motto “Be Prepared.” Today, that expression could well apply to Manitoba farmers because of new diseases that are moving into the province. Clubroot in canola and PED virus in pigs are, unfortunately, excellent examples of these. The first case of clubroot in a western Canadian commercial canola field was identified near Edmonton, Alberta in 2003. Less than a decade later, this disease, which can cause major yield loss, arrived in Manitoba. The first case in a commercial field was detected in 2011. As of June 2014, 10 rural Manitoba municipalities have been identified as having it through farmer submitted samples and annual disease survey soil analysis.

Meanwhile, Manitoba hog producers are apprehensively watching the progress of PEDv, a devastating virus which can kill up to 100 per cent of the suckling pigs it infects. First detected in the U.S. in May 2013, the disease has carved a path of destruction through the American Midwest and is threatening to move northward. Several cases were identified in Manitoba this past year. Clubroot and PEDv underline the importance of implementing biosecurity plans on Manitoba farms to prepare for new pests before they strike. “A biosecurity plan is not 100 per cent fail safe that you’re never going to get a pest,” says Anastasia Kubinec, the oilseed business development specialist with Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development. “But we can do a

number of things to identify it, deal with it, be pro-active and manage it when it does come.” Kubinec would know. She’s been helping to present workshops since 2013 on developing and implementing biosecurity plans for Manitoba farms. The workshops are the first step in the process. Producers then conduct a selfassessment to identify biosecurity risks on their farms. After that, they develop a biosecurity management plan, using a producer guide to the National Voluntary Farm-Level Biosecurity Standard for the Grains and Oilseed Industry as a template. Finally, they implement and monitor the plan after review by a MAFRD grain bio-security representative. The biosecurity standard was devel» CONTINUED ON PG 14

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Farmers’ Voice / Spring 2015

HIGHEST CATTLE PRICES EVER

Where do you go from here? Cattle producers in Western Canada are benefitting from record high cattle prices. A profitable industry means it’s time to start thinking about the future. From financial projections to business planning and strategic tax strategies, MNP’s Agricultural Services team will help you position your operation so you can prosper in the long term. For more information, please contact: Tere Stykalo, CGA Southman Regional Ag Leader E: tere.stykalo@mnp.ca

Eric Olson, BSAg, PAg Farm Management Consultant E: eric.olson@mnp.ca

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Take stock of your financial plans in the New Year PETER MANNESS

F

inancial planning is integral to your business in both good times and bad because, regardless of the size of your operation, farms continually face challenges. It can be difficult to think about, much less plan for the future when you are in the trenches, fighting to keep your cattle fed, cash flow in the black and the creditors at bay. With the cattle industry finally turning the corner after a decade of post-BSE struggles, now is the time to start preparing for the future. The outlook over the last 18 months has swung significantly in cattle producers’ favour, thanks to strong beef demand and a declining cattle herd. The combination of the two has boosted profits and given all producers the opportunity to take a breath, look at their business and start to plan for what the future may hold for them. There are three main areas you as a producer should be considering as the New Year unfolds. Cost of Production – Cattle producers have been one of most adept groups at changing

their practices to manage costs. During lean times that meant figuring out a cheaper way to do things. With profitability comes change and possible complacency – but now is not the time to become less aggressive in managing costs. For producers contemplating major changes to their operations, like expanding or adding back-grounding for example, it is essential to understand where your profit comes from and the key targets to track to make sure you keep as much of it as possible. You also need to understand how the changes will modify the overall cost of production for the animals you raise, in both good and bad ways. Future – Now that things aren’t quite so tight, it is time to start thinking again about what’s next. If you see a major milestone like an expansion, transition or exit coming within the next five years or less on your farm, it’s time to start planning now. The decisions you make today will have a big impact on how those events will affect you in the future. Having the time gives you flexibility and flexibility gives you opportunity. Tax – The significant increase in income for cattle producers means there is a greater risk you could

get caught with a big tax bill. If good cattle prices have convinced you to sell your calves early, you may actually end up with two years of cattle sales in one tax year and a tax bill that might be as big as the price tag of your shiny new pickup. The impact to you will depend on whether your current business structure is still adequate for the profitability of your farm. The right strategy for you will depend on your future plans and goals, to ensure you pay the right amount of tax at the right time. The benefit of engaging in a formal tax planning process is you can talk through and create a road map for your farm’s future, one reflecting the implications of different decisions and the possible outcomes. The financial planning process also gives you more time to consider all of your options and avoid some foreseeable roadblocks. You may have seen the highest prices ever for cattle in 2014, but records are made to be broken. Time to get ready for 2015. Peter Manness is a farm management consultant with MNP in Brandon. For more information, contact Peter at peter.manness@mnp.ca or visit mnp.ca

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oped by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in collaboration with Agriculture and Agri-Food and the Canada Grains Council. Biosecurity is defined as farm management practices designed to prevent, minimize and control the introduction, spread and release of pests. That includes insects, nematodes, weeds, bacteria, fungi and viruses. Kubinec admits it can be hard to get excited about biosecurity in the abstract. Eyes tend to glaze over when the term comes up at workshops. But bring the subject close to home with some practical examples and producers become very involved indeed. Take clubroot, for example. It’s a soilborne disease which can be transmitted on farm machinery, trucks, seed, shoes and even clothing. Let’s say a contractor brings earth-moving equipment on to your farm to level land for drainage. You (and possibly the contractor) don’t know if the dirt on the machinery might contain the clubroot pathogen. Kubinec suggests asking the operator certain questions, such as: Where were you before? What protocols do you have for cleaning your equipment as you move from field to field? Or consider the soybean cyst nematode, a serious pest of soybean crops in the United States. A used soybean header bought in the U.S. and imported into Manitoba could be carrying the nematode unless the equipment has been properly cleaned first. This is why custom cleaning is highly recommended when buying used machinery, especially from places known to have pests which are not found here. Manure is another example. If it’s custom spread on your land, it may not be your own manure and you don’t know what’s in it. It could contain weed seeds such as wild oats, which are not always broken down in the gut of an animal. Wild oat resistance to Group 1 herbicides is becoming widespread. So if you’re spreading someone else’s manure on your fields, you could be seeding herbicide resistant wild oats — unless you do some due diligence first. From an abstract concept, manage-

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Farmers’ Voice / Spring 2015

Clubroot was first found in Manitoba in 2011, and has now spread to 10 municipalities.

ment plans to identify biosecurity risks and guard against them suddenly become very real. “Most producers when they walk out of a workshop go, ‘I never would even have thought of that before I came in,’” Kubinec says. Developing biosecurity plans may not require as much work as some may think. Like farm safety, biosecurity can include practices which producers are already following. Only now they’re being documented and verified. Kubinec and other MAFRD staff begin workshops by asking four self-assessment questions from the biosecurity guide: Can I avoid the introduction of a biosecurity risk that I currently do not have? Can I contain and minimize the

biosecurity risks that I already have? Can I avoid pests leaving my farm? Do I need a biosecurity risk management plan for my farm? If producers answer yes to any of these questions, their farms will benefit from having a biosecurity plan. Kubinec says such a plan can add value to a farming operation. It helps increase yields and quality of crops. It provides lines of defense against pests currently not on the farm. It can increase land values and help producers access higher value markets if they can show documented evidence of a good biosecurity management plan. Right now, a biosecurity management plan may not be an actual marketing tool to help producers sell their crops.

But that could change. Kubinec notes some food retailers, such as McDonald’s Restaurants, are starting to include product life cycles in their marketing plans. If retailers want proof that the food products they buy from producers are environmentally sound, a biosecurity plan may help bolster consumer confidence. MAFRD biosecurity plan workshops are conducted by video conference or in person, and last about two and a half hours. Farmers can initiate a workshop by contacting their local MAFRD farm production adviser. Since a certain number of farmers are needed to make putting on the workshop worthwhile, farmers may want to encourage their neighbours to contact MAFRD as well. The workshops are free. Producers who complete them may apply for funding under Growing Forward 2 to purchase equipment for biosecurity management. The government will pay 65 per cent of the cost up to a maximum of $2,500.

More information is available online by following these links: Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development Food Safety At The Farm Growing Assurance-Food Safety On-Farm. Or by going to the following address: http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/ food-safety/at-the-farm/growingassurance-food-safety-on-farm. html.

The bottom line is that you can’t prevent new pests from arriving on your farm. But you can be proactive and develop strategies to deal with them if and when they do come, says Kubinec. “When we’re more aware, we’re better prepared and hopefully have less yield loss and economic risk because we know what to do.” » CONTINUED ON PG 16

Find out if you have clubroot spores on your farm The new Pest Surveillance Initiative, a joint project of the Manitoba Canola Growers Association and MAFRD, is providing Manitoba growers with the ability to test their soil for low levels of clubroot DNA. All individual results — either positive for clubroot spores or negative for clubroot spores — will be kept confidential. Township-range level information, however, will be used to generate a map showing the rural municipalities with presence/ absence of clubroot. If you are interested in having your canola fields sampled for this project, contact PSI at mm@mbpestlab.ca and include the legal land descriptions on which you grew canola in 2014. This will be crossreference to the township-ranges already sampled.

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The hog industry: Biosecurity success story A virulent pig disease causing major losses in American hog barns is so far being held at bay in Manitoba, thanks largely to biosecurity measures within the industry. Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv) is a coronavirus that can cause high rates of mortality, especially among nursing pigs. PEDv was first detected in the U.S. in the spring of 2013. This past winter it had spread to nearly 30 states and showed no sign of abating. As of January, a handful of cases had been confirmed in Manitoba. But the Manitoba Pork Council is confident the disease can be controlled if producers follow strict biosecurity measures. “Our main competitive advantage in Canada is our health status. Biosecurity is the main reason why we keep our pigs healthy,” said Miles Beaudin, manager of quality assurance and labour programs. “You put a pig in a barn and everything that comes into it is managed.” Biosecurity in Manitoba’s swine industry starts with the national Canadian Quality Assurance program for hog producers. Through the program, registered producers demonstrate compliance with national standards for food safety and animal care. A section in the CQA producer manual focuses on biosecurity by outlining protocols for people, animals and anything else arriving on hog farms and entering barns. Procedures involve changing footwear and clothing, decontaminating trucks, disinfecting equipment and, in certain cases, showering when going in and out of barns. CQA is voluntary but the pork council encourages all producers to sign up for it.

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Farmers’ Voice / Spring 2015

Manitoba pork producers have done a good job of adopting biosecurity measures to keep PEVd and other diseases at bay.

“Biosecurity is basically a shield or armour around the farm. Through biosecurity we try to prevent diseases from coming in,” Beaudin said. The Canadian Swine Health Board is also involved. Formed by the federal government after a circovirus outbreak among pigs in Quebec in 2004, the board today has a national PEDv strategy, which stresses heightened biosecurity, surveillance, risk analysis and control. The program is separate from CQA but Beaudin said the two can work together. Beaudin said Manitoba Pork communicates biosecurity protocols to producers, who know the importance of implementing such measures on their farms.

“One of the things that makes farmers happy is a very healthy pig,” Beaudin said. “Anything that can maintain the health status of a pig or improve it, farmers will do the work. It’s very valuable.” Biosecurity protocols also help boost consumer confidence in food safety, especially in the case of PEDv, he said. “PEDv does not cause a biological risk, so there’s no danger to the consumer. But when consumers hear about it, they may not make the distinction. We put a lot of resources into making that distinction. What’s important is that consumers know we’re doing our best to raise these hogs at the highest health status.”

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KAP ANNUAL MEETING 2015 / MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

31ST Annual meeting

HIGHLIGHTS January 28-29, 2015

photo: ed white, the western producer

KAP’s 31st annual meeting was a memorable one, from the outstanding district and stakeholder representation, right through to the line-up of excellent speakers. For the first time ever, the event was held over two days instead of three — and most delegates wholeheartedly approved of this new format. The meeting kicked off with an address from the Honourable Ron Kostyshyn, minister of Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development. Following him was a panel discussion on local farm and food-processing successes, with Lisa Dyck, creator of Cornell Crème ice cream, and Farmery Estate Brewery founders Lawrence and Chris Warwaruk. Representatives from Pitblado Law made a presentation on the legal obligations of farmers concerning their employees, as well as their obligations concerning the amended Plant Breeders’ Rights Act. Lyndon Carlson, senior VP of marketing for Farm Credit Canada, provided an economic outlook for Canadian agriculture. Ron Bonnett, president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, spoke on Growing Forward 3. The meeting finished with a wellreceived presentation by Murad AlKatib, adviser to David Emerson, chair of the Canada Transportation Act Review. Mr. Al-Katib touched on key issues raised in the review, and took a number of questions from the floor. During the course of the meeting, Dan Mazier was acclaimed president, replacing Doug Chorney who reached

his four-year term limit. Justin Jenner and Glenn Young were elected vicepresidents. Delegates passed 13 resolutions, including one that called for the federal government to enable generic seed developers (which include farmers) to have access to off-patent plant traits at least seven years before these traits come off patent. The resolution came as a result of amendments to the Plant Breeders’ Rights Act in Bill C-18 that strengthen the ability of plant breeders to capture greater value for their investments, primarily though royalties. Delegates speaking in favour of the resolution noted that off-patent pesticides come to the market fairly quickly, but it takes seven years to develop a new plant variety from an off-patent trait. Additionally, they are concerned that some off-patent traits might disappear altogether. Another resolution called for the Province to stop expropriation of farmland for Bipole lll and allow a provincial landowners’ association, as well as its national counterpart, to negotiate an agreement on behalf of landowners. Other resolutions addressed raising the height of transmission lines to accommodate larger farm equipment, provincial water quality testing of wells and other water sources damaged by overland flooding last summer, and Manitoba Public Insurance’s method of qualifying producers for farm license plates.

Next year’s annual meeting takes place January 27 and 28, 2016

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Farmers’ Voice / Spring 2015

KAP ANNUAL MEETING 2015 / GALLERY

photo: ed white, the western producer

photo: ed white, the western producer

photo: ed white, the western producer

Fa r m e r s ’ Vo i c e / S pr i n g 2 0 1 5

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KAP ANNUAL MEETING 2015 / RESOLUTIONS

31ST Annual meeting

RESOLUTIONS Grains, oilseeds and pulses KAP will: • Lobby the Government of Canada to enable generic seed developers access to patent traits at least seven years before traits come off patent because it takes that long to develop a new plant variety from those traits. • Lobby Government of Canada and Manitoba to hand all assets of the CWB to farmers or western provincial governments.

Association of Energy and Pipeline Landowner Associations, so that an agreement can be reached that addresses the concerns of landowners. • Provide support for the Manitoba Bipole III Landowners Committee and the Canadian Association of Energy and Pipeline Landowner Associations through advertising future rally dates. • Lobby the Government of Manitoba (or industry organizations) to pay for water quality testing from wells damaged by overland flooding.

Livestock KAP will: • Lobby MASC to contact the Manitoba Trappers Association as soon as a predator kill is reported, instead of waiting for multi kills.

Environment and land use KAP will: • Lobby Manitoba Hydro to increase the minimum height of all power lines to 18 feet for all new or upgraded power transmission lines. • Lobby Manitoba Hydro to ensure farmers can request a permanent height increase to power lines at once access point per field to accommodate larger equipment — at no expense and in a timely manner.

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Transportation KAP will: • Support the introduction of roundabouts on Manitoba Highways as long as the roundabout does not restrict equipment and any farm trucks with long, wide loads from travelling through or turning at the intersection. • Lobby Manitoba Public Insurance to allow farm plates to be issued regardless of a farmers’ land ownership status, with only proof of active involvement in farming required.

Water management KAP will:

• Lobby Manitoba Hydro to ensure workers are available within 24 hours to raise power lines as needed by farmers.

• Request the Assiniboine River Basin Initiative to allow for board representation from western Manitoba and areas around the Portage Diversion.

• Lobby the Government of Manitoba to direct Manitoba Hydro to engage with the Manitoba Bipole III Landowners Committee and the Canadian

• Lobby the Government of Manitoba to increase its ditch maintenance budget so that water flows are improved and back-ups are prevented.

Farmers’ Voice / Spring 2015

KAP ANNUAL MEETING 2015 / OUTGOING PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

OUTGOING PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE BY DOUG CHORNEY

O

ver the last four years as KAP president, one year as vice-president and five years on the Executive, I have been privileged to work with so many people that have left a lasting impression on me: • There were the government representatives in MAFRD, Conservation and Water Stewardship, MASC, Manitoba Hydro, AAFC, and many more. Their knowledge and their assistance in helping to understand government policies has been most enlightening. • I must mention former DM Barry Todd and current DM Dori Gingera-Beauchamin who have also been so very supportive of me personally and helped all farmers as much as they could. • I worked also with elected officials — including Minister Ron Kostyshyn, other provincial ministers and federal ministers of agriculture and transportation. We haven’t always agreed, but we’ve treated each other with mutual respect and understanding. • Of course, there were the KAP members from far and wide who have kept me apprised of what’s happening on the landscape — from the backlog of grain last winter to the escalating floods of last summer. I thank you for their help in telling our stories. • There are also the KAP district board members — without their commitment, KAP could not exist. • I worked long hours with the KAP executive and policy committee members who share their knowledge with KAP and create a path for our organization to move forward. • I enjoyed working with members of the media who have shown an interest in KAP and have reported our issues accurately and fairly. • There were also commodity group members and other stakeholders who have worked with KAP on a variety of issues, and proven co-operation is the key to success. • And of course, I acknowledge the KAP staff who work very hard to ensure our organization is professional, progressive and highly functional. We are a very successful lobby organization due in no small part to their efforts.

I worked long hours with the KAP executive and policy committee members who share their knowledge with KAP and create a path for our organization to move forward. Thank you all for making my time with KAP a learning experience and a fulfilling endeavour. The opportunity to establish relationships nationally has been remarkable for me, as well. As your board member at the Canadian Federation of Agriculture I have taken KAP to the national and international stage. Travel from Whitehorse, Yukon to Charlottetown, P.E.I. has been incredible and I will always cherish the memories. »

Fa r m e r s ’ Vo i c e / Spr i n g 2 0 1 5

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KAP ANNUAL MEETING 2015 / OUTGOING PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

This past November I also had the opportunity to represent the CFA in New Zealand on a study tour as part of the country’s commitment to the Global Research Alliance. In addition to all I learned about New Zealand, I established friendships with travel companions from Argentina and Poland. I have seen tremendous change in KAP since I first became involved in 2005. For one, we are better engaging our members, and the result has been an overall trend to increased membership. We have also increased our engagement with the industry and stakeholders — and this has lead to an increase in KAP’s scope. We are now involved in issues that include drainage, human resources and transportation — to name a few. This has led to new recognition in the province and on the national scene as we’ve become a strong voice for agriculture I am leaving KAP knowing we are in a good place, but also knowing that we must always be ready to move forward as new issues emerge. I see BRM programming and its respon-

I wish Dan, Justin and Glenn the best of luck as they address these issues and the myriad of others that are sure to arise. I know that KAP is in good hands with their strong leadership, a highperforming staff and excellent member support.

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Farmers’ Voice / Spring 2014

siveness to climate change as a major issues, as well as water management, transportation, farmland ownership rules, and keeping cultivated land in the hands of farmers. We must also address succession planning, so that young farmers can take their place in our industry. I wish Dan, Justin and Glenn the best of luck as they address these issues and the myriad of others that are sure to arise. I know that KAP is in good hands with their strong leadership, a high-performing staff and excellent member support. In closing, I’d like to leave you with a joke. A husband and wife were driving down a dirt road on their way to visit some friends in the country. They came to a muddy patch in the road and the car became bogged down. After a few minutes of trying to get the car out by themselves, they saw a young farmer coming down the road with a tractor. He stopped when he saw the couple in trouble and offered to pull the car out of the mud for $100. The husband accepted and minutes later the car was free. The farmer turned to the husband and said, “You know, you’re the 20th car I’ve helped out of the mud today.” The husband looked around at the fields incredulously and asked the farmer, “When do you have time to work your land? At night?” “No,” the young farmer replied seriously. “Night is when I put the water on the road.” The moral of the story is to seize opportunities — and I urge KAP, our staff and our membership to look at the issues that will arise in the future, and use them not as challenges, but as opportunities to strengthen agriculture’s voice even more. MFV

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YOUNG FARMERS

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Farmers’ Voice / Spring 2015

Young and successful: Producers Myron and Jill Krahn of Carman By Richard Kamchen

E

xpanding your farm business can be a lot less straightforward than just buying more acres. For third generation southern Manitoba farmers Myron and Jill Krahn, turning a small 900-acre corn farm into a venture that could sustain a 21st century family of four required some serious innovation and a lot of hard work. Myron and Jill met at the University of Manitoba, where they both graduated with Bachelor of Science degrees in Agriculture, both having majored in agronomy. Married in 2001, they joined the ag workforce while keeping their hand in farming on the farm Myron grew up on. By 2003 they took over the family farm — and then the changes began.

In addition to new crops, the Krahns diversified further with a seed retail business in 2009 and added on-site seed treatment two years ago.

Myron realized he didn’t have enough hours in the day to work a day job as an agronomist and commit to full-time farming, so he left his position. After the birth of their second daughter, Jill too gave up her day job as a quality assurance assistant with Monsanto. Twelve years after taking over, under their watch Krahn Agri Farms has grown from 900 acres to 3,000 — but an increase in acres is just one of the many changes that have swept the operation. For one, they’ve diversified what they plant. “My dad loved growing corn. He was a big corn producer and that’s what put bread on the table when I was growing up,” Myron says. “He also grew wheat and maybe a little bit of canola.” Corn, of course, remains an integral part of his operation, and Myron even sits as president of the Manitoba Corn Growers Association. But he’s also produced crops like sunflowers, soybeans, edible beans, and native grasses. “There’s quite a few different crop types that we’ve tried; some have worked, some haven’t. But through that you learn what you can do well,” he says. Their farming practices changed as well, with an emphasis on spending what it takes to maximize production. “Sometimes when times are tough you tend to scale back on how much fertilizer, how much inputs you put towards the crop. The biggest fundamental change for us is we started dedicating all of our available resources to the crop, to basically try to produce as much as possible and hope for the returns at the end,” says Myron. »

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They’ve switched to using certified seed, growing top-end varieties, and spraying fungicides when they didn’t in the past. “All those little things add up to bigger yields and better returns,” says Myron Another major shift was getting into seed production. Half of their acres are now grown for seed, and they reap premium prices for them. One crop in particular that’s caught their fancy is native grasses. “It doesn’t require a land base too [large] so we can make the most of the land that we have,” says Jill. Typical native grass fields are anywhere from 2.5 to 40 acres, she explained. Myron and Jill came upon the idea shortly after taking over the farm full-time, when grain prices were poor and they were researching different ways to make money off the land. With only 900 acres available to them back then, volume production wasn’t going to be the answer. “Smaller and more specialized crop types are what we were investigating and that’s what led us into native grasses,” says Myron. “It’s nice to challenge ourselves with a different management structure for those types of crops versus your annuals. It’s been a lot of fun and very rewarding too. They do pay generally very well if you can produce the yield.” The couple have found their native grasses complement their operation well. They can seed the grass one year and get as many as three seed harvests out of it the next. Also, much of their land is sandy and vulnerable to wind erosion, and the crop can grow well even without much water. “We could seed these native grasses into some of our sandy soils and they would produce very well, even with minimal rainfall. And it kept the land from blowing [away],” says Myron. As a way to further expand their business at a time when little quality land in the area was available for sale, the couple also started a seed retail business in 2009.

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Farmers’ Voice / Spring 2014

“We’re in a really highly competitive agriculture area,” says Myron. “There’s a lot of young farmers in this area, and everyone’s hungry for more land and we’re no different that way.” Two years ago, they added on-site seed treatment as part of their retail business. “Every time you have another side to the business it adds a ton more work, but seeing as these three entities — the grain side, the seed production and the seed retailing — in effect all complement each other, it really makes for a successful venture that we’re in.”

For their efforts, Myron and Jill have been recognized nationally. Last December, the couple was one of two winners of Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers title. Sleep must be a rare luxury for the couple as they also offer custom harvesting and grain drying. Another venture begun after their takeover, it represented an effort to purchase new machinery. “With the land base we had, you couldn’t justify a bigger combine, air seeder or grain dryer, so we thought if we can do some custom work, it’ll allow us to upgrade our equipment,” says Myron. Meanwhile, they’ve slowly been increasing their acreage, most recently renting 800 acres northwest of their farm. They’ve become so busy that they hired their first full time employee last March, Jill notes. “Up until then it was just the two of us.” “It’s easy to work hard if it’s your own name on the door and you have a passion for what you do,” adds Myron. “We get awfully tired but we laugh it off and we do it together and that’s probably the biggest thing — Jill’s out there with me, our kids are out there,

it’s just a real nice family farm and it makes it so fun you don’t mind being tired and working at the same time.” Their two daughters, Cadence, 10, and Keira, eight, help out around the farm as much as they can, with chores like cutting grass, cleaning up the yard and even carrying pails of grain. Myron and Jill try to involve the girls as much as possible, including farm activity conversations at the dinner table. “If we’re talking about upgrading machinery or how the crop’s doing, we really try to include them. Sometimes they get bored and wander off, but for the most part, they’re very engaged and they like to talk about yields and new machinery that we’re thinking about buying,” says Myron. “We’re trying to cultivate their interest right at a young age.” For their efforts, Myron and Jill have been recognized nationally. Last December, the couple was one of two winners of Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers title. And prior to that, they were named the Manitoba Outstanding Young Farmers of the Year. “Even just to have been nominated into the programs was nice, but then to go as far as we did, we’re very pleased,” says Myron, who called the wins humbling. “We never thought of ourselves as anything special, we just go about our days, we work hard, we try to be good in the community, we try to be stewards of the land. We don’t do it for recognition at all.” The couple loved going to both conferences, finding it energizing to meet other young farmers, and listening to their positive outlooks, forward thinking, and innovations. Jill adds the experience also allowed the couple to see their own progress over the years. “As we were filling out the application, it gave us a chance to look back,” she says. “And it was nice to share stories and look at pictures of how we used to do things and compare it to how we do it now. Usually you’re looking ahead all the time, so it was a nice opportunity to look back and reflect on where we came from and where we are today.” MFV

HEALTH & SAFETY

Farmer urges caution after contracting Lyme disease By duncan morrison

Beekeeper Ron Rudiak contracted Lyme disease in 2008 from a blacklegged tick. He warns not only other beekeepers, but all farm families, about this insect.

Beekeeper Ron Rudiak’s life changed in the spring of 2008. After a routine day working around his beehives, Rudiak’s leg had swelled considerably after he got home. So much so, that the Steinbach beekeeper wanted his doctor’s advice. But by the time he got in to see his doctor, the swelling had subsided. Rudiak and his doctor agreed, they would monitor and keep an eye on it further. The summer passed, all seemed fine although Rudiak does now say in hindsight that he lost some of his usual energy. Then, his left arm ballooned on him while driving home from his hives one night that fall season. Rudiak suspected he had been bitten by a tick and infected with Lyme disease, a bacterial infection that people can get from the blacklegged tick — which is also known as the deer tick. »

Early spring, tall grass, sheltered area — the perfect condition for ticks. Unfortunately, it’s also the perfect spot for beekeepers to place their hives, and that’s why so many beekeepers get bitten.

Fa r m e r s ’ Vo i c e / Sp r i n g 2 0 1 5

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HEALTH & SAFETY

“Over the years, I was always pulling ticks off after being out working on my hives and thought nothing of it,” says Rudiak, who over the course of a 40-year beekeeping career has moved his hives all over southeastern Manitoba. As frustrating as his physical conditions are — the swollen limbs, the aching joints, the fatigue and loss of energy — Rudiak says the diagnosis process is equally frustrating. To this day, eight years later, he has still not been officially diagnosed in Canada with Lyme disease. His confirmation came from self-submitted blood tests from a lab in California. “The tests we use in Canada only detect 40 to 50 per cent of the cases,” he explains. “Mine went undetected. We need a good diagnostic test that tests people before and after treatment. To date, we have neither.” Rudiak stresses that his story must be one of caution and prevention, not panic. Not every tick is infected and not every person reacts to tick bites the same way. For instance, the telltale bulls-eye rash that signals Lyme disease infection is present will occur in 60 to 80 per cent of cases within 30 days of the bite. Yet others may not ever experience the rash. As for his beekeeping colleagues, Rudiak feels their work puts them at the common intersections of ticks and bees. Each spring as soon as the nights get warm enough, Manitoba beekeepers select the warmest, most

How can I minimize my risk: an expert’s advice niversity of Manitoba entomologist Kateryn Rochon says persons spending time U outside should take precautions to minimize their risk of exposure to blacklegged ticks. Her advice: • Apply an appropriate tick-repellent, following label directions, on exposed skin, clothing, and footwear where ticks often start their hitchhike. • Wear light-coloured clothing that helps you see the ticks climbing on you. • Inspect yourself, children and pets after spending time outdoors. Remove ticks as soon as possible from people and pets. Watch video: youtu.be/27McsguL2Og • Take a bath or shower. New research shows that bathing/showering after likely exposure reduces the risk, especially during nymph activity periods. The hypothesis is that showering helps you remove the tiny ticks that you don’t see. The nymphs have very small mouthparts and can be relatively easily removed by rubbing (like you would do as you normally scrub off in a shower). • Tuck your long pants into your socks so the ticks can’t get under your pant legs, and wear long-sleeved shirts.

sheltered field-fringing areas to host their beehives for the season. These areas are often located within groves of oak, aspen or poplar and flush with tall grasses and decayed leaves on the ground from the previous autumn. Increasingly — many researchers are pointing to climate change as the reason — some of these sheltered grassy and treed areas in Manitoba are also becoming key habitats for blacklegged ticks across the province. “Most of our bees are located in woodlands or edges of fields that are also at high risk as tick zones,” says Allan Campbell, chairperson of Manitoba Beekeepers Association “We need

to be aware and be diligent. We never used to think much of it. We could easily pick a dozen or two ticks off after setting or visiting our hives, especially in the spring. Now we need to be examining the ticks we pull off to make sure they are not blacklegged ticks.” Campbell has been a beekeeper for more than two decades, running 3,000 hives near Dauphin as part of Durston Honey Farms. He’s been a director of the MBA for nearly six years, the last two as chairperson. He says things are definitely changing on the landscape in many ways and the advancement of blacklegged ticks is a not-so-pleasant example that he and the 500 or so other

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Farmers’ Voice / Spring 2015

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beekeepers are learning to deal with daily. “We are seeing and hearing about deer ticks in areas we never have before,” he says. “Everyone’s ears perk up when we talk about them as a group. Everyone’s still surprised, but it’s just where we work seems to be a hot spot for these ticks. We need to prepare, watch out, identify and take extra steps to make sure.” Where deer go, the experts say, blacklegged ticks have potential to be found. Deer serve as the host for the main reproductive stage of the blacklegged tick’s life cycle. In Manitoba, despite some recent harsh winters for the province’s herd, Manitoba’s deer populations are present across many terrains and settings from rural to urban. Contrary to the name of the tick, it is not the deer that infects the ticks. It is mice, other small rodents and birds that carry the infections passed along to ticks. Birds of all shapes and sizes play a major role in the transporting of ticks, in particular from one region to another along the migratory flyways. Lyme disease first came to light after

the first outbreak of the disease in town of Lyme, Connecticut in the mid-1970s. In the last few decades, the blacklegged tick has expanded its range from the traditional hard wood forests of the northeastern U.S. and southeastern Canada across North America. The Public Health Agency of Canada in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec identified climate change as partly to blame for the disease’s increase. The team there

used climate simulations that showed warmer temperatures between 1971 and 2010 matched the tick’s advancement into northern and western areas. The study advised that milder temperatures meant higher survival rates for tick larvae, a concern for future years as well. The MBA has submitted a request for funding for a research study by Kateryn » CONTINUED ON PG 31

Bigger can be dangerous! Know the size of your farm equipment to avoid contact with overhead power lines and hydro poles.

For your SAFETY Kateryn Rochon, an entomologist at the University of Manitoba, wants to study the activity of blacklegged ticks during their different life stages, using Manitoba’s climate — something that has not been done before.

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HEALTH & SAFETY

Rochon, a Ph.D. entomologist at the University of Manitoba, to look into the Manitoba situation. “We live in Manitoba and we see ticks all the time,” says Rochon. “Bees are kept in marginal habitats and these habitats are also where mice that carry the bacteria live, as well as the birds and deer that pass through these areas. Beekeepers are pushing this study as they are increasingly affected. But the outcomes of this study could be used across the entire agricultural industry.” The key to her proposed study is twofold says Rochon. Firstly she says they want to learn when ticks are active through their different life stages, especially during the highly active and contagious nymph stage. And secondly is to use Manitoba as the backdrop for her study. “There has been a lot of work and research done in the northeastern United States,” she says. “But you can’t compare southern Manitoba and upstate New York. The habitat and the weather are different.” MFV

Manitobans are requested to submit blacklegged ticks Passive tick surveillance has been ongoing in Manitoba since 1995. Ticks found by veterinarians, doctors and the general public are submitted to the University of Manitoba for identification and possible additional testing. For further details on how to identify blacklegged ticks and tick submission visit the Manitoba Health’s blacklegged ticks page: www.gov.mb.ca/health/lyme/blacklegged. html.

The blacklegged – or deer – tick is not the same as the American dog tick – or wood tick – that many Manitobans are familiar with. The blacklegged tick (above) is much smaller than the wood tick (right).

Parliament calls for national Lyme disease strategy Elizabeth May, Member of Parliament for SaanichGulf Islands and Leader of the Green Party of Canada first introduced Bill C-442, a private member’s bill calling for a national Lyme disease strategy in June 2012. The legislation recently passed with all party support. Manitoba Farmer’s Voice talked with Elizabeth May, her motivation in bringing this bill forward, what it means for Canadians, and next steps.

MFV: Why is this bill important? Elizabeth May: Bill C-442 is now the law of the land. It now calls for The Honourable Rona Ambrose, the Minister of Health, to convene a conference to gather together “best practices” across the provincial and territorial

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Farmers’ Voice / Spring 2015

jurisdictional lines to improve three areas of Lyme disease policy for all of Canada. It calls for better programs for public awareness, improving prevention of Lyme disease. Secondly it will allow the sharing of approaches for improved diagnosis and treatment, and, lastly, it identifies the need for a national strategy to find a cure. I am very grateful for the support of The Honourable Rona Ambrose and the many Canadians within the Lyme disease community for ensuring this important bill was made into law. To do that, we needed federal leadership and I am happy Minister Ambrose agreed.

MFV: Why did you lead the charge? EM: The science is clear and Public Health Canada and

other federal agencies are paying increased attention to Lyme disease. Awareness is dawning slowly, far too slowly. We need a national strategy on Lyme disease that will focus on prevention, improving diagnostics and bolstering ongoing efforts.

MFV: Do you know anyone personally affected by Lyme disease? How did this cross your path and what inspired your leadership/action? EM: I think a series of incidents connected the dots for me. The main thing is that we do not have an adequate response to Lyme disease. I moved from Pictou County, Nova Scotia to Vancouver Island, B.C. I was astonished. People were coming in to see me as a political candidate in both places about Lyme disease. And these people were frustrated. Some were being told, “There is no Lyme disease in Nova Scotia or B.C., so therefore, you cannot have it.” Yet, we know from a recent report that Lyme disease is rising because of climate change. Because of these people, I used my opportunity to put forward a law through a private member’s bill on the issue of Lyme disease and our need for a national strategy. It was tabled in June of 2012 and I was overwhelmed by the response and I still am. Only two per cent of private member’s bills actually pass and the Lyme bill is one of those rare occurrences.

MFV: What's next? EM: I have held several conversations with Hon. Rona Ambrose and I am grateful she is fully committed. Minister Ambrose has dedicated $5 million to the development of the strategy. We must keep pressing for the National Conference on Lyme disease to keep momentum before next election.

MFV: Is there anything you would like to add? EM: I just want to say a big thank you to all the people that have Lyme disease or who are close to someone who has it for all their support and hard work in helping this become a reality. MFV

R

PHOTO: GREEN PARTY OP CANADA

“…we know from a recent report that Lyme disease is rising because of climate change… I used my opportunity to put forward a law through a private member’s bill on the issue of Lyme disease and our need for a national strategy.” - Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada

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AG AWARENESS

Setting the record straight on public misconceptions about agriculture By Jill Winzoski

Canadians may have a few misguided notions about modern farming and agriculture, but a new report from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is trying to set the record straight. The October 2014 report focussed on a recent study commissioned by the federal government which found that Canadians believe the agriculture industry lacks innovation, is shrinking, is unsustainable and harms the environment, and that family farms are becoming a thing of the past. In response to this federal study, the CFIB surveyed its own membership of 7,200; their results showed these are misconceptions. “This is not Old MacDonald’s farm,” said Marilyn Braun-Pollon, CFIB’s vicepresident of agri-business. “Our new report debunks Canadians’ outdated view of the agriculture sector.” CFIB’s report outlines the following four key realities of farming: 1) Agriculture is innovative and modern: 51 per cent of agri-business owners are adopting new and innovative technologies. 2) The agriculture sector is growing: in 2014, 44 per cent of farmers say they plan to expand their operations in the next three years, compared to 40 per cent in 2011. Twenty-one per cent of farmers plan to hire new employees in the next three years. 3) Farmers are taking action to protect the environment: nearly all farmers (95 per cent) are taking action to protect the environment. 4) Farms are staying in the family: 83 per cent of farmers who are planning to transfer their business in the next three years will be passing the farm on to a family member.

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Farmers’ Voice / Spring 2015

Contrary to public perception that the agriculture industry lacks innovation, a recent survey showed that agriculture is innovative and modern.

“Farmers are increasing their profitability and productivity, GPS and wireless devices are huge. You can’t farm the amount of land farmers are farming now with old technology,” Braun-Pollon told Manitoba Farmers’ Voice. She also said the report found many examples of where business owners are taking action to improve and care for the environment. “In terms of being good stewards of the land, farmers are using machinery that is more energy efficient. They’re improving the management of hazardous products, and they’re protecting water sources and waterways.” But a major part of the challenge includes expanding Canadians’ scope of agriculture.  To  effectively  measure Canadians’  agricultural  awareness,

Braun-Pollon  suggested  conducting regular polls in the future. “We hope that we could see some of those misconceptions fade, so that people do get a better sense that agriculture is a very progressive, modern and innovative sector,” said Braun-Pollon. “Some of the broad brush statements being made are really showing lack of awareness of what producers are doing, and we would hope that we could change that. We’re trying to shift the perception of agriculture and what exactly agriculture is. It has a lot of angles to it.” One of those angles is that the general public may not be as switched onto is the fact that agriculture isn’t solely about food, said Braun-Pollon. “I think that some folks think that agriculture only produces things that

you eat, but if you look at an air bag, that takes corn starch; diabetic test strips contain enzymes; even some of our shampoos and conditioners contain oats so the list goes on and on,” she noted. And that, said Braun-Pollon, speaks to the economic importance of agriculture. Because of its vast reach, one in eight jobs trace back to the agriculture sector, which employs about 2.1 million Canadians. “So I think when you look at it, there is a lot of misconception and a disconnect, quite frankly, from Canadians’ views and what is really happening at the farm gate,” she added. Lyndon Carlson, vice-president of marketing for Farm Credit Canada, agrees the industry’s image needs some improvement, which was impetus for FCC to launch the Ag More Than Ever website campaign 2-1/2 years ago. The campaign now includes 350 industry partners collaborating to increase positive dialogue about the industry. The CFIB report, said Carlson, sets the table to extend that dialogue and generate a more positive image of the industry in Canada. “The truth is the report’s audience needs to be both farmers and the general public,” said Carlson. “The reason I say that is because we’ve got a bit of an image problem with the industry, and we in agriculture need to deal with that. No one can change your image, only you can change your image.”

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tinues to carry some suspicion about genetic modification, which he says falls on the shoulders of producers and agribusiness to correct. “If we don’t explain modern genetics in an effective way, we can’t blame the general public, we have to own it ourselves,” said Carlson. “We need to ask farmers to mobilize and really be their own spokespeople. If you look at surveys of trust year after year after year, farmers come up as the three most trusted people in the country.” The VP said an interesting dichotomy lies in the fact that the public is willing to trust farmers, but has less trust for agriculture as a sector. “When companies like Monsanto or Syngenta talk about genetics, people get suspicious, not because there’s anything to be suspicious of, they just have questions about large global companies like that,” said Carlson. Which, according to Carlson, is why it is so important for farmers to be the face of agriculture. “The general public doesn’t believe the scientist in the lab coat, but they will believe the normal person on the street. We have to mobilize ourselves as individuals; we can’t wait for somebody else to do the heavy lifting. We have to talk more positively about the industry and we have to talk more about how much we care.” The full CFIB report can be found online at www.cfib.ca. MFV

Real 2014 MB Yields

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Carlson commended the CFIB report, calling it “well-based in reality and based on good facts.” “Ninety-seven per cent of farms are family farms and that continues to be the case,” said Carlson. “There are many people entering agriculture today and they are mostly comprised of the sons and daughters of existing farmers.” According to Carlson, bloodline farms speak to farmers’ genuine concern for the environment and in turn, their dedication to employing sustainable farm practices. “What group of people would care more for the environment and long term sustainability than farmers?” posited Carlson. “In the back of their minds is the possibility that their sons or daughters will take over their farms someday. If your dream is to have the farm stay in the family, of course you are going to care about the environment and sustainability.” The other vital message agribusiness needs to send, said Carlson, is that modern genetics and practices are not only safe, but also very healthy. “With modern genetics we actually use less water and less pesticides.” Carlson also stressed that without modern genetics, “we won’t be able to feed the world. That social license to use modern genetics is absolutely critical for the planet.” Yet, Carlson concedes, the public con-

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Farmers’ Voice / Sp ring 2015

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GM’S MESSAGE

Focus on efficiency has undermined railways’ ability to serve grain-shipping customers BY JAMES BATTERSHILL, KAP GENERAL MANAGER

Delegates at KAP’s 31st annual meeting had an opportunity to hear Canada Transportation Act Review advisor Murad Al-Katib present on his role in the review process and some of the common issues he has heard as adviser responsible for grain transportation matters. Mr. Al-Katib is responsible to consult with grain industry stakeholders and work with review chair, David Emerson, on recommendations to make Canada’s grain-handing and transportation system more competitive and reliable. Delegates I spoke to afterwards were generally very impressed with what they heard from Mr. Al-Katib and were hopeful that the review might result in recommendations that will provide positive outcomes for western Canadian farmers. The CTA Review is one in a long line of projects that have sought to address major challenges in grain transportation by rail in Western Canada — including the report from Justice Estey (1998), the Kroeger review (1999), and the comprehensive CTA review done in 2001, led by Brian Flemming. Ultimately, it is up to the federal government and minister of transportation to determine what, if any, of the recommendations that stem from these projects end up implemented. It is true that in the past 30 years, significant changes to Canada’s grain handling and transportation system have occurred — but they haven’t necessarily improved the system for farmers or the Canadian economy as a whole. During the late 1980s and the early 1990s a variety of regulatory reforms were introduced that were intended to usher in a ‘new era’ for Canada’s railway transportation system. They were focused on competition, reducing regu-

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Farmers’ Voice / S pring 2015

latory intervention, and developing more innovative transportation services. The rail network rationalization provisions enabled the railways to become more efficient through improvements in productivity. Streamlined branch line abandonment procedures included the transfer of lines to independent operators and funding of improvements for alternative transportation facilities. More reforms were introduced during the late 1990s, and an Act to Amend the Canada Transportation Act came into force in 2000. Among the changes were amendments that facilitated branch line rationalization  through:  transitional compensation for affected municipalities; operation of the remaining part of the branch line for three years; discouraging de-marketing through maintenance deferrals; and identification of lines for discontinuance within a threeyear time frame. Railways consider rationalization a success and total productivity of both railways increased throughout the reform period. Total factor productivity of both CN and CP increased on average between 3.5 per cent and four per cent between 1990 and 2007. The operating ratio of both railways indicates that

they have succeeded in reducing their expenses while increasing their revenue throughout the 1990s and 2000s. At the same time, employment for both railways decreased dramatically. The impact of railway rationalization on farmers continues to be experienced. The discontinuance of grain-dependent branch lines means increased transportation costs for farmers to truck their grain to delivery points — and it also reduced competition between grain companies. In 1999, there were more than 1,000 licensed grain elevators in Western Canada; by 2014 that number dropped to 342. The railways have seen the benefits of rail reform, through greater profitability, but the promises made that rationalization will lead to better service for farmers, and rail freight shippers generally, have not been fulfilled. The grain transportation crisis of 2014 was a clear example of how the railways’ single focus on efficiency has undermined their ability to serve their customers. KAP is going to continue to work with our members, shortline railway companies in Manitoba, producer car shippers, and other stakeholders to provide information to David Emerson, Murad Al-Katib, and the other advisers so that they will be able to make the most informed recommendations possible to the government. From there, it’s our responsibility to lobby the federal ministers of transportation and agriculture to ensure the recommendations that will bring the most benefits to western Canadian farmers are acted upon. Look out for more information as we continue to work on this important file. MFV

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