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LIGHTS, ACTION
A JOYFUL LIFE
Canola producers give $150,000 to Know GMO movie » PG 2
Chris Koch inspires with his positive approach » PG 42
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V o l u m e 1 2 , n u m b e r 6 M r c hScience 16, 2015 Bayera Crop
The little railway that could The railway moved 2,100 rail cars last year but getting them is an ongoing challenge
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see RAILWAY } page 7
Magenta,
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Farms caught abusing birds can have their egg-production licence pulled immediately By Alexis Kienlen
af staff
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Egg farmers say there’s ‘zero tolerance’ on abuse Cyan,
By Alexis Kienlen
he Battle River Railway is a little engine that could — and it just keeps chugging along despite challenges thrown its way. “The grain business looks good. We moved 2,100 cars last year and we have every expectation of moving that much or more this year,” said Ken Eshpeter, the railway’s chairman and CEO and a director with the Friends of the Battle River Railway Society.
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gg producers in Alberta are now required to sign a “zero tolerance” pledge for animal abuse. “Any form of abuse, neglect, cruelty, or mistreatment of the birds under our care will not be tolerated and may be grounds for immediate disciplinary action up to and including dismissal,” the pledge states. Any farm that has severe animal welfare issues — like the instances seen in a now infamous Mercy for Animals video shot on an Alberta poultry operation — can have its eggproduction licence suspended immediately. “The zero tolerance to animal abuse was an unwritten policy before, but we’ve put it in there to make sure that everybody has a very strong understanding of what abuse means,” said Susan Schafers, chair of the Egg Farmers of Alberta. “If there ever was to be a problem, we have a way to deal with it, rather than dealing with it on a case-by-case basis.” The farm welfare policy, which along with animal welfare also covers areas such as
The written zero tolerance pledge was already in the works when this Mercy for Animals undercover video made national headlines in 2013, say Egg Farmers of Alberta officials. biosecurity, came into effect in August, and has been strengthened since then. “We’ve really gone beyond the code of practice requirements,” said Christina Robinson, producer services manager for the Egg Farmers of Alberta.
CROP INSURANCE:
As of Jan. 1, producers must document daily barn inspections and abide by new handling, catching and loading guidelines for moving birds. The new policy follows in the wake of one of the most publicized cases of abuse in
the Canadian poultry industry — a 2013 undercover video shot by Mercy for Animals at Kuku Farms and Creekside Grove Farms near Edmonton.
see ZERO TOLERANCE } page 6
SOYBEAN COVERAGE EXPANDED } PG. 8
RELENTLESS ON WEEDS. SAFE ON WHEAT. FLUSH AFTER FLUSH™ CONTROL. Always read and follow label directions. EVEREST and the EVEREST 2.0 logo are registered trademarks of Arysta LifeScience North America, LLC. “Flush after flush” is a trademark of Arysta LifeScience North America, LLC. Arysta LifeScience and the Arysta LifeScience logo are registered trademarks of Arysta LifeScience Corporation. ©2015 Arysta LifeScience North America, LLC. ESTC-268
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news » inside this week
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inside » WHEAT OVERHAUL Big changes are coming, but it’s a work in progress
MARCH 16, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA
livestock
crops
A TIME FOR CHANGE
WORTH A LOOK
columNists Cheryl Hazenberg Others taking the next step in traceability
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Brenda Schoepp It’s time for a new perspective in the beef sector
GO WITH THE FLOW Timely advice for upgrading handling facilities
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Carol Shwetz
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Temple Grandin says some farms need fixing
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Lentils offer many benefits — and a nice price
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Pint-size horses need special care
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Provincial canola commission donates $150,000 to GMO documentary Commission chair says ‘something needs to be done’ to counter the attacks on genetic engineering by its critics By Jennifer Blair
“We’re hoping that, by making this contribution, it will act as a catalyst for some other organizations to stand up and realize they should be involved in something like this.”
af staff
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he ag industry’s answer to antiGMO sentiment is nearly halfway to its funding goal, thanks to a sizable donation from the Alberta Canola Producers Commission. The commission is putting $150,000 toward Know GMO, a feature-length documentary being produced by AgriTrend CEO Rob Saik. “There’s been a demand among producers to do something as anti-GMO sentiment has built over the past few years,” said Lee Markert, a producer from Vulcan and commission chair. “The fact of the matter is GM technology plays a significant role in our ability to compete as farmers at any production size. With that being threatened, it’s created a stir amongst producers who think that something needs to be done to preserve our ability to use that technology going forward.” The film will focus on the science behind GM technology and is the “first real chance” the commission has had to “tell the other side of the story,” said Markert. “(Know GMO) addresses an issue that we’ve been talking about more frequently as time as gone on,” he said. The donation is from checkoff dollars that were previously allocated for increasing public awareness about canola, he said. “We had already been talking about doing something like this in some capacity, and the stars just lined up when Know GMO came up,” said Markert. Work on the movie began last summer and the goal is to “speak out on behalf of agriculture,” said Saik. “If you go on to Netflix or the Internet, the anti-GMO side has completely hijacked the whole conversation,” he said. “It’s very difficult to find the science side, and even if you try to share that with people, they assume you’re a shill for the industry. “A project like this is a way of countering the misconceptions that are in the marketplace.” So far, the production team — which includes Saik’s son Nick — has completed pre-production on the movie and filmed the “first leg” in Hawaii. “We went to Hawaii and did the filming of the GMO story there with respect to GMO papaya, which was one of the first crops that was saved by GMO technology,” said Saik, adding the crew will be filming across North America during spring seeding.
Global look
After that, the plan is to travel to countries such as Argentina, India, Indonesia,
Lee Markert
Alberta Canola Producers Commission is contributing $150,000 from checkoffs towards the making of the $1-million documentary. photos: www.knowgmothemovie.com
The $1-million documentary will “speak out on behalf of agriculture,” says Agri-Trend CEO Rob Saik, the movie’s executive producer. Uganda, and Kenya to make the documentary “as global as possible,” said Nick Saik, the film’s director and cinematographer. “That’s one of the idiosyncrasies of food production nowadays,” he said. “As much as we’d like it to be local, it’s a global system. And to be able to talk about food in a realistic context, you’ve got to get around the world. “It’s not a cheap proposition to make a movie.” The canola commission’s donation puts the project nearly halfway to its funding goal, said Rob Saik. “We’ve raised approximately $400,000 of the $1 million budget so far,” said Saik. “We have a long ways to go, but we’re making progress.” Other donors include Grain Farmers of Ontario, mid-size retail companies, and individual farmers, he said.
“It’s people who care about getting the truth out regarding GMOs and getting the science perspective out. We’ve had very good support.” Donations are managed by the Farm and Food Care Foundation, which is a “different model from the way films are traditionally funded,” said Nick Saik, who has been producing films for more than a decade. “Essentially what we’re looking at here is a non-profit film,” he said. “The No. 1 purpose of this film is to give people more information. We’re trying to make this film available to everybody who wants to see it as easy as possible. You should never have to pay for this film if you don’t have the ability to.” One of the ways to do that is through film festivals. “It’s through film festivals that the documentary will really start to have an
impact on the urban marketplace, which is really what we want to do,” said Rob Saik, adding that short “video snippets” will also be available for schools and the general public. The goal is to give the film its official launch in December, but that will largely depend on funding, said Nick Saik. That’s part of the reason the Alberta canola commission stepped up with its donation, said Markert. “We’re hoping that, by making this contribution, it will act as a catalyst for some other organizations to stand up and realize they should be involved in something like this,” he said. “Going forward, biotechnology is going to be of increasing importance regardless of which commodity you’re producing. We’re just a piece of the puzzle, and we’re hoping to be a leader in this capacity.” More information on the movie can be found at www.knowgmothemovie.com. jennifer.blair@fbcpublishing.com
Clarification A story in the March 2 edition (McDonald’s sustainable beef pilot moves into high gear) stated the indicators for the verified sustainable initiative are scored from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent). In fact, McDonald’s Canada is still developing the terms that go with the scoring system. In its presentation at the Alberta Beef Industry Conference, an example was given for the scoring for participation in the pilot project. In that example, a score of 5 was awarded for “excellence level,” a score of 3 for “achievement level,” and a score of 1 for “entry level.”
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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 16, 2015
Sludge a success story for Whitecourt-area farmers Once trucked to a landfill, this pulp byproduct is now considered a ‘superfertilizer’ By Tony Kryzanowski af contributor
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hey say great ideas start with the planting of a seed — and that’s precisely what happened after employees at Alberta Newsprint Company noticed tomato plants growing in a pile of pulp sludge. The result is a ‘superfertilizer’ that area farmers can’t get enough of. The phone at the Whitecourt plant rings off the hook from farmers asking about the availability of the organic fertilizer, and some have even stopped the trucking contractor delivering the sludge to ask how they can get some. And there’s no mystery about why. One project at a site near Mayerthorpe showed a one-time sludge application at 50 tonnes per hectare yielded the same quality and quantity of barley as application of 200 kilograms per hectare of 35-10-0 fertilizer applied annually for three years. And given the pulp sludge is free, it’s no wonder farmers stop delivery trucks. Whitecourt-area farmer, Chad Merrifield is a longtime user of the product. “With our program, I would say that our nitrogen savings are probably sitting around 60 per cent,” said Merrifield. “That will be reduced somewhat because it has to be incorporated.” Merrifield plants about 650 hectares into canola and wheat — some located close to the Millar Western Forest Products mechanical pulp plant. He’s been applying mechanical pulp sludge from both Millar Western and Alberta Newsprint Company since the mid-1990s. The material is applied with spreader trucks, and is provided at no charge by both companies within a 45-kilometre radius of their plants. (Diverting the sludge has saved Alberta Newsprint Company the expense of building two landfills.) Millar Western both delivers and applies the pulp sludge, with incorporation handled by Merrifield. Along with lower fertilizer costs, he gets a bonus of higherquality soil. “We have found that there are a lot more earthworms in the soil because it is a lot softer and more pliable,” he said. “It doesn’t bake at all and holds water appropriately because it (pulp sludge) is adding the fibre back in.”
Years of research
The sludge, a byproduct of the mechanical pulping process, has been described as a porridge-like
Mechanical pulp sludge is delivered for land application as organic fertilizer. It is provided to Whitecourt-area farmers at no charge. Photos: Supplied
Test plots at the Alberta Newsprint Company plant. The plot on the left had an application of five centimetres of sludge and the one on the right had one centimetre of sludge applied.
Whitecourt-area farmer Chad Merrifield uses spreader trucks to land apply pulp sludge to his cropland post-harvest.
Researchers prepare test plots to measure the benefits of mechanical pulp sludge as an organic fertilizer on cropland.
material. It’s about 80 per cent water, but also contains short lignin fibres, is high in carbon, and contains nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. And unlike kraft pulping, it doesn’t contain high concentrations of harmful chemicals. After tomatoes were spotted growing in the pulp sludge more than two decades ago, Alberta Innovates Technology Futures (AITF, formerly the Alberta Research Council) began conducting studies. The evidence concerning the sludge’s potential as organic fertilizer got better and better as scientists progressed from lab work to field trials to actual full-scale land application. Along the way, the Mechanical Pulp and Paper Consortium was also formed to help finance and guide the research. Among the findings was that because the nitrogen is in organic form, the sludge acts as a slowrelease fertilizer and delivers nutrient benefits for up to five years. It also improves soil structure and tilth, thereby increasing water-holding capacity. Its chemical composition is
about 45 per cent carbon, between 1.5 and 3.0 per cent nitrogen, and 0.3 per cent to 0.5 per cent phosphorus, said Dani Degenhardt, an AITF researcher. Merrifield took part in some of the early studies to establish an optimum range of tonnes per hectare to achieve the best production results — which was found to be between 50 to 100 dry tonnes per hectare per application. Application is ‘quite manageable’ as it is thinly applied and can be incorporated immediately to avoid any odour issues with neighbours. Merrifield applies it post-harvest every six to eight years, and said he’s seen benefits last for up to 12 years.
Test results
The pulp sludge had greatly improved his soil, he said. Just in fibre content alone, many Prairie soils register at between three and five per cent. On Merrifield’s land where the pulp sludge has been applied, it’s between 15 to 18 per cent. In another Alberta Innovates study, application of 50 tonnes
Chad Merrifield per hectare increased brome grass productivity by fivefold compared to control plots, and this increased yield was sustained for six growing seasons. The study used Magna smooth brome grass, and researchers calculated the volume increase by cutting hay on both a control site and a pulp sludge application site. “The (test) site was a coarsetextured site and the carbon-tonitrogen ratio before application of sludge was around 16 to 21,” said Degenhardt. “It increased to 33 to 38 post-application.” Merrifield has also applied and
incorporated pulp sludge on hay ground prior to seeding. “You have a slow-release nitrogen for a number of years,” he said. “So it reduces the need for supplemental fertilizer.” Another key factor is that it has neutral pH. Although the material is a biological form of fertilizer, it’s not certified organic. “Unfortunately, because the sludge is an organic waste product from an industrial process, it would be very challenging to get the status changed so that the organic producers could still use it,” said Degenhardt. “We’ve tried in the past and were not successful.” One obvious concern is the impact of less desirable elements in the sludge. Degenhardt said at the time of application, there is a slight increase in electrical conductivity, sodium absorption ratio, nitrate, nitrite, and metals such as copper, nickel and zinc, but they are not long lasting. Merrifield’s only concern was with the hydrogen peroxide content, but once incorporated, it breaks down to hydrogen and oxygen.
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MARCH 16, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA
EDITOR Glenn Cheater Phone: 780-919-2320 Email: glenn.cheater@fbcpublishing.com twitter: @glenncheater
Reporters Alexis Kienlen, Edmonton 780-668-3121 Email: akienlen@fbcpublishing.com
Are we using traceability to its full potential?
Jennifer Blair, Red Deer 403-613-7573 Email: jennifer.blair@fbcpublishing.com
CIRCULATION manager Heather Anderson Email: heather@fbcpublishing.com
PRODUCTION director
Other countries extend traceability right to the packaging of meat so customers can find out what individual animal and farm it came from
Shawna Gibson Email: shawna@fbcpublishing.com
Director of Sales Cory Bourdeaud’hui Email: cory@fbcpublishing.com
national ADVERTISING SALES James Shaw Phone: 416-231-1812 Fax: 416-233-4858 Email: jamesshaw@rogers.com
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www.albertafarmexpress.ca or email: subscription@fbcpublishing.com At Farm Business Communications we have a firm commitment to protecting your privacy and security as our customer. Farm Business Communications will only collect personal information if it is required for the proper functioning of our business. As part of our commitment to enhance customer service, we may share this personal information with other strategic business partners. For more information regarding our Customer Information Privacy Policy, write to: Information Protection Officer, Farm Business Communications, 1666 Dublin Ave., Wpg., MB R3H 0H1 Occasionally we make our list of subscribers available to other reputable firms whose products and services might be of interest to you. If you would prefer not to receive such offers, please contact us at the address in the preceding paragraph, or call 1-800-665-0502. The editors and journalists who write, contribute and provide opinions to Alberta Farmer Express and Farm Business Communications attempt to provide accurate and useful opinions, information and analysis. However, the editors, journalists and Alberta Farmer Express and Farm Business Communications, cannot and do not guarantee the accuracy of the information contained in this publication and the editors as well as Alberta Farmer Express and Farm Business Communications assume no responsibility for any actions or decisions taken by any reader for this publication based on any and all information provided.
By Cheryl Hazenberg
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s I’ve been travelling this past year, I’ve been astonished by the level of traceability in processing plants abroad. I was welcomed into two plants, on two different continents, with open arms and fantastic hospitality with the only request being I leave my camera outside. Geographically these two businesses couldn’t be further apart but their similarities caught me off guard, their traceability processes are fundamentally similar. I first came across this in Australia when touring what we would consider a mid-size packing plant (200 head per day). In Australia, they have a similar Animal Health traceability system called NLIS and they use a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag exactly as we do. The beauty of the system happens after the animal is killed and the processing begins. The traceability stays with the animal throughout its journey through the plant and is continued all the way to the grocer’s shelf. The NLIS system tracks the animal until the tag is removed, then the plant’s own internal system takes over — the data from the kill floor, bone room, and packaging room all talk to each other and maintain the traceability component. The plant is required by the government to maintain this data for international marketing requirements and food safety. Carcasses are tagged on each quarter with information (including kill date, carcass weight, detention information, grade, and an internal tracking number linked to the NLIS tag number). A portion of this data is also transferred to the box label and travels with the product on the packaging to the retail outlet. I came across a very similar traceability system while touring a plant in the U.K. This plant was in Northern Ireland, part of a large corporation with locations
across the U.K., and processed between 400 to 500 cattle per day. The mandatory British ear tag system uses a double visual tag system with a 15-digit number printed on them. Sheep are required to use Electronic Identification (EID) tags but cattle are not, so these plants have to manually type in the number of each animal that crosses their floor. This particular company uses specialized in-house software to track data on the animals after tags are removed, with the tag number again correlated to a kill number assigned by the plant. This new number stays with the product until it is purchased, it is attached to each quarter with the same information used in Australia. It appears printed on the box label and finally on the consumer packaging during the final stage of fabrication. The tracking and printing of this information is required by the government, and “born in” and “raised in” data is required to be printed on all labels. Even grind is fully traceable back to the animal and therefore the farm of origin. Both of these visits were excellent examples of how traceability can go beyond the live animal and provide authentic, meaningful information to consumers. While government regulated this in both cases, I was told repeatedly the domestic and international customer has been the main driver. It feeds into the reoccurring theme I witnessed in every country I have visited so far — that consumers want to know where the food comes from and to be assured what they’re eating is safe. It really is a basic right to have access to that information. Even us as producers, we want to know that information, which is a significant reason why we consume our own product. It really hit home for me while I was travelling in France. At my hotel near Borges, I came across a notation in the menu for the hotel restaurant: “Infor-
mation regarding the origin of our meat is on display in the restaurant.” In the restaurant was a sign that had each cut of beef on the menu along with information on where it was born, raised, and killed. This is now required by law in all restaurants in France. In this instance each cut was born, raised and killed in France but the sheet could easily be updated when the supply changed based on the information provided by the processing plant on the product packaging. Over and over again, I found myself wondering if we are putting ourselves at a disadvantage by not voluntarily tracking this data. Some will argue that our international customers are not requiring it yet, and that is valid. Others will wince at the extra cost, the inability to keep up to the speed of commerce, or further imposition of government regulations. But if we know our competition is providing this information and the customer wants more and more information as each year goes by, is it not better to voluntarily begin the process instead of waiting until our export markets get closed or the government forces it upon us after a food safety scandal? I’ve also learned over the past year that no animal traceability system is perfect. Each country I have visited has very interesting and unique ideas on how it should look and what is required by the producers. Each country has producers who loathe their system and want what someone else has. The best we can do is work with what we have and learn from others. Cheryl Hazenberg was raised on a beef operation in Ontario, is a 2014 Nuffield Scholar, and director of technical services for the Canadian Angus Association in Calgary. Her Nuffield studies focused on traceability. For more info, visit www. havevacationwilltravel.blogspot.ca.
April 1 is a big day for dairy — let the punditry begin Milk prices are in a free fall, and that’s bound to have supply management critics calling for an open border for dairy products By John Morriss Editorial director
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e’re just waiting for the punditry to begin. Columnists for the national media will soon get wind of the news that dairy quotas in the European Union will be eliminated April 1. This will be portrayed as a response to an exploding world export demand for dairy products, and a signal that Canada should drop supply management so it can get in on the action. The reality is a bit more com-
plicated. There has indeed been strong export demand in recent years, largely for infant formula in China. However, consumption has dropped off recently, and there is an oversupply of powdered milk in China. Last year world prices fell by about 50 per cent, and Chinese dairy producers are ramping up their production (see story on Page 41). Meanwhile, European exports to Russia have dropped because of the EU embargo following the invasion of Crimea. British milk prices are at the lowest since 2007 and there are headlines about milk on supermarket shelves being cheaper than
water. The speculation is prices will drop further when quotas come off in April. Some farmers, particularly in Ireland, see this as an opportunity to expand and take away market share from previously subsidized competition in other European countries with more mountainside and less grass. Ireland plans to increase production by 50 per cent by the end of the decade, mostly to fill the export market for powdered milk. That will put Ireland head to head with New Zealand, another major exporter with plenty of rainfall and plenty of grass to raise dairy cattle
outside for 365 days of the year. The price for its milk produced mainly for powder will no doubt be deemed the “world” price, and the difference between that and the price for fresh milk in Canadian supermarkets will be deemed a “subsidy” by the supply management critics. They will also conveniently ignore the byzantine U.S. dairy support policy, which Canadian producers would be up against if the border was opened. April 1 marks the start of a tough few years for dairy markets, and for defenders of supply management. john.morriss@fbcpublishing.com
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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 16, 2015
Clinging to old ways doesn’t work in a rapidly changing world The beef industry needs to supply what consumers want, support innovation, and encourage new entrants By Brenda Schoepp af columnist
I
’ve long said that the money in the beef industry comes from providing value as the customer defines it. That statement has several sides, of course. It means we value add, which is true. But it also came into play as consumers demanded beef labelled hormone and antibiotic free, local, grass fed, fresh or organic. They’ve shifted from grocery store buying to spending $1 billion at the tables of farmers’ markets in Canada and started to order online. Burger chains have located both domestic and off-shore product that was grass fed and free of additional additives. How the animal lived has become a focus of consumers, and transparency through the Internet and social media evolved as the norm. As the consuming world changed, beef production and marketing fought back. Innovators who wanted to get into specialized programs were ridiculed, slammed against a regulatory wall, or basically left out of
the considerations in a national strategy. In the world of proposed trade liberalization, we now sit without the product to meet the criteria of our new clients and have in the process also ignored our domestic demand. Canada’s heavy dependency on live trade with the U.S. covered the tracks of the industry’s dragging leg. Retailers have not been impressed and have stated that they are ignored by the beef industry until the industry is in crisis. Companies such as Costco begged for Prime-grade product but the Canadian producers and industry that made those decisions could see no value in such work. We now compete with American Prime on Canadian shelves. And all the while the tool of genomics was pushed back and hugely underappreciated, regardless of the opportunities to feed and breed to a specific end point. Grass fed was ridiculed, but now we cannot meet market demand. The marketing campaign by A&W caught both the beef industry and other fast-food chains off guard. These shifts were foreseeable and largely also avoidable.
The real cost to the industry has been twofold. The perceptive damage has been done. A disconnect widens with the public, which is largely urban and, in many cases, new to the Canadian landscape and Canadian food. In Toronto, more than 50 per cent of the population is foreign born and like the rest of the world, the majority of our nation’s population lives within a narrow strip close to a port. Do we know them? Involving community in agricultural growth and policy is critical because we are part of their day. We are food. Perhaps the greatest cost has been in attracting new entrants. Those young folks who are creative and willing to push the envelope. Did we encourage them, leave them space and are we inviting them to contribute in a way in which they are heard? To be fair, the exposure of young cattlemen and cattlewomen through the Cattlemen’s Young Leaders program is a shining star for Canada. And the buzz on social media of passionate men and women of this industry is intoxicating. But does it resonate in a way that fully appre-
Wheat producers need improved market information A falling dollar has kept wheat prices strong this winter, but a widening basis is costing producers as much as $60 per tonne By Harvey Brooks
General manager, Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission
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hen the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission (Sask Wheat) made its submission to the Canada Transportation Act review panel in December, it calculated that the export basis between f.o.b. Vancouver and the Saskatchewan primary elevator position was $113 per tonne — more than $40 over the actual posted costs. Since then, the Pacific Northwest f.o.b. price in American dollars has dropped considerably while the f.o.b. Vancouver price for 1 CWRS 13.5 per cent in Canadian dollars has held strong and was actually up $1 to $2 per tonne between October and February, mainly due to the lower Canadian dollar. This does not mean, however, that producers in my province are seeing the same elevator price as last October, as the basis between the export f.o.b. prices and the primary elevator prices
has widened a further $21/tonne to over $134. Rail transportation and handling capacity have not improved and this is the result. Producers will be forced to carry excess inventories into the next crop year and are losing money on every tonne they marketed in 2014-15, relative to the export market returns. The loss of export revenue to a producer who markets 2,000 tonnes of grain per year is therefore between $40 to $60/tonne, depending on when they priced their grain. That translates into a loss of $80,000 to $120,000. You can do your own math for your own situation. What can be done? Well, I would go back to two key recommendations from the report that Sask Wheat, as part of a coalition of producer groups, submitted to the Canada Transportation Act review panel in December. First, it recommended the act and/or other legislation be amended to provide mandatory information reporting for the grain-handling and transportation system to function effec-
tively. This recommendation is especially timely right now, as price transparency for producers within the current market environment is incredibly poor. The type of information that needs to be made available is primary elevator cash prices and export price quotes, with detail by grade, protein level, and location. Grade and protein spreads are essential when making marketing decisions. Secondly, it recommended the act create a rail oversight/planning group that includes producer representation in order to establish performance targets and assess ongoing operations of the railways. Clearly all producers will need to work hard to get these recommendations discussed and implemented. The importance of these recommendations is especially apparent in a year like 2014-15, where basis levels widen throughout the year and producers have no insight or oversight on rail operations, even though they are so directly and uniquely impacted by the results.
ciates the end-user — both domestic and international? Did we ensure there was a workable regulatory environment and access to capital, mentorship and encouragement? Success comes from the relationships the industry nurtures both domestically and abroad. That relationship is on the inside and on the outside of the beef industry. It makes it tough for our negotiators to fully commit when there is turmoil on the inside and a true lack of exportready product as the consumer needs it. It makes it tough for our producers on the inside to understand the complexities of trade when that information is not being shared. What really stands out though is the lack of transfer of value as beef appreciates up the chain. Being told we will prosper as an industry and prospering from a value-based strategy that is in tune with the customer’s definition of value are two completely different ends of the spectrum. The high prices of last year were a demand pull on live cattle to utilize an undervalued feed grains crop. Prices were not value driven by our atten-
tiveness to shifts in domestic or international demand. That would have required a look at, and acceptance of, both production and processing protocols that were in tune with the core values of the client. There are several glaring areas in the national trade deficit, and one of the big ones is meat. We have an opportunity to engage up and down the chain in a way that allows for innovators, processors, and farmers to succeed. It is like the story of three shoe salesmen. Each travel to the same hot desert village where they find everyone barefoot. One phones back to say that there is not any hope of shoe sales as everyone is barefoot. The second calls in for an order of winter boots because that is what his company makes. The third phones the factory and shouts, ‘Start making sandals — everyone is barefoot!’ It is all a matter of perspective. Brenda Schoepp is a farmer from Alberta who works as an international mentor and motivational speaker. She can be contacted through her website www.brendaschoepp.com. All rights reserved. Brenda Schoepp 2014
LETTERS
Stereotyping isn’t constructive I found Tony Kok’s letter (The theory is good, but finding help remains a challenge Feb. 16 edition) regarding laid-off energy workers’ suitability to find work in the ag industry disappointing at best. How discouraging it must be for a young, recently unemployed man or woman to read that they are in that position only because layoffs start with the ‘less skilled’ from the ‘bottom up.’ (In reality, the layoffs we are seeing in our industry are going by sector, starting with the upstream part, as capital work gets slashed.) I have spent my career in the oilfield industry, while maintaining a small (by today’s standards) family farm. I have had the privilege (and pain) of both hiring and firing young workers, and I have a perspective on both industries. Some of our best workers came from farms — leaving as farms consolidated and automated. They were pushed out, and followed the market. Mr. Kok laments that workers won’t want to go from $35/hour in the oilfield to $20/hour on farms. Probably not. Who would? But if that’s what is available, that is what workers will go for. It’s called a labour market for a reason. He warns workers will ‘jump ship’ as soon as they can get back in the oilfield. I suppose that depends on the quality of the work they can find on farms. I know many workers who have gladly left the instability of the oilfield for lower-paying but more satisfying work. There are enough stereotypes floating around this country about people, including oilfield workers AND farmers. Jim Stanich Rycroft
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Off the front
March 16, 2015 • Albertafarmexpress.ca
ZERO TOLERANCE } from page 1 It showed workers euthanizing chicks by striking their heads against a hard surface and tossing birds that were still alive into garbage bags. It also showed birds suffering from severe feather loss crammed into crowded cages.
‘Irresponsible treatment’
The video, which was aired on CTV’s “W5” in October 2013 and attracted national media coverage, prompted the Egg Farmers of Canada to commission the Center for Food Integrity in Kansas City to review it. Although the three-person panel — which included University of Calgary animal welfare professor Ed Pajor — said it wasn’t possible to assess the operations based on the brief scenes in the video, they also stated those scenes “clearly show unethical and irresponsible treatment of animals.” “It’s unacceptable and is not supported by any code of practice that I’m aware of,” Pajor said, following the panel’s review. “The rough handling, method of euthanasia, and quality of cage inspection are serious animal welfare concerns in this video.” But Schafers said the new zerotolerance policy, initiated by Egg Farmers of Canada, has been in the works for a long time and wasn’t a reaction to the incidents at KuKu and Creekside Grove farms. “The KuKu incident has certainly brought some awareness to the whole industry, but Mercy for Animals Canada has done exposés on a lot of agricultural industries,” said the Stony Plainarea producer. “Everybody has an increased level of awareness.” “We were reviewing the final draft of the policy in August and September, before we even knew
“The zero tolerance to animal abuse was an unwritten policy before, but we’ve put it in there to make sure that everybody has a very strong understanding of what abuse means.” Susan Schafers
photo: manitoba egg farmers the video was coming out,” added Robinson. “It may have pushed it up a bit, but it was still in the works.”
Pledge applauded
Pajor said the Calgary Stampede is the only other organization he knows of that pledges a zerotolerance approach on an animal welfare issue. “The zero-tolerance pledge isn’t something that comes to my mind as being common,” he said in an interview. “Where it is included in other types of assessments is that there is zero tolerance towards wilful acts of abuse during assessments and audits. A lot of assessments and audits will include automatic failure at the farm if there is
abuse. But the idea of pledging zero tolerance for something is not something that I’ve seen a lot of.” Pajor approves of the yearly signing of the pledge. “Because they’re supply managed, they can actually control the licensing. What is good about the pledge is that it is an annual reminder of making sure that this is on people’s radar screen.” As part of an animal care program introduced in 2004, producers are subject to regular audits on their farm. As of last year, producers need to obtain a score of 90 per cent to be licensed to sell eggs. The Egg Farmers of Alberta has also created a policy for staff who witness animal abuse or cruelty. “If any field inspectors or our
staff are on farm and we see something that’s unacceptable, we now have a clear process on what to do to ensure that immediate action is taken to deal with the issue,” said Robinson. The Egg Farmers of Alberta is still audited using a three-step audit process — a commonly used model in commodity organizations that have on-farm audits, said Pajor. Anything that is causing immediate welfare concerns, such as injury or mortality to the bird, needs to be addressed as soon as possible, whereas minor adjustments to equipment have a different timeline. Elements are weighted differently and the signed zero-toler-
ance pledge is now considered an essential part of the scoring. Audits are conducted by inspectors from the Egg Farmers of Canada, with about one-third of audits to be completed by a third party. Audits are scheduled ahead of time because of the challenge of visiting farms spread throughout Alberta, but producers are not given a lot of advance warning before visits. Egg producers must also have their employees sign a code of conduct, that sets out what is expected of them in terms of providing proper animal care. Employees must also promise to report any improper animal care they observe to their farm manager. akienlen@fbcpublishing.com
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Albertafarmexpress.ca • March 16, 2015
RAILWAY } from page 1
Business has been steadily increasing since the Battle River Railway had its ribbon-cutting ceremony in December 2010. Photos: Battle River Railway formed a new-generation co-op, purchased the line in June 2010, and hauled its first train of 50 barley cars later that year. “We had this beautiful track out here and we weren’t going to let it disappear,” said Eshpeter. “We are a great grain-growing area, so it didn’t make sense that this line disappear and it didn’t get a huge amount of convincing of our guys to understand what we were attempting to do. We’ve had great participation.”
There are 153 producer shareholders, and a number of nonproducer members who own shares in the co-operative. Eight times a year, the railway runs tourism excursions using a passenger car to move people to activities occurring in the different communities along the rail line, through the Friends of the Battle River Railway Society. akienlen@fbcpublishing.com
Battle River Railway chairman Ken Eshpeter (right) and secretarytreasurer John Oberg.
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Meet Ken Dutton Started farming: 1974 Crop rotation: Chemfallow, durum, spring wheat, barley First vehicle: ‘64 Chevy Half-Ton Loves: Family, Saskatchewan Roughriders Hates: Kochia, Edmonton Eskimos Will never sell: His 4020 John Deere tractor, a gift from dad Most memorable farming moment: “Last year, we filled all the bins.” PrecisionPac® blends: DB-858, DB-8454
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“We’re still trying to figure out where railroading begins and ends and where grain buying and handling begins and ends.” The BRR, established in 2010, is a community-operated short line located in central Alberta and operated by a new-generation co-op. It has 50 miles of track, six sidings where producers load grain, and is in the process of completing its third grain-handling facility (built by shareholders in Rosalind, Heisler and Alliance). Each of the six sidings operates under a different scenario before interchanging in Camrose and transferring on the CN line to the B.C. interior, Prince Rupert or Vancouver. BRR officials are currently talking with several large grain buyers to try to establish a relationship or partnership to create more grainhandling facilities. The railway has continued to grow each year, but it’s been challenging, said Eshpeter, who farms near Daysland. “It’s been steadily increasing, but it’s always a fight because CN never wants to relinquish any control or help a young player out,” he said. “Last year was relatively terrible and we were 27 weeks behind at one time, waiting for some of our cars to go into the interior B.C. We were getting export cars last year, but the ones to service the domestic market were way behind.” Fortunately, the railway was able to catch up by the end of the year. “It’s really a frustrating thing when you have markets to serve and you can’t because you can’t get cars from general allocation,” said Eshpeter. The railway continues to lobby CN, he said. “Getting more cars and increasing our car allocation is the thing we work on, on a daily basis,” he said. “That’s just the way it is, unfortunately. We’re a little player, and CN has all the levers, so you can imagine what it’s like. But we would not have passed it up.” Interest in the rail line has been growing because it is more willing to move specialty crops. “Big grain likes to handle the easy stuff,” said Eshpeter. “So if a person has something that is a little bit different, like a different grade or a different type of wheat or a crop like faba beans or flax, the opportunity to move them through a major is quite troublesome.” Because the people affiliated with the short line know some of these other markets, they’re able to market specialty crops. And some producers are fed up with the big grain companies and prefer to use the producer-owned short line instead, said Eshpeter. “There are times when a guy is bringing grain 50 miles and he has to stand in the bloody lineup in the driveway and gets treated like a piece of you know what,” he said. “They’re tiring of that. We don’t do that. The arrangement is that if they come here, they’ll be able to unload when they get here.” Prior to the end of the single desk in 2012, the CWB used to handle a lot of the logistics, but now the railroad has to be involved in contracting, car ordering, car allocation and tracking cars. Four part-time staff manage the grainhandling side, while two full- and one part-time employees take care of the railway side. Eshpeter calls the entire project “fulfilling, but immensely frustrating.” The Battle River group began loading producer cars in 2003 after CN threatened to close the rail line. A group of producers
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MARCH 16, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA
No hill of beans — soybeans get a boost with expanded insurance plan The New Crops Insurance Initiative, which also covers forages and other special crops, will give coverage for soybeans in specified areas By Alexis Kienlen af staff
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oybeans are here to stay in Alberta and the announcement they now qualify for Agricultural Financial Services Crop insurance coverage is expected to boost acreage. “There were a number of people who were waiting for that program to be in place before growing soybeans, so I see it as a positive step for expanding the soybean acreage in Alberta,” said Patrick Fabian, soybean grower and pedigreed seed producer. Both dryland and irrigated soybeans will be insurable under a new AFSC program called the “New Crops Insurance Initiative.” Until now, producers who grew soybeans could only get hail coverage. The change is another sign that soybeans are a viable crop in the province, said Fabian, who lives in Tilley. “This is just another step in giving farmers assurance that this is not a flash-in-the-pan crop,” he said. “Soybeans are here to stay. “A lot of producers wanted an all-risk component to it, so that in the event of frost or extreme weather or something that would have prevented them from harvesting a crop, there would be another component to it. This offers a more rounded package for the producer, so they can mitigate their risk.”
in certain areas of the province. Soybeans can grow well in the southern, irrigated areas around Daysland and Camrose, and in some areas of the Peace country. The crop needs about 110 days to mature, and 2,100 heat units to make a crop. A new soybean crush facility is currently being built in southern Alberta. “We’re seeing primary and secondary industries firing up in Alberta as a result of another cropping opportunity,” said Fabian. Alberta soybean growers also enjoyed a transportation advantage this year because the crop has finally reached a critical mass in the province. That meant producers were able to ship directly to the coast.
“The line companies are giving us that freight differential, so all year long for this marketing season our producers in Alberta have been enjoying a $1.20- to $1.45-per-bushel advantage over our Manitoba counterparts, since we’re already halfway to port,” Fabian said. “We’re seeing all these little things come together, and I really see an increase in soybeans in Alberta over the next number of years.” AFSC will only be offering coverage for specific risk areas and growers should contact their local branch office to see if there is coverage in their area, said Handford. akienlen@fbcpublishing.com
There were only about 12,000 acres of soybeans grown in the province last year, but expanded crop insurance coverage will boost that number, says Patrick Fabian, who has made a YouTube video on growing the oilseed in Alberta. pHOTO: yoUTUBE
“This is just another step in giving farmers assurance that this is not a flash-in-the-pan crop. Soybeans are here to stay.” Patrick Fabian
Other crops covered under the New Crops Insurance Initiative include perennials like brome grasses, clovers, fescue, wheat and ryegrass as well as caraway and coriander. All of these crops are eligible for hail coverage as well. The program will offer a base level of coverage, said Ken Handford, product development analyst with AFSC. “This will give the producers the opportunity to insure some of the costs that they have and from AFSC’s point of view, it will give us the opportunity to collect more information on crops such as soybeans so we could look at bringing them into the regular crop insurance program going forward,” said Handford. Coverage will be available on a flat dollar-per-acre basis. Dryland soybeans coverage is $225 per acre while irrigated soybeans can receive coverage up to $310 per acre. Fabian estimates about 12,000 acres of soybeans were grown last year in Alberta. While the crop has potential, it can only be grown
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Albertafarmexpress.ca • March 16, 2015
In a risky world, your farm needs a plan Waskatenau producer Don Macyk says managing risk isn’t a fun chore, but it’s one you can’t afford to ignore By Jennifer Blair af staff / red deer
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isk management may not be “a real joyful thing to do,” but it’s a necessary evil if you hope to farm successfully, says a longtime central Alberta farmer. “I know in our own business that we go further, faster when there’s good, solid risk management in place,” Don Macyk said at the Feed Coalition workshop in February. “Our competitiveness is at risk without solid risk management capacity.” Macyk said he has employed “every risk management tool there is to use” on his farm near Waskatenau northeast of Edmonton. He defines risk as “anything that gets in the way of you achieving your goals,” and spoke of three types of risk. The first is “risk beyond our control.”
“You have to have some capacity in your business to deal with what might happen when you don’t have any idea what might be coming at you,” he said. “It might be a 2015 drought, or it might be a volcano in the Philippines that gives us only 80 or 90 per cent of our usual heat units to produce a crop. “I’m not sure you should spend a lot of time at home thinking about it, but the capacity to deal with things that are unexpected has to be there.” Insurable risks are next on the list. “You have to assess the risk that insurance covers for you on the basis of what you’re prepared to live with and what you’re not prepared to live with,” said Macyk. “But generally speaking, with the government kicking in 60 per cent on programs like crop and hail and production insurance, it’s pretty hard to make a decision not to go with them.”
“Our competitiveness is at risk without solid risk management capacity.” Don Macyk
Then there’s “all the rest” of the other risks out there, including management options, marketing, and farm safety. “There’s always a decision,” he said. “It’s either do something about it, or don’t do something about it. Know why you didn’t do it, and have a good explanation if things don’t work out.” That’s Macyk’s approach to grain marketing, where he uses tools like futures markets and
forward pricing to “create a less risky situation” for his farm. “We won’t plant a crop if it results in losses,” he said. “Maybe we don’t always sell at the highest price, but when that crop goes in the ground, there’s a good portion of it priced before we turn the wheels.” About 40 per cent of his 2015 crop is already “forward-sold and in a positive position,” he said. “Yes, it’s not a pleasant thing
to deliver $12 canola when other guys are unloading $16 canola in front of you, but it happens,” he said. “And I accept the consequence of that as part of taking the strategy forward that we have in our operation.” Developing that strategy is essential, he said. “Is risk management anything other than good management? I don’t know,” said Macyk. “But I do know that you have at least some kind of plan and a process to keep current with respect to your risks. That way, your goals and accountabilities and choices are clear.” And producers who are “serious about risk management” need to conduct a formal review of their farm’s risks every year. “Somebody has to be responsible for it. If you don’t have somebody responsible for it, it falls between the cracks.” jennifer.blair@fbcpublishing.com
Ducks Unlimited offers forage incentive plan
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Ducks Unlimited Canada and Crop Production Services Canada is offering an incentive to producers willing to commit to keeping land in perennial cover for 10 years and not to drain wetlands. The forage incentive program underwrites seed costs of $100 per 50-pound bag, which is estimated to cover approximately 40 to 50 per cent of a producer’s seed costs. The program is available to all producers wanting to plant forages within Ducks Unlimited Canada’s priority delivery areas in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. An official said the organization is “particularly interested in areas that have better-than-average existing perennial cover and high wetland densities.” For more information about the program in Alberta, call 1-866-301-3825. — DUC release
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NEWS » Markets
}EXPORTS
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MARCH 16, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA
Export tax taking a toll
Mexico trip generates sales
Russia’s grain exports in February, including flour and pulses, fell to one million tonnes from 2.2 million in January following the introduction of a tax on wheat exports, say SovEcon agriculture analysts. The tax, imposed from Feb. 1, is part of the government’s efforts to curb exports boosted by a slump in the ruble. The tax is set at 15 per cent of the customs price plus 7.50 euros, but no less than 35 euros (US$38) a tonne. Wheat exports were hardest hit, falling to 350,000 to 370,000 tonnes in February from 2.0 million tonnes in January, SovEcon said. But barley exports were up. — Reuters
A market development mission to Mexico, focusing on food ingredients for human and animal consumption, is expected to generate $4 million in sales. Alberta Barley, the Alberta Food Processing Development Centre, and Cigi were among the participants in the recent five-day mission. It included informational and technical seminars on food ingredients and animal feed, and business-to-business meetings. “They were well attended by Mexican ingredient manufacturers and suppliers, product developers, industry associations and government officials,” said Paola Zaragoza of Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. — AARD release
Other oilseeds’ weakness makes canola weaker Soybeans seem to be winning the U.S. fight for acres By Terryn Shiells
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he ICE Futures Canada canola market moved sharply lower during the week ended March 6, following weakness in outside oilseeds. Chart-based selling after the May contract climbed above $470 per tonne earlier in the week was also behind the declines. Farmer selling at the highs added to the bearish tone. The sharp drop in the latter half of the week did encourage some commercial bargain hunting, which was serving to limit the declines. Canadian currency was also softer, which helped make canola more attractive for foreign buyers and domestic crushers. Canola values will continue to watch outside oilseed markets and movement in the Canadian currency. The focus, however, is expected to shift in coming weeks to the 2015-16 North American crop outlook. Seeding in the U.S. isn’t far away, though Canadian farmers still have a while before they will likely get onto their fields. As always, a weather premium will need to be built into the market. Traders will also watch for any news of Canadian farmers’ final decisions on seeding canola, and of soybean acreage in the U.S. Canadian canola acreage estimates vary, with some analysts predicting a slight increase and others expecting a decrease of up to 4.5 per cent compared to the 20.3 million acres seeded in 201415. U.S. markets will also start to focus on upcoming North American crops soon, but the main driving forces during the week were related to South America. The Chicago soybean market was down sharply amid reports that China is now sourcing beans from South America, as logistics in the region are improving. The U.S. bean market rallied last week on news of trucker strikes in Brazil slowing the movement of the commodity, but the country’s government took action to resolve those issues during the week ended March 6. Record-large production prospects in South America also continued to overhang North American oilseed markets, though there were some concerns about flooding hurting soybeans in Argentina. Corn futures were watching South American corn production, as weather conditions are generally favourable, but the market mainly followed wheat and soybeans lower during the week. Corn and soybeans should begin their annual battle for acres soon, as planting
As usual, soybeans are driving the market, but a weaker Canadian dollar is helping canola futures. PHoto: Thinkstock in the U.S. is approaching quickly. Currently soybeans are winning, as newcrop prices were 2.35 times higher than new-crop corn values as of March 6. This leads to expectations that corn acreage will be lower, and soybean acreage will move higher, though estimates vary, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture is actually projecting slightly lower soybean area this year.
Wheat supplies
Global wheat production is likely to be smaller in 2015-16, but the supplies this year are so large it probably won’t make a huge difference for prices. All three wheat markets in the U.S. moved sharply lower during the week, with large supplies and a lack of fresh export demand behind the softness. Strength in the U.S. dollar index was also bearish, as it moved to its highest levels in over a decade during the week.
U.S. currency’s firmness made U.S. wheat even more expensive to buyers on the export market. U.S. wheat markets will continue to focus on the supply-and-demand situation. Prices are expected to remain under pressure as long as export demand remains soft for U.S. supplies.
There’s also more room to the downside on wheat, as speculators will continue adding to their short positions if bullish news is lacking. Terryn Shiells writes for Commodity News Service Canada, a Winnipeg company specializing in grain and commodity market reporting.
For three-times-daily market reports from Resource News International, visit “ICE Futures Canada updates” at www.albertafarmexpress.ca.
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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 16, 2015
Canola rallies to eight-month high, achieving a double-bottom objective market outlook } Longs move back in when the market bottoms for a second time By david drozd
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anola has rallied $65 per tonne since Dec. 4, 2014, the day the May 2015 futures contract turned up from a second low at $408.60. A chart pattern known as a double bottom indicated the May futures contract would rally to $470 per tonne, a level not seen since June 30, 2014.
Double bottom
Double bottoms are basic formations which appear with regularity in the futures markets. Once completed they are a reliable signal of a reversal of trend. A double bottom begins to take shape with prices advancing into new low ground for the current move. This low is illustrated as point (A) in the accompanying chart. A reaction then sets in during which a portion of the decline is retraced (B). A second drop (C), brings prices back down to approximately the lows of the first decline. This is followed by a price rally (D), which exceeds the reaction high (B). Time-wise, it is important that the two lows are not very close together. It should be three to five weeks or more. A time interval for completion measured in months would be indicative of a significant reversal of the major long-term trend. Absolute price level need not be exact at the two bottoms. Often at a low, the second decline will slightly exceed the first low and appear very pronounced or spiked, but it may also fall shy of the first low. In the double-bottom pattern, strong confirming evidence is to have high volume at both extreme low points, with the first low having higher volume than the second low. The rally which follows the second bottom should see volume pick up. This pattern is completed when prices exceed the high between the two lows. A minimum price objective is derived by measuring the distance between the reaction high (440) and the double bottom (410) and adding it to that high. Example; (440-410), (440+30G0).
tunity to cash in slip so easily through their fingers the second time around. The decline is also halted by the ever-present bottom pickers who are waiting to buy the proverbial bottom of the market. At the second low, the buying eclipses whatever selling remains and the market begins to gain ground. When prices penetrate the reaction high between the two bottoms, all recent shorts will have paper losses and will eventually be potential buyers. Once prices fail to have any sustainable decline, hope begins to wane and covering of short contracts becomes an inevitable reality. As prices continue to rally, new longs will also enter the market.
Canola producers who keep a watchful eye on charting and technical analysis were alerted to the potential rally to $470 on the May futures contract. Technical measurements derived from chart patterns such as double bottoms and rectangular patterns often provide farmers with key price objectives.
GRAPH Canola May 2015 Chart as of February 25, 2015
David Drozd is president and senior market analyst for Winnipeg-based Ag-Chieve Corporation. The opinions expressed are those of the writer and are solely intended to assist readers with a better understanding of technical analysis. Visit www. ag-chieve.ca for information about our marketing advisory service and to see our latest market analysis. You can call us toll free at 1-888-274-3138 for a free consultation.
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Market psychology
The first low develops after a sustained price drop. It coincides with a growing willingness on the part of shorts with large unrealized profits to cash in their earnings. The market stalls as the supply of contracts for sale is overwhelmed by short covering and prices begin to rise. Long buyers jump in, convinced that the downward move has gone far enough. The market continues to rally until the buyers withdraw. From a longer-term perspective the major trend is still down, so when the rally falters, sellers once again step in and prices begin to move lower. At approximately the level of the first low, the shorts who failed to take profits when prices made the first low and sat through the entire correction are likely to be watching more closely and won’t let the oppor-
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NEWSPRINT
2015-02-24 8:57 AM
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news » livestock
MARCH 16, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA
App input wanted from producers
Tips for winter calving
The Canadian Hereford, Simmental and Angus associations are looking at developing a mobile smartphone application for cow-calf producers integrated with Canadian breed association performance data. Integrated Traceability Solutions Global of Okotoks has been contracted to research what breeders want in a mobile app. An online survey, which takes 10 to 15 minutes to complete, can be found at www.surveymonkey.com/s/52XYK3G. Producers not wanting to take the survey can still provide input by sending their comments to appinfo@itslivestock.com prior to the end of the month. — AARD release
Alberta Beef Producers is reminding producers of good practices for winter calving. Shelter from the wind is the most important step, said beef production specialist Karin Schmid. “Bedding is also super important. If you have a good bedding pack it can really help keep the calf’s temperature up, and that way they’ll nurse faster and get a lot of colostrum in them and be vigorous when they’re born. Cows with older calves should be moved to a different area as this helps keep the calving area clean and mitigate any disease factors. — ABP release
Temple Grandin says producers ‘pushing biology too hard’ High-profile animal welfare expert says producers must address livestock issues or society will dictate solutions By Jill Burkhardt af contributor
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armers, you have issues — downer dairy cows, structurally unsound cattle, and osteoporosis so bad in laying hens that huge numbers of them suffer broken bones. That’s the latest message from world-renowned animal scientist Temple Grandin, and it comes with a stark warning: Producers need to address these issues before society steps in and dictates change. In her most recent presentations, the professor of animal science at Colorado State University and bestselling author has been talking about how feedlots and slaughterhouses have dramatically improved their practices. And how it’s now the turn of primary producers to do the same. “When I go to a slaughterhouse, I’m seeing problems I have to fix at the farm,” Grandin told Alberta Farmer at the Society for Range Management meeting in Sacramento, Calif. last month. “I get concerned about pushing biology too hard.” The cattle industry has enthusiastically used Expected Progeny Differences in breeding programs, but Grandin said it has gone overboard. The result is animals with large muscle frames that produce large amounts of meat, but with small legs that cannot support the weight, as well as cardiovascular problems, she said. There is a simple solution: Address leg conformation issues when breeding and wisely employ advances in genomics, she said. “With these breeding power tools (genomics), we can really make change fast,” she said. “A power tool is a good thing, but you have to use it carefully so you don’t have problems.” “Biological overload” is also a major issue in milk and egg production, she said. The unceasing push for more milk from dairy cows had resulted in more lameness and reproduction issues, while layers suffer a high incidence of bone fractures because increased egg production has led to depletion of calcium in the bones of hens. “Twenty to 80 per cent of old laying hens have broken bones
due to osteoporosis,” said Grandin, citing a University of Bristol study. The beef industry has issues, too. For example, beta-agonists, especially when used during hot weather, contribute to stiff, sore cattle, and worsens leg conformation issues, she said. “They still have to live on the range. You mess them up too much, they are not going to function like a beef cow should. They are not going to mother up.” Honestly confronting problems leads to meaningful change, said the 67-year-old, who drew on her experience as someone with autism to better understand animal behaviour and then used those insights to advise meat packers and feedlots to revamp their systems and handling procedures. “Handling has really improved, slaughterhouses have really improved,” she said. “That’s due to McDonald’s audits, which I’ve helped implement, and USDA getting more strict.” She pointed to a Kansas State University study of 28 feedlots. Average prod use had fallen to 5.5 per cent and since the majority of the cattle were calmly walking or trotting out of the chute, trips and falls were under one per cent. So what’s her solution to issues on individual livestock operations? Grandin’s advice is to take a page from the playbook of slaughterhouses she’s worked with and be fully transparent, instead of sitting back and allowing animal activists to sensationalize the industry’s shortcomings. “When you get bashed you need to be opening the door, not closing it,” she said. Grandin has done this by participating in the North American Meat Institute’s Glass Walls Project, which has created YouTube videos that take viewers inside U.S. cattle, hog, and turkey slaughterhouses. The footage is sometimes graphic — cattle being killed with a bolt gun, their legs kicking because of a spinal reflex that occurs briefly after death. But it’s increasingly important to be open and transparent, she said, adding being on social media is part of that engagement. Letting the public see what goes on at farms will not only drive reforms in breeding pro-
Livestock producers need to re-think some of their practices, says Temple Grandin. Photo: Anders Krusberg/Peabody Awards grams, but also inform them about positive contributions of livestock operations, she said. For example, most people have no idea of how livestock benefit the land when proper grazing management is utilized. “A lot of people think that cattle are ‘evil land wreckers,’” said Grandin. “The general public does not even know (grazing management) exists.” However, being in the public eye isn’t easy and producers have to be prepared for that, she said. “I get bashed on both sides,” she said. “I get bashed by animal rights radicals who have called me a ‘Nazi.’ And then there’s some people in ag who have bashed me because I don’t support everything that ag does.” But retreating into industry “silos” would be a mistake. “We have to work at cutting down the silos, and it’s not always easy,” she said.
Teaching kids, keeping good help, and social media By Jill Burkhardt
T
af contributor
emple Grandin is never afraid to voice an opinion. Here are some of the other topics she addressed in her interview with Alberta Farmer contributor Jill Burkhardt.
On exposing kids to the real world:
“Hands-on classes teach practical problem solving. I’m very concerned today about kids being removed from the world of practical things.”
On finding and keeping good ranch help:
“There is starting to get a lot of interest in low-stress stockmanship, and I think that’s a wonderful thing. There’s a lot of places that can pay for good stockmanship than what they are paying. But they would like to live better than in a trailer.”
On using YouTube and social media:
“What are chores to you is interesting to the public.”
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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 16, 2015
Miniature Horses: not quite the same as a horse horse health } Miniatures are attractive for their personalities
and intelligence, but face some unique health problems By Carol shwetz dvm
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hilst the exact origin of the modern Miniature Horse is unclear, selective breeding of pony stock breeds such as the Shetland pony for a smaller size is most likely. Pony breeds, typically considered an equine under 14.2 hands or 58 inches in height, have been around for hundreds of years. Most of their evolutionary selection has been shaped by harsh natural climates and limited feed sources. The Miniature Horse registry is based solely around height. Registries won’t allow membership to a Miniature taller than 34 inches, although there are Miniature Horses as tall as 38 inches. Dwarfism has been an unfortunate outcome of selective inbreeding for size and many Miniature Horses express some clinical degree of dwarfism. Dwarfs or variations of dwarfism exhibit various degrees/combinations of conformational flaws such as dome-shaped skulls, and misshapen limbs, spines and jaws. Those mildly affected can lead normal lives whereas those more severely affected struggle to thrive. Three major physical attributes have stubbornly refused to downsize in the Miniature
Horse: the teeth, the fecal ball and the umbilical cord. Many health conditions unique to Miniature Horses can be traced back to this genetic glitch/hiccup/snag. In the small head of a Miniature Horse we find the same number and size of teeth as found in a full-size horse. As a result, dental overcrowding, malocclusion and interrupted shedding of caps/ baby teeth are quite common. Since these horses often do not wear a bit and easily maintain adequate body condition, years of abnormal dental wear can smoulder before it is recognized. Identifying and correcting dental problems in the early years is even more important in these horses. Miniature Horses have an increased incidence of colic caused by feed impactions and obstructive fecaliths (dried hard feces) in the small colon. This type of colic is unique to Miniatures, likely due to the disparity in size between the diameter of the intestine and the fecal ball. If identified early, medical intervention may relieve the obstruction, circumventing surgery.
Health challenges
Miniature Horses tend to have more reproductive problems than their larger cousins. The incidence of abortion/stillbirths is often more common and can
be attributed to the increased rate of congenital abnormalities, malformed fetuses, or deaths due to a twisted/entangled umbilical cord. Dystocia or difficult births are also more frequent. Predicting the date of foaling can be quite difficult in Miniatures as many do not show the classical signs of imminent birthing such as udder “bagging up” and teat waxing. It is extremely important to take special care of breeding Miniatures ensuring a rising plane of nutrition in late gestation, continuing throughout lactation. Miniature Horses have inherited the “thrifty” gene from their pony ancestors. If measures are not undertaken to manage the body condition of the Miniature Horse, they risk metabolic derangements and founder/ laminitis. Many live sedentary lifestyles further compounding their propensity towards obesity. Restricted grazing, grazing muzzles, drylots, and slow feed netting will allow these horses to move around and interact with their companions while restricting caloric intake. Regular movement is essential for these animals. In the past many served as companion animals with little athletic expectations. However, in the last decade job descriptions of Miniature Horses have become increasingly diverse ranging
from driving and agility, to becoming invaluable guide/service animals.
Hyperlipidemia risk
Obesity increases the risk for hyperlipidemia, a significant metabolic disease specific to Miniature Horses, small ponies and donkeys, whenever these animals experience a sickness or stressful episode where feed intake is interrupted for 24 hours or more a life-threatening energy “crisis” is sensed by the body. This energy “crisis” triggers fat to be mobilized from body stores where it goes to the liver to meet the demands of an energy debt. Breakdown products from fat metabolism in the liver are released into the bloodstream, causing “fatty” blood. The problem is complicated further as the liver becomes overwhelmed with the influx of mobilized fat. Late-term pregnancy, lactation, stress, travel, weather change, illness, or any factor that impairs appetite for more than 24 hours can initiate a crisis. Affected animals will often show inappetence, lethargy, weakness, depression, neurological signs, ataxia, mild colic, tremors, diarrhea and jaundice. Prevention of hyperlipidemia is very important because reversal of this condition is difficult in spite of aggressive veterinary intervention. Any sickness or
loss of appetite in a Miniature Horse is best addressed immediately. Clinical eclampsia is another life-threatening complication seen more commonly in Miniature Horses. It is associated with the metabolic demands of gestation and lactation when systemic calcium concentrations drop below levels necessary for sustaining electrical activity in the body. Clinical signs include muscle tremors, sweating, anxiety, bloat, colic and pupil dilation. Once again, early recognition and prompt veterinary intervention is necessary to avert death. The colourful personalities, intelligence, and small stature of Miniature Horses have earned many of them the social status of “pet.” However, it is important to remember Miniature Horses are still a horse and/or livestock requiring similar management in many ways to their full-size counterparts. Appropriate nutrition, space to move, shelter, proper hoof and dental care, timely vaccinations and parasite control are essential to their health. It is also fundamental to educate these pint-size steeds on ground manners to ensure a healthy and safe relationship with their human companions. Carol Shwetz is a veterinarian specializing in equine practice at Westlock, Alberta.
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MARCH 16, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA
Pork producers will soon need to use pain medication in routine swine procedures Pork producers will need to use pain medications for procedures such as castration and tail docking starting in July 2016 By Alexis Kienlen af staff
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hange is coming, but it won’t be huge change nor difficult for pork producers to adopt. Effective July 1, 2016, producers will have to use pain mitigation medication when performing procedures like castration and tail docking. “There are a number of these elective husbandry procedures in the code, and these are painful procedures for pigs, and they can certainly lead to distress, discomfort and pain,” Dr. Egan Brockhoff, veterinarian and owner of Prairie Swine Health Services, said during a recent telephone town hall organized by Alberta Pork. When the updated code of practice for the care and handling of pigs comes into effect, castration at any age must be done with an analgesic while pigs older than 10 days must be given an anesthetic and an analgesic. An anesthetic takes away nerve sensation, similar to freezing at the dentist, while an analgesic leaves sensation but takes away the feeling of pain, explained Brockhoff. “The great news is that we have these products in place already and these products are available
for pork producers to use on their farms,” he said. Castration is necessary because it’s the only method of reducing boar taint, aggression and handling challenges, he said. But pain from castration slows the growth of young piglets, and those castrated at three days of age gain less than non-castrated piglets. “It certainly can slow them down if we don’t manage the pain,” said Brockhoff. Research has demonstrated that the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, similar to an Aspirin or Advil, can help mitigate pain. Different non-steroidal antiinflammatories work different in different species. Giving medication 30 minutes before castration significantly reduces pain. Producers will also be required to use analgesics for tail-docking procedures on pigs of all ages by July 1, 2016. As well, pain medication will also be required for ear notching and tattooing, as well as tusk trimming. Researchers have looked at using Medicam, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory approved for use on swine in Canada, as a pain medication in castration, said Brockhoff. Researchers have been administrating Medicam at the same time as they supply their pigs with iron.
“The great news is that we have these products in place already and these products are available for pork producers to use on their farms.” Egan Brockhoff
“All of our pigs need iron. They are born with very low supplies of iron, whether they are born inside or outside,” he said. “No matter where they are raised, pigs require iron injections or exposure to iron.”
Pork producers will soon be required to use pain medication for some everyday surgical procedures when handling swine. Photo: Thinkstock Administering Medicam and iron by injection before starting the surgical castration procedure provides pigs with a good analgesic. Lidocaine, an anesthetic, removes sensation for one to two hours, depending on the dose. It can be administered directly into the testicle using a needle. Researchers in Alberta have shown that Lidocaine is effective at reducing pain and pain-related behaviours during and following a castration procedure. Brockhoff said that the new methods for castration are effective, and don’t require major changes in livestock management. All pork producers are encouraged
to consult with their veterinarian, he said. “There are tools that are readily accessible and there are things you can do today to move forward,” he said. The code was revised by National Farm Animal Care Council in consultation with the Canadian Pork Council, other industry players, and the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies. The latter praised the revised code as “a turning point for the welfare of pigs in Canada” when it was released two years ago. akienlen@fbcpublishing.com
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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 16, 2015
Making an old farm new again — sometimes without a playbook The weeds were abundant and the pastures were tired, but we had faith that a turnaround was possible By brenda schoepp af columnist
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he children had a book entitled Old Farm, New Farm that we just loved. It was the story of the rejuvenation of a farm — something that we did as a family. Never afraid of a challenge, I’ve purchased several farms to make new again. It was a great way to contribute to the world around us — and make money doing it! This story is about farm No. 1 in the black soil zone of central Alberta west of Edmonton. The joke was that one only had to fall out of bed to make money with the deep black earth and moderate weather. But the perfect conditions also lent themselves to massive weed growth and lodging of long-stemmed annuals and perennials. As it is with healthy soil, the earth and sky want to be part of it and being in the flyway of waterfowl, including swans, complicated the problem. The nesting areas on our farm needed to be protected, too. This was in the ’80s when most everyone still continuously grazed and environmental activism had not yet found its following. Regardless, our mission was threefold: • Without the use of chemical, we would control or eliminate the weeds. • With the use of limited access, we would provide a nesting area for waterfowl. • Without the use of fertilizer, we would more than double the carrying capacity on the farm.
This was a little farm that I made my living on as a single mom, with my small children as helpers. Although young, the children were grand in spirit and superior in ideas. Together we took the little farm that once held a few dozen cows on weak, weed-infested pasture to carrying 100 cows on clean pasture with glorious nesting areas alive with waterfowl. In this area, Canada thistle was the main culprit and it was abundant. I had a tractor and borrowed a disk bine and just before the rains in the cool of the morning or evening, would go and top the thistle. The hollow nature of the root took in a lot of water and as the plant is not dormant at that time of day, they drowned out. It took a little patience, but in hindsight was an easy way to accomplish this seemingly massive task. The pastures were tired, but we chose to leave a lot of the creeping red fescue alone, believing that it would flourish without the heavy competition. It did. As for the main flats, I added legumes so that we could fix nitrogen and have the land as dual purpose. I always used a lot of alfalfa in the mix and was comfortable grazing it providing that we engaged the animals at the right time. In those days, the concept of electric fencing was totally different. There were low hot wires as well which we quickly ripped out once we saw the value of the cattle doing the gleaning under the fences. The gates were
Formal lease agreements on the rise for pastures Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development release
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he calls are starting to come in to the Alberta Ag-Info Centre asking about pasture rents,” says Ted Nibourg, farm business management specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. “What is different this year is the increase in requests for formal lease agreements. This is likely reflective of the positive financial state of the cow-calf sector.” A written lease spells out the responsibilities and obligations of all parties involved in the lease and methods of resolving disputes. The key components of a written lease are: • Full names and addresses of both tenant and landowner, along with a legal description of the leased land, acres involved and agreed-upon carrying capacity. • Duration or tenure of the lease and length of the grazing season. • Details on the amount, details and timing of the rental payment. • Responsibilities for fence maintenance, pasture maintenance (weed and brush control, fertility, etc.), water provision and maintenance. • Responsibilities for major improvements (new fence, dugouts, water systems, road access, etc.).
• Restrictions and responsibilities relating to pasture management and general cattle management, including cattle supervision. • Responsibilities for death loss and disappearance. Responsibility for these are negotiated between the tenant and landowner subject to overall animal health, temperament and security of pasture facilities. • Restrictions on the health status of cattle coming into the pasture, as well as right of entry. • Method of resolving disputes, lease renegotiation terms, right of first refusal, rights of assignment or sublease, and ways and means of lease termination. “Other clauses can be added depending on the needs of either party,” says Nibourg. “One clause that has become prevalent, especially during years of drought, is a pull clause. In the event of prolonged or late-season dry periods, this clause allows the landowner to give the tenant two weeks’ notice to pull their cattle in order to avoid overgrazing and subsequent long-term damage to the pasture. The two-week notice allows the tenant time to make alternative arrangements.” For more information on pasture lease arrangements, contact the Alberta Ag-Info Centre at 310-FARM (3276).
This is how we used to fence in the ’80s — low wires and overbuilt. The fescue thrived without the competition of Canada thistle. Photos: Brenda Schoepp giant coiled wires which caused someone of my temperament no end of grief. But the concept of resting land was instilled in us and we soon saw the benefits. On this farm we were brave and designed the fences according to the contour of the land. So it looked like an artist’s rendition of grazing 101. The bushes that were once part of the field were fenced off to allow for the many species of wild flowers and berries to grow. The wetlands were also fenced off and were actually used by the cattle, if only for a short period of time, after the hatchlings were well on their way. This was a delicate task in timing as the cattle could be used to actually increase the variety around the water with hoof action if grazed at the right time. The idea was to
stomp the seeds into the ground and yet still have some palatability in the plants. There is no playbook for this call. Just as on the rest of the farm, it was made on a day-to-day basis. What started as a tired old farm soon began teeming with life. With the help of Dad and my brothers, handling facilities were built with close attention to how the cattle move. The children and I took our time in design because we knew that almost 100 per cent of the time, I would need to move, sort, work and load cattle alone. Simple was best and we took into account everything we learned from Temple Grandin, who was making her way around the country at the time. The farm soon carried both a February and a June calving
herd (so that I could spread my risk), adequate facilities, beautiful trees and flowers, grass and legumes to dare the most staunch of critics. We were nominated for an environmental stewardship award and hosted tours from many areas of Western Canada and from around the world. Yes, we increased our grazing, protected the waterfowl and eliminated the weeds, but more importantly we grew as a little family and we loved doing it together. It nourished wonder and creativity in the children, and gave them a sense of ownership in the farm. It may have been a small farm, but it was our farm and we prided ourselves in making it new again. First of a three-part series by columnist Brenda Schoepp
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MARCH 16, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA
1 OR 10,000 ACRES
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BE THE BEST IN YOUR FIELD Northlands Farm & Ranch Show 2015 will
showcase all the business tools of the trade
—from cattle & chemicals to brushes, oilers & chutes—while also stimulating the positive evolution of the agriculture industry. Offering a wide selection of top programming for the dedicated farmer and rancher, including:
• Equine Events – Demonstrations and information sessions. Feature breed: Canadian. • AgriChat – Discussion of important topics in an intimate setting meant to spur discussion, demonstrate options and provide new insights to attendees. • The Business of Beef – Everything for the commercial cattleman to the club calf enthusiast. Feature breed: Limousin. • Alpaca - Learn what happens “From Shearing to Shawl” through presentations dedicated to Alpacas’ fine fibers and the garments & products they create. Join the conversation @NorthlandsAg #NFRS15
For more information visit farmandranchshow.com
March 26-28
Edmonton EXPO Centre
2015 Prospect Steer & Heifer Show
Entries for this show dedicated to calves born in 2014 are open from February 1 to March 15. Features a guaranteed $4,000 ($2,000 for steer, $2,000 for heifer) prize purse, provided by Northlands, along with 75% of the fees collected.
Performance Horse Sale
The Performance Horse Sale presented by RAM features amazing opportunities for consigners and interested buyers. Preview – March 27 Sale – March 28 Time: 1:30 p.m. (Sale & Preview) Horses will be stalled in Hall A and the Preview and Sale will be held in Hall D
Alpaca Spring Show
Shearing demonstration, fiber sorting, spinning and weaving demonstrations and more.
March 26 – 28
Time: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Edmonton EXPO Centre, Hall B
Canadian College Finals Rodeo March 26 – 28
Tickets on sale at farmandranchshow.com /ccfr/tickets/
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} exchange
ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 16, 2015
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T:10.25”
Falling dollar can affect basis Take into account the exchange rate when comparing basis, says a provincial market specialist. Since the ICE Canada futures is not actively traded, the grain trade uses the Minneapolis Hard Red Spring wheat futures for hedging Canadian hard red spring wheat, said Neil Blue. A recent elevator quote had hard red spring wheat basis at minus 16 cents a bushel. But when an 80-cent Canadian dollar was factored in, the recalculated basis was minus $1.63/bushel. “For those grain buyers who do not calculate the basis in this way, it’s important that producers make the exchange rate adjustment in comparing basis levels of different companies,” said Blue. — AARD release
Lentils getting lots of notice The price is nice, but don’t forget their ability to fix nitrogen, reduce disease pressure, and improve soil By Alexis Kienlen af staff
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The lentil crop in southern Alberta and eastern Saskatchewan wasn’t very good last year, resulting in a shortage which is driving up prices. India and Turkey do produce lentils, but often buy them as well. “There’s always a pretty steady demand for lentils, but the prices do fluctuate depending on worldwide yields in India, Turkey and Western Canada,” said Whatley. “This year, there’s a shortage of lentils in the world, so the price has gone even higher.” Lentils have shallow roots, while cereal roots are deep and canola has both shallow and deep roots. So alternating these crops means soil water is more efficiently utilized, since the plants take water from different areas. Lentils do well in dry conditions in the brown and dark-brown soil zones. Green lentils are graded on colour, and are discounted when mechanically damaged. Red lentils will keep longer, while greens will oxidize in the bin. “If you keep them for a year, they’ll turn orange and you’ll get downgraded,” said Berscht.
New choices
Newly developed lentil varieties offer a number of benefits. New Clearfield red lentil varieties can go as far north as the thin black soil zone and are tolerant to a number of herbicides, including Odyssey. “These new varieties are more determinant,” said Whatley. “For the older varieties, if there was excess rain or excess nitrogen in the soil, they would grow vegetatively and not set seed. These new red varieties — like CDC Maxum and CDC Dazil — grow more determinately, so they will go to
“There’s always a pretty steady demand for lentils… this year, there’s a shortage of lentils in the world, so the price has gone even higher.” Neil Whatley
seed like most other plants will.” The new varieties also have Group 2 resistance and an improved seed yield. Berscht said that he’s noticed that lentils don’t do well in periods of heavy rain. Producers were deterred from growing lentils in the past because of indeterminate growth and growth into lentil hay, something that isn’t a factor with the new varieties. They are early maturing with good disease resistance and fewer lodging issues. Pods are close to the soil surface, so many producers, including Berscht, use flex headers. “There are so many good headers out there right now, so most growers can get down there,” said Whatley.
T:15.58”
roducers chasing the market are looking into lentils — but they pay off in other ways. Two are reduced disease and insect pressure, said Neil Whatley, crop specialist at the Ag-Info Centre in Stettler. “If you’ve got canola/wheat (rotation), you can put something like a lentil or a field pea or a forage in there,” said Whatley. “A lot of the diseases are in the residues and the straw from the year before. When you break the rotation up, it helps get rid of those canola diseases and keeps them at a low level for when you plant canola or wheat the next time.” Their nitrogen-fixing ability attracted Greg Berscht to lentils seven years ago. And he’s found more reasons to keep growing them on his farm near Sibbald. “Legumes make the soil nice and mellow,” he said. “If you’re continuous cropping, it’s a must. You can’t put enough fertilizer in to do what they do. Plus, they’re a good price.” After lentils, Berscht usually grows durum or barley, so he can get the benefit of the nitrogen boost. “A wheat crop planted after a lentil crop often gets high protein, since it gets fed nitrogen over the whole growing season,” said Whatley. “It gets nitrogen even in the mid- and later stages.” Canola growers can also see a small nitrogen bump. A lot of people in his area are looking into lentils, said Berscht, and he has had a number of calls from area producers looking for seed because the prices for lentils (about 35 to 40 cents a pound) are so good right now.
In demand
Greg Berscht, whose lentil fields are pictured here, said lentils offer a number of benefits in the rotation. Photo: Supplied “If they stand up, they’re nice to cut,” added Berscht. “But if they lay down, they’re a nightmare. You’re digging in the dirt and the wet ground.” Lentils are a finicky crop to grow, and it takes awhile to get the hang of it, said Berscht. He recommends rolling the land and avoiding stony fields. Some types of lentils, can be swathed, and swathing tends to result in a better grade, but can result in some lentils getting thrashed onto the ground. Lentils don’t do well on hilly land or on summerfallow because they need stress to produce seed. When grown on chemfallow, lentils will keep growing and produce lots of foliage, without producing a lot of seed. The crop needs to be sprayed for disease when it first flowers. akienlen@fbcpublishing.com
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Barricade® II: Te weeds stop here. Questions? Ask your retailer, call 1-800-667-3925 or visit barricade.dupont.ca As with all crop protection products, read and follow label instructions carefully. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPont™, The miracles of science™, Barricade® and Solumax® are registered trademarks or trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. E. I. du Pont Canada Company is a licensee. Member of CropLife Canada. © Copyright 2015 E. I. du Pont Canada Company. All rights reserved.
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MARCH 16, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA
Faller, Prosper recommended for three-year interim registration The endorsement signals new flexibility in the registration system as neither fits any of Western Canada’s current wheat classes By Allan Dawson staff / Banff
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aller and sister variety Prosper, both high-yielding American Dark Northern Spring wheats, have been recommended for a three-year interim registration, marking a seismic shift in Western Canada’s wheat registration system. Faller has been grown under identify-preserved (IP) contracts in Manitoba for two years. The Prairie Recommending Committee for Wheat, Rye and Triticale, a panel of experts that assesses new wheats and advises the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) on whether to register them, endorsed Faller and Prosper at its annual meeting here in late February. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz has pushed for more flexibility in the system since farmers called for access to higher-yielding wheats after the Canadian Wheat Board’s monopoly ended. It comes just
as the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC), which has a statutory mandate to protect Canadian wheat quality, starts to review the system which segregates wheats by end-use quality. CFIA is expected to grant interim registration. If so, starting this spring it will be easier for Prairie farmers to grow the popular varieties that outyield Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheats by 20 to 25 per cent. However, it’s not clear yet whether farmers will still need identity-preserved contracts. “We’ll have to discuss what the CGC would like to do with that,” said John Smith, owner of Seed Depot, the Manitoba company that holds distribution rights to the varieties developed at North Dakota State University. Interim registration will also make it easier for Richardson Pioneer and Paterson GlobalFoods — the two companies that buy Faller under contract — to handle surplus production and test new markets, Smith said.
“We want the market to grow ahead of the production so that there’s always a bit of pull there,” he added. “We don’t want to get into a situation where there’s more product than what the market can handle.” Interim registration bestows the same rights as full registration — a prerequisite to commercialization.
Risk downplayed
Smith and the grain commission assured the recommending committee interim registrations for Faller and Prosper wouldn’t threaten western Canadian milling wheat quality. Faller often earns growers as much or more than CWRS wheat so there’s no incentive to illegally pass it off as CWRS. “We are not thinking there will be a substantial risk to the quality assurance system as a whole,” Randy Dennis, the CGC’s chief grain inspector, told the committee.
The Prairie Recommending Committee for Wheat, Rye and Triticale (PRCWRT) endorsed Faller and Prosper, two high-yielding American milling wheats, for a three-year interim registration during its annual meeting in Banff last week. photo: allan dawson Farmers are obliged to declare the wheat they deliver is eligible for the class it’s being delivered. Currently, Faller and Prosper don’t fit any of Western Canada’s eight milling wheat classes, making the recommendation for interim registration all the more remarkable. Other American wheats have received interim and full registrations, but fit a class. However, the
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commission is proposing a new class be created for Faller, Prosper and other milling wheats with weaker gluten. CFIA registers new wheats, but it’s up to the commission to decide which class they belong in. In the meantime grain companies can buy the wheats on specifications, Dennis said in an interview. The commission is confident elevators will continue to segregate the varieties because they have markets for them and because the companies are on the financial hook if the wheats downgrade other cargoes, he said. Obviously pleased, Smith said his efforts to bring Faller and Prosper to Western Canada went better than expected. “If a farmer from Pilot Mound can make this happen others can too,” he said. “We figured we’d take a stab at it in the freedom created by the wheat board not being there anymore. “If you would’ve told me when we obtained the rights to these varieties that there would be a whole new class and the grain commission, CFIA and the registration committee would all get together to make it happen — that there was that much flexibility in the system — I wouldn’t have believed you. I would’ve bet the farm against that one.” The wheat board was seen by some as a roadblock to variety flexibility, but during its existence several U.S. wheats, including Glenn, were registered. But Glenn fit the CWRS mould; Faller and Prosper don’t. Over the past three years, Faller averaged 72 bushels an acre, or 31 per cent more than the CWRS wheats Kane, Carberry, Glenn and Harvest, according to crop insurance data. In 2013 there were 41,000 acres of Faller seeded in Manitoba and triple that — 128,000 — last year. With such high yield potential farmers have to up their fertilizer rates, especially if they want to produce high-protein wheat, Smith said. Faller often earns CWRS prices, but farmers can expect discounts when protein is lacking in their Faller or Prosper and high protein is in demand. Even though Faller and Prosper have lower gluten strength than the CWRS wheat, they produce more flour and have “functional” protein producing excellent bread, making them popular with British bakery Warburtons, Smith said. “The Warburtons program this year with JRI and Paterson (is) paying on average a $10 (a tonne) premium over what a hard red spring, CWRS class value is,” he said. Certified Faller and Prosper seed is available only through Seed Depot. Certified seed is a requirement when growing the varieties under IP contracts.
narrow-leaved hawk’s beard, kochia, cleavers, fixweed, lamb’s-quarters, cow cockle, volunteer canola
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As with all crop protection products, read and follow label instructions carefully. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPont™, The miracles of science™, Barricade® and Solumax® are registered trademarks or trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. E. I. du Pont Canada Company is a licensee. Member of CropLife Canada. © Copyright 2015 E. I. du Pont Canada Company. All rights reserved.
cereal crops
allan@fbcpublishing.com
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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 16, 2015
CGC’s new wheat class reform proposals not carved in stone Officials explained the reasons for proposed changes and unveiled some revisions made after meeting with wheat breeders in Banff last week By Allan Dawson
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staff / Banff
he Canadian Grain Commission’s proposed overhaul of Canada’s wheat class system is truly a work in progress. The commission released its proposal in a discussion paper Feb. 20 but just days later revised the check varieties it wants used in CWRS and CPS registration trials and in the proposed new class for weaker gluten strength milling wheats. The change came after incamera meetings with wheat breeders and the Prairie Recommending Committee for Wheat, Rye and Triticale’s (PRCWRT) wheat quality evaluation team during the committee’s annual meeting here. There could be more revisions before the April 20 deadline the grain commission has set for comments on the proposals. Recent customer complaints about weaker gluten strength wheat in the CWRS class, as well as increased interest in highyielding, unregistered American milling wheats, motivated the changes to serve customers and farmers better. “Our first key element of course is we want to improve and protect the quality and consistency of CWRS,” Dave Hatcher, the commission’s program manager for wheat enzymes and Asian products told the PRCWRT evaluation team. “One, we listened and heard very clearly from producers saying they wanted other opportunities. Two, we heard from marketers saying, ‘Well, yes we want new opportunities as well and a new milling class will provide for that.’ “So, I know it’s kind of hard to believe but the government does listen and this is exactly what we are proposing.”
New specs
The proposed new class doesn’t have a name, but the commission has proposed the specifications, including good milling quality and water absorption. “But the key attribute which will differentiate them is the lower gluten strength from both CPS red and CWRS,” said Hatcher. The commission also proposes the tighter specifications for wheats in the CWRS and CPS (Red) classes apply not only to new varieties coming through the registration process but also retroactively, Hatcher said. That means varieties currently in those classes could get moved to other classes, including the proposed new class. The commission will review existing varieties and if it suspects they don’t fit based on the
new parameters, it will write the variety’s owner explaining they have the option, at their own expense, to put the variety in quality evaluation trials at six sites for two years, Hatcher said. The commission will cover the cost of the quality analysis. The data will be reviewed after the first year giving the owner the option to drop the second year of testing if the variety isn’t meeting the specifications. If the data supports it that variety can be moved to a different class. “The transition of existing varieties into a different class will be managed very carefully,” Hatcher stressed. allan@fbcpublishing.com
See More on page 25
The Canadian Grain Commission’s Dave Hatcher explained the commission’s proposal for revamping wheat classes at the Prairie Recommending Committee for Wheat, Rye and Triticale at the committee’s annual meeting last week in Banff. photo: allan dawson T:8.125”
Weaker varieties
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Bakers want consistency in gluten strength so they don’t have to adjust their equipment to get the same loaf batch after batch. The commission blames a combination of factors for weaker gluten strength in the CWRS class, including increased production of three varieties at the bottom end of acceptable strength — Unity, Lillian and Harvest — which several years ago accounted for about 33 per cent of the class (now 22 per cent) and poor weather. Even though some customers complain about weaker CWRS gluten strength, there are markets for those milling wheats. And some, including the American wheats Faller and Prosper, recently recommended for a three-year interim registration, are high yielding and popular with farmers. “The folks who we have spoken to want to legitimize this so they can market their product,” Randy Dennis, the grain commission’s chief grain inspector told the meeting. “We want to ensure Canadian grain that is used domestically and exported is safe, it’s usable for the product that’s expected and there’s a continued demand in the market for it,” he said.
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20
MARCH 16, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA
Make federal election matter for agri-food, CFA head urges Ron Bonnett says public and government don’t properly appreciate agriculture’s contribution to economy By Alex Binkley
af contributor / Ottawa
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his fall’s federal election is a perfect opportunity for the agri-food sector to make hay out of its importance to the national economy, says Canadian Federation of Agriculture president Ron Bonnett. “We’ve got lots of work ahead of us making sure the public and politicians understand our contribution to the economy,” he told the CFA’s recent annual meeting. “Sometimes we’re too modest in talking about what we do.” In an interview, Bonnett said CFA will be reaching out to other national farm organizations as
well as food processors and farm The industry needs to highlight supply industries during the com- the kinds of policies it requires ing months to support a joint to increase food production in a effort to raise public awareness of sustainable manner, said Bonnet. the agri-food industry. It accounts “We want to make our needs for one of eight jobs and 8.5 per clear so there is no misundercent of the national gross domes- standing among the politicians. tic product. We have a lot of work ahead of us.” “We hope to have something to announce about the campaign by Labour concern The election campaign would also the summer,” he added. CFA will be working with Food be a good time for CFA to promote and Consumer Products of Can- its National Food Strategy, Bonada to develop an information nett said. Its goal is to make Canapackage to distribute to voters dian food products the first choice of Canadians and ensure that conand the political parties. “We want to gain the attention sumers always have access to safe of the public and not just the poli- and nutritious food. In addition to energy costs and ticians. As well, there is the mainstream media, which knows very cumbersome government regulations, the industry wants governlittle about our sector.” Trim: 8.125”
ment to ensure the next round of farm support programs addresses the needs of the sector, he said. As well, it wants the government to understand the labour crunch it faces in the coming years. Many meat-processing plants are operating below capacity because they cannot find enough workers. CFA first vice-president Humphrey Banack told the meeting that farmers and processors have ongoing problems finding labour. “Our challenge is finding enough skilled workers to operate modern machinery,” said Banack, who farms near Round Hill. Changes to the Temporary Foreign Workers Program has disrupted parts of the agri-food sector.
CFA plans to put a lot more emphasis on the labour issue in the coming months working with other groups and the Canadian Agriculture Human Resource Council. The conference attracted several cabinet ministers to CFA’s annual reception including Transport Minister Lisa Raitt, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, NDP Leader Tom Mulcair and Ralph Goodale, Liberal deputy leader and former agriculture minister. During the conference, Bonnett was re-elected president by acclamation while Banack and Marcel Groleau of Quebec were returned as first and second vicepresidents.
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ike any business, farms require the same commitment to succeed — hard work, good products and of course, a commitment to safety. One hallmark of a successful business is an engaged and welltrained workforce. Training employees is good business. Well-trained, safe and healthy employees are essential for the smooth functioning of any farm. The loss of an employee due to an accident can have a severe ripple effect and create many more hidden costs than the farm owner may realize. As well as compensation and medical costs, there is downtime in production, training time for replacement employees, repairs to damaged equipment, plus the psychological effect an accident has on other employees and families. Training not only helps prevent accidents, but also encourages employees to be confident, competent, and more engaged. When training farm workers in occupational health and safety principles, never assume someone has the “common sense” to work safely. New workers need to be orientated when they arrive at the workplace so they know the facilities, the equipment, emergency procedures, and dos and don’ts. Proper orientation and training should result in workers: • Knowing the reason for the job they are doing; • Knowing more about the process than they did before; • Developing new skills; • Knowing where to go for assistance if required; • How to get the job done safely and correctly. National Farm Safety Week runs until March 20. For more info, visit www.agsafetyweek.ca.
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21
ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 16, 2015
Fun for farmers — watch weeds die slowly online Time-lapse videos help farmers identify signs of herbicide resistance Staff
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he weed science team at Ohio State University has come up with a set of videos that farmers might enjoy even more than binge-watching “House of Cards” — weeds slowly dying after being sprayed with herbicides. For every second of movie time shown, one hour of real time passes in the time-lapse videos. The videos are meant to show growers what to expect from a herbicide as they try to manage weed infestations in their fields, weed specialist Mark Loux said in a release. “The videos are a very good demonstration of how herbicides work on weeds,” he said. “Growers
can use the videos to know what to look for when scouting their fields after a herbicide application to create a timeline of what the weeds should look like after spraying. “This information is helpful for growers to determine if the weeds in their fields have developed a resistance to the herbicide and also can help them in diagnosing injuries to their crops.” The series includes 14 timelapse videos depicting eight different herbicide sites of action on a variety of weeds. Loux said the videos include a demonstration of a herbicide’s impact on waterhemp, which is becoming a serious problem for Midwest growers because of resistance to glyphosate. The series can be viewed at go.osu.edu/timelapsevideo.
This screen capture from OSU’s video shows the death throes of a common cocklebur sprayed with glyphosate.
Farmer-driven research in Alberta Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development release
When it comes to activities, the Agricultural Research and Extension Council of Alberta (ARECA) runs the gamut. “We do everything from annual crop research, to variety, fertility and silage trials,” said Janette McDonald, executive director of ARECA. “We then go into perennial crops and special crops. At least 50 to 60 per cent of our work is in forages and pasture management, forage establishment, rejuvenation of pastures, fencing systems, and winter grazing.” Regional variety trials are also a key part of the council’s work, she said. “Farmers are faced with so many new varieties these days,” said McDonald. “It’s a real advantage to be able to see how they perform in your local area. As such, we have sites across the province with many cereal, canola and pulse varieties being tested for the local conditions.” Pest monitoring is another priority. “It’s a huge program with over 120 sites across the province. Our local organizations do plant and larva counts in fields on a weekly or biweekly basis.” ARECA also has some specific projects based around 2015 being the International Year of Soils. “We’re running a conference, and we’re bringing in speakers this summer for tours,” said McDonald. “We’re also going to be adding a soil health component to some of our existing trials.” The research organizations that make up ARECA are all farmer based and farmer driven, she added. “There’s a very strong local connection. These groups were created to be locally run and responsible to the local people. There’s a big emphasis on making sure that what is done can be used by the farmer herself and her neighbours.” For more information, visit www.areca.ab.ca.
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*Source: Stratus, 2013
Always read and follow label directions. AgSolutions is a registered trade-mark of BASF Corporation; CARAMBA is a registered trade-mark of BASF Agro B.V.; all used with permission by BASF Canada Inc. CARAMBA fungicide should be used in a preventative disease control program. © 2015 BASF Canada Inc.
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Publication: Alberta Farmer Express
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MARCH 16, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA
Climate change may dramatically reduce wheat production Extreme fluctuations rather than average temperatures present the most danger Kansas State University release
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recent study involving Kansas State University researchers finds that in the coming decades at least one-quarter of the world’s wheat production will be lost to extreme weather from climate change if no adaptive measures are taken. Vara Prasad, professor of crop ecophysiology and director of the USAID Feed the Future Sustainable Intensification Innovation Lab at Kansas State University, is part of a collaborative team that found wheat yields are projected to decrease by six per cent for each degree Celsius the temperature rises if no measures to adapt to extreme weather fluctuations are taken. Based on the 201213 wheat harvest of 701 million
tonnes worldwide, the resulting temperature increase would result in 42 million tonnes less produced wheat — or a loss of nearly one-quarter of the current wheat production. “It’s pretty severe,” Prasad said. “The projected effect of climate change on wheat is more than what has been forecast. That’s challenging because the world will have to at least double our food supply in the next 30 years if we’re going to feed 9.6 billion people.” Prasad and colleagues published their study, “Rising temperatures reduce global wheat production,” in a recent issue of the scientific journal Nature Climate Change. The study was supported through the Kansas Wheat Commission and the Kansas Wheat Alliance, two organizations seeking ways to increase wheat yield. For the study, researchers systematically tested 30 wheat
crop models against field experiments from around the world that were conducted in areas where the average temperature of the growing season ranged from 15 C to 32 C. The models accounted for planting dates, planting rates, temperatures and other crop management factors. With the models, researchers were able to look at the effects of temperature stresses on wheat and predict future changes based on temperature changes.
Extreme temperatures
Researchers found that the effects from climate change and its increasing temperatures on wheat will be more severe than once projected and are happening sooner than expected. While Prasad said increases in the average temperature are problematic, a bigger challenge is the extreme temperatures that are resulting from climate change.
“Extreme temperature doesn’t only mean heat; it also means cold,” Prasad said. “Simply looking at the average temperature doesn’t really show us anything because it’s the extremities that are more detrimental to crops. Plants can handle gradual changes because they have time to adapt, but an extreme heat wave or cold snap can kill a plant because that adjustment period is often non-existent.” Researchers also found that increasing temperatures are shortening the time frame that wheat plants have to mature and produce full heads for harvest, resulting in less grain produced from each plant. “It’s like having one minute to fill a tall glass with water. Under optimal conditions, we can fill that glass pretty well,” Prasad said. “But now we’re factoring in extreme temperatures that are affecting the growing window and the grain size. So it
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becomes like trying to fill that same glass, but now we only have 40 seconds to do it and the faucet is running slower.” Currently, Prasad and colleagues at Kansas State University, in collaboration with the university’s Wheat Genetics Resource Center, are using growth chambers and heat tents to quantify the effects of temperature. The data will help in refining the crop models so that they can be more accurate in predicting wheat responses. Their work will help scientists develop more robust models that can help farmers globally select more weather-tolerant and resilient wheat varieties based on their location. Additionally, farmers can determine the optimal planting date to avoid stress and minimize possible exposure to extreme weather events, such as heat and cold snaps, during the growing season.
Kochia: ‘the cockroach of the plant world’ Staff
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A Kansas State University weed scientist says he’s figured out why glyphosate-resistant kochia is like a “cockroach of the plant world.” Mithila Jugulam, assistant professor of agronomy, led a study that looked at how kochia evolved resistance to the herbicide. The researchers found that kochia has evolved to have multiple copies of a gene code that targets glyphosate. These copies enable the plants to survive the field rate of glyphosate applications. “It’s a very novel resistance mechanism and is becoming prevalent in a number of glyphosate-resistant weeds, including Palmer amaranth, common waterhemp and kochia,” Jugulam said in a Kansas State release. “Glyphosate works by stopping an enzyme called EPSPS that is crucial for production of aromatic amino acids in the shikimic acid pathway. If EPSPS is disrupted, the plant eventually dies,” the release says. The researchers found that glyphosate-resistant kochia had duplicated several EPSPS copies that stacked alongside each other on a single chromosome. Researchers also found that the more copies of EPSPS kochia had, the higher tolerance it had against glyphosate. For example, kochia plants with nine to 12 EPSPS copies could survive twice the recommended amount of glyphosate, while a plant with 16 copies could withstand six times the amount. Jugulam said this resistance was evolved as the result of continuous use of glyphosate and the lack of herbicide diversity. “Herbicides are not known to cause mutations in plants,” Jugulam said. “The resistant individuals present in the population initially are at low levels and slowly dominate over the susceptible plants if selection with the same herbicide continues.”
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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 16, 2015
Do the math on bins versus baggers Bin prices have jumped sharply in the past decade, but producers need to carefully evaluate the pros and cons of grain bags Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development release
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ecent record yields and transportation backlogs have increased interest in on-farm storage options. “There are many different storage options available, either temporary or permanent,” said Todd Bergen-Henengouwen, project assistant with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. “The two most popular options are steel grain bins (either corrugated or smooth walled with or without hoppers) and grain bags. Other options are sheds, producer-owned grain elevators, grain rings, piles and bunkers.” The last 10 years have seen bin prices climbing, says BergenHenengouwen. “In 2004, the average corrugated hopper bottom was priced
at $2.50/bushel while in 2014 it is close to $4/bushel. With the price increase and the need for unexpected grain storage, producers have been looking at grain baggers as a viable option.” Grain baggers are useful in situations when: • T he land is either rented or leased and investment in permanent storage is not desired; • The operator only needs to store grain for a short period of time, or has plans to exit the business in a few years; • T here is limited labour and trucking available during harvest; • Land is located long distances apart; • Storing low-quality crops such as feed wheat, barley and sample canola; • Grain is dry and has no need to be dried or aerated; • There is plastic recycling in the area;
• T here is a need to store large volumes of grain. “Having developed a partial budget to compare bins from baggers it was found that operations need to store more than 70,000 bushels of grain per year to make the bagger economically competitive to bins,” says Bergen-Henengouwen. Baggers have their disadvantages as storage is temporary and damage can occur to the plastic either through wildlife, trees or human damage (snowmobiles). As well, the plastic is difficult to roll after the grain has been emptied and recycling is limited. “Choosing the right grain storage system can be a difficult decision for an operation but by looking at total costs, the farm future plans, existing systems and labour availability, producers can narrow down the best option for them,” adds BergenHenengouwen. T:10.25”
Bins are a big investment and producers need to do their homework to make sure they’re the right choice. Photo: Thinkstock For more information on grain storage cost comparisons and storage considerations go to www.agriculture.alberta.ca/
farm-manager. There is also a video at www.youtube.com (type ‘grain storage considerations’ into the search box).
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For more information, visit BayerCropScience.ca/Proline
BayerCropScience.ca or 1 888-283-6847 or contact your Bayer CropScience representative. Always read and follow label directions. Proline® is a registered trademark of the Bayer Group. Bayer CropScience is a member of CropLife Canada.
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24
MARCH 16, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA
Wild boars continue on the increase in Canada While there are far fewer than in the U.S., their numbers are climbing fast in some areas By Jennifer Paige
staff / Minnedosa, Man.
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ild boars continue to be a pest in parts of the Prairies, and some farmers in western Manitoba say the critters have developed a particular liking for corn. Manitoba Conservation estimates there are currently about 50 wild boars in the province, with the last recorded kill in November in the southwest near the Saskatchewan border. Saskatchewan has the highest number of wild boars, but their numbers are increasing across Canada, said Clinton Hood, an information technology specialist in Battleford, Sask., who operates a website (wildboarcanada.ca) dedicated to tracking the animals. And it’s not only corn they like — it’s just about everything farmers grow, said Hood. “Boars are extremely threatening to producers. They destroy fields, specifically going into cropland after seeding and digging up all the seeds they can muster,” he said. “They will eat standing crops and simply destroy the land and crops as they walk. They are like mobile rototillers that can do massive damage overnight.” They are also capable of eating young animals, including deer, and will push native species out of an area, he said. But the problems in Canada pale to those in the U.S., where feral pigs are estimated to cause $1.5 billion in damage to crops and environment annually. The latest weapon to thwart the elusive and wily pigs is the BoarBuster — a high-tech trap developed by a U.S. research foundation. It uses a rigid trap enclosure that is elevated above a trap site. Feral
The website, www.wildboarcanada.ca run by Clinton Hood in Battleford, Sask., is dedicated to tracking wild boars throughout the country. hogs can freely enter and exit the trapping area, which reduces trap shyness. The trap is combined with realtime video which can be seen both during the day and at night. When the system detects motion around the trap site, it sends an activity alert to the user via a smartphone and web-based app. Users can then log on to the BoarBuster system and drop the trap. Watching the live video eliminates accidentally trapping any unwanted animals. Most importantly, users can remotely activate it while watching the video whenever a desired number of hogs have entered the trap. The Noble Foundation says the BoarBuster system, which is about 18 feet in diameter and capable of capturing more than 30 feral hogs per drop, will be available by midsummer. Boars are known to be extremely elusive, nocturnal and difficult to hunt. They can reach 300 to 400
A typical wild boar captured near Ninette, Man., in 2013. Photo: thinkstock
pounds with a lifespan of 25 years. The main concern is they are multiplying faster than they are being exterminated. They can have two litters per year of between four and 12 piglets. Manitoba has responded by literally declaring open season in a defined wild boar control area, where residents can kill any number anywhere at any time of the year without a licence or permit.
Live video alerts users that there are animals in the BoarBuster, which can then be triggered remotely by smartphone. Photo: supplied “Bounties and open season are great but when numbers are climbing fast like they have been in Saskatchewan, there needs to be more done,” said Hood. “The
governing bodies would be wise to hire trappers to take out sounders (herds).” — with staff files Jenniferpaige@fbcpublishing.com
25
Albertafarmexpress.ca • March 16, 2015
Nine new CWRS wheats recommended for registration by expert panel Sixteen of the 36 cultivars before the PRCWRT were automatically endorsed By Allan Dawson staff / banff
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hirty-six cultivars sought the Prairie Recommending Committee for Wheat, Rye and Triticale’s support for registration at the committee’s recent annual meeting. Twenty-five were recommended for full registration and seven for a three-year registration. Sixteen of the 25 cultivars recommended for full registration received automatic endorsements because the committee’s three evaluation teams — agronomy, disease and quality — supported the request. Below is a partial list:
Full registration
The Prairie Recommending Committee for Wheat, Rye and Triticale had 36 cultivars seeking a recommendation for registration at its annual meeting in Banff. The committee has 23 voting members, representing all parts of the grain industry from breeders and farmers to exporters and end-users. photos: allan dawson
ELITE WILD OAT CONTROL
IS JUST THE BEGINNING.
• BW963 is an awnless, highyield, solid-stem line intended for the CWRS class and suited for growing areas prone to wheat stem sawfly from Richard Cuthbert at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) at Swift Current, Sask. It yielded 20 per cent higher than Lillian. • BW965 is a high-yielding, awned, semi-dwarf with short strong straw intended for the CWRS class from AAFC’s Richard Cuthbert. It yielded almost 11 per cent higher than the checks and almost four per cent higher than Carberry with comparable protein. • BW966 is a high-yielding, awned, semi-dwarf intended for the CWRS class from AAFC’s Richard Cuthbert, yielding 15 per cent higher than the checks. • BW971 is a unique cultivar resistant to midge and sawfly, intended for the CWRS class and developed by Pierre Hucl of the University of Saskatchewan’s Crop Development Centre. • W512 is intended for the Canada Western Red Winter wheat class combining significantly higher grain yield with very good winter survival and late maturity. Developed by Rob Graf at AAFC’s Lethbridge Research Centre it’s tolerant to infestation by Biotype 1 of the Russian wheat aphid. Susceptibility to stem rust makes it unsuitable for the eastern Prairies. • W 5 2 0 i s a w i n t e r w h e a t intended for the Canada Western General Purpose class, developed by Anita BrûléBabel at the University of Manitoba. It is high yielding with good resistance to stem, leaf and stripe rust.
• T235 is a spring triticale well adapted to the Canadian Prairies brought forward by S eed -Link, Inc. It yielded seven, eight and seven per cent higher than the checks in Zones 1 and 2 and in all three Western Canada zones, respectively. • R T209, or KWS Brasetto is a hybrid fall rye outyielding conventional rye by 20 to 25 per cent. It has good winter hardiness, improved falling number and level heading. • RT210, also known as Guttino is a hybrid fall rye from KWS with similar attributes to KWS Brasetto.
Interim registration
• Faller and Prosper — see story on page 18. • RT212 or KWS Bono is a hybrid fall rye yielding 34 per cent better more than conventional rye. It has good winter hardiness, improved falling numbers and level heading. There will be limited seed supplies available in 2015. • W 530 is a hard white winter wheat to be covered under a Canadian Grain Commission experimental grade for identitypreserved production while its market potential is explored. It was developed by AAFC’s Rob Graf. Two years of trials shows it has slightly higher grain yield than the Canada Western Red Winter (CWRW) wheat checks with acceptable winter survival, late maturity and short stature and good resistance to stem, leaf and stripe rust. The Canadian International Grains Institute says it shows promise for Asian steamed breads, a highvalue market. It also performs well in whole grain bread and white salted noodles. • E lgin ND could eventually be included in the Canadian Grain Commission’s proposed new milling wheat class for weaker gluten strength milling wheats. It was developed at North Dakota State University and brought forward by FP Genetics. It yields well, has great agronomics and a very competitive disease package. • K WS Sparrow is a high-yielding, midge-resistant spring wheat developed by KWS-UK intended for the Canada Western General Purpose class. Seed will be increased in 2015 and be commercially available in 2016. • KWS Belvoir is also from KWSUK, intended for the Canada Western General Purpose class and has the same attributes as KWS Sparrow. allan@fbcpublishing.com
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Rod Merryweather, CEO of FP Genetics, asking the Prairie Recommending Committee for Wheat, Rye and Triticale to vote in favour of giving Elgin ND, a high-yielding American Dark Northern Spring wheat, a three-year interim registration for market development purposes.
26
MARCH 16, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA
Neonics are in the picture, but they’re not the whole picture The varroa mite is still the top concern for beekeepers, in the eyes of one expert, but other factors can’t be ignored either By Shannon VanRaes af staff
I
Dennis vanEngelsdorp, an American apiarist and bee researcher, speaks in Winnipeg. Photo: Shannon VanRaes
t’s a question many both inside and outside of agriculture are asking — why are so many honeybees dying? “If anything is clear, it’s that this problem is complex — so its solution is going to be complex too,” said Dennis vanEngelsdorp, an American apiarist and bee researcher. Bee losses, winter mortality, spring dwindle, colony collapse — whatever people call it, it’s clear more honeybees are dying prematurely than in the past and not just in North America, vanEngelsdorp said at the recent Manitoba Beekeeper’s annual convention. At least 50 countries have tracked increased bee mortality in recent years, with winter loss in the U.S. averaging about 30 per cent — twice what most apiarists considered acceptable, he said. “And that’s still an astonishingly high number,” said vanEngelsdorp. “Can you imagine a corn grower losing 15 per cent of his crop every year, and going, ‘Oh yeah, that’s just normal.’ Back in the day people were embarrassed if they lost 10 per cent of their colT:10.25”
onies over the winter, they were mortified, they wouldn’t tell their neighbours.” Manitoba’s provincial apiarist Rhéal Lafrenière, noted that Manitoba’s losses last winter were even higher at 46 per cent, while the average loss in Ontario was 58 per cent. “We consider our 46 per cent well outside of normal, but if we would have had some of the same environmental contaminants and influences that Ontario had, our 46 per cent could have turned into 56 per cent; it could have turned into 66 per cent,” Lafrenière said. A changing climate and harsh winters have played a role, he said, but he stressed that there is a complex matrix of issues contributing to decreased pollinator resilience.
No conclusive link
One is pesticides, with neonicotinoids receiving the most attention. Last year, Ontario beekeepers launched a class-action suit against Bayer and Syngenta for what they claim was the negligent design and distribution of neonicotinoid products. And while bees have undoubtably died after exposure to the pesticide, widely used as a seed
coating on corn and soybeans, its effect is not entirely understood, vanEngelsdorp said. “There is yet to be shown conclusive colony-level data that shows colony-level negative
“Sometimes one plus one is a lot more than two.” Dennis vanEngelsdorp
effects from field realistic neonic exposure,” he said. “Part of the reason is that very little of this stuff actually gets into the nectar and pollen. “This may be affecting native bees and bumblebees very dramatically, but we haven’t seen negative effects at the colony level, outside of those dust clouds.” Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency has monitored bee deaths linked to neonicotinoids in recent years. Most were in Ontario, with 63
see Neonics } page 27
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27
ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 16, 2015
Neonics } from page 26
“It’s like having a boat that has 20 holes in it. You plug one of those holes and the boat still isn’t going to float. Neonics may be one of those holes, but to get improvement, you’ve got to plug more of them.”
beekeepers reporting losses due to neonics at 330 bee yards in 2014. That’s a decrease from 2013, but still higher than 2012 when only 43 beekeepers reported neonic losses. “We’ve seen most of these reports coming out of the corngrowing areas in Canada, primarily Ontario, but we’re seeing some in Manitoba as well as Quebec, and we have linked that exposure to neonic in the corn seed treatment, corn and soybeans,” said Marcie Smerchanski, a regional pesticide officer with Health Canada.
Rhéal Lafrenière
Under review
All pesticides approved for use in Canada must be reviewed every 15 years, but reviews can be sooner if deemed necessary. Such is the case with neonicotinoids, which are currently being reviewed by Health Canada. Preliminary results are expected at the end of 2015. Smerchanski said they are reviewing both short- and longterm effects on bees, and noted that new guidelines for safe use have been adopted to help prevent exposure from seed coatings. Neonics were originally approved in part because they were considered lower risk, but both Lafrenière and vanEngelsdorp said a combination of pesticides and other chemicals can have unforeseen consequences. “Sometimes one plus one is a lot more than two,” said vanEngelsdorp. “Fungicides are considered benign, not toxic to adult bees, and in fact they’re not very toxic to adult bees. But we think there is some sublethal effect going on here. “High levels of fungicides are associated with high levels of mortality… and we know that bees fed pollen with fungicides are more likely to catch nosema disease, so clearly something else is going on here with these fungicide treatments.”
Killing bugs on a bug
Clues
advantage of the situation, stay clear of affected hives. “So the question is why… this is counterintuitive,” he said. But while pesticides, nutrition and weather all present serious concerns, the disease-spreading varroa mite still tops the list. “If we could take one factor out
What happens after an adult bee die-off might offer more clues to the factors behind mortality. Sudden die-offs leave honey and the brood in the hive, yet Lafrenière notes research has found predators like the wax moth that would normally take
for the most dramatic effect, the varroa mite would be it,” vanEngelsdorp said. Co-operation and better understanding of the issues will be key for both the public and for beekeepers, said Lafrenière. “We don’t want to have a kneejerk reaction, we don’t want to
shannon.vanraes@fbcpublishing.com
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But when tested for chemical resides, the most prevalent pesticides found in U.S. hives were put there by beekeepers themselves — varroacides. “These are not good for bees… you’re trying to kill a bug on a bug,” said vanEngelsdorp, adding that attempts to rid colonies of the varroa mite could be an underlying issue when it comes to colony collapse. Pesticides used to control the pervasive parasite also have a negative effect on the queen’s store of sperm, he said. “So we are in desperate need of safer alternatives.” Honeybees also have a limited ability to detoxify themselves — less than a housefly — so exposure to multiple chemicals can compound what might be minor issues on their own, said Lafrenière. It’s also possible that selective breeding has left modern honeybees with fewer traits that could help them recover from stress. “Good and bad, there has been a lot of influence on the breeding by varroa mite, so everybody is trying to develop bees that are more tolerant, or resistant, but I think what’s happened is that you’re often so focused on that breeding program, that maybe some of these secondaries are having an impact on the ability of the bees to detoxify,” Lafrenière said. “Maybe when you start selecting for a biological problem, you might be giving up on the chemical side, so maybe these bees are a little more vulnerable. But this is all hypothetical.”
Manitoba’s provincial apiarist, Rhéal Lafrenière Photo: Shannon VanRaes
make major changes in one specific area and have expectations that that’s going to improve it right off the bat,” he said. “It’s like having a boat that has 20 holes in it. You plug one of those holes and the boat still isn’t going to float. Neonics may be one of those holes, but to get improvement, you’ve got to plug more of them.”
*Contest begins February 4/15; ends March 30/15. Open only to farmers in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba. Prizes: 1 ball cap ($25) to first 200 entrants; 3 Grand prize trips (approximately $4,559); three 3-piece luggage sets 2nd prizes (approximately $550). For entry methods and prize allocations, see full rules at expresscontest.dupont.ca. As with all crop protection products, read and follow label instructions carefully. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPontTM, The miracles of scienceTM and Express® are registered trademarks or trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. E. I. du Pont Canada Company is a licensee. All other products mentioned are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective companies. Member of CropLife Canada. ©Copyright 2015 E. I. du Pont Canada Company. All rights reserved.
28
MARCH 16, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA
Reducing consumer food waste could save $300 billion yearly by 2030 In developing countries, better transportation and refrigeration are needed By Chris Arsenault
Thomson Reuters Foundation
R
In developed countries, consumers create most of the food waste by buying or cooking too much. Photo: Thinkstock
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educing consumer food waste could save the global economy up to $300 billion annually by 2030, as one-third of all food produced worldwide ends up being discarded, says a research group. Globally, the food wasted by consumers is worth $400 billion a year, and this could jump to $600 billion in the next decade, as the profligate middle class expands in developing countries, the group said. Cutting the amount of food consumers discard by between 20 and 50 per cent could save $120 billion to $300 billion yearly by 2030, said the report for the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate, an international group chaired by former Mexican president Felipe Calderon. Food waste in developing countries is due mainly to inadequate refrigeration equipment and poor transport links to markets and processing plants. “Less food waste means greater efficiency, more productivity, and direct savings for consumers,” Helen Mountford, global program director for the New Climate Economy, a Global Commission project, said in a statement. “It also means more food available to feed the estimated 805 million who go to bed hungry each day.” The U.K.-based Waste and Resources Action Program, which produced the report for the Global Commission, is in a partnership with UN agencies including the Food and Agriculture Organization to give consumers tools for preventing waste. In the United Kingdom, a program to improve efficiency — the Love Food Hate Waste campaign — helped households reduce food waste by 21 per cent between 2007 and 2012, saving a total of 13 billion pounds (US$20.1 billion), the organization said. In developing countries, about 25 per cent of food waste could be eliminated with better refrigeration equipment, it said. Consumers are responsible for the majority of discarded food in developed countries, often as a result of buying too much at the grocery store or cooking too much, while most of the developing world’s waste happens before food reaches consumers.
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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 16, 2015
Agricultural Growth Act becomes law The main dissenter is the National Farmers Union, but most farm groups say grain growers will benefit By Allan Dawson staff / banff
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here was applause here when plant breeders, seed companies, and farmers at the Prairie Recommending Committee for Wheat, Rye and Triticale heard the Agricultural Growth Act with its stronger intellectual property rights was about to receive royal assent. Immediately following the bill becoming law late last month, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz tabled a treaty in Parliament to ratify the UPOV ’91 Convention — the international standard for plant breeders’ rights. Being party to the UPOV ’91
will encourage more plant breeding in Canada and bring in more plant germplasm, resulting in higher yields and bigger profits for farmers, Ritz said at an event celebrating the legislation held at Canterra Seeds in Winnipeg. “Many Prairie farmers have benefited from private investment in canola, corn and soybeans,” Mike Bast, Manitoba vice-president of the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association said at the event. “I’ve seen those benefits first hand in each of these crops. We now have an opportunity to see similar benefits from new investment in the breeding of wheat, barley and other crops.”
The legislation has the support of all “relevant” farm organizations, Ritz said. The list includes the Canadian Canola Growers Association, Alberta Wheat Commission, Canadian Federation of Agriculture, Grain Growers of Canada, Western Canadian Wheat Growers and Cereals Canada. The Canadian Seed Trade Association also supports the act. The National Farmers Union (NFU) has long opposed the legislation fearing it will allow seed companies to charge farmers more and restrict farmers from saving grain from their own crops for seed. B:10.25” enough that “I cannot stress amendments to the plant breeders’ T:10.25”
rights act allow for farmers to retain the right to save, clean, and store seed for their own operations,” Ritz said. “There seems to be some confusion around that.” UPOV ’91 will not result in Canadian farmers getting access to more varieties and higher yields, according to Terry Boehm, chair of NFU’s Seed and Trade Committee. “With increased rights to plant breeders we will only see increased costs to farmers and even greater domination by the giant seed companies that are so inefficient that they need enhanced plant breeders’ rights to stay in business,” he said in an email. “Farmers will rue the day when they see their so-
called privilege diminished over time.” Concerns were raised about the lack of clarity around the legislation during KAP’s annual meeting. The impact of the law is expected to become clearer as the regulations connected to it are developed. Ritz told reporters farmers and other “industry stakeholders” will be consulted on the regulations. The act also includes changes to the cash advance program, making it more “flexible and user friendly,” Ritz said. allan@fbcpublishing.com with files from Commodity News Service and Shannon VanRaes
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30
MARCH 16, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA
It’s not easy saying no, but ATVs aren’t meant for kids Wheatland County farmer and pediatric nurse Sarah Schultz says she’s seen too many kids injured in ATV accidents Canada Safety Council release
D
ATVs seem stable, but most children and youth are not physically or developmentally ready before age 16 to ride them safely. Photo: Thinkstock
oes an idyllic childhood in the country have to involve quads? For Moose Jaw, Sask., farmer JulieAnne Howe and other safetyminded parents, the answer is no. Of allowing her children to ride quads, “it’s just not a smart decision in my world,” Howe says. Most jurisdictions do not restrict children from operating quads or all-terrain vehicles on private land, but many farm families are already making the smart choice to keep their kids off quads until they’re old enough to drive.
Howe and husband Kelly have both lost friends to quadding accidents, so the family is especially sensitive to the dangers of ATVs. “We were both raised on farms and farm safety is important. We err on the side of caution,” says Howe. It’s a sentiment echoed by southern Alberta farmer and pediatric nurse Sarah Schultz who operates a grain farm with her husband Jay in Wheatland County. In the operating room, Schultz attended to children of all ages seriously injured in ATV accidents. The experience strengthened her resolve to keep her boys, currently five and two years old, away from ATVs until they’re old enough to get a driver’s licence.
“I might not be a ‘cool’ farm mom… but this is something I will not budge on,” she wrote on her blog, www.nurselovesfarmer.com in September. In fact, the family doesn’t even own an ATV. “My husband grew up a farm kid and generally farm kids are allowed to operate motor vehicles earlier than urban kids,” says Schultz. “But my husband also knows the injuries I’ve seen from ATV accidents, so he lets me ‘win’ on this issue in our home.” March 14 to 20 is National Farm Safety Week. Why not take some time today to review the facts about ATVs and make sure you and your family are using them safely?
Concerns about kids and quads Canada Safety Council release
Clubroot can cause up to 80% yield loss in infected fields.
Average yield
Like bicycles, motorcycles and snowmobiles, ATVs are designed to be controlled in part by the rider’s shifting body weight, both front and back, and side to side. While ATVs may seem deceptively stable and easy to operate, most children and youth are not physically or developmentally ready before age 16 to ride them safely. And while ATV seats may seem large enough to take on a passenger, most are designed for single riders only. It is not wise to modify your ATV with aftermarket passenger seats or other implements which will change the weight distribution and stability of the machine, increasing the likelihood of tip-over and rollover accidents. If you choose to allow your children to ride ATVs, follow these basic safety precautions to reduce their risk: • Train up. Children should take a proper course with a qualified instructor before they’re allowed to operate an ATV. The Canada Safety Council has courses for children as young as six. • Ride the right size. It is critical that children under the age of 16 not ride adult-sized machines. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and limit children ages six to 11 to ATVs that are 70cc or smaller. Those ages 12 to 15 should ride ATVs no larger than 70–90cc. Children under the age of six should not ride ATVs. • Suit up. Wear a helmet, eye protection, long pants, long sleeves, and gloves, for every ride. • Ride only under close adult supervision. • Ride by day. Even on familiar terrain, low light and reduced visibility will increase the chances of a mishap. T:10”
*Canola yield data summarized from Proving Ground™ trials across Western Canada from the last 4 years (2010-2013). Yield data averaged from DuPont Pioneer Proving Ground™ competitor canola trials as of June 18, 2014. Product responses are variable and subject to any number of environmental, disease and pest pressures. Individual results may vary. Multi-year and multi-location data is a better predictor of future performance. Refer to www.pioneer.com/yield or contact a Pioneer Hi-Bred sales representative for the latest and complete listing of results, traits and scores for each Pioneer® brand product. Roundup Ready® is a registered trademark used under license from Monsanto Company. Pioneer® brand products are provided subject to the terms and conditions of purchase which are part of the labeling and purchase documents. The DuPont Oval Logo is a registered trademark of DuPont. ®,™,SM Trademarks and service marks licensed to Pioneer Hi-Bred Limited. © 2015, PHL.
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} forecasts
ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 16, 2015
Wet weather in Argentina
A big bill and bigger savings
Argentine farmers are battling wet conditions as they enter into harvest season. Flooding in some of the soy-growing areas of Cordoba, Entre Rios and Santa Fe provinces has become “worrying” to the government as farmers get ready to start harvesting the 2014-15 crop, the Agriculture Ministry said. The northern part of the Pampas Grains Belt has been whipped by storms this month, adding to moisture left by heavy rains in February, washing out roads and flooding wide areas. The Buenos Aires Grains Exchange had been forecasting a soy crop of 57 million tonnes, but flooding will reduce that number. — Reuters
The World Bank wants to raise US$500 million to modernize weather and flood forecasting services in Africa. “We need to go beyond just providing equipment for forecasting and data processing — we also need to take care of training of personnel and maintenance of infrastructure,” said Daniel Kull, a disaster risk specialist with the bank. The $1.5-billion-plus cost to modernize hydro-meteorological infrastructure (with $300 million or more needed for operating costs) in the developing world would be offset by up to $30 billion per year in increased economic productivity and cut losses from disasters by up to $2 billion, Kull said. — Thomson Reuters Foundation.
What weather do you see in your crystal ball? Here’s your chance to beat Environment Canada and the almanacs at their own game
A
By Daniel Bezte
s spring begins to take hold across the Prairies I figured it was time to look at what the different longrange weather forecasts are predicting for the remainder of this spring and early summer. For some fun, I thought it might be interesting for any of you who are interested in the weather and making your own long-range forecasts, to send them in to me at: daniel@bezte.ca. I will then keep track of them and come the end of June, I’ll announce who gets to have the bragging rights as the best long-range weather forecaster! The rules are rather simple. You have to make a weather forecast covering April, May and June. Each month has to have a temperature and precipitation forecast indicating above-, near-, or below-average values for the Prairies. You can, if you want, add in more detail, by breaking the Prairies down into different regions, for example. The deadline for submitting your forecast is March 30. We’ll begin our look at the long-range weather forecast with Environment Canada and its American counterpart, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). For the March-toMay time frame Environment Canada is calling for average temperatures and precipitation in Manitoba, eastern and northcentral Saskatchewan along with northern Alberta. Below-average temperatures are expected in southwestern Saskatchewan and southern Alberta along with aboveaverage amounts of precipitation. In the April-to-June time frame it is calling for average temperatures in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and eastern Alberta, with above-average temperatures over western and northern Alberta. Precipitation during this time frame is expected to be near average across Manitoba and northern Alberta and above average everywhere else. NOAA creates similar maps to Environment Canada, and while it stops showing information just north of the Canada-U.S. border, you can usually extrapolate the data northwards and get a pretty good idea of what it is expecting. For the March-to-May time frame, it is calling for above-average temperatures across Alberta and Saskatchewan with near-average temperatures in Manitoba. NOAA tends to be very conservative with its precipitation forecasts and is calling for near-average amounts for all three provinces from March right through to June. In the April-to-June time frame, NOAA is calling for above-average temperatures in western Alberta and all of Manitoba with near-average temperatures in between. The May-to-July time frame continues to show above-average temperatures over western Alberta, but
2 Month ( 60 Days) Departure from Average Precipitation (Prairie Region) January 2, 2015 to March 2, 2015
< -120 mm -120 to -100 mm -100 to -80 mm -80 to -60 mm -60 to -40 mm -40 to -20 mm -20 to 0 mm 0 to 20 mm 20 to 40 mm 40 to 60 mm 60 to 80 mm 80 to 100 mm 100 to 120 mm > 120 mm Extent of Agricultural Land Lakes and Rivers
Produced using near real-time data that has undergone initial quality control. The map may not be accurate for all regions due to data availability and data errors. Copyright © 2015 Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada Prepared by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s National Agroclimate Information Service (NAIS). Data provided through partnership with Environment Canada, Natural Resources Canada, and many Provincial agencies.
Created: 03/03/15 www.agr.gc.ca/drought
This map shows the departure from the average amount of precipitation that has fallen across the Prairies during the first two months of 2015. Manitoba, southern Alberta, and the far-northwestern part of Alberta have been dry with amounts coming in around 20 millimetres below average. Most of Saskatchewan and north-central Alberta saw amounts that were about 20 millimetres above average, with a small region from Edson to Slave Lake seeing upwards of 40 to even 60 millimetres above average.
the above-average reading in Manitoba slides eastwards a little bit, leaving nearaverage temperatures stretching from central Manitoba westwards to eastern Alberta. Our third forecast comes from the Weather Network for the period of March to May. It is calling for above-average temperatures across all of Alberta, southern and central Saskatchewan, along with most of agricultural Manitoba. Belowaverage temperatures are expected in northern Saskatchewan and far-eastern and northeastern Manitoba. As with NOAA, it is also calling for near-average amounts of precipitation. Our last two published forecasters are the two almanacs — the Old Farmer’s and the Canadian Farmers’. The Old Farmer’s Almanac is the easiest one to figure out as it gives month-by-month breakdowns of temperature and precipitation. The Canadian Farmers’ Almanac is tougher as it simply gives brief descriptions of the
type of weather expected each month and I then have to try and interpret it to be either above, below, or near average. The Old Farmer’s Almanac is calling for below-average temperatures and aboveaverage precipitation during March and April, followed by average temperatures and below-average precipitation in May. Things then get warm and wet in June, with a call for above-average temperatures and precipitation. The Canadian Farmer’s Almanac is calling for average temperatures in the March-to-May time period with precipitation being near average in March and then above average in April and May. For June, it is following in the Old Farmer’s Almanac’s footsteps with a call for warm and wet conditions. Finally, my forecast. I have been leaning towards the idea that the western ridge of high pressure that has been bringing dry weather and record warmth to the West Coast will begin to
shift eastwards sometime this spring or early summer, and I am still sticking to that. This should result in average temperatures across the eastern Prairies in April with above-average temperatures in the West. These above-average temperatures will spread eastwards in May and by the time June rolls around I think that all regions will be seeing above-average temperatures. Precipitation is the hardest part to figure out. Warm weather is usually accompanied with dry weather, so I’ll be leaning towards average to belowaverage rainfall for this whole period, with the best chances of seeing above-average amounts in western Alberta, northern Saskatchewan, and eastern Manitoba. Daniel Bezte is a teacher by profession with a BA (Hon.) in geography, specializing in climatology, from the U of W. He operates a computerized weather station near Birds Hill Park. Contact him with your questions and comments at daniel@bezte.ca.
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MARCH 16, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA
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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 16, 2015
Innovation and the bottom line
Reduce stress when handling cattle
Maximizing innovation for profit is the theme of a one-day conference being put on by the Canadian Angus Association and Certified Angus Beef in Lethbridge on March 31. In addition to presentations on genomics, the national beef strategy, and market outlook, Ryan Kasko (Kasko Cattle Co.) and Leighton Kolk (Kolk Feeders) will discuss Allied Marketing Group’s first year of partnership with Certified Angus Beef. AMG’s five members collectively manage 11 feedlots with a capacity of 110,000 head. For more information on the conference, visit www.cdnangus.ca. — Staff
Curt Pate and Kent Fenton will present a two-hour workshop on low-stress cattle handling and body condition scoring at the 2015 Livestock Care Conference in Calgary on March 26. Pate, a stockman from Montana, is an internationally recognized expert on livestock-handling practices. “Negative pressure creates stress, positive pressure creates contentment,” Pate says. Fenton is a vet and partner in Feedlot Health Management Services in Okotoks. He worked as a mixed animal veterinarian in Manitoba and Alberta, and joined Feedlot Health in 2001. For more info, visit www.afac.ab.ca. — Staff
Expert says go with the flow when working cattle HEARTLAND Dylan Biggs says there’s no ‘magical facility’ that will keep cattle calm and quiet — the biggest factor is how they are handled
a new handling system, the biggest factor to keep in mind is flow af contributor of the animals, he says. “(The cattle) need to see there is hanks to high cattle prices, somewhere to go. The worst situamany producers may be tions are when the cattle have a litthinking of investing in a tle ways to go and they are forced to handling system. turn right away when they get into The goals may be simple — such the handling facility. I like straight as improving efficiency, reducing lines and room to go through or animal stress or allowing one per- into a facility without change of son to safely process cattle. But direction and plenty of space. In what that system looks like is left addition, try not to have gates too to the individual producer. narrow going into facilities.” “There is no magical facility that The goal should be to have will make cows quiet, make sure cattle move steadily through the they come into the facility calm system with as little intervention and quiet,” says Dylan Biggs, who from the handler as possible. has been giving livestock-han“From a livestock standpoint dling equipment talks for more it’s easier on cattle if there is good than 20 years. flow and then you aren’t fighting Few operations “start with a them,” says Biggs. “The setup clean slate,” he notes, and in needs to be logical for cattle to many cases the layout of the yard perceive where and why to go.” may date back a half-century or And cow logic is different than more. the human variety, he notes. “These systems are far from “We are linear in thinking, (but) ideal, but it doesn’t mean they when cattle flow in a system they don’t work,” says Biggs, who oper- get to a point where their natural ates TK Ranch south of Corona- desire is to exit where they came tion. in,” he says. “Capitalize on that “For me, coming from a live- natural want.” stock-handling background, you This is the principle behind the can get by with a less-than-ideal Bud Box, created by low-stress handling facility if you do a good livestock-handling expert Bud job handling cows in pastures. Williams. The box is a small rectThe majority of the problems can angular enclosure where the exit be addressed in the pasture.” (just12:49 wide enough for1one animal) SEC-AUST11-T_AFEx.qxd 10/14/11 PM Page Whether upgrading or building is right beside and perpendicular By Jill Burkhardt
Produced by: SeCan Product/Campaign Name: CDC Austenson Date Produced: October 2011
Ad Number: SEC-AUST11-T Publication: Alberta Farmer / Express Ad Size: 5Col x 70 (10.125” x 5”)
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“The setup needs to be logical for cattle to perceive where and why to go.” Dylan Biggs
to the wide entry gate. After closing the gate, the handler moves just past the exit. While she’s doing this, cattle reach the end of the box, naturally turn back towards the entrance, and then readily move through the exit. “By setting up sorting and facilitate flow into scales and crowd tubs, have them go by and go back in that same direction,” says Biggs. The dynamic is quite different when cattle are forced towards dead ends and through narrow alleyways, he says. “So when the cattle decide to come by (you) and come down the alley they are running. If one runs they all run. We force ourselves into their flight zone and think we are doing good.” Some producers don’t like to use a chute when treating ani-
Cattle enter a Bud Box through a wide alley gate, which is closed by the handler who then moves past the exit gate. Cattle naturally turn back towards the entrance and if the handler is experienced, will move calmly into the chute. Graphic: Courtesy Hi-Hog Farm & Ranch Equipment
mals, arguing it quickly makes them “chute sour.” But it’s not the facilities that are to blame. “Gates, corrals, chutes, scales, crossing highways or bridges, trailers — they can sour on anything,” says Biggs. The real problem is how they’re being handled. The most common mistake is pushing harder just as the animal is entering a chute, trailer, or gate. “Typically, without thinking, the
CDC Austenson
closer we get to where we want the cows to go, the harder we push,” says Biggs. “We end up pressuring the cattle more where we want them to be and sour them. “We want the cattle to come into the chute calm and quiet. Then you can let them out and bring them back, no problem. It’s not what happens in the chute, it’s all the commotion leading up to the chute.” He likes to “train” cattle by allowing them to move through a new or modified system without working them. Many producers say they don’t have time to do that, but Biggs considers it an investment that pays major dividends. “The more the cattle are handled, the easier they are to handle,” he says. “Don’t traumatize them, (and) they will come in over and over again. Sour cattle come from improper handling — if your cattle trust you, they will go in.” There are many options when upgrading a handling system or building a new one, but the system is just a small piece of the equation. “I had the opportunity to work in new engineered facilities, but that doesn’t make it any easier,” says Biggs. “People don’t intentionally make their cows wild, but they need to make sure they come into the facility calm and quiet.”
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MARCH 16, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA
Don’t rush when upgrading or replacing a handling system You’ll be living with any changes for a long time, so it pays to do your research and seek expert advice By Jill Burkhardt af contributor
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ou’re going to invest in a new cattle-handling system, but there are so many options, you’re feeling confused. Here are some things to consider:
Crowding tubs or Bud Box?
A crowding tub is designed to move cattle from a wide group alley into a narrow single-file alley. Like the Bud Box, they rely on the animals’ natural instinct to turn around and go back the way they came when faced with an obstacle. A Bud Box requires more skill from the handler, but both require producers to understand how cattle react in confined spaces. “I find many people want magic from facilities, but it only happens when you do your homework,” says Dylan Biggs. “There are always challenges. With crowd tubs, depending on how you use them, the challenge is having them too crowded. With a Bud Box, you put cows in and put pressure on them and they go towards where they came from. But modifications can be made to crowd tubs to mimic a Bud Box.” Crowding tubs are good when it’s just one or two people dealing with larger groups of cattle, says Cody Creelman, a veterinarian from Airdrie. “You can bring up a big bunch and hold them in the tub, and hopefully they all filter (through the system),” says Creelman. “If you have a goodsize crew and you are moving very fast up front, the tub actually makes it a little more difficult because those cattle lose momentum. If we have
the labour why don’t we leave the tub gate open and just bring three or four animals at a time? Because those animals never stall, never go stale, they keep moving. It’s really all about the momentum.”
“We do see every single chute design possible, and they all work differently in different situations.”
Alley insights
Many alleys on the market these days are in an S-shape or circular shape because, the thinking goes, cattle like to move in a circular pattern. However, says Biggs, cows circle in a corral if they are upset. “Circling equals milling, if they are calm they are standing there,” he says. “Be aware that sometimes those natural behaviours are indicative of a certain mind frame. You are going to have milling cows because you came in with too much movement, anxiety and speed. If you think (a circular alley) is going to calm them down, you’re making more work for yourself.” Alleyways with drop-downs or sliding gates so animals can’t back up make it safer when working around the cattle because it eliminates the “post factor,” says Creelman. “One of the most dangerous aspects when we are doing a lot of work is guys putting posts in and out behind animals because the animals keep backing out on you,” he says. “The number of times that posts are used now are very low because we have other options. I even have guys who have hydraulic gates at the back so once the alleyway is full they just hit another lever and the hydraulic gate closes behind everyone so no one has to go there.” And don’t get fixated on the idea
Cody Creelman
Airdrie vet Cody Creelman, who is semen testing bulls in this photo, recommends talking to your veterinarian before upgrading or replacing handling equipment. Photo: Courtesy Cody Creelman that every animal has to be worked on in the chute — think about design options for the working space behind the chute system, he adds. “Nobody really thinks about the opportunities you have behind the chute in the alleyway, working with animals. Not necessarily every animal needs to be caught and restrained by an actual head gate and chute. In a lot of cases, you can do a lot of work — and a lot of fast, efficient work — if you put a little bit of thought and design into that alleyway.”
Putting on the squeeze
Squeeze chutes have evolved since the old-style scissor-catch-andsqueeze versions. Modern scissor head catches are
Quiet industry leader
more ergonomic, squeezes use a parallel axis to give more of a “hug” to the animal, and head catches are self-catching. As well, hydraulic squeezes are more common. All of the feedlots Creelman services use a hydraulic system and nearly three-quarters of his cow-calf clients have gone that route, too, most with help from Growing Forward and Growing Forward 2 funding. But one of the downfalls is the noise, says Biggs, as cattle don’t like the high-pitched whine. “If you are able to dampen the noise, you make it easier on the cows,” he says. “The less rattling, banging, squeaking, etc., the better.” Good footing is key and so is a skilled operator.
“A con with hydraulic squeezes is you can hurt cattle,” says Biggs, adding proper handling techniques in all facets of the operation is the way to ensure you’re dealing with calm, quiet cattle. “You need to start in the pasture.” Hydraulic systems are excellent in terms of securely restraining an animal — something Creelman greatly appreciates. “When I’m doing pregnancy checking in a hydraulic chute, I don’t even get behind the animal anymore like you traditionally would in a palpation cage,” he says. “With the hydraulic systems now I just pop open the side. I don’t have to worry about a cow crashing from behind you or about opening up the palpation cage door.” He recommends talking to your vet before upgrading or replacing handling equipment. “We do see every single chute design possible, and they all work differently in different situations,” he says. “It depends on what the person’s goals are and how they want to process the cattle.”
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Alberta’s animal owners have a new — and more reliable — online source for veterinary information: Alberta Animal Health Source (www. albertaanimalhealthsource. ca). “Too many pet owners and animal lovers rely on unverified information from unaccountable authors when they’re doing online research,” the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association said in release. “While they often mean well, these unqualified sources can offer false, even harmful information.” The site features four main sections: livestock, pets, wildlife, and horses. For animal owners, the website offers “tips and comprehensive guides to
improve your animals’ overall health, happiness, and welfare,” the association said. Featured topics examine specific issues or needs as identified by veterinarians who are members of the association. The association recommends following it on Facebook and Twitter in order to keep up with the latest news and information posts on the website. “By offering this comprehensive resource and unifying our online presence, we hope to empower animal owners everywhere to cut through the misinformation online and find reliable, veterinarian-approved information they can depend on to promote healthy animals, healthy people, and a healthy environment,” the association said.
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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 16, 2015
Futurist to beef producers: Global trends are your friends Bob Treadway says global demand should stay strong and sustainable beef is a winner, but COOL won’t be solved for a while By Alexis Kienlen af staff / red deer
I
t’s a good time to be a beef producer, but keep an eye on long-term trends. That’s the message futurist Bob Treadway brought to the Alberta Beef Industry Conference last month. “I think there’s a bright future ahead. In the animal protein sector, I think you’re where the crop producers were six years ago,” he said. “You’re heading into an environment like they did, where they could make money in spite of themselves. I think a lot of money was left on the table because they were not efficient enough, and I hope you do not do that.” The Californian also warned producers they need to be prepared for volatile weather. The cattle herd in his home state has shrunk by an estimated onequarter in the last few years in the face of the state’s worst droughts on record. Treadway pointed to one climate study that predicts the U.S., Canada, Russia, and northern China will become more suitable for agriculture. But there will also be more extreme swings in weather patterns, he said. “Climate is going to change, and that significantly impacts you positively. But you also need to be prepared for the kind of volatility that you can see, especially at the high latitudes that you are in.” He also predicted Canada’s free trade deal with the European Union should pay off in about two to eight years, depending on when Europe’s economy recovers and paves the way for substantially higher beef imports. And it will also take years before there’s a resolution to the U.S. country-of-origin labelling law, largely because nothing happens quickly in Washington these days, he said.
“The world economic situation is right for your product,” he said. The United Nations has reworked its population projections and now expects there will be nine billion people in the world by 2035, and possibly 11 billion by the end of this century. “It’s coming faster than we anticipated and the reason is that Africa is coming on stronger than ever before,” said Treadway. By 2025, half the world’s people will be relying on imported food, he said. China will be a big export opportunity as its middle class expands. Asia Pacific and areas such as Vietnam, Indone-
akienlen@fbcpublishing.com
There are a lot of opportunities for beef producers on the horizon, says futurist Bob Treadway. Photo: Alexis Kienlen
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“I think there’s a bright future ahead. In the animal protein sector, I think you’re where the crop producers were six years ago.” Bob Treadway
“You’re talking about an environment where nothing gets done for a substantial period of time south of the border, just because of the (political) gridlock there,” said Treadway. “It’s toxic. I don’t see it changing any time soon.” But the U.S. economic recovery will lift Canada’s fortunes, said Treadway, who predicted American GDP growth will hit three per cent this year and next. However, Canadians should also look to other nations and diversify their trading partners.
sia, Cambodia, and Europe will also be good areas for export development. But beef producers need to become more efficient to capture those opportunities, he said. Treadway praised the Canadian beef sector’s focus on sustainability, coupled with traceability and aggregation of data, saying it will give the country an advantage. The key is offering customers what they want, he said. “If you do it right, do it carefully and do it consistently, you stand to benefit from that,” said Treadway.
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MARCH 16, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA
It’s no secret — high-energy, lowprotein diet builds a better carcass Expert says the science for creating a better carcass is well known, and producers who employ it will prosper By Jennifer Blair af staff / red deer
F
eeding to build a better beef carcass is simply better for your bottom line, says a carcass and meat science researcher from the University of Alberta. “You’re going to increase the return on every carcass if you can minimize your inputs and maximize or match the outputs that are required,” Heather Bruce said at the Feed Coalition workshop in February. “What we want to be doing is essentially feeding in a manner that we’re balancing energy and protein for growth and for carcass composition. We want to control carcass composition.” Research conducted three
Heather Bruce
decades ago found how the balance of energy and protein affects carcass quality, and those results still hold true today, she said. In that study, the animals were fed either high or low levels of both energy and protein to determine how feed affected quality. “The low-protein, low-energy diets that were fed essentially ended up with a carcass composition that was relatively equal in terms of fat,” said Bruce. “Once you start to increase the energy, however, you start to see an increase in the amount of body fat.” The low-energy, high-protein diet increased leanness, and there “didn’t seem to be any advantage to feeding a high-energy, high-protein diet in terms of carcass composition,” though the rate of growth could be affected.
“We would expect the average daily gain on each of these animals to be very different, with the lowenergy, low-protein animals gaining much less than the animals that are receiving more in terms of their energy or their protein.”
Feeding for quality
Grain finishing can be one of the quickest and easiest ways to improve both gain and carcass quality, said Bruce. “Grain-based diets are heavily supported in the cattle industry for good reason,” she said. “They improve the quality of the product, they improve the taste of the product, and they certainly add to the efficiency of the production of the animal.” And for beef cattle, “barley is king.” “It’s the grain of choice here in the West. It has been clearly shown in many trials that cattle gain much faster and accrue fat much quicker on barley than cattle that have been fed non-grain forage or pasture,” said Bruce, adding that dried distillers grains and triticale can also be used successfully. Restricting feed is also an “underutilized” way to increase carcass fat with less feed.
“Grain-based diets are heavily supported in the cattle industry for good reason.” Heather Bruce
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“When an animal is restricted feed, you can get an incredible increase in the amount of subcutaneous fat and marbling simply because the muscle itself has become so efficient because it hasn’t had a lot of energy,” said Bruce. “It’s adapted to a low-energy supply, and it stores that fat.”
Meeting market demands
Most producers will be targeting increased marbling and subcutaneous fat, as the tenderness of the product tends to increase as the amount of fat within the muscle increases, said Bruce. But it all depends on which market is getting the meat. “The definition of a quality carcass can change dramatically depending on which retailer or which buyer you’re talking to,” she said. “If you’re talking to a buyer who wants to buy for restaurants or for overseas Japanese markets, they’re looking for a very different carcass than the one that wants to take the biggest, leanest carcass and grind it up to sell it to people as hamburgers. “Both are very lucrative markets, but they require very different carcasses.” And ultimately, that’s what’s going to benefit the bottom line, said Bruce. “If you meet your market demands, you’ll have a greater return on investment by getting a higher price for each carcass.” jennifer.blair@fbcpublishing.com
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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 16, 2015
Expert says it’s a good time to reseed forage stands There are several reasons for rejuvenating forage stands this year, but limited seed supplies are a reason to move quickly Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development release
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his year may be a good time to look at reseeding forage stands. “Because of tough financial times, we’ve been allowing some of our forage stands to just go from year to year,” said Grant Lastiwka, a forage and livestock business specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. “In addition, many forage stands that were best suited to forage were taken out of forage and seeded into grain. With some of the current favourable cattle prices, we’ve got an opportunity to invest in having pastures that can pay their bills better. We can also take this time to convert grain land that is better suited to forage back to forage.”
Putting cropland into forage is also “an excellent tool for the soil health” and leads to higher yields once the land is returned to grain production, he added. “The unusually warm temperatures recently are another good reason to be thinking about forage seed,” said Lastiwka. “Snow is an insulator while ice is not, and ice even limits the oxygen that gets to plants. Older stands with legumes are carrying a little higher disease load and are usually lower in soil nutrients. These plants are not as able to withstand stress as well as younger legume mix stands would be.” The slightly better price for hay is also a factor. “You should also consider putting some legume in with the grasses to raise its productivity and profitability,” he said. “Forage species that grow better for grazing are not usually the best hay species as they are better at
regrowth as opposed to growing tall and creating a seed head.” No matter what the regrowth strategy is, now is the time to make sure the right seed is available. “People looking for forage seed this year should probably look sooner than later,” said Lastiwka. “Forage seed up until last year had not been moving well so fewer acres were left in forage seed production. As a result supplies are probably going to be lower this year. You may need to move quickly to get the species you want for the hay stand and the species you want for a pasture. “Planting what works best for the use intended is the best way to gain the most production and profit per acre. This will allow more animals to run on any given acre which fits well with today’s strong cattle market and Older forage stands aren’t as productive and are less able to withstand stress. Photo: Thinkstock opportunities for herd growth.” T:8.125”
E. coli vaccine not effective in feedlot cattle Study at two commercial feedlots finds minimal reduction of E. coli 0157 staff
T:10”
A study of a vaccine for controlling E. coli 0157 in the feces of feedlot cattle has found it was not effective. The study was conducted with cattle from two commercial feedlots to evaluate to see if the vaccine would reduce the number of E. coli 0157 shed in cattle feces. If the cattle carried E. coli 0157 that had the stx2 toxin gene (which is linked to increased risk of human disease), the vaccine didn’t reduce the level of E. coli 0157 detected on hides or in feces of the animals at any time. When the stx2 gene was absent, vaccination reduced the number of E. coli 0157 detected in feces and on hides of animals, but only during the feeding period. The reduction was not carried through to shipment and slaughter. The study also looked at the effectiveness of a directfed microbial, but found it also had minimal impact. “Neither method reduced E. coli 0157 carrying the stx2 gene, thereby putting into question the projected benefits of vaccination on human health,” the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency, which provided funding for the study, stated in a release. “With these results, it makes sense for all partners within the beef industry to continue looking for different mitigation strategies,” said Susan Novak, the agency’s executive director of strategic initiatives.
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MARCH 16, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA
A sure sign of spring: Northlands Farm and Ranch Show This year’s event includes a prospect steer and heifer show, and Limousin is the featured breed By Tessa Nybo af contributor
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Attendees at the educational cattle clinic are given tips on preparing and showing cattle. Photo: Joan Nybo
The Prospect Steer and Heifer Show gives youth a chance to develop their showmanship abilities. Photo: Courtesy Northlands
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efore the fields thaw, the Northlands Farm and Ranch Show is your opportunity to view quality equipment and livestock to incorporate into your operations. This year’s show, which runs from March 26-28, features some new events, including the prospect steer and heifer show. This event showcases calves born in 2014, in a junior division on March 27 and an open division (where the big money will be awarded) on March 28. “The show cattle world is growing and now is the opportune time to get community involvement and foster quality opportunities for youth in the industry,” said Suzanne Bielert. “This year, we’re sponsoring $4,000 in guaranteed prize money and 75 per cent of all entry fees collected go back to participants.” There will also be an educational cattle clinic on March 26. Youth participants can book a time to bring their animal for a one-on-one clipping and fitting session and also receive showmanship advice. The addition of the prospect calf show is timely as the rise in prices has more young people thinking of a career in the cattle industry. The feature breed at this year’s show is prospect steer and heifer show and two members of the Prime Limousin Club — Excel Ranches and Hillview Farms — have animals from their purebred herds on display. Club members will be on hand to talk about the merits of the breed and the value they bring to the cattle industry. The show, at Northlands Edmonton Expo Centre, also features a trade show and three daily ‘AgriChat’ information sessions, with a focus on horticulture for this year. Experts will give presentations, and take questions, on topics such as planting for pollinators, creating edible landscapes, and “lasagna gardening,” which promises lessons on how to “do less work and grow more food.” Other daily events include a performance horse sale, equine clinics, an alpaca show, and the Canadian College Finals Rodeo. “This year features five halls dedicated to livestock shows, equine programming, clinicians, and small livestock displays,” said Bielert. “We’re confident that the show will provide the industry with the opportunity to create meaningful connections and learn the tools of the trade for doing business in this province.” For more info on this year’s show, visit www.farmandranchshow.com.
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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 16, 2015
U.S. establishes roundtable for sustainable beef All of the major players in the value chain are on board with the effort to measure and improve sustainability of American beef staff
Beef research scientist says feed efficiency is a trait that can be measured and can lead to significant herd improvement Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development release
I
mproving the feed efficiency of a beef cattle herd can mean big savings for producers. One way to achieve this goal is to select breeding bulls that are naturally feed efficient, since 80 to 90 per cent of the genetic improvement in a herd comes through the sires. “With this being bull-buying season, I think producers should give a little extra look at the residual feed intake (RFI) number,” said Susan Markus, a beef research scientist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Develop-
ment. “Producers need to know bull you are considering buying, it’s an economically important if you see the letters RFI under trait that can be measured, as the EPDs, that’s a measure of the well as how to tell if a bull pro- animal’s residual feed intake or ducer is offering RFI tested ani- feed efficiency, with a negative mals.” number being preferred over When reviewing a bull sale positive numbers.” catalogue, look at the expected Having a bull with a negative progeny differences (EPD) for RFI can really make a huge difeach bull, said Markus. ference over a long period of “EPDs are our best tool to get time, she said. an estimate on the potential “If you have a bull brought into genetic performance of a bull, your herd with this negative RFI especially for hard-to-measure value, and keep replacement traits like feed efficiency and car- heifers off him, you can improve cass traits. Don’t forget to com- the feed efficiency of his daughpare the bull’s numbers with his ters and their offspring so you’re breed average numbers because bringing up the baseline of your the breed average will change female herd,” said Markus. “It’s B:8.125” every year. Although you always really important for a cow-calf need to look at all the traits of T:8.125” a operation to have efficient cat-
tle. Feed costs are over 60 per cent of the cost of production in a beef operation. There can be up to a 10-cent-per-day feed cost difference between a feedefficient and non-feed-efficient animal. And calves that are the offspring of the feed-efficient cows will show improved feedto-gain ratios in a feedlot as well.” Increasingly, breed associations want to measure cattle for feed efficiency and develop RFI EPDs or indexes that include feed efficiency. “They want to know which pedigrees are more feed efficient so they can make sure they are balanced with other traits to get the best genetics.”
S:8.125”
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The U.S. is the latest country to set up a roundtable for sustainable beef. The group has more than three dozen founding members, largely drawn from the beef value chain. That includes more than a dozen cattle organizations; major processors (including Cargill and JBS) and beef buyers (McDonald’s, Costco, and Walmart); and other industry players (Merck, Elanco, Dow AgroSciences, and Zoetis). The Nature Conservancy and World Wildlife Fund are also members. “Research tells us American consumers are increasingly interested in the social, economic, and environmental impacts of the beef they purchase,” said Nicole JohnsonHoffman, vice-president of Cargill Value Added Meats and interim chair of the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef. “For the first time, the entire U.S. beef value chain, including representatives who raise cattle and produce, market and sell beef, in addition to representatives from the NGO community and allied businesses, are coming together to establish metrics and criteria that will be used to benchmark the present and help measure improvements in the sustainability of American beef going forward.” The roundtable plans to “identify sustainability indicators, establish verification methodologies, and generate field project data to test and confirm sustainability concepts for use throughout the United States,” the group said in a release. The U.S. is the fifth country to establish a sustainable beef roundtable, following in the wake of Canada, Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia. Its website is www.usrsb.org.
Take ‘a little extra look’ at residual feed intake number
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MARCH 16, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA
Study finds riparian areas can restore themselves A study in Oregon wildlife refuge finds ‘passive restoration’ can have a dramatic impact after cattle removed
These two photos, one taken in 1990 and the other in 2013, show an increase in willow along with a decease in the amount of bare soil, eroded banks, and channel width. Photos: Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge (1990 photo) and Jonathan Batchelor (2013 photo)
Oregon State University release
S
imply removing cattle may be all that is required to restore many degraded riverside areas. An Oregon State University study found removal of cattle from Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge in eastern Oregon helped to rehabilitate the natural environment. Riparian, or riverside, vegetation is particularly susceptible to the effects of grazing because cattle tend to congregate around rivers and streams for easy access to water, lush forage and favourable terrain. Their presence can cause woody plants to decrease, riverbanks to erode, streams to become shallower and wider, and change the quality and temperature of the water. The researchers, whose work is published in the journal Environmental Management, compared 64 pairs of repeat photographs taken in 2013 and 2014 with those taken before cattle were removed in 1991 on Hart Mountain. They found promising results showing that passive restoration works as a way to rehabilitate a landscape after decades of cattle grazing. There was an increase in woody riparian vegetation, and most notably a fourfold increase in willow and rushes. Patches of bare soil decreased to a 10th of what they were while livestock were still kept in the area. Exposed stream
channels decreased dramatically in 63 per cent of the cases, as did channel widths (64 per cent) and the number of eroding banks (73 per cent). The resurgence of riparian vegetation was not ascribed to climate changes, given that the years prior to 1991 were generally less drought stressed than the years following the removal of the cattle.
“The removal of cattle can result in dramatic changes in riparian vegetation, even in semi-arid landscapes and without active restoration treatments.” Jonathan Batchelor
“The study at Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge shows just how much a system can change within only two decades of cattle removal,” said researcher William Ripple. “The removal of cattle can result in dramatic changes in riparian vegetation, even in semi-arid landscapes and without active restoration treatments,” added colleague Jonathan Batchelor.
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Albertafarmexpress.ca • March 16, 2015
World dairy market slumps on oversupply and lower demand Smaller Chinese farms dumping milk, Russia food embargo diminishes demand for EU cheese By Nigel Hunt and Naomi Tajitsu London / Wellington Reuters
T
World milk supplies are full to overflowing, with China cutting imports and New Zealand and Northern Europe looking to increase production when quotas are eliminated in April. Photo: Thinkstock
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“I don’t think it (the rise in production) is going to be massive because prices are so low there isn’t that incentive there but... there will certainly be enough supply to keep prices low, at least until the middle of the year.”
This is now providing some support for prices in the U.S. cash market although exports were challenging, he said. “Our prices have been a little higher than New Zealand recently, which makes it difficult to export,” he said. Weak local currencies have, however, provided some protection for producers in Australia, the world’s fourth-largest exporter, and in the European Union. “While the global price of milk is down 50 per cent, our price to our consumers is down only 12 per cent,” said Garry Helou, managing director of Murray Goulburn, Australia’s largest dairy producer. He added strong domestic demand had also allowed processors to switch to producing products such as cheese at the expense of milk powder. The huge swing in dairy prices during the last 12 months has led to some calls for the development of more futures markets to help farmers cope with volatility. Exchange operator Euronext said last month it would launch revamped dairy futures and options contracts by the end of March. And Britain’s government is supporting a feasibility study for dairy futures.
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he weak global dairy market, hit by oversupply and a tail-off in Chinese demand that has driven international milk prices down by around 50 per cent, is unlikely to pick up any time soon, analysts say. China was one of the world’s fastest-growing dairy markets, but consumption there has dried up after earlier high prices cut domestic demand, leaving excess stocks of imported milk powder. “It might be another six months before it (the outlook) improves,” said Susan Kilsby, dairy analyst at NZX Agri, adding there should be a seasonal rise in milk production in the European Union, the U.S. and China in the spring. “I don’t think it (the rise in production) is going to be massive because prices are so low there isn’t that incentive there but... there will certainly be enough supply to keep prices low, at least until the middle of the year.” China has also seen heavy investment in higher-yielding modern dairy farms with smaller dairy farmers dumping milk and selling cows as demand from processors slows. “We don’t see China coming back to the global market in a big way until the second half (of 2015),” said Rabobank analyst Sandy Chen. “Some major players have indicated that they won’t go to the international market at all this year. Their large suppliers — i.e. the large farms — are still increasing production... so they will continue to source milk domestically.” The sharp decline in prices coincides with plans by some EU farmers to expand production in the run-up to the abolition of milk quotas in April. A food embargo by Russia has also cut off the EU’s biggest outlet for cheese, worth almost one billion euros in 2013, and accelerated a decline in EU milk prices from a record high at the end of 2013. “We were very dependent on Russia for cheese exports, hence the current turbulence on the market but you have to separate micro-trends from big, longterm ones,” said Pierre Begoc, international director at French consultancy Agritel. “Northern Europe is the zone with the biggest potential worldwide to raise production,” he added, noting New Zealand had less capacity to boost output.
is to meet domestic demand, were initially shielded to some extent from the fall in international prices. But the impact is now beginning to be felt, analysts said. “Global market forces driving the lower milk prices have flowed through to virtually every dairy farmer in the world, whereas six months ago it was only New Zealand farmers who were in that situation,” Kilsby said. There had been a sharp drop in U.S. prices from previous record levels but buyers were now beginning to replenish inventories, said Jerry Dryer of U.S.-based Dairy and Food Market Analyst.
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MARCH 16, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA
Community news and events from across the province
Inspirational Nanton farmer urges others to be all that they can be
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Send agriculture-related meeting and event announcements to: glenn.cheater@fbcpublishing.com March 17: Dugout Workshop, Valleyview Ag Society Hall, Valleyview. Contact: Stacy 780-835-6799 March 18: Crop Talk 2015, Brookville Community Hall, Ardrossan. Contact: Diana 780-417-7109 March 19: Abandoned Water Wells, Tees Hall (On Hwy. 12 and Hwy. 821), Tees. Contact: Leanne Walton 403-784-3437 March 19: Honey Food Safety Workshop, Crop Diversification Centre North, Edmonton. Contact: Ag-Info Centre 1-800-387-6030 March 19: Working Well Workshop, Wilton Park (also March 24 in Sundre and March 26 in Benchlands). Contact: Heather Dickau 780-955-3555 ext. 287 March 20-21: Beeginners Beekeeping Course, Crop Diversification Centre North, Edmonton. Contact: Ag-Info Centre 1-800-387-6030 March 24: Leading Edge Farm Management, Stonebridge Hotel, Grande Prairie (also March 25 in Nisku and March 26 in Lethbridge). Contact: Rick 780-678-6167 March 26-27: 2015 Livestock Care Conference, Calgary Stampede Grounds, Calgary. Contact: Kristen 403-652-5111
Passersby tend to gawk, but Chris Koch says, ‘All farm equipment today is very easy for me to run.’ Supplied photo By Alexis Kienlen
“I can jump on any piece of John Deere equipment off the lot and run that equipment... But if I break down, I’m not that great at turning wrenches.”
af staff / red deer
T
he first thing you notice about Chris Koch is that he had no arms or legs. But what you remember after meeting him is his joyous grin, and the three words that sum up his approach to life: If I Can. Thanks to Oprah Winfrey, Koch is a YouTube sensation and he’d just come back from L.A. and negotiations about launching his own TV show when he spoke at the Alberta Beef Industry Conference last month. But he’s very much the farm boy from Nanton with a passion for life — and a self-deprecating sense of humour. “When I was born, my grandma set the tone,” he said. “My uncle phoned to let my grandma and grandpa know that my parents had had a baby boy. Healthy, but not everything was there. And my grandma didn’t even hesitate. She said, ‘Bruce (my dad) didn’t finish anything he started.’” Koch’s parents raised him to be confident and independent by exposing him to everything that other children were exposed to. “My parents knew if they did everything for me that I wouldn’t be able to be independent,” said Koch. Nanton’s community also supported him. “People always make the assumption that it must be quite difficult to
April 6-7: Advancing Women - Life Skills for Leadership – Women in Ag Conference, Hyatt Regency, Calgary. Contact: Brenda Driver 403-686-8407
FARMING IS ENOUGH OF A GAMBLE...
Chris Koch
Chris Koch credits his parents for raising him to be confident and independent. Supplied photo grow up without arms and legs,” he said. “But I was born like this. This has been my norm. I just learned how to do things the way I do things.” When not giving motivational speeches or travelling, the 35-yearold farmer works full time for Mesabi Ranches owned by Mike and Jo Sears. While Koch can’t drive a vehicle legally, he is able to drive a tractor as well as shovel hay and feed animals. One of the reasons he likes his work is because it’s not a job commonly done by someone without arms or legs. He loves driving by in the combine, and confusing people who gawk at his lack of limbs. “I love being on the farm. I grew up riding around in the tractors with my grandpa and my uncles,”
he said. “All farm equipment today is very easy for me to run and I don’t have to make any adaptations or modifications to the equipment. “I can jump on any piece of John Deere equipment off the lot and run that equipment. Tractor, combine, or sprayer, it’s no problem. But if I break down, I’m not that great at turning wrenches.” As a child, Koch used artificial arms, but didn’t like them. He wore prosthetic legs until about four years ago, when he discovered he could get around much faster on a skateboard, now his preferred method of transportation. His motivational speeches focus on self-acceptance, humour, and honesty — and a willingness to try new things. In August 2013, he climbed all 802 stairs of the Calgary
Tower to raise money for the floodravaged Calgary Zoo. He was also featured on ‘Super Soul Sunday’ on Oprah Winfrey’s TV network. (Google ‘Chris Koch’ to find the video and his website.) His motivational speaking project, ‘If I Can,’ started off as an idea for a travel show. To see if he was able to travel despite his disability, Koch and good friend Jeremy Comstock travelled through Brazil. He then toured around Europe alone for three months, has since been to Asia, and is close to striking a deal for a pilot for his travel television show. His take-home message is simple: If a guy without arms and legs can do it, anyone can achieve their dreams. Take chances, try new things, and don’t define yourself by your limitations, he told his audience.
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BUSINESS SERVICES Crop Consulting
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Wanted - JD 9450 Hoe Drills............... ..........................CALL 946 Versatile Ford Tractor, 4,994 hrs, 24.5 x 32 D....$55,000 555 JD Crawler Loader, good condition.....................$12,500 FARM CHEMICAL SEED COMPLAINTS 8070 AC Tractor, FWA, wheel base extended, duals ....$22,500 275 MF Tractor, diesel, multi power, 3 pth, new 18.4 x 30, We also specialize in: Crop Insurance appeals; front weights, loader available, looks and runs great ...........$12,500 Chemical drift; Residual herbicide; Custom operator herbicides B275 IHC Tractor & Loader ...................................... $3,500 issues; Equipment malfunction; Yield comparisons, (2) NH P1060 TBH Air Tanks, as new .............. EA $69,500 Plus Private Investigations of any nature. With our 40’ Salford RTS 570 Vertical Till, as new ..............$73,500 assistance the majority of our clients have received 35’ 4590 EEZE-ON Double Disc, good condition ......$36,000 compensation previously denied. Back-Track 62’ 820 F.C. Deep Till Cultivator, c/w 4 Bar Harrow Investigations investigates, documents your loss and & Raven NH3 kit, excellent condition............................$46,000 Nampa - 780-322-3737 Fort Macleod - 403-553-3373 62’ F.C. S75 Packer BAR P30’s, as new.................$11,000 assists in settling your claim. 48’ F.C. S75 Packer Bar, P30, NEW .....................$37,500 Licensed Agrologist on Staff. 2003 4300 IHC Service Truck, 466 diesel, 5 speed For more information Allison auto, crane, compressor, welder, nice ..................$50,000 As with all DuPont crop protection products, read and follow As with all DuPont crop protection products, read and follow Please call 1-866-882-4779 label instructions carefully. label instructions carefully. 47’ 820 F.C., C.P. & 48’ 75 Packer, like new.........$95,000 The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPontTM and PrecisionPac® are registered The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPontTM and PrecisionPac® are registered 51’ Degelman Landroller, as new.... ........................$40,000 trademarks or trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. trademarks or trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. E. I. du Pont Canada Company is a licensee. Member of CropLife Canada. E. I. du Pont Canada Company is a licensee. Member of CropLife Canada. Degelman Dozer Frame MF 4000 Series 4WD ...... $1,000 © Copyright 2015 DuPont Canada. All rights reserved. © Copyright 2015 DuPont Canada. All rights reserved. Fairview - 780-835-3003 41’ Flexicoil 300 B Chisel Plow, 3 bar harrows .......$12,500 Flexicoil 6 Run Seed Treater..................................... $1,000 If you want to sell it fast, call 1-800-665-1362. 100’ 65XL Flexicoil Sprayer, complete withwindguards, FARM MACHINERY elec. end nozzles single tips, auto rate, excellent condition ..$12,500 Machinery Miscellaneous 1059 PPAC Classified 2015 AB2.indd 43 As with all DuPont crop protection products, read and follow 15-02-19 5:37 PM 10 Wheel MATR (Italy) Trailer Type V-Hayrake, 1059 PPAC Classified 2015 AB2.indd 18 15-02-19 5:37 PM label instructions carefully. BUILDINGS hyd. fold, as new......................................................... $5,000 The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPontTM and PrecisionPac® are registered ACREAGE EQUIPMENT: 3-PT. CULTIVATORS, 7 x 1200 (39.37’) Sakundiak Auger, 18 HP Koehler trademarks or trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. E. I. du Pont Canada Company is a licensee. Member of CropLife Canada. Discs, Plows, Blades, Harrows, Etc. (780)892-3092, engine, c/w hyd. pump for bin sweep ............................ $2,500 © Copyright 2015 DuPont Canada. All rights reserved. Wabamun, AB. 1390 Brandt XL Swing Auger, elec. power swing, STEEL STORAGE CONTAINERS, spout, adj. axle, as new..............................................$19,500 20-ft & 40-ft. Wind, water & rodent proof. Hit our readers where it counts… in the classifieds. 225 DOW Kello-Bilt Tandem Disc, 28” smooth front & rear 1-866-517-8335, (403)540-4164, (403)226-1722 BUILDINGS Place your ad in the Alberta Farmer Express classifed blades, 10.5” spacing, oil, bath bearings, as new ..........$62,500 magnate@telus.net section. 1-800-665-1362. 1059 PPAC Classified 2015 AB2.indd 40 15-02-19 5:37 PM 47’ 820 Flexicoil Chisel Plow, 4 bar harrows ...........$67,500 New E-Kay 7”, 8”, 9” Bin Sweeps available ..............Call 8” Wheat Heart Transfer Auger, hydraulic drive ........ $1,500 New Outback RTK BASE stn............................................Call New Outback MAX & STX guidance & mapping ......... In Stock New Outback E-Drive, TC’s....................................... In Stock New Outback E-Drive X, c/w free E turns.................. In Stock New Outback S-Lite guidance ...................**In Stock** $900 New Outback VSI Swather Steering Kit................ In Stock Used Outback E-Drive Hyd. kits ....................................$500 herbicides herbicides
For custom herbicides as unique as your fields, visit:
Crop Production Services Inc.
Richardson Pioneer
precisionpac.ca
precisionpac.ca
Richardson Pioneer
FARM MACHINERY
precisionpac.ca
For custom herbicides as unique as your fields, visit:
40’ X 60’ X 16’ RIGID FRAME STEEL BUILDING
$29,418
Andrukow Group Solutions Inc.
When you go with steel you get the right deals!
Mundare - 780-764-2511
precisionpac.ca As with all DuPont crop protection products, read and follow label instructions carefully. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPontTM and PrecisionPac® are registered trademarks or trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. E. I. du Pont Canada Company is a licensee. Member of CropLife Canada. © Copyright 2015 DuPont Canada. All rights reserved.
1059 PPAC Classified 2015 AB2.indd 11
Pioneer One Steel Buildings
Call toll free 1 (877) 525-2004 or see us online at www.pioneeronesteel.com
15-02-19 5:37 PM
**NuVision (Spray Air) & Meridian-Sakundiak Augers, Outback GPS Systems, EK Auger Movers, Belt Tighteners, Bin Sweeps & Crop Dividers, Kohler, Robin Subaru & Generac Engines, Headsight Harvesting Solutions, Greentronics Sprayer Auto Boom Height, Kello-Bilt Discs**
For custom herbicides as unique as your fields, visit:
Stretch your advertising dollars! Place an ad in the classifieds. Our friendly staff is waiting for your call. 1-800-665-1362.
Webb’s Crop Services Vermilion - 780-853-6565
Stretch your
precisionpac.ca
ADVERTISING DOLLAR!
As with all DuPont crop protection products, read and follow label instructions carefully. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPontTM and PrecisionPac® are registered trademarks or trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. E. I. du Pont Canada Company is a licensee. Member of CropLife Canada. © Copyright 2015 DuPont Canada. All rights reserved.
1059 PPAC Classified 2015 AB2.indd 51
1-800-665-1362
15-02-19 5:37 PM
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45
ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 16, 2015
FARM MACHINERY Machinery Miscellaneous
SPRAYING EQUIPMENT Sprayers
Combines COMBINES Accessories
For custom herbicides as unique as your fields, visit:
For custom herbicides as unique as your fields, visit:
Airdrie - 403-948-5913
precisionpac.ca As with all DuPont crop protection products, read and follow label instructions carefully. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPontTM and PrecisionPac® are registered trademarks or trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. E. I. du Pont Canada Company is a licensee. Member of CropLife Canada. © Copyright 2015 DuPont Canada. All rights reserved.
herbicides
Andrukow Group Solutions Inc. Viking - 780-336-3180
precisionpac.ca
precisionpac.ca
As with all DuPont crop protection products, read and follow label instructions carefully. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPontTM and PrecisionPac® are registered trademarks or trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. E. I. du Pont Canada Company is a licensee. Member of CropLife Canada. © Copyright 2015 DuPont Canada. All rights reserved.
As with all DuPont crop protection products, read and follow label instructions carefully. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPontTM and PrecisionPac® are registered trademarks or trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. E. I. du Pont Canada Company is a licensee. Member of CropLife Canada. © Copyright 2015 DuPont Canada. All rights reserved.
www.ridgelandmanufacturing.ca
204-866-3558 ridgemetal@hotmail.com
TracTors
precisionpac.ca As with all DuPont crop protection products, read and follow label instructions carefully. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPontTM and PrecisionPac® are registered trademarks or trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. E. I. du Pont Canada Company is a licensee. Member of CropLife Canada. © Copyright 2015 DuPont Canada. All rights reserved.
AG
TO GO!
1059 PPAC Classified 2015 AB2.indd 1
15-02-19 5:37 PM
15-02-19 5:37 PM
For custom herbicides as unique as your fields, visit:
Get the APP »»
Magrath - 403-758-3162
precisionpac.ca As with all DuPont crop protection products, read and follow label instructions carefully. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPontTM and PrecisionPac® are registered trademarks or trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. E. I. du Pont Canada Company is a licensee. Member of CropLife Canada. © Copyright 2015 DuPont Canada. All rights reserved.
herbicides
For custom herbicides as unique as your fields, visit:
Crop Production Services Inc.
Stettler - 403-742-8540
precisionpac.ca As with all DuPont crop protection products, read and follow label instructions carefully. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPontTM and PrecisionPac® are registered trademarks or trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. E. I. du Pont Canada Company is a licensee. Member of CropLife Canada. © Copyright 2015 DuPont Canada. All rights reserved.
1059 PPAC Classified 2015 AB2.indd 45
herbicides
15-02-19 5:37 PM
For custom herbicides as unique as your fields, visit:
Andrukow Group Solutions Inc.
United Farmers of Alberta
precisionpac.ca
precisionpac.ca
As with all DuPont crop protection products, read and follow label instructions carefully. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPontTM and PrecisionPac® are registered trademarks or trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. E. I. du Pont Canada Company is a licensee. Member of CropLife Canada. © Copyright 2015 DuPont Canada. All rights reserved.
As with all DuPont crop protection products, read and follow label instructions carefully. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPontTM and PrecisionPac® are registered trademarks or trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. E. I. du Pont Canada Company is a licensee. Member of CropLife Canada. © Copyright 2015 DuPont Canada. All rights reserved.
Lethbridge - 403-328-5531
St. Paul - 780-645-5915
15-02-19 5:37 PM
The Level-Winder II Wire Roller rolls wire evenly across the full width of the spool automatically as the wire is pulled in
1059 PPAC Classified 2015 AB2.indd 5
15-02-19 5:37 PM
1059 PPAC Classified 2015 AB2.indd 48
herbicides
FARM MACHINERY Machinery Wanted WANTED: NH BALE WAGONS & retrievers, any condition. Farm Equipment Finding Service, P.O. Box 1363, Polson, MT 59860. (406)883-2118
HAYING & HARVESTING
For custom herbicides as unique as your fields, visit:
Prairie-Wide Display Classifieds
MORE OPTIONS TO SAVE YOU MONEY
Crop Production Services Inc.
Hairy Hill - 780-768-3825
precisionpac.ca
HAYING & HARVESTING Baling Equipment WANTED: JD 7810 c/w FEL & 3-PTH; sp or PTO bale wagon; JD or IHC end wheel drills. Small square baler. (403)394-4401
JD 9400, 9420, 9520, 8970 JD 9860, 9760, 9750, 9650, 9600 JD 9430, 9530, 9630 Case STX 375, 425, 430, 450, 480, 500, 530 CIH 8010-2388, 2188 combine CIH 435Q, 535Q, 450Q, 550Q, 600Q pto avail. JD 4710, 4720, 4730, 4830, 4920, 4930 SP sprayers JD 9770 & 9870 w/CM & duals CIH 3185, 3230, 3330, 4430, 4420 sprayers
PHONE
Richardson Pioneer
For custom herbicides as unique as your fields, visit:
SPRAYING EQUIPMENT Sprayers
Search for
herbicides
herbicides
Ken Lendvay (403) 550-3313 Red Deer, AB email: kflendvay@hotmail.com Web: www.levelwind.com
As with all DuPont crop protection products, read and follow label instructions carefully. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPontTM and PrecisionPac® are registered trademarks or trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. E. I. du Pont Canada Company is a licensee. Member of CropLife Canada. © Copyright 2015 DuPont Canada. All rights reserved.
SPRAYING EQUIPMENT
1059 PPAC Classified 2015Sprayers AB2.indd 14
15-02-19 5:37 PM
AG EQUIPMENT DEALS on your
JD 2130 3 pth with loader JD 2955 FWA, 265 loader with 3 pth JD 3255 265 loader with 3 pth JD 4255 2 WD, ldr. available JD 4255 FWA, 280 loader JD 4440, loader available JD 7420 FWA, 741 loader with 3pth JD 7800 FWA, with 3 pth CASE IH 4700 Vibra Shank, 34ft. Clamp on Duals, 20.8x38-18.4x38 FINANCE, TRADES WELCOME 780-696-3527, BRETON, AB
1059 PPAC Classified 2015 AB2.indd 12
Alberta Farmer Express classifieds, 1-800-665-1362.
1059 PPAC Classified 2015 AB2.indd 8
TRACTORS Various
Barb Wire & Electric High Tensile Wire Spooler & Water Hose Roller
- Wire Roller can now be converted to roll up & unroll flat plastic water hose up to 6” diameter (11” flat) - Hydraulic Drive (roll or unroll) - Mounts to tractor draw bar, skidsteer front end loader, post driver, 3pt. hitch or deck truck (with receiver hitch & rear hydraulics) - Spool splits in half to remove full roll - Shut off/ Flow control valve determines speed - Works great for pulling out old wire (approx. 3--5 minutes to roll up 80 rod or 1/4 mile) - Also works great for swath grazing or rotational grazing
For custom herbicides as unique as your fields, visit:
3” & 4” OPTIONS
Falher - 780-837-2205
Lavoy - 780-658-2408
DEALS 1059 PPAC Classified 2015 AB2.indd 38
herbicides
Agri-Pro
Richardson Pioneer
15-02-19 5:37 PM
GAUGE WHEEL & GAUGE WHEEL KIT
For custom herbicides as unique as your fields, visit:
herbicides
United Farmers of Alberta
1059 PPAC Classified 2015 AB2.indd 49
TILLAGE & SEEDING Tillage Equipment
RECONDITIONED COMBINE HEADERS. RIGID & flex, most makes & sizes; also header transports. Ed Lorenz, (306)344-4811 or Website: www.straightcutheaders.com Paradise Hill, SK.
herbicides
TILLAGE & SEEDING Tillage Equipment
Tillage & Seeding
Buy one province, buy two provinces or buy all three. Great rates whatever you choose
15-02-19 5:37 PM
4955 JD low hrs, 3 pth, very clean S670/680/690 JD Combine low hrs 4730 JD Sprayer, 100 ft. JD 8770, 4WD, 24 speed with PTO Case IH 9170, 4WD 854 Rogator SP Sprayer, complete with JD auto steer, swath pro GOOD SELECTION OF JD & CASE SP SPRAYERS AND 4WD TRACTORS
“LIKE MANY BEFORE, WE’LL HAVE YOU SAYING THERE’S NO DEAL LIKE A KEN DEAL” • Phone: (403)526-9644 • Cell: (403)504-4929 • Email: kendeal@shaw.ca
Contact Sharon
Email: sharon.komoski@fbcpublishing.com
15-02-19 5:37 PM
46
MARCH 16, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA
TRACTORS Various
TRACTORS Various
LANDSCAPING Lawn & Garden
LANDSCAPING
HEAT & AIR CONDITIONING
LANDSCAPING Lawn & Garden FOR SALE: ONE 17.5-BU compost tumbler, used very little. It’s like new yet. Phone (780)597-3747
Stretch your ADVERTISING DOLLAR!
herbicides
herbicides 1-800-665-1362
For custom herbicides as unique as your fields, visit:
Farming is enough of a gamble, advertise in the Alberta Farmer Express classified section. It’s a sure thing. 1-800-665-1362.
United Farmers of Alberta
herbicides
For custom herbicides as unique as your fields, visit:
herbicides
Stirling - 403-756-3452
precisionpac.ca
precisionpac.ca
As with all DuPont crop protection products, read and follow label instructions carefully. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPontTM and PrecisionPac® are registered trademarks or trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. E. I. du Pont Canada Company is a licensee. Member of CropLife Canada. © Copyright 2015 DuPont Canada. All rights reserved.
Big Tractor Parts, Inc.
1059 PPAC Classified 2015 AB2.indd 47
STEIGER TRACTOR SPECIALIST
For custom herbicides as unique as your fields, visit:
1059 PPAC Classified 2015 AB2.indd 41
www.bigtractorparts.com
As with all DuPont crop protection products, read and follow label instructions carefully. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPontTM and PrecisionPac® are registered trademarks or trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. E. I. du Pont Canada Company is a licensee. Member of CropLife Canada. © Copyright 2015 DuPont Canada. All rights reserved.
www.penta.ca
1-800-587-4711
Catch process & transport your newborn calves all w/the safety of your Quad Roper calf catcher. www.calfcatcher.ca (780)688-2496 15-02-19 5:37 PM
LIVESTOCK Cattle – Red Angus
precisionpac.ca
SEARCH
Search news. Read stories. Find insight.
Stretch your advertising dollars! Place an ad in the
LIVESTOCK
• Sprayed foam insulation • Ideal for shops, barns or homes • Healthier, Quieter, More Energy Efficient®
As with all DuPont crop protection products, read and follow label instructions carefully. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPontTM and PrecisionPac® are registered trademarks or trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. E. I. du Pont Canada Company is a licensee. Member of CropLife Canada. © Copyright 2015 DuPont Canada. All rights reserved.
As with all DuPont crop protection products, read and follow classifieds. Our friendly staff is waiting for your call. label instructions carefully. 1-800-665-1362. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPontTM and PrecisionPac® are registered 15-02-19 5:37 PM trademarks or trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. 1059 PPAC Classified 2015 AB2.indd 39 E. I. du Pont Canada Company is a licensee. Member of CropLife Canada. CALF CATCHER © Copyright 2015 DuPont Canada. All rights reserved.
1059 PPAC Classified 2015 AB2.indd 10
RED OR GREEN 1. 10-25% savings on new replacement parts for your Steiger drive train. 2. We rebuild axles, transmissions herbicides & AIR CONDITIONING and dropboxes with ONE YEAR 1059 PPACHEAT Classified 2015 AB2.indd 3 15-02-19 5:37 PM For custom WARRANTY. herbicides as 3. 50% savings on used parts. The Icynene Insulation
1-800-982-1769
precisionpac.ca
precisionpac.ca
Agro Plus
System®
Waskatenau - 780-358-2720
Provost - 780-753-3150
15-02-19 5:37 PM
Lethbridge - 403-327-7070
Richardson Pioneer
Andrukow Group Solutions Inc.
As with all DuPont crop protection products, read and follow label instructions carefully. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPontTM and PrecisionPac® are registered trademarks or trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. E. I. du Pont Canada Company is a licensee. Member of CropLife Canada. © Copyright 2015 DuPont Canada. All rights reserved.
herbicides
15-02-19 5:37 PM
Geared For The Future
Network
For custom herbicides as unique as your fields, visit:
Richardson Pioneer
Grande Prairie - 780-532-1281
For custom herbicides as unique as your fields, visit:
REGISTERED RED ANGUS BULLS Quiet, Easy Calving, Low to Moderate Birth Weights, Good Growth, E.P.D’s available Guaranteed Breeders (Vet Checked & Semen Tested). Excellent Bulls for Heifers or Cows. Cleveley Cattle Company (780)689-2754.
herbicides
LIVESTOCK Cattle – Hereford
unique as your fields, visit:
HEREFORD BULLS, YEARLINGS & two year olds, dehorned, & polled, excellent quality, low birth weights suitable for heifers, catalogue online at couleecrest.ca Coulee Crest Herefords, Bowden, AB. (403)227-2259 or (403)588-6160.
Crop Production Services Inc. Delia - 403-364-3735
For custom herbicides as unique as your fields, visit: Crop Production Services Inc.
Westlock - 780-349-4525
precisionpac.ca
precisionpac.ca
As with all DuPont crop protection products, read and follow label instructions carefully. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPontTM and PrecisionPac® are registered trademarks or trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. E. I. du Pont Canada Company is a licensee. Member of CropLife Canada. © Copyright 2015 DuPont Canada. All rights reserved.
As with all DuPont crop protection products, read and follow label instructions carefully. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPontTM and PrecisionPac® are registered trademarks or trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. E. I. du Pont Canada Company is a licensee. Member of CropLife Canada. © Copyright 2015 DuPont Canada. All rights reserved.
1059 PPAC Classified 2015 AB2.indd 16
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47
ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 16, 2015
SEED/FEED/GRAIN Feed Grain
SEED/ FEED/GRAIN Feed Grain
TRAILERS Trailers Miscellaneous
SEED/ FEED/GRAIN Grain Wanted
BUYING:
FEED OATS
• Mildew • Damaged
• Wild Oats • Offgrade
Network
For custom herbicides as unique as your fields, visit:
precisionpac.ca As with all DuPont crop protection products, read and follow label instructions carefully. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPontTM and PrecisionPac® are registered trademarks or trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. E. I. du Pont Canada Company is a licensee. Member of CropLife Canada. © Copyright 2015 DuPont Canada. All rights reserved.
SEED/ FEED/GRAIN Grain Wanted 1059 PPAC Classified 2015 AB2.indd 46 15-02-19 96%
CERTIFIED CDC PLENTIFUL, new HRS, germ, 0 fusarium graminaerum. AC Enchant, VB, new CPS red, AC Conquer, VB, midge tolerant, high germination, 0 fusarium graminaerum. AC Andrew, soft white wheat, 99% germ, 0 fusarium graminaerum. Phone:(306)843-2934. www.herle.ca
5:37 PM
BUYING HEATED/DAMAGED PEAS, FLAX & GRAIN “On Farm Pickup” Westcan Feed & Grain 1-877-250-5252
BOW VALLEY TRADING
precisionpac.ca As with all DuPont crop protection products, read and follow label instructions carefully. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPontTM and PrecisionPac® are registered trademarks or trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. E. I. du Pont Canada Company is a licensee. Member of CropLife Canada. © Copyright 2015 DuPont Canada. All rights reserved.
Mossleigh - 403-534-3961
precisionpac.ca
TRAVEL
1059 PPAC Classified 2015 AB2.indd 17
Stretch your advertising dollars! Place an ad in the classifieds. Our friendly staff is waiting for your call. 1-800-665-1362. LTD.1059 PPAC Classified 2015 AB2.indd 52 15-02-19 5:37 PM
herbicides
precisionpac.ca
For custom herbicides as unique as your fields, visit:
As with all DuPont crop protection products, read and follow label instructions carefully. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPontTM and PrecisionPac® are registered trademarks or trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. E. I. du Pont Canada Company is a licensee. Member of CropLife Canada. © Copyright 2015 DuPont Canada. All rights reserved.
SEWING MACHINES
15-02-19 5:37 PM
Wheat, Barley, Oats, Peas, etc. Green or Heated Canola/Flax
Richardson Pioneer Vulcan - 403-485-6696
1059 PPAC Classified 2015 AB2.indd 37
15-02-19 5:37 PM
SEED/ FEED/GRAIN Feed Grain
Andrukow Group Solutions Inc.
Paradise Valley - 780-745-2290
precisionpac.ca
BUYING ALL TYPES OF feed grain. Also have market for light offgrade or heated, picked up on the farm. Eisses Grain Marketing 1-888-882-7803, Lacombe. FEED GRAIN WANTED! ALSO buying; Light, tough, or offgrade grains. “On Farm Pickup” Westcan Feed & Grain 1-877-250-5252
As with all DuPont crop protection products, read and follow label instructions carefully. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPontTM and PrecisionPac® are registered trademarks or trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. E. I. du Pont Canada Company is a licensee. Member of CropLife Canada. © Copyright 2015 DuPont Canada. All rights reserved.
Provost - 780-753-2355
For custom herbicides as unique as your fields, visit:
Buy and Sell anything you need through the
Foremost - 403-867-2436
Classifieds
Hit our readers where it counts… in the classifieds. Place your ad in the Alberta Farmer Express classifed section. 1-800-665-1362. 1059 PPAC Classified 2015 AB2.indd 36 15-02-19 5:37 PM
As with all DuPont crop protection products, read and follow label instructions carefully. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPontTM and PrecisionPac® are registered trademarks or trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. E. I. du Pont Canada Company is a licensee. Member of CropLife Canada. © Copyright 2015 DuPont Canada. All rights reserved.
1059 PPAC Classified 2015 AB2.indd 4
15-02-19 5:37 PM
For custom herbicides as unique as your fields, visit:
Where the stories15-02-19 go. 5:37 PM
1059 PPAC Classified 2015 AB2.indd 2
Network
Andrukow Group Solutions Inc. Amisk - 780-856-3666
1-877-250-5252
precisionpac.ca
As with all DuPont crop protection products, read and follow label instructions carefully. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPontTM and PrecisionPac® are registered trademarks or trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. E. I. du Pont Canada Company is a licensee. Member of CropLife Canada. © Copyright 2015 DuPont Canada. All rights reserved.
herbicides
“ON FARM PICK UP”
Andrukow Group Solutions Inc.
TRAILERS
Advertise with AFe Classifieds Place your ad today call
Search news. Read stories. Find insight.
As with all DuPont crop protection products, read and follow label instructions carefully. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPontTM and PrecisionPac® are registered trademarks or trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. E. I. du Pont Canada Company is a licensee. Member of CropLife Canada. © Copyright 2015 DuPont Canada. All rights reserved.
TRAILERS Trailers Miscellaneous
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MARCH 16, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA
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®™ Trademarks of AIR MILES International Trading B.V. Used under license by LoyaltyOne, Co. and Arysta LifeScience Canada, Inc. Always read and follow label directions. EVEREST and the EVEREST 2.0 logo are registered trademarks of Arysta LifeScience North America, LLC. “Flush after flush” is a trademark of Arysta LifeScience North America, LLC. Arysta LifeScience and the Arysta LifeScience logo are registered trademarks of Arysta LifeScience Corporation. ©2015 Arysta LifeScience North America, LLC. ESTC-268
49
ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 16, 2015
‘Desperate’ times in many countries
An unexpected downside
The Food and Agriculture Organization has launched an emergency appeal for US$697 million to help 30 million people in 31 crisis-hit countries. Somalia, Syria and countries in Africa’s Sahel region of Africa require major assistance, said emergency aid official Dominique Burgeon. The largest amount, $118 million, is for Somalia, where people are “on the edge” and even a small drought could push them in a “desperate” situation, Burgeon said. The request is aimed primarily at helping farmers and people living in rural areas in regions hit by conflicts or natural disasters. — Thomson Reuters Foundation
Expanding farmland in East Africa may be increasing the risk of disease epidemics, as rodents crawling with plague-carrying fleas are drawn to the harvested food. In northern Tanzania, croplands have expanded by 70 per cent over the last few decades and the number of plaguecarrying rodents has nearly doubled, says a new study. “We found that introducing maize production in natural areas appears to create a perfect storm for plague transmission,” said Hillary Young, a University of California professor. Part of the problem is that farmers typically store corn next to or inside their homes. — Thomson Reuters Foundation
Can conservation agriculture feed HEARTLAND Africa’s hungry while saving its soils? Adoption rates are slow, but it may be the continent’s best — and last — hope By Laura Rance Manitoba Co-operator Editor / Choma, Zambia
I
t was the end of a very long day. We had travelled to remote areas on bad roads, walked barefoot across a flooding creek and hiked nearly an hour both ways to reach one of the three farmers we were scheduled to visit. We were on the trail of conservation agriculture success stories, and the results we’d seen on this particular day were discouraging. Farmers in this area are clearly struggling with the system. The only consolation was that some of the conventionally farmed fields looked worse. The head of the local conservation support group insisted we look at one more field before we tried to beat the sunset back to town. This was the man who had guided us all day, helped me stay upright wading the waist-high river, fed us a home-cooked meal of nsima (cornmeal), okra and eggs poached in tomato sauce, and who gave us a live chicken as a parting gift. Who could say no? He led us to his field of groundnuts (peanuts). Far from the weed-infested patches we’d looked at earlier, this field was virtually weed free. It actually looked pretty good. There was just one problem. It had clearly been plowed, even though the farmer insisted otherwise. Chris Woodring, a researcher who has been documenting the experiences of smallholder farmers practising conservation agriculture in Africa, wasn’t fooled. But neither was he critical. “It always comes back to the weeds,” he said.
Overhyped?
Woodring has been monitoring the progression of reduced-tillage agriculture across Africa for the past seven years, and has conducted detailed interviews with 50 smallholder farmers in five African countries. Smallholder farmers produce 80 per cent of the food consumed in Africa, and those who support conservation agriculture believe it offers the best opportunity to stave off a looming environmental and human catastrophe in Africa. There are literally thousands of projects on the continent promoting some form of conservation agriculture, many sponsored by churchbased NGOs, but also by renowned research organizations and, increasingly, by national governments, which view it as a key strategy for adapting to climate change. But in a 2009 study subtitled “The heretic’s view,” four U.S.-based researchers challenged the notion conservation agriculture is a panacea for the problems of poor agricultural productivity and soil degradation in sub-Saharan Africa. They argued evidence is lacking, and contradictory, and the theory is based on the experience in the Americas, “where the effects of
Zambian farmer Wilfred Hamakumba and his wife Irene, have embraced herbicides as part of their conservation agriculture management. Over the past several years, the farm’s yields have more than doubled, their crops are more diversified and their farm has expanded in size. Irene is particularly pleased with their spraying program, saying it takes a lot less labour than weeding. Photos: Laura Rance tillage were replaced by heavy dependence on herbicides and fertilizers.” They cite lower yields, increased labour — especially for women — when herbicides are not used, and a lack of mulch because farmers prefer to feed it to livestock. Controversial research published in the journal Nature in 2014 concluded that simply eliminating tillage from these systems might further reduce yields. These researchers concluded the only way conservation agriculture works is when it is part of an integrated system that includes crop rotation and mulches that retain water, suppress weeds and improve soil quality. They also pointed out that some promised benefits such as increased fertility and weed control take years before they become noticeable.
Moist versus dry climates
The ensuing headlines were all about their finding of a six to nine per cent reduction in yields when the system is implemented in a moist climate. Less well publicized were their findings that no till “performed significantly better than conventional tillage” in dry climates, such as in sub-Saharan Africa. In January, the Journal of Sustainable Development published an article documenting high abandonment of conservation agriculture once NGO support is withdrawn, although it noted persistent adoption was more prevalent among the poor. The jibes with what Woodring found during his five-country tour and interviews with smallholder farmers. “It is rising significantly, maybe not exponentially, but I think it is definitely on the rise in every country that I have visited,” he said.
Resource-poor farmers have a hard time supplying fertility and weed control to their conservation agriculture plots. Some plant around old termite hills (the treed mound in this photo) which are a natural source of fertilizer.
He found that it undeniably helps farmers who have been able to implement the combination of minimum tillage, crop rotation and use both organic and inorganic fertilizers.
Weed challenges
However, weed control is the limiting factor for farmers trying to achieve conservation agriculture on a commercial scale. The manual work involved in hoeing and mulching limits the area a family can manage. As in North America, pesticides offer a less labour-intensive alternative to hand weeding, which makes them exceedingly popular with women, who do most of the weeding. But many smallholders can’t afford to buy pesticides and if they do, they often don’t know how to use them safely. We watched as a young woman wearing no protection measured out the insect killer cypermethrin from a bottle of concentrate into a backpack sprayer. When she began spraying a field of cowpeas, most of her skin was exposed. How well these products work depends on whether it rains too much or too little, too soon or too late. Farmers can lose their investment — and their crop. That spells hunger. “The larger the scale they are adopting (pesticides), the bigger the risk is, because they have less chance of controlling those same weeds with physical means,” Woodring said. Small farmers are also widely dispersed in remote communities that are difficult for extension support workers to reach. For Woodring the issue isn’t whether conservation agriculture is the right approach, it is how best to make it happen. Africa’s soils are widely acknowledged as
Researcher Chris Woodring has been listening to what farmers in Africa say about conservation agriculture. entering a state of crisis as growing population pressure results in more farmers trying to intensively farm increasingly smaller parcels. “The more we work the soil conventionally, the worse our soils will become, the less productive they become and at the same time you can see the population explosion continuing,” said Woodring. “The soil loss under conventional agriculture is massive. There is between 30 tonnes to 60 tonnes lost per hectare per year in typical situations around the world.” Under conservation agriculture that loss is reduced to less than two tonnes per hectare. “So transition to CA is the only way forward that I’ve seen on the ground that really makes such a huge difference,” Woodring said. Manitoba Co-operator editor Laura Rance is on secondment to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank to write about agriculture and development in Africa. laura@fbcpublishing.com
50
MARCH 16, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA
Quality issues hitting Prairie wheat growers in the pocketbook Industry officials say Canadian wheat selling at a discount in some Asian markets, and hurting in sales in Italy By Allan Dawson staff / banff
C
anadian bread-making wheat — once considered the world’s best — is selling at a discount to American and Australian wheat, according to some southeast Asian customers. Grain transportation delays are partly to blame for weaker Canadian wheat prices, “but we definitely heard (during a recent trade mission) from particular buyers that CWRS quality and consistency has lacked over the last number of years,” Daryl Beswitherick, the Canadian Grain Commission’s program manager for quality control, said at the Prairie Recommending Committee for Wheat, Rye and Triticale’s recent annual meeting here. “It was up to $60 a tonne under DNS (U.S. Dark Northern Spring),” Beswitherick said later in an interview. “My understanding was at one time (CWRS was) about $10 above DNS, so it’s a pretty big (difference).” Thanks to a shift in varieties, Canadian wheat quality has improved since 2013 when some customers complained about low gluten strength in the Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) class. And the grain commission says its new proposal to overhaul Canada’s wheat class system will help put CWRS back on top. Nevertheless, there was some soulsearching about Canada’s ability to meet customers’ expectations at the recommending committee meeting. “I know selling CWRS to Italy… has completely gone down because of quality issues in the past number of years,” said Elaine Sopiwynk, the Canadian International Grains Institute’s director of science and innovation, although she added durum sales there remain strong. Bakers value consistent gluten strength because it produces
Manitoba seed grower Eric McLean says more port storage could help improve the consistency of western Canadian wheat, allowing surpluses of good- and bad-quality wheat to be blended out in future years. photos: allan dawson
Speakers include:
just 22 per cent last year. Acres are expected to decline again this year. “You see those acres are going down and acres of other varieties with stronger gluten strength going up so it fixes the problem a bit,” Beswitherick said. Still, Harry Sapirstein, a cereal chemist at the University of Manitoba, is concerned. “I see it as a big challenge,” he said. Despite the introduction of tighter class specifications, there’s still variability because of different growing conditions across the West. “I think it’s also a bit of a misnomer that we can deliver a very, very consistent ingredient to these guys all over the world when it’s grown from Steinbach to High River,” said Peter Entz, Richardson International’s assistant vice-president of seed and traits. “We’re always going to have to deal with a range of product. It’s a matter of narrowing it down a bit so it’s acceptable.” Trade missions give buyers a heads-up so they adjust, he added. “But I think to say that we consistently grow a type of product across the whole country, I think is really not achievable, but we can get better at it.”
• Robyne Bowness, Pulse Research Scientist (Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development)
Consistency factors
uniform loaves without adjusting equipment.
Variety balance improved
“Even with all the downgrading factors we had, this year’s crop gluten strength was better than 2013 and 2012,” adding Beswitherick. That’s largely because farmers are growing less Harvest, Lillian and Unity varieties, which have gluten strength near the bottom of what’s allowed in the CWRS class, she added. Those varieties accounted for a third of Western Canada’s wheat acres in 2012, but
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Did Western Canada ever produce consistent-quality wheat, or was it a market-promotion-fuelled myth? “We were probably a little better at it at one time,” Entz said in an interview. But things have changed. Years ago one wheat — AC Barrie — accounted for nearly half of the West’s production. “So that in itself made for consistency right off the hop,” he said. Smaller farms, more and smaller elevators and short trains from
“We have a great brand in Canada and let’s not screw it up. Let’s continue to stand behind that brand.” Peter Entz
Randy Dennis, the Canadian Grain Commission’s chief grain inspector, says consistent Canadian wheat quality is not something relegated to a bygone era. branch lines meant more wheat mixing at export terminals and greater homogeneity. The Canadian Wheat Board played a role, pulling grain from various parts of the West and blending at port, said Glenn Tait, a director with the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission. It saw the big picture, but now companies work independently, he said. More grain storage, preferably at port, might be part of the solution, Manitoba seed grower Eric McLean told the meeting. “Storage allows us to keep some good (wheat) and sell some bad every year to make sure we never get caught with too much bad and too much good,” he said. “We’re giving the good away every year and… take a $100-a-tonne hit every year like we do now.” Some predicted Canadian wheat quality would decline with the removal of the wheat board’s monopoly, but complaints about gluten strength predate the board’s demise. The grain commission says it’s steadfast in its commitment to quality.
“It’s our intent and responsibility and the industry’s responsibility to have a consistent product going to the end-users,” said chief grain inspector Randy Dennis, adding consistency is not just for a bygone era. “There are concerns, absolutely, but (customers) know what Canada has produced in the past. They know what the intent is — to be able to deliver the product that they are expecting in a timely manner.” Canada has a good wheat quality control system, Entz said, including assessing new wheats before registration. Some see the system as a roadblock to innovation. But the gluten strength complaints demonstrate problems can still occur despite a lot of oversight. What would happen if there was none? “Let’s not throw out the baby with the bathwater,” Entz said. “Can we make it better? Absolutely, but we do need something. Second to that, we have a sterling reputation. We have a great brand in Canada and let’s not screw it up.” For more about gluten strength in Canadian wheat, visit www. albertafarmexpress.ca and type ‘gluten story’ in the search box. allan@fbcpublishing.com
51
ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 16, 2015
Conservation deal protects Mattheis Ranch Deal will see 12,000-acre ranch near Duchess permanently protected and $3.8 million used to fund ongoing research staff
T
he University of Alberta and Western Sky Land Trust have signed one of the largest-ever conservation easement agreements in the province. The deal not only guarantees the university’s 12,000-acre Rangeland Research Institute-Mattheis Ranch will be conserved forever, but also creates a $3.8-million research fund. Western Sky Land Trust is providing the money, but the agreement was made possible with funding from Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development’s land trust grant program, the university said in a press release. “I’m pleased that our government can support the work being undertaken by the University of Alberta and Western Sky Land Trust to ensure that the Mattheis Ranch remains an important research centre for generations to come,” said Kyle Fawcett, the environment and sustainable resource minister. The endowment funding will be used to promote rangeland research in critical areas not currently being addressed; support the training of rangeland management and conservation personnel; maintain databases needed by researchers; and fund the management of the ranch. “I’m pleased with the guarantee the conservation easement provides with respect to conserving the land forever,” said Edwin Mattheis, who, along with his wife Ruth, donated the 12,000-acre ranch near Duchess to the university in 2010
More than 100 bird species have been identified on the Rangeland Research Institute-Mattheis Ranch, including the long-billed curlew, a nationally designated Species of Special Concern that breeds in Alberta’s grasslands. PhD student Gisela Stotz and assistant Matthew Trotter check the status of a field experiment at the Rangeland Research Institute-Mattheis Ranch, evaluating the competitive ability of smooth brome, a common forage species that invades native grasslands throughout the province. Photos: University of Alberta
after owning and operating it for more than three decades. The ranch and surrounding landscape are primarily native grasslands, but also include a river valley, streams, wetlands, vegetated sand dunes, and shrubs. There are also irrigation ditches, irrigated fields, and water control structures. Several high-voltage transmission lines and oil and gas infrastructure are present including 134 active well leases, compressor stations, pipelines and access roads. There are more than 30 species on the ranch
listed as endangered or species at risk and about 1,000 acres of wetlands. There are currently 20 research projects underway, including work on grazing systems, carbon sequestration, forages, and management of water resources and wildlife. Western Sky Land Trust was created in 2005 at the request of Calgary region landowners and members of the public concerned about the loss of treasured landscapes in southern Alberta.
Native Prairie plants such as sand grass and wild rose abound on the sandy slopes along Matzhiwin Creek at the south end of the Mattheis Research Ranch.
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2012 Case IH Puma 140 Tractor, 4WD, 1000hrs, 140HP, Good cond., 4 hydraulics, 3 point
2011 New Holland T7050 Tractor, 3100hrs, 165HP, Good cond., auto command, loader, grapple, 3 point, 4 hydraulics
2013 Degelman M34 Manure Spreader, Good cond.,
$235,000
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0% 30 MON USED COMBINES
NH CR9070, 2011,525 sep hrs, gps . . . . . . . . . . . . . $235,000 NH CR9070, 2011,550 sep hrs, gps . . . . . . . . . . . . $235,000 NH CR8090,2013,400sep,dsp,gps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $335,000 NH CR9090 Elevation,750sep, gps, 2012 . . . . . . . . $350,000 NH CR9060, 2008,940 sep hrs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $175,000 NH CR960, 2005,1130 sep hrs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $129,000 NH TR98, 1999,1400sep hrs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $49,000 JD 7720, 1988, 3400hrs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $14,500 NH 840CD-30 like new,cross auger . . . . . . . . . . . . . $69,500 NH 840CD-30, header height . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $59,500 Macdon 973-36’ header,pur,trspt, cross auger (2) . . $39,500 HoneyBee sp36 hdr,CIH adptr,2011,4 in stock . . . . . $58,000 NH 971-30’,header,batt reel, trspt (2) TR-TX adptr $9,500 JD 230-30 auger header . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4,500
TRACTORS
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NH T9.505HD, 2013, 200hrs, suspended cab, PTO, luxury, 3point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SOLD $295,000
NH T9.450HD ,2013,1000PTO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $265,000 NH TJ430,2007,PS,mega flow,GPS,710R42 duals, 1750hrs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $179,500 CIH Puma 140,1000hrs,PS,2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $110,000 CIH 9270,6300hrs,PS,20.8R42 duals . . . . . . . . . . . . . $65,000 NH Powerstar T4.75,2014,20hrs,ldr,grpl,warranty . . $55,000 NH 8160, loader,grpl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $45,000 NH T7050,PS,3900hrs,ldr,grpl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $98,500 NH T7050,PS,3100hrs,CVT,ldr,grpl. . . . . . . . . . . . . . $125,000 NH T7050,PS,3point,3300hrs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $98,500 NH T7.235,2013.PS,ldr,grpl,4 hyd . . . . . . . . . . . . . .coming in NH 846 6200hrs,12 spdd std,14’ blade. . . . . . . . . . . $49,500 NH 9030, 7500hrs, ldr/grpl, EE PTO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $39,500 Steiger Panther 1000, PS, 14’ blade . . . . . . . . . . . . . $58,500
SWATHERS
Premier 2952i-30’ 1020hrs,06. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $72,500 Westward M155-30’,AS,2 roto shears, canola roller$135,000 Westward 7000-25’ 1992 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $19,500 Heston 8100-25’,pur,2 shears2125hrs . . . . . . . . . . . $24,500 Prairie Star 4620-25’ PTO swather, kear shear . . . . . . $9,500
Westward 3020-25’ pto swather,pur . . . . . . . . . . . . . $9,500 Westward 3020-25’ pto swather,pur . . . . . . . . . . . . . $7,500 Swath Rollers available 8” steel & polly . . . . . . . . . . . $1,200
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Exmark LZE 691 52” zero tu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $7,900 NH MZ19H 52” dec . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,950 Grasshopper T616-48” front mower, powerfold . . . . . $7,900
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FlexiCoil 5000-39’,9”,4” rbr, 3450tbhnd cart . . . . . . $59,000 Bourgault 7200-84’ heavy harrow, hyd tine . . SOLD $43,500 Bourgault 7200-72’ heavy harrow, hyd tines . . . . . . $26,500
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FlesiCoil S67-90’,suspended boom,scrns. . . . . . . . . $24,500 FlexiCoil S65XL,100’, screens, markers, SP655 monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $9,500
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NH BR7090 auto wrap. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $18,500
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693744
2013 New Holland BR7090 Round Baler, 8650hrs, Good cond., Specialty crop, net/ twine, wide pickup
1994 Case IH 9270 Tractor - 4WD, 6250hrs, Fair cond., power shift
$29,500
$65,000
NH 1475 16’ mower conditoiner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $12,500 Jiffy 1105 high dump . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $19,500 Jiffy 600 high dump . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,500 Haybuster 2650 bale processor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $9,900 Artex 1050 high dump . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $16,500 JF Stoll 1360 for age harvestor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $49,500 Degelman M34 manure Spreader (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . $85,000
AUGERS
Sakundiak HD8x1600 24hp,mover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $6,900 Sakundiak HD8x46,29HP efi,mover,clutch . . . . . . . . . $9,500 Sakundiak HD10x140038hp, mover,clutch lights . . . $13.900 Sakundiak HD10x1200,31hp,mover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $9,500 Sakundiak HD8x1400,24hp,mover,clutch . . . . . . . . . . $5,900 Sakundiak HD10x1200,31hp,mover . . . . . . . . . SOLD $9,300 Sakundiak HD8x1600,mover,hyd drive . . . . . . . . . . . . $4,900 Westfield MK 130x71,low pro hopper . . . . . . . . . . . . $7,500 Westfield MK130x71 low pro hopper . . . . . . . . . . . . $14,500 Westfield TR100x51 hydraulic swing . . . . . . . . SOLD $2,500 Farmking 8x51xhyd swing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . offers Brandt 5000 grain vac . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $12,900
Linden Agri-Centre Ltd.
(403)546-3814
www.lindenag.com
(403)263-4688
Sales Manager - Ken Toews 888-8109 (cell) 546-2634 (res) • Ian Anhorn 888-8121 (cell) 631-2260 (res) • Kevin Helmer 373-5554 • Andy Nelson 588-4355
52
MARCH 16, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA
219,000
$
25,500
$
‘10 NEW HOLLAND P2070
‘90 CASE 2300
70’12” SPACING, TOW BETWEEN, DBL SHOOT W/FULL BLOCKAGE,VARIABLE RATE P1060 CART TOW BETWEEN
28’ 12” SPACING 180BU CART ,FARMLAND DS OPENNERS CONCORD
115,000
65,500
$
$
‘05 FLEXICOIL 5000
400,000
$
92,500
$
‘01 MR MAXIM II
45’ DBL SHOOT, 10” SPACING, DUTCH 3 1/2 OPENERS W/CARBIDE, 4” RUBBER PACK-ERS, HARROW CLOSERS, DUAL CASTERS
TOW BEHIND 50’, 4-1/2 STEEL PACKERS, NO OPENERS, 7300 3-COMPARTMENT TANK
49,500
$
‘05 JOHN DEERE 1820
‘01 CONCORD 4012
53’, 10”SPACING, TBH, DOUBLE SHOOT, RUBBER PACKERS, 1910 CART
COMES WITH ADX 3360 CART
71,000
126,000
$
$
‘13 NEW HOLLAND T9.560
‘09 NEW HOLLAND T6080
AU-TOGUIDE 372HP/XP,16F/2R SPEED POW-ERSHIFT6 REMOTE DUAL IF800/70R38179 R1W MI, COLD WEATHER PACKLUXARY CAB ,FRONT AND REAR HID LIGHTS,BALLAST PACK, 398 HRS
GRID HEATER,110 VOLT COLD WEATHER PACK,DLX AIR SUSP W/ HTD,FPS,BUDDY SEAT,540/100 REV SHAFT PTO,2X TELE/HEATED MIRRORS
75,000
$
NOW HIRING!!!
If you are interested in a career in the AG industry, we have openings! Submit your resume to reception@hilinecnh.com
‘09 NEW HOLLAND TV6070 84LB GRAPPLE, FENDERS, REVERSING ENGINE FAN, ENGINE AND TRANS HEATERS, HYD.PUMP STD, WHEEL WEIGHTS 2X1500 LBS, NO ENG PTO
22,500
$
‘14 HIGHLINE BALE PRO ELECTRIC HYDRAULIC
13,500
$
‘08 HIGHLINE 8100
ELECTRIC OVER HYDRAULIC, HYDRAULIC DEFLECTOR, LEFT HAND DISCHARGE
‘08 NEW HOLLAND T7030 710 MICHELIN TIRES, LOADER, MFD, CAB
32,700
$
‘13 NEW HOLLAND T4.75 293 HOURS POWER SHUTTLE, 3 POINT HITCH, MFD, DRAFT CON-TROL, 2 HYDRAULICS
26,000
$
3,700
‘13 HIGHLINE BALE PRO
‘07 BRANDT BALE COMMAND
$
DEMO DEAL WITH CHOPPER
EXTRA 1000 RPM PTO ,EXTRA 1000RPM BELTS
4723 - 39 Ave., Wetaskiwin, AB T9A 2J4
1-888-489-7221 www.hilinecnh.com
53
ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 16, 2015
NEW BUHLER 2450 BALE MOVERS
NEW RB560 SPECIALTY CROP BALERS
NEW BOOMER WORK MASTER TRACTORS
Hauls 14 big round!
New twine wrap 1000 PTO
35 - 47 HP, hydro, loaders and more!
CALL
CALL
IN STOCK
NEW HOLLAND 660
SUPREME 900T
NEW HOLLAND 664
1992, round baler
6,500
$
CASE DC162 DISCBINE
2012, 15.7 hydro swing, 1000 PTO
29,500
$
‘04, Twin Screw
31,500
$
SCHULTE 15’ BATWING MOWER 2008
10,000
$
1998, round baler
HESSTON 956 2004, auto cycle
9,000
$
CASE RBX 562 ROUND BALER Bale command, new belts, rebuilt pick-up
8,000
$
EZEE-ON 1275 4 years old
$
21,500
12,000
$
CASE RBX 562 2005, round baler
11,000
$
QUALITY USED HAYING EQUIP. FIELD READY CASH PRICES SUPREME 900T, 2007 TWIN SCREW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$28,000
1993 NEW HOLLAND 660 ROUND BALER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $7,500
NH BR 780, 2004, EXTRA WIDE P/U, AUTO WRAP . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$11,000
2005 NEW HOLLAND FP230, 29P PICKUP,
CIH 8750 FORAGE HARVESTER, WALKING AXLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .OFFERS
ALWAYS SHEDDED, RECENT WORK ORDERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$13,900
2012 CASE DC162 DISCBINE, 15.7 HYDRO SWING,
2008 NEW HOLLAND 195 SPREADER, UPPER BEATER,
1000 PTO, AS NEW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$29,500
HYDRAULIC APRON CHAIN,HYDRAULIC END GATE . . . . . . . . . . . . .$10,000
5410 - 43 ST. Rimbey AB • Phone: 403.843.3700 • Fax: 403.843.3430
www.rimbeyimplements.ca
Al York
Cell: 403-783-0593 Home: 403-783-5317
nts.ca alyork@rimbeyimpleme
54
MARCH 16, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA
2011 JOHN DEERE 1910T/1910/1870-56’ 430 Bushels VR Tank Tow Between, 350 Bushel VR Tank/ 2 Tank metering, Dbl Shoot, 350 Bushels tow behind cart/56’, 12” Spacing, Dbl Shoot.
CALL FOR PRICING
2011 BOURGAULT 5810-62’ AIR DRILL
9.8” spacing, 2 1/4 steel packers, c/w 2011 Bourgault L6550, 4 tank metering, 591 monitor, Unit 30360A/30367A
225,000
$
2009 BOURGAULT 6550ST AIR SEEDER Dlx Auger, 4TM, Bag Lift, Auxiliary Clutches, 900M, Unit# 30380B
89,900
$
TRI-AG IMPLEMENTS LTD.
Wainwright, AB. (780) 842-4408 • Consort, AB. (403) 577-3899 • St. Paul, AB. (780) 645-4465
USED TILLAGE 1996 Bourgault 8800 40’ Air Seeder mounted packers 30323C . . . . . . . . . . . $13,200 2002 Flexi-Coil 5000 Air Drill 57’, 10’’ space, 4’’ rubber C/W 2002 Flexi-Coil 3450 Air Tank/Cart 30325A/ 30328A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $80,000 Bourgault 2115 II Air Tank/Cart 2 tank 30324G . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,800 2002 Flexi-Coil 2340 Air Tank/Cart vr tank 30289C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $24,890 2008 Bourgault L6350 Air Tank/Cart 3 tank meter, dual fan 30350A . . . . . . . $73,837 1990 Bourgault 2155 Air Tank/Cart Single Shoot 30351B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4,000 2000 Bourgault 5710-40 Drill Single Shoot, 3” Rubber Packers, 40’ 30261C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $35,493 2002 Bourgault 5710-54 Air Drill 9.8” Spacing, 3 1/2” Steel Packers w/mud scrapers, Single Shoot, MRB’s 30313A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $50,000 1998 Bourgault L4350 Air Tank/Cart L4350 Air Tank, 3 Tank Metering, Single Shoot 30363B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $29,512 2011 Bourgault 3310-75 Drill 12” Spacing, Mid Row Shank, Single Shoot, Double Liquid Kits Installed, S/S Run Blockage Monitors 30363A . . . . . . . . $145,000 2010 JD 1835-62’ Air Drill, 10” Spacing, Dbl Sht, MRB’s, 3 1/2 Steel Packers w/Mud Scrappers. C/W 2010 JD 1910 Air Tank 3 Tank 430Bushel 30344B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $135,000 CASH 2009 Bourgault 3310-48’ Air Drill 9.8’’ spacing, MRB’s, redone spring 30355A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $160,000 2010 Degelman 7000-70’ Harrow Heavy 5/8” tines, 22.5-23” Tine Length, Full Hyds 60949A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $41,000 2008 Bourgault 6550ST Air Tank/Cart 3 TM, Hyd Deluxe Auger 30353A. . . . . $95,000 1995 Bourgault 3195 Air Tank/Cart 11897C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $7,920 Flexi-Coil 2320 TBT Air Tank/Cart 7” Auger w/Hopper extension, dual shoots 30255B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $12,000 2009 Bourgault L6350 Air Tank/Cart Double Shoot 30365B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $73,500 2011 Bourgault 5810-72’ Air Drill, MRB III’s Hydraulic, Double Shoot, 3 1/2” Steel Packers w/mud scrapers, 9.8” Spacing, 30384A . . . . . . . . . . . . . $83,000 2011 Bourgault 5810-62 Air Drill 9.8” Spacing, 3 1/2” Steel Packers w/Mud Scrapers, MRB III`s, *Dual Front Casters, HD Trip with 3/4” Carbide Knives, Double Shoot, 30399A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $115,000 2014 Bourgault 3710-60 Disc Drill - 10`Spacing, Leading Tank Configuration, MRB III`s w/Cleaning Wheels, Single Shoot Leading, Liquid Kit, 4.5`Wide Cleaner Wheel, Rear Tow Hitch, 30382A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $225,000 2000 Flexi-Coil 1720 Air Tank/Cart - 2 TANK, SINGLE FAN, 170 BUSHELS, LOAD/UNLOAD AUGER, DIAMOND TREAD TIRES, REBUILT METERING SYSTEM, NEW HOSES, 12183A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10,000
Find us at
www.triag.ca
2000 Flexi-Coil 5000-45’ Air Drill-9” Spacing, 4 1/2” Steel Packers w/Mud Scrapers, Dbl Sht c/w 2000 Flexi-Coil 3450 Air Tank Variable Rate, Dual Fan, Dbl Sht..12190A-12191A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $65,000 2000 Flexi-Coil 5000 Air Drill, 33 FEET, 9” SPACING, 4.5” RUBBER PACKERS, DOUBLE SHOOT, 3” STEALTH PAIRED ROW OPENERS, NEW TOWERS, ALL NEW HOSES, 12024A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $33,600 2001 Flexi-Coil 5000-45’ drill, 12” spacing, 3 1/2” steel packers, c/w 2005 Flexi-coil 4350 tank, Unit 11980A/30307A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $80,000 Cash 2004 Bourgault 5350 Air Tank, CTM, CRA, Air Seeder Hopper Ext, Dual/Fan/Double Shoot, 28:-26 Rice Lug Tires, 30400A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $39,000
USED COMBINES 2008 New Holland CR9070 Combine Axle Diff Lock 11745A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . $177,000 1994 New Holland TR87 Combine Stone Trap Electronic, Grain Loss Monitor, 971 pick up header 11696C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10,000 Cash Price 1995 New Holland TX66 Combine 971 pick up header, Grain Loss Monitor, Chaff Spreader, Straw Chopper 11492D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25,000 Cash Price 2010 New Holland CR9080 Combine, GPS, Axle Diff Lock, Dual Tires, 837.82 Threshing hours 12036A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $245,000 2011 New Holland CR9070 Combine Axle Diff Lock, AutoGuidance NavII w/GPS, Lighting HID 12060A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $245,000 2009 New Holland CR9070 Combine Mirrors Electric 12061A . . . . . . . . . . . . $220,000 1990 New Holland TR96 Combine 11942D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10,000 Cash Price 1995 New Holland TX66 Combine Straw Chopper 11981B . . . . . . $25,000 Cash Price
USED SPRAYERS 2006 New Holland SP115 Sprayer 110 ft, 1500 US/ 1250 Imp Gallon Tank, Windscreens 11829A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $22,500 2006 New Holland SF115 Sprayer 134ft Boom, Windscreens, Chemical Induction, Wash Wand, Rinse Tank, 3 Boom Valves 11971C . . . . . . $17,778 2003 Apache AS1090 Sprayer/High Clearance Out Back S3 w/ E-drive, 90ft, Raven Controller, Triple Nozzle Bodies, 5 Boom Valves, 1000 Gallon Tank 12087B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $97,500 2011 New Holland SP.240F Sprayer/High Clearance 1000 Gal Stainless Steel Tank, 3” Quick Fill 12150A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $225,000 2013 New Holland SP.240F Sprayer/High Clearance 1200 Gal Stainless Steel, Boom Leveler PowerGuide, Luxury Cab 12162A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $261,792 2012 New Holland SP.240F Sprayer/High Clearance- 1000 Gal Stainless Steel, Fence Line Spray Kit, Rear wheel nozzle w/Fender, Electric Flush & Rinse control, 100-60, 10 Section Control Kit, Ultraglide w/5000 controller, 3” Quick Fill, Amber Rotating, Raven Radar Speed Sensor, 11792A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $253,627
55
ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 16, 2015
S e r v i c e S i n c e 1933
EBB’S
CLARK PIPKE
MIKE GOTTSELIG
TRAVIS GIEBELHAUS
VEGREVILLE, AB
MILES MACKOW
RANDY REICHEL
PETER D. POLISCHUK
LAMONT, AB
1-877-632-6772 1-855-895-2189 TRACTORS
COMBINES 0% FINANCING FOR 30 MONTHS
NH TR86, 1989, 3893/3003 hrs, as is . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,000 VER NH TX66, 1998, 3160 hrs, chopper, chaff spreader, hopper ext . . . . . . . . . $13,000 LAM JD 8820, 1983, 4015 hrs, 212 pick up, chopper, turbo, dial a speed, chaff spreader, 2 Available . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $16,000 VEG NH TR97, 1994, 2582/1970 hrs, 13’ westward, chopper, hopper cover $34,000 VEG NH TX66, 1997, 3423/2518 hrs, 14’ swathmaster p/u, long auger, chopper, lateral tilt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $40,000 VER NH TX66, 1997, 2700/2058 hrs, 14’ swathmaster p/u, long auger, chopper, lateral tilt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $49,000 LAM NH TR98, 1997, 3500/2500 hrs, stone trap, chaff spreader, chopper, 13’ sw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $55,000 LAM NH TX66, 1999, 3140/2427 hrs, chopper, chaff spreader . . . . . . . . . . . . $55,000 VER JD 9770STS, 2009, 1623/994 hrs, duals, long auger, chopper, GPS . . . . $240,000 VER NH CR960, 2003, 1905/1475 hrs, 14’ swathmaster, 900 tires . . . . . . . . $122,000 LAM NH CR960, 2003, 2191/1612 hrs, singles, chopper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $125,000 VER NH CR960, 2005, 1993/1436 hrs, 14’ SW, 900 singles, dlx cab, dlx chopper, 2 speed rotors, beacons, Y&M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $129,000 VEG NH CR970, 2004, 2047/1135 hrs, swathmaster, dlx chopper, michel cover, inspection done . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $145,000 VER NH CR970, 2004, 1885/1361 hrs, 14’SW, dlx cab, clx chopper, Y&M. . . . $148,000 LAM NH CR970, 2005, 2010/1488 hrs, 76C-14, 900 tires, deluxe chopper, moisture sensor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $148,000 VEG NH CR970, 2005, 1963/1420 hrs, 900 singles, long auger, Y&M, 76C . . . $155,000 VER NH CR970, 2005, 1820/1360 hrs, 14’, rake-up 900 tires . . . . . . . . . . . . $158,000 LAM NH CR9070, 2009, 2280/1820 hrs, 16’SW, 900 singles, dlx chopper, diff lock, long auger, electric mirrors, LCTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $159,000 VEG NH CR9070, 2007, 1490/1105 hrs, 76C-14, Int IV, 900 tires, deluxe chopper, Y&M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $175,000 VEG NH CR9070, 2008, 1306/907 hrs, singles, long auger, Y&M, dlx chopper $212,000 VER NH CR9070, 2011, 904/723 hrs, 16’ swathmaster, dlx chopper, 900 tires, long auger, diff lock, intellisteer ready, Y&M, SCTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $255,000 LAM NH CR9080, 2009, 956/742 hrs, 14’ swathmaster, 900 singles, LCTS, dlx chopper, Michel’s hopper top, diff lock, Calmar spout . . . . . . . . $260,000 VEG NH CR9080, 2009, 1160/822 hrs, 900 singles, long auger, dlx chopper, diff lock, HID lights, GPS ready . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $260,000 VER NH CR9080, 2009, 1353/1035T hrs, 20.8R42 duals, dlx chopper, no diff lock, long auger. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $265,000 VER NH CR9070, 2011, 633/496 hrs, 790CP, singles, diff lock, dlx chopper, electric mirrors, HID, long auger, auto steer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $282,000 LAM NH CR9070, 2011, 490/397 hrs, 16’, 76C, singles, diff lock, dlx chopper, electric mirrors, HID, long auger, auto steer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $282,000 LAM NH CR9070, 2011, 914/618 hrs, duals, GPS, diff lock, HID, Y&M, Michels cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $295,000 VER NH CR8090, 2013, 850/625 hrs, 900 singles, DSP, diff lock, dlx chopper, HID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $305,000 VER NH CR9090, 2011, 950/682 hrs, 14’ swathmaster, dlx chopper, 900 tires, long auger, auto steer, leather. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $305,000 LAM NH CR9080, 2011, 1046/699 hrs, 790CP, 620 duals, full GPS, HID, deluxe chopper, Michel’s covers, diff lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $309,000 VEG
KEVIN MARTIN
MIKE SYMES
COLTON DRAVES
VERMILION, AB
1-888-853-5196
MACDON 4952C, 2003, 2810 hrs, 25’, pick-up reel, swath roller, DK, 500/70R24 front tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $60,000 VEG MACDON 4952C, 2003, 2675 hrs, 25’, pick-up reel, swath roller, SK, 500/70R24 front tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $60,000 VEG MACDON 9352i, 2005, 1684 hrs, 30’, split reel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $65,000 VER MACDON 9352i, 2006, 30ft, SK, gauge wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $72,000 VER NH HW325, 2006, 653/503 hrs, 30’ SK, UII, transport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $72,500 VER MF 9220, 2008, 360 hrs, 30’, SK, UII reel, roto shears, guage wheels . . . . $79,500 VEG MF 9435, 2009, 1340 hrs, 30’, SK, UII Reel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $82,500 VER MF 9430, 2007, 930 hrs, 30’, SK, center delivery, 18.4R26, frt tires, roto shears, electric fore & aft, guage wheels, 5200 header . . . . . . . . . . . . $89,000 VEG MF 9430, 2010, 1200 hrs, 25’, p/u reel, elec F&A, guage wheels, SK . . . . $93,500 VEG MF 9435, 2011, 617 hrs, 25’, p/u reel, topcon GPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $94,500 VER MF 9435, 2010, 320 hrs, 25’, p/u reel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $95,000 VER MACDON M150, 2009, 1343/1003 hrs, 30, sk, pick-up reel, transport, D60 s/n: 187220-09 (7186-2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $109,000 VEG NH H8060, 2013, 320 hrs, 190HP, 2 speed Prairie Special, dlx cab, 600/65R28 tires, HB30 header, DK, DS, EZ pilot, & FM750 . . . . . . . . . . . $135,000 LAM MACDON M205, 2012, 900/695 hrs, 30’, DK, stabilizer wheels . . . . . . . $145,000 VER MACDON M205, 2012, 969/267 hrs, 30’, DK, stabilizer wheels . . . . . . . $145,000 VER
0% FINANCING FOR 36 MONTHS ON 4WD TRACTORS
WHITE 31, 2WD, 31hp, std, 60” Farm King tiller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $6,500 VER NH TC48DA, 2006, 1000 hrs, soft cab, loader, 1 rear remote, std trans $21,500 VER NH T4040, 2013, 20 hrs, 70 PTO HP, 2WD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $35,000 LAM MF 6480, 2004, 4745 hrs, 115 pto, MFWD, 3 remotes, FEL . . . . . . . . . . . $64,000 LAM NH TV145, 2004, 3990 hrs, EE pto, EE hyd, long loader and grapple . . . . . $74,000 LAM NH TV145, 2005, 3906 hrs, long loader with grapple, C.E. Pto and 3 pt $80,000 LAM JD 7330, 2010, 4500 hrs, 125PTO HP, 3 remotes, 3pt hitch, 12’ blade $82,000 LAM VERSATILE 280, 2010, 3580 hrs, FEL, no grapple, LH reverser, P.S., 4 elec remotes, front weights, 710 duals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $120,000 VEG NH TV6070, 2011, 3300 hrs, LL, directional tires, high flow, . . . . . . . . . . $130,000 VER NH T7.185, 2012, 1193 hrs, 115 pto hp, MFWD, CVT, 20.8, 850TL loader and grapple. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $131,000 LAM NH T7.235, 2011, 3300 hrs, CVT, 20.8R42, 4 electric remote, 860TL, grapple . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $135,000 VER NH T7.210, 2013, 140PTO HP, NEW 855 LOADER AND GRAPPLE . . . . . . $142,000 VEG NH T7.250, 2013, 165PTO HP, no ldr, P.S. sidewinder, 4 remotes, 2 Available . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $142,000 VEG NH T7.250, 2013, 615 hrs, 165PTO HP, 860TL, P.S. sidewinder, 4 remotes, 2 Available. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $158,000 VEG NH T8.330, 2012, 900 hrs, dlx cab, 18 speed, P.S., duals, HID, full GPS, 3 pt hitch, 4 Rems, HD front axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $188,000 LAM VERSATILE 836, 1985, 4225 hrs, 24.5-32 singles, 1000pto . . . . . . . . . . $30,000 VER NH 936, 1986, 7490 hrs, std., 4 remotes, needs tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $32,500 VER JD 8650, 1984, 9453 hrs, 12 Degelman blade, manual, PTO, 20.8 R38 duals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $35,000 VER JD 9430, 2007, 2200 hrs, PS, full weights, GPS, diff lock, PTO . . . . . . . . $225,000 VER NH T9.450HD, 2013, 660 hrs, 800’S, DIFF, GPS, HID, 2 hyd pumps, 6 remotes, LCTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $269,000 LAM JD 9530, 2011, 1700 hrs, PS, 5 remotes, diff lock, HID, GPS full, high flow$285,000 VER
SCOTT WEBB
SEEDING EQUIPMENT
NH CR9090, 2012, 893/686 hrs, 790CP, dlx cab, dlx chopper, full GPS, 900 tires, ASP, elec fold covers, leather seat, HID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $309,000 LAM NH CR8090, 2012, 559/361 hrs, 790CP, 900 tires, dlx chopper, twin pitch rotor, ASP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $315,000 VEG NH CR8090, 2012, 757/542 hrs, DSP, 900 singles, long auger, leather, dlx chopper, GPS ready, HID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $316,000 VER NH CR8090, 2012, 834/595 hrs, duals, diff lock, dlx chopper, HID, leather, DSP w/ kit, GPS complete, incab covers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $328,000 VER NH CR8090, 2013, 452/352 hrs, DSP, duals, covers, HID, leather, deluxe chopper, GPS ready, twin pitch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $366,000 VER NH CR8090, 2014, 306-242 hrs, 790CP, 900 tires, full GPS, DSP, dlx chopper, HID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $385,000 LAM NH CR8090, 2014, 290/236 hrs, 790CP, 900 tires, twin pitch, DSP, diff lock, GPS ready . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $385,000 VEG NH CX860, 2006, 2432/1928 hrs, 76C-14, lateral tilt, blowers . . . . . . . . $133,000 VEG NH CX8080, 2007, 2366/1875 hrs, 76C-14, lateral tilt, blowers, LCTS $153,000 VEG NH CX8080, 2008, 2146/1699 hrs, 76C-14, lateral tilt, blowers, LCTS $173,000 VEG NH CX8080, 2014, 273/203 hrs, No pick-up, full GPS, dlx chopper, HID, cast drum. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $350,000 VEG
HAYING EQUIPMENT
MACDON 920, 1999, hrs, 16’ hay header . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $7,500 VEG MF 220AH, 2004, hrs, 16’ hay header . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $7,500 VEG NH 664, 1996, hrs, autowrap, twine only . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $8,200 LAM MF 220-16, 2001, hrs, 16’ hay header, DK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $8,500 VEG HESSTON 856A, 2000, 7818 hrs, auto cycle, bale shape monitor, pick up wheels, bale ejector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $8,500 VEG NH HS16, 2005, hrs, 16’, DK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $9,000 VEG MACDON 5000, 1997, 16’ pivot, steel rolls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $9,000 VER NH BR780A, 2006, 12000 hrs, twine only, narrow pick-up . . . . . . . . . . . . $13,500 VER HESSTON 1275, 2005, 16’ pivot, steel rolls, clean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $17,000 VER MF 9120, 2010, 16’, S.P. hay header, DK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $17,500 VEG HESSTON 956A, 2004, mesh wrap, autocycle, bale kicker . . . . . . . . . . . . $24,000 LAM NH 1475, 2006, HS16. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $26,500 LAM MACDON R85, 2012, 16’ discbine hdr, fits a M205, 2 Available . . . . . . . . $28,000 VER NH BR7090, 2013, 1300 hrs, twine only, B/C, hyd pick-up . . . . . . . . . . . . $39,000 LAM
SWATHERS
JD 2360, 1992, 25’, SK, P.U reel, guage wheels, diesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $19,000 VEG HESSTON 8100, 1993, 1886 hrs, 21’, DK, UII, pu reel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $19,900 VEG HB WS30, 2006, 30’, DK, HCC reel, transoport, came off of JD 4895. . . . . $21,500 VER MACDON 4930, 1997, 4265 hrs, 972-25’ (2001) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $22,000 VEG MF 220, 1996, 2422 hrs, 22’, SK, DS, UII reel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25,000 VER MF 220, 1998, 2500 hrs, 26’, SK, UII p/u reel, roto shears . . . . . . . . . . . . $33,000 VEG NH HB30, 2012, 30’, DK, UII reel, transport, came off of H8060. . . . . . . . . $39,000 VER MACDON 9300, 1997, 2475 hrs, 30’. SK, guage wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . $42,000 VEG HESSTON 8250S, 2002, 1900 hrs, 30’, SK, DS, rotoshears . . . . . . . . . . . $42,500 VER MACDON D60, 2008, 30’, DK, trip del, transport, split 6 bat reel, poly cutterbar, swather header . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $44,000 LAM MACDON 2940, 2002, 1600 hrs, Non Turbo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $55,000 VEG MACDON 4952i, 2004, 2855 hrs, 25’, pick-up reel, swath roller, SK, 19.5L-24 front tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $60,000 VEG
FC 2320, 1996, TBT, airseeder hopper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $14,500 VEG FC 3450, 1998, TBH, DS, no hitch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $32,000 VEG FC 3450, 2000, TBH, DS, 6 run, VR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $34,000 VEG FC 3450, 2002, VR, DS, 6 run hydraulic auger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $36,000 VER FC 5000, 1992, 45’, 2320TBT, DS, 9”, steel packers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $39,000 VER FC 5000/3450, 1998, 57’, 12”, 3.5” stealth, 4.5” pneumatic, TBH, 340bu, VR, DS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $47,000 LAM JD 1820/1900, 2001, 35’x10”, DS, 4” steel, TBH, 270 bushel tank, VR, 6 run. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $55,000 LAM FC 5000/3450, 2003, 39’, 12”spacing, 3.5” paired row, 4”steel, 3450 TBT cart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $62,000 VER NH P1060, 2011, 430 BU, TBH, VR, DS, no monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $75,000 LAM BOURGAULT 5710/5350, 1999, 40’x9.8”, DS, 4.5” steel, midrow banders, TBH. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $79,000 VEG NH P2050/SC430, 2009/2007, 51’, 9”spacing, 4”stealth, 4” rubber, basic blockage, 430 mech cart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $118,500 VER NH P2050/P1060, 2010, 57’X10”, 4” paired row stealth, 4.5” steel, VR, DS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $167,000 VEG
SPRAYERS
NH S1070, 2010, 120’ wheel boom, 120 gal, screens, foam, no monitor, boom unfold, double nozzles, ind. Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $39,000 VEG NH SF115, 2006, 90’, suspended boom, Raven auto boom, dbl nozzles, auto rate, screens, 1200 Gal tank. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $45,000 VEG NH SP240R, 2011, 715 hrs, 100’, 1000gal poly, fence nozzles, foam marker, NH GPS, hyd wheel adj, induction tank, boom blow out, ultraglide, duals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $219,000 VEG NH SP275F, 2012, 621 hrs, 100’, 1600 gal, Intelliview IV, 5 way nozzles $279,000 VEG NH SP.275F, 2012, 574.8 hrs, 1200gal SS, 120’ boom, Norac, FM750 control, 380 tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $279,000 VER NH SP.365F, 2013, 239 hrs, 1600gal, SS, 120’ boom, intelliview monitor, ultraglide, accuboom, intellisteer, electric flush, 650 tires . . . . . . . $368,500 LAM
AUGERS
SAKUNDIAK HD10-2000, 2001, swing auger, double flighting, spout . . . . . $5,200 VEG BRANDT 8x50, 2011, 28HP, Robin Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $6,700 VEG BRANDT 13X70XL, 2005, mover, winch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $14,000 VER BRANDT 13X70HP, 2007, hyd mover, hyd winch, spout, dual flighting, reverser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $14,900 VEG SAKUNDIAK 12X85, 2010, 12X85, electric mover, reverser . . . . . . . . . . . $19,900 LAM
MISC
Ezee-On 1001, 1988, disc, 8ft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,500 VER Michelin 540/65R34, 2013, 650 hrs. front tires off T8.390 QTY 2, including rims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,500 VEG HAYBUSTER 2650, 2005, bale processor, right side discharge, 3 chain slat conveyor, adjustable slug bars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $9,900 VEG REM 2500, 2005, grain vac. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $15,000 VER REM 2700, 2008, 260 hrs, Grain Vac . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $17,000 VEG REM 2700, 2008, 190 hrs, Grain Vac . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $17,500 VEG Krause 969, 1982, 30’x8” spacing, 20” discs, smooth discs. . . . . . . . . . . $18,000 VEG REM 2700, 2008, 111 hrs, grain vac . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $19,500 LAM FC S85, 1996, 70’, 5/8 tines, manual adjust. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $21,000 VEG REM 2700, 2012, 47 hrs, grain vac, clean up nozzle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $23,000 VEG FC S85, 2002, 70’, hyd tine adj . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $28,000 VEG RITEWAY 8178, 2010, 78’, 5/8” tines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $35,000 LAM
CONSIGNMENT
LEON 770, 770 Blade, one way, off a 2090 Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4,000 VER NH 3114, side discharge manure spreader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $6,300 LAM NH 660, twine only . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $7,500 VER CHALLENGER 75C, 1996, 8410 hrs, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $35,000 VEG CASE STX450Q, 2003, 5282 hrs, quad trac, 36’ tracks . . . . . . . . . . . . . $160,000 VEG
56
MARCH 16, 2015 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA
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