Grainews by Farm Business Communications

Volume 41, Number 17 | NOVEMBER 10, 2015

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PRACTICAL PRODUCTION TIPS FOR THE PRAIRIE FARMER

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SEEDING DECISIONS MADE, NOW WAITING FOR SPRING Farmers planning to hold their rotations steady with no major swings

Marcel van Staveren (left), shown here along with his harvest crew, has already planned out most of his acres for 2016. By Lee Hart

ow that combines are shut down for the season, western Canadian farmers have a pretty good idea of what they will be growing in 2016, say producers contacted for the November Farmer Panel. They all plan to leave a bit of room for last-minute decisions — depending on markets and spring seeding conditions — but for the most part crop types have been

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decided and depending on the crop, seed supplies have been locked in.

MYRON KRAHN CARMAN, MAN. “As soon as we start harvest, we start thinking about what we will be growing on each field next year,” says Myron Krahn, who crops about 3,000 acres of commercial and pedigreed grain, oilseed and grass seed near Carman, Manitoba.

“We don’t make any firm plans in August, but certainly once we get along to late October we have about 80 per cent of our acres planned for the next season. We always leave a little bit of swing room, depending how things look in the spring, but for the most part we have it planned.” For 2016, Krahn will be growing soybeans, grain corn, wheat, oats, canola and hemp on his farm. This past season, 2015, was the first year he’d grown hemp for certified seed. It seemed to

work quite well, so he will keep it in rotation for 2016. While he is producing it for seed, there is a fairly decent market for hemp grain. And as in the case in other Western Canadian regions growing hemp, Manitoba is waiting for a fairly strong-demand market to open for the straw or hemp fibre. As it stands there is a limited demand for the fibre so far. “We’ve included a bit of hemp in our rotation, but otherwise there are no major changes in acres for 2016,” he says. “We try to

In This Issue

keep rotation reasonably consistent from year to year.”

MARCEL VAN Staveren GRIFFIN, SASK. After about a 15-year “sabbatical” Marcel van Staveren plans to bring lentils back into the rotation on his southern Saskatchewan farm. “We’ve had six really wet years in this area which hasn’t been good for lentils, which was

» continued on page 4

Wheat & Chaff .................. 2 Features . ........................... 5 Crop Advisor’s Casebook . 8 Columns ............................ 20 Machinery & Shop............. 43 Cattleman’s Corner .......... 48

New corn varieties

Leeann minogue page 14

Tire technology

scott garvey page 37

FarmLife ............................ 55

/ grainews.ca NOVEMBER 10, 2015

Wheat & Chaff STAMPEDE

BY JERRY PALEN

Leeann Minogue

all is my favourite time of year. Especially in those (recently rare) years when the crop is off in good time and we have a few days to actually enjoy the season. I know many of you celebrated your Thanksgiving weekend either on the combine, or waiting for the rain to stop so you could back on the combine. I’ve been there, and it’s not much fun. If that happened to you, just skip this page and move along to Page 3. As for me and my family, we had a great weekend in Saskatoon.

Farmers in the city

“He only gains weight in certain places — here and the bakery.”

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U.S. subscribers call 1-204-944-5568 or email: subscription@fbcpublishing.com If you have story ideas, call us. You can write the article and we’d pay you, or we can write it. Phone Leeann Minogue at 306-861-2678 Fax to 204-944-5416 Email leeann.minogue@fbcpublishing.com Write to Grainews, 1666 Dublin Ave., Winnipeg, Man. R3H 0H1

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When you renew your subscription to Grainews, be sure to ask for six Please Be Careful, We Love You hearts. Then stick them onto equipment that you, your loved ones and your employees operate. That important message could save an arm, a leg or a life.

I’ve been hearing a lot about the businesses showcasing local food and art on the edge of the city. “Why would I go there?,” I thought to myself “I spend every day on a farm. Surely I’ve seen enough.” I was wrong. A trip out to Saskatoon’s Valley Road was a great way to spend Thanksgiving Sunday — even for farmers. We started off at the Strawberry Ranch. No, not for strawberries in October, but for the great corn maze. I had a good laugh at the city people when we parked. You may not be able to read the photo, but the top arrow points to “car parking”; the second arrow points to “mud.” “I guess they have to label everything for the tourists,” I said. We were skeptical. It would be pretty hard to get lost in most of the corn fields growing near our farm in southeast Saskatchewan. But this corn was thick, and grew up well over our heads. (Of course, my father and husband could hardly enjoy the maze for stopping to say things like, “How the heck did they seed this?” and “I wonder what kind of fertilizer they used?”) We turned from skeptical to apprehensive about 20 minutes in, when we had no idea where we were, and even less idea how to get out. I was starting to worry that I might have to go to the bathroom sooner or later, when we

photos: leeann minogue

The sign on the top of the bale points to “Maze Parking.” The sign resting on the ground points to the left. “Mud.” noticed a few other people seemed to be carrying papers around. That’s when my mom finally came clean. She had a map in her purse. “They gave it to me inside,” she said. “I think I have two.” (That’s what I get for not paying my own way.) Using the map (and maybe sneakily following some other tourists just a little), we finally found our way out of the maze just as a nasty wind was starting to blow in. I was so happy to see the car again, I (you probably saw this coming) walked right through the clearly labeled mud.

Early Christmas gift We also stopped at Tierra del Sol on our Thanksgiving tour. This business was featured in the Home Quarter section of Grainews back in April, so I wanted to see it for myself. At Tierra del Sol, John Coté and Barb Stefanyshyn-Coté grow flowers and fruit for wholesale and retail sale, and have recently opened an on-farm distillery for producing whiskey, gin, vodka and liqueurs. They also host special events at their Valley Road facility. The day we were there, the special event was an advance-polling booth. That seemed like a strange Thanksgiving weekend activity, but anything that makes voting more convenient must be good. And John assured us he didn’t let the advance voters buy any alcohol until after they cast their ballots.

Our timing was perfect. When Saskatoon artist Betty Aasen came out a few days earlier to look over the facilities for the advance poll (she was working the election), she wondered if it might be a place to display her art. The piece in the picture here had barely settled in on the shelf before my husband bought it for me as an early Christmas present. This piece is beautiful, but also unique. Betty Aasen makes her art out of actual wheat plants. She puts the wheat in plaster, then paints it with metallic paint. She finishes the pieces off with some stain. “It’s the real thing. It’s real wheat in there,” Betty told me over the phone. Each piece is unique, she said. “I encourage people to get wheat from their crops so that I can make it personal.” Betty has created original works for retiring farmers turning their last crops into works of art. One piece she designed especially for a farm couple’s 40th anniversary included wheat from the farm wife’s land, entwined with wheat from her husband’s land. “I do lots of custom work,” Betty said. The next time you get a bumper crop with great looking heads, you might want to look into this — sort of like hanging your prize fish up on the wall. For more information about Betty Aasen’s artwork see bettysartwork. ca, or call her at 306-934-3773. † Leeann

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Find us on Twitter: Leeann Minogue is @grainmuse Lisa Guenther is @LtoG Lee Hart is @hartattacks Scott Garvey is @machineryeditor

The metallic paint causes Betty Aasen’s wheat-based art to shine at different places, as the light moves during the day. Up close, you can see that the pieces are made from actual wheat plants.

NOVEMBER 10, 2015 grainews.ca /

Wheat & Chaff Farm safety

What causes a farm accident?

arming isn’t easy work. Farming isn’t for the faint of heart, the easily defeated or the undetermined. A successful farmer is an optimist and a realist at the same time. A farmer knows his land, his equipment, his livestock and his operation inside out. This determination and wisdom often translates into prosperous farms and thriving farming communities. A part of a successful farming operation is understanding what causes farm accidents and how to prevent them. Accidents often seem to “just happen.” Things seem to be going just fine one minute and then catastrophe strikes. An entanglement, a rollover, a crush or an engulfment happens. What contributes to a farm accident (incident)? More importantly what can be done to prevent the incident, or at the very minimum, what can be done to reduce the severity? There can be as many as 20 factors that contribute to a serious incident. Taking shortcuts, over-confidence, lack

of training, poor housekeeping, distractions, physical conditions and ignoring safe-work procedures are all examples of factors that contribute to farm injuries and fatalities. Sometimes these factors can combine to create a particularly dangerous situation. For example, a tired, hungry farmer hooks up a power-take-off that’s missing the guard — the danger factor of an unguarded PTO is compounded by the farmer’s physical state. When we are exposed to a hazard, day after day, we often overlook the risk associated with that hazard. We become numb to the potential danger. We say things to ourselves like “Nobody has been hurt yet,” or “I know it is a problem, so I’ll be okay.” Being complacent about the hazards on the farm is also a major contributing factor to farm incidents. None of this is new information. In fact, some people might even call it common sense. “Of course I know that’s dangerous!” they might say. But inci-

Agronomy tips… from the field

Selecting soybeans for your area

o find out which soybean varieties will grow well on your farm, you first need to get an understanding of the available heat units for your zone. Look at Environment Canada data or climate data from your local weather provider to get the average accumulation of heat units for your area. Next, eliminate varieties that require more heat units than you have available. Then, have a look at performance data and agronomic characteristics. A good source for performance data is the Western Adaptation Trials, where you can get good, unbiased maturity ratings and yield numbers. You should also plan to visit an Adaptation trial site during the season and check out each variety’s

dents keep happening. According to new Canadian Agricultural Injury Reporting data, from 2002–12 there was an average of 85 ag-related deaths per year. It cannot be overstated that farming is a hazardous occupation and there are ways to prevent these deaths. When an incident or even a close-call happens, it’s easy to see in hindsight the details and factors that contributed to it. Sometimes, when there’s been a fatality or injury on the farm we ask “What were they thinking?” or “How did they not see that coming?” Of course it’s easy to say that in retrospect. We have the benefit of being able to see the whole picture. However, there is hope. The smallest of actions or tiny changes can make a difference when it comes to preventing an injury. A ten minute nap, a walk around the tractor checking for hazards, replacing engineering devices like guards, accessing proper training, talking about farm safety, asking questions, taking your time, and using the

You might be from the Prairies if...

Photo contest

GIVE US YOUR BEST SHOT This issue’s winning photo was sent in by Lynn Carter. Lynn says, “This photo was taken from my reading lounge on the deck. I live on a grain farm near Viking, Alta., where these tiny creatures return every year.” Thanks for sharing this Lynn! We’ll send you a cheque for $25. Send your best shot to leeann.minogue@ fbcpublishing.com. Please send only one or two photos at a time and include your name and address, the names of anyone in the photo, where the photo was taken and a bit about what was going on that day. A little write-up about your farm is welcome, too. Please ensure that images are of high resolution (1 MB is preferred), and if the image includes a person, we need to be able to see their face clearly. Leeann

For more information about the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association and farm safety, please visit casa-acsa.ca.

Win this book

By Carson Demmans and Jason

agronomic characteristics. How high off the ground are the bottom pods? How tall are the plants? Do they lodge? Are they more susceptible to white mould? When it comes time to seed, try to grow two or three varieties. You should select a variety that fits comfortably within your area’s heat unit range. This should make up 60 to 80 per cent of your acres. Then, put 20 to 40 per cent of your acres towards an even earlier variety, so that you can spread out your harvest timing. If you’re a bit of a risk taker, consider putting in a few acres of a longer variety that has a higher yield potential. † This agronomy tip was brought to you by Richard Marsh, Technical Development Lead, with Syngenta Canada.

proper equipment for the job are all things that can be done to prevent an incident. There isn’t a one-solution-fitsall approach to farm safety. Farming is dynamic and ever-shifting — so are the hazards and therefore so are the safety approaches. The key to prevention is to see the factors that contribute to an incident and address them before an injury or fatality occur. Using a critical eye, developing a farm safety plan and being proactive are all really great ways to making your farm a safe farm. Sometimes it’s not easy to ask yourself the hard questions about the safety on your farm. Sometimes improving safety on your farm isn’t cheap or even very fun, but it’s integral to your farm operation. A solid farm safety plan that controls the hazards can prevent farm incidents from occurring or at the very least can reduce the impact. †

Harvest at P.A.

You have ever navigated using grain elevators as landmarks.

ark Macfie sent this photo as his entry for our “Win This Book” contest. One lucky winner will receive a copy of Red Combines from Octane Press. (Read more about the book on Page 44 of this issue.) In this photo, Mark Macfie is driving the 8010; Cindy Macfie is driving the 1688. Mark wrote that harvest went well, but dragged on because of the rain. Yields were good. Good luck, Mark! † Leeann Minogue

/ grainews.ca NOVEMBER 10, 2015

Cover Stories Farmer Panel » CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Seeding decisions made, now waiting for spring part of the reason we haven’t grown them for some time,” says van Staveren. “But in 2015 we finally had a dryer year which gave us some hope. If we go through the winter and into the spring and don’t have excessive moisture I plan to commit about 10 per cent of the farm to lentils next year.” The lentil market has also been fairly strong which is another reason to consider growing red lentils in 2015. If there is a bit of moisture next August, red lentils tend to be a bit more forgiving than green lentil varieties. Van Staveren has planned out most of his acres for 2016. “We certainly gave it a lot of thought during harvest, so we have a pretty good idea of what we will be producing,” he says. As he brings back lentils, he will probably cut back some of his canola and soybean acres to make room. He has lined up his InVigor canola seed already for 2016. He has been growing Nexera canola, a specialty canola contracted for Dow AgroSciences, but will be dropping that line next year as he is not impressed with the seed treatment used on the variety. He figures there are improved seed treatments that provide

better flea beetle control. Along with InVigor he will also be growing Clearfield non-GMO canola as well. Another reason van Staveren is increasing pulse crop acres in 2015 is to offset the high cost of phosphate fertilizer, which in his area is running about $800 per tonne. “Pulse crops such as lentils and soybeans do need phosphate but they don’t respond that well to phosphate during the first year of application,” he says. His plan is to grow the pulses on land to make use of soil-available phosphate, until the cost of phosphate is a bit more reasonable. On the cereals side, van Staveren says winter wheat acres remain quite stable. He may increase durum wheat acres in 2016 and possibly cut back or eliminate spring wheat acres. He says while the market isn’t quite as strong as the $10/ bushel price a few years ago, he was able to produce fairly high yielding No. 1 quality durum in 2015 which has encouraged him to grow it again next year. He has lined up most of his canola seed for 2016 and will probably rely on good quality bin run seed for the rest of the crops next year.

LARRY SPRATT MELFORT, SASK. Although he had excellent yields in 2008, after several years of wet growing condi-

tions, Larry Spratt isn’t planning any major changes in rotation for 2016. Wheat, barley, oats and canola will be back in his cropping plans next year, with no major changes in acres. After seeing yields in the 30 to 40 bushel range in 2014, due to excessive moisture, he was glad to see 50 to 60 bushel canola and wheat in 2015. At about 80 bushels per acre, barley was just about double the yield from recent past seasons. “It is encouraging when you do get a good year,” he says. “We usually keep the same acres of wheat and canola every year,” says Pratt who is part of a family run mixed farming operation. With oat prices down he may cut back some on oats and increase barley acres for 2015. He had about 700 acres of barley in 2015, which is grown for both silage as well as feed grain for the beef herd. While the annual crops did quite well in 2015, he says the hay crops seemed to be the most affected by a late May frost and then a dry spell during July. Yields were about 70 per cent below normal.

JASON LENZ BENTLY, ALTA. In central Alberta, Jason Lenz says he is planning to grow two types of wheat, two types of barley and two lines of canola in 2016.

While Lenz isn’t planning any major changes in rotation, he will be growing both Canadian Prairie Spring and Hard Red Spring wheat in 2015. He includes both malt and feed barley in rotation for his mixed farming operation. And while he has been growing just Roundup Ready canola, he will include another herbicide line in the rotation in 2016. He has been really impressed with a newer CDC Kindersley malt barley variety, which grows well, made malt quality this year and is well received by the malting companies. And CDC Austensen, a two-row feed barley, has performed well on his farm west of Red Deer. With a dryer growing season which meant same late germinating Roundup Ready canola this year, he will be growing a line with a different herbicide mode of action to deal with the volunteer Roundup Ready plants. He has been impressed with DuPont Pioneer varieties which this year topped about 62 bushels per acre in yield. He also plans to try a new Pioneer variety that has stacked gene traits providing improved resistance against clubroot and sclerotinia. “We don’t have any clubroot in this area year, but it is good to be proactive,” he says. “We try to include a clubroot resistant variety once every four years.” † Lee Hart is a field editor for Grainews in Calgary, Contact him at 403-592-1964 or by email at lee@fbcpublishing.com.

Farm management

Get them started early Bayer and National Geographic release farm game for kids By Leeann Minogue

PUBLI SHE R

Lynda Tityk Associate Publisher/ Editorial director

Laura Rance

Edi tor

Leeann Minogue field Editor

Lisa Guenther Cattleman’s Corner Editor

Lee Hart Farml ife Edi tor

Sue Armstrong Machinery EDITOR

Scott Garvey Pro du ction Di re ctor

Shawna Gibson Designe r

Steven Cote MARKETING/ CI RCULATION Dire ctor

Lynda Tityk

Ci rc ulat ion manag er

Heather Anderson president

Glacier farmmedia

Bob Willcox H e ad O f f i c e 1666 Dublin Avenue, Winnipeg, Man. R3H 0H1 Phone: (204) 944-5568 Fax: (204) 944-5562 Sal es Dire ctor

Cory Bourdeaud’hui Phone: (204) 954-1414 Fax: (204) 944-5562 Email: cory@fbcpublishing.com Advert is ing Serv ices Co -ordinat or

Arlene Bomback Phone: (204) 944-5765 Fax: (204) 944-5562 Email: ads@fbcpublishing.com Printed in Canada by Transcontinental LGM-Coronet Winnipeg, Man. Grainews is published by Farm Business Communications, 1666 Dublin Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3H 0H1. Publications Mail Agreement No. 40069240. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage.

ust as real life farming has changed over the years, so have the farming games. I remember my brother and cousin spending hours with cards and little stickers from The Farming Game spread out all over our kitchen table. Today’s kids can play farming games online. Last month Bayer CropScience and National Geographic released the latest farming game: “Top Crop: Farming for the Future.” The idea is to educate students on the basics of what it takes to produce crops. And also, to help urban consumers understand that using herbicides and pesticides can be part of “sustainable” farming. Players will see how modern technology like precision ag and chemicals are enabling farmers to feed a growing population. It’s free. Go online and give it a try. Recommend it to your cousin Alicia in Toronto. You’ll be challenged by pests, disease and bad weather, but the game will give you access to modern technologies help you increase your yields. I hope your games go better than mine — a red bug has already taken over my virtual corn crop, and I can’t seem to get rid of it. Find it online at http://education.nationalgeographic.com/game/top-crop/. † Leeann Minogue is the editor of Grainews.

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Your next issue! You can expect your next issue in your mailbox about December 1, 2015

This farming game is intended to educate students on the basics of crop production.

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., Winnipeg, 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 Grainews and Farm Business Communications attempt to provide accurate and useful opinions, information and analysis. However, the editors, journalists and Grainews and Farm Business Communications, cannot and do not guarantee the accuracy of the information contained in this publication and the editors as well as Grainews 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.

NOVEMBER 10, 2015 grainews.ca /

Features

Farm business

Protect sales against non-payment The FNA’s Market Power Assurance program can insure your potentially risky farm sales By Leeann Minogue

hile the Farmers of North America’s forays into fertilizer production (Project N) and distribution (Genesis) have been getting a lot of attention, the FNA have also launched another program that might be useful on your farm. The FNA’s Market Power Assurance program protects farmers when the buyer does not pay. “It’s interesting how many farmers you talk to,” says FNA CEO Bob Freisen, “who have had an incident where they didn’t get paid.” The program, Freisen says, is flexible and unique. “As far as we

know, there’s no other product like this available anywhere.” It’s unique, he says, because it isn’t “whole” insurance. “Farmers can buy insurance buyer-specific and invoice-specific.” For example, you might hesitate before you sell your chickpeas to a buyer you’ve never dealt with before, especially if that buyer is not licensed by the Canadian Grain Commission and you have no other access to protection. Now, you could use the FNA’s program to buy payment insurance for just one or two loads of chickpeas, until you build confidence that your buyer will indeed pay their bills. Meanwhile, if you’re confident that the feedlot operator down

the road is definitely going to pay, you don’t need to buy any insurance for that transaction. “They can pick and choose for which buyer they want to buy the insurance, and for how many deliveries or how many loads they want to buy the insurance,” Friesen says. This new insurance will cover “any product that farmers produce.” It also covers processed food products, pedigreed seed and seed cleaning. What does it cost? First, you’ll pay a one-time credit check fee of $50 for each buyer. The insurer will determine how much due diligence is needed in each case. For domestic buyers, they plan to get back to you with an answer within 48 hours.

It’s possible that, after the credit check, your application for insurance may be turned down. In that case, a $50 fee would be a cheap warning. If you do business with that buyer anyway, “you better do it cash on delivery,” Friesen says. As for the actual insurance, Friesen estimates the rough cost of insuring sales of $10,000 to be $65. (That is, a total of $115, including the credit check fee.) For this price, you’re insured for 90 per cent of the value of your sale. If your buyer doesn’t pay, the underlying insurer, Euler Hermes, will pay you your 90 per cent, then try to recover the payment from your buyer. This insurance product is small-

farmer friendly — it has a very low minimum. “You can insure for anything $2,500 and up.” “It’s very, very affordable. And it’s really flexible,” Freisen says. This program may give you more room to negotiate with potential buyers. “Typically buyers have cash flow challenges just like everyone else,” Freisen says. Using insurance, farmers could offer buyers 90 days to pay. Or, with their accounts payable insured, farmers may be able to leverage credit from banks while they wait for payment. Find more information about this program at marketpowerassurance.ca. † Leeann Minogue is the editor of Grainews.

The Price Book app In April, 2014 FNA released an app: Ag Price Book. FNA member or not, you can download this app for free from iTunes or the Google app store. The app is easy to use and could help make farm input prices a lot more competitive. Through Ag Price book, farmers can post the prices they’re paying for inputs like diesel fuel, herbicides or fertilizer. The app will sift through other submitted prices and display the results in three different areas around your home: zero to 50 km, 50 to 100 km, and 100 to 150 km. You can compare relative prices, but the app doesn’t allow you to see which company is offering which prices, or which farmer posted them. In theory, this app is wonderful. In real life, it’s not working that well right now. A quick search for anhydrous ammonia prices around my current location gives no results — the app replies that there are “no posted prices.” “The problem with that one is we haven’t had nearly enough participation in it. We would really like to increase the participation,” says Bob Friesen, FNA CEO. “We’re not on a very huge budget and so we didn’t do a lot of marketing,” Freisen says. “It really needs a concerted marketing effort to get the kind of traction that we need.” †

The built-for-Canada-all-in-oneso-your-cereals-can-thrive treatment. We know you love to see your cereal crops grow to their fullest potential. And in true Canadian fashion, we’d like to give you a hand with that. Meet our new Cruiser ® Vibrance® Quattro seed treatment. With four fungicides, an insecticide and the added benefits of Vigor Trigger ® and Rooting Power™, this all-in-one liquid formulation offers superior protection plus enhanced crop establishment for early-season growth. Just the helping hand you can use, eh?

TRUE GROWTH, STRONG AND FREE. FOR

Leeann Minogue

Visit SyngentaFarm.ca or contact our Customer Interaction Centre at 1-87-SYNGENTA (1-877-964-3682). Visit grainews.ca to sign up for enews.

Always read and follow label directions. Cruiser ®, Rooting Power™, Vibrance®, Vigor Trigger ®, the Alliance Frame, the Purpose Icon and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company. © 2015 Syngenta.

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2015-10-22 11:39 AM

/ grainews.ca NOVEMBER 10, 2015

Features

Grain marketing

Digging into the details of dockage Dockage can be an expensive issue on your farm. Learn what it is and how it’s measured By Lisa Guenther

our grain is in the bin but your job is far from over. Now it’s time to sell that crop. But how do you know you’re getting a fair shake at the local elevator? A little knowledge can go a long way, and so we took a look at the dockage procedures for wheat and canola on the Canadian Grain Commission’s website. Here’s what you need to know about assessing dockage in wheat and canola.

Hand-sieving canola Canola needs to be hand-sieved before it’s run through the Carter dockage tester. You’ll need a representative one kg sample, taken from the dirty or uncleaned sample with a Boerner-type divider. Divide that sample into 250 gram portions for each sieving. Choose a round-hole sieve that will remove large material, but let through reasonably sound canola. The slotted sieve should cut the amount of inseparable material so that it’s within the grade tolerance, while minimizing loss of reasonably sound canola. When it comes to shaking the slotted sieve, there’s a standard protocol, too. You should use a sifting motion, moving it left to right. Each motion should start in the centre, move to one side, then the other, then back to centre. Do that 30 times. Total distance from left to right is about eight inches. Combine all four cleaned, 250 gram portions before switching on the dockage tester.

Running the Carter dockage tester Both canola and wheat samples need to go through the Carter dockage tester. But the settings and procedures are different for the two crops (see chart). For canola, pour the entire one kg sample into the dockage tester’s hopper. It should be tested for aspiration only. Then you should pull out at least 10 grams with a

Boerner-type divider. Determine the percentage by weight of conspicuous admixtures and soft earth pellets in this small sample. For wheat, you’ll also need a representative one kg sample, taken from the uncleaned sample with the Boerner-type divider. The entire wheat sample needs to go through the dockage tester. Some kernels may get stuck in the sieve, so run the sieve cleaner for a couple of seconds once the sample has gone through the machine. Switch off the dockage tester. Loosen material gathered on the air screen by snapping the retainer rod of the aspiration pan. Remove the aspiration pan and handpick any whole, sound, threshed wheat kernels from the area over the riddle. Drop them into the cleaned sample.

What is dockage So what exactly is dockage? On a practical level, here’s what falls under dockage for wheat: • Unthreshed wheat heads and wheat with long rootlets. • Non-wheat material removed by the riddle. • Material removed by the bottom sieve. • Material removed by aspiration. • Up to 10 per cent of soft earth pellets handpicked from the clean sample. • If cleaning to improve grade, material removed in that process. And here’s what counts as dockage for canola: • During hand-sieving, material caught on top of the round-hole sieve or that passes through the slotted sieve. • In the dockage tester, material removed by aspiration or that passes over the No. 000 riddle • Hand-picked from the cleaned sample: Conspicuous admixture, within grade tolerances; and Soft earth pellets. • Material removed if cleaning to improve the grade.

CARTER DOCKAGE TESTER SETTINGS Wheat

Canola

Minimum #4 (increase according to the nature of the material)

No. 25

No. 000

Top sieve

No. 6 buckwheat

Blank tray

Centre sieve

No. 5 buckwheat

None

Bottom sieve

No. 5 buckwheat

None

Sieve cleaner

Off

Feed control Air control Riddle

Source: grainscanada.gc.ca

Commercially clean primary samples may have up to 0.5 per cent for reasonably sound and broken canola deducted from the dockage’s gross weight. But there’s no allowance for primary samples that aren’t commercially clean. Sample grades don’t include conspicuous admixture as dockage. Instead, if the admixture

weight tops two per cent, it becomes a second reason for the sample grade.

Pulling up your grades If your crop falls short, you can have it cleaned again to bump it to a higher grade. Here’s how to do it:

BETTER START. BETTER HARVEST. TM

1. Once your wheat or canola has been cleaned, figure out what equipment you’ll need to remove the extra material (see chart). 2. Depending on the material, the sample will need to be sieved by hand or poured through the Carter dockage tester again.

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It’s important to use the right sieves when figuring out dockage in wheat or canola.

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NOVEMBER 10, 2015 grainews.ca /

Features WHEAT Material to be removed

Broken Kernels

Bunt balls

Stones

CANOLA Equipment

Notes

No. 6 buckwheat hand sieve No. 10x10 wire hand sieve

Carter dockage tester. Settings same as normal cleaning procedure, but with air control at a max of seven.

Material to be removed Equipment

Notes

If the broken kernel weight in the cleaned sample exceeds grade Broken grain, weed tolerance, you can bump the grade seeds, similar material by removing up to five per cent of the gross weight in broken kernels.

Carter dockage tester with air setting at #7.

No odour, remove bunt balls and add to dockage.

Carter dockage tester with air setting at #7.

Damaged seeds

Or approved sieves.

Odour, bunt is a grading factor. If weight of stones is under five per cent of gross weight, assess as dockage.

No. 6 buckwheat hand sieve

Before cleaning for improvement, add the material that was originally removed by aspiration back into the sample. Damaged seeds and other removed material (including canola) is added to dockage. Maximum of five per cent of sound canola can be removed each time you improve the grade.

No. 1 riddle No. 10x10 wire hand sieve.

Add removed material to dockage.

Maximum of five per cent of sound canola can be removed each time Or approved round-hole you improve the grade. or slotted sieves.

Carter dockage tester.

Wild Oats

Everything removed is dockage

Rest of setup is same as normal cleaning. Other foreign material

No. 6 buckwheat hand sieve No. 10x10 wire hand sieve

If grade is improved, add material to dockage.

Source: grainscanada.gc.ca

3. Weigh the new dockage and add it to the original dockage.

NEW ARRIVALS IN SEED TREATMENT

Cleaning sample grade canola What happens if you’ve cleaned your canola for grade improvement, but it only qualifies for Sample Canada, Account Admixture? You should figure out the dockage using the No. .035 slotted sieve and a round-hole sieve. The Carter dockage tester’s air control should be set at No. 5. If the canola falls into the Sample Canada, Account Damaged, use the Carter dockage tester with air control set at No. 5. Also use roundhole and slotted sieves. The slotted sieve should be suited to removing weed seeds and broken grain. The chief grain inspector needs to approve any variation from these settings.

Optional analysis If both the elevator manager and shipper agree to a special cleaning of a carlot of grain, the dockage can be analyzed for the presence of grain. This agreement needs to be sent to the Canadian Grain Commission in writing before the dockage is examined. Elevator stocks will be adjusted based on the percentage and grade of any grain found in that dockage. The procedure is the same for wheat and canola. The official sample is analyzed, and the following information is recorded on inspection records: • The grade and the percentage by gross weight to the nearest 0.1 per cent. • The grade of grain separable from dockage and the percentage by gross weight to the nearest 0.1 per cent. • The percentage of dockage. For example, with canola, you could end up with the following results: • 95 per cent canola, No. 1 CAN • Four per cent barley, No. 1 CW • One per cent dockage For more information on grading and dockage, check out the Grain Grading Guide at www.grainscanada.gc.ca. †

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Lisa Guenther is field editor for Grainews based at Livelong, Sask. Contact her at Lisa. Guenther@fbcpublishing.com or on Twitter @LtoG. 45832-02_NFC_2016_SeedTreatment_8_125x10_GN_a4.indd 1

10/21/15 10:32 AM

/ grainews.ca NOVEMBER 10, 2015

Features

Crop Advisor’s casebook

Wheat lodged and damaged By Alan Mittelstadt

uring our hot, dry summer in 2014, I received quite a few calls from farmers in my area wanting to alert me to a problem they were seeing in their wheat fields. Something was causing lodging, empty spikes and black spots on plant heads in their crops. The calls started in late June and continued into mid-August. The farms in question were located in Gleichen, Hussar, Dalum and Bassano, but I figured it was likely there were more fields affected in an even larger area. Some of the growers had already tried hiring consultants to try to diagnose the problem, but to no avail. When I first went out to the farms to see for myself, I noted a considerable amount of lodging in the affected fields and that the damaged plants occurred in patches, which corresponded with drier areas. The severity of lodging also appeared to vary widely and the direction seemed to be random, with stems going in all different directions. A closer look, however, revealed that the affected wheat plants were not in fact lodged, but were actually nearly broken off about onethird to halfway up the stems. The straw was very dry, indicating that the stem had likely died a few weeks previously, making it easy to break in a wind. Depending on the development of the wheat plants when they died, the plants had spikes that had either filled poorly with shriveled grain kernels or contained no ker-

nels at all. Some of the plants had tiny, black spore-like structures covering the glumes on the heads of the wheat. The roots of the affected plants pulled out easily, and were dark brown with no root hairs. The stems of these plants were generally discoloured, appearing dark tan to brown with the colour darkest at the base of the stems. In addition, the node above the crown on some of the affected plants displayed a pink/orange discolouration. I had a look inside the stems of the infected wheat, and detected pink colouration at the base. Some of the plants also had some type of white mycelium inside the stems. Within the problem wheat fields, the plant stands were generally okay, indicating good seed and fertilizer placement at planting. I had been assured by the growers that they had good fertility programs in place, and that they’d all applied appropriate herbicides at the recommended rates and crop stages to keep weeds in check. The signs were pointing to some kind of insect or disease as the likely culprit for the afflicted wheat fields. But the question was, exactly what? Several of the growers thought they might have the answer — sawfly, aster yellows and take-all root rot were some of opinions offered — all of which I took into consideration as I strove for the correct diagnosis. If you think you know what’s causing these growers’ wheat woes, send it in to Grainews, Box 9800, Winnipeg, Man. R3C 3K7; email

1. Inside the stems of the infected wheat, there was pink colouration at the base. 2. The roots of the affected plants pulled out easily, and were dark brown with no root hairs. 3. The node above the crown on some of the affected plants displayed a pink/orange discolouration. 4. Alan Mittelstadt is a sales agronomist with Richardson Pioneer Ltd. at Hussar, Alta.

Crop advisor’s solution

leeann.minogue@fbcpublishing. com or fax 204-944-5416 c/o Crop Advisor’s Casebook. The best suggestions will be pooled and one winner will be drawn for a chance to win a Grainews cap and a oneyear subscription to the magazine. The answer, along with the reasoning that solved the mystery, will appear in the next Crop Advisor’s Solution File. † Alan Mittelstadt is a sales agronomist with Richardson Pioneer Ltd. at Hussar, Alta.

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Suffering canola brought back to life By Steve Leavitt

John is a grain farmer near Stirling, Alta., who rented 80 acres from a neighbour in the spring of 2014. He was hoping for a much better crop in the field than in previous years, when the weed-ridden crop had produced relatively little, so he planted Roundup Ready canola in an effort to reduce weed pressure and increase yield. After doing a good pre-burn on the field with glyphosate, John then banded in his high rate of nitrogen fertilizer with 100 pounds of actual nitrogen and put on 40 pounds of phosphate with micronutrients with the seed. The seedbed had sufficient moisture and appeared the crop was off to a great start — but about five inches of rain over two days, only two weeks after seeding, changed that outlook. When I went out to John’s farm to have a look about a week after the big rain, I could see that relatively few canola plants in the field had emerged. Of those that had, many were turning yellow or purple because of the saturated soils. The spindly canola crop was also being overtaken by Canada thistle and other weeds. It was now the latter half of June, and with the field still very wet it was too late to consider reseeding another crop, even barley. After some careful field scouting, we found some parts of the field with barely any plants, but most areas had somewhere between 1.5 to three plants per square foot. We calculated the field average to be about two plants per square foot. We decided there was a good chance the crop could

be salvaged if John managed to rid the field of the weeds, especially the Canada thistle. It dried up enough over the next week to enable John to take a sprayer into the field to apply glyphosate at a rate of half a litre per acre, and also put on the full rate of a clopyralid herbicide for Canada thistle control. He also applied a top-dressed micronutrient product to give the crop the nutrient boost it required after so many days of saturated soil conditions. After inspecting the canola field about a week after the chemical applications, I was amazed to see how well the crop had bounced back. Within another week, the Canada thistles and other weeds were all dying and the canola was taking off and starting to cabbage out. As we monitored the crop through the growing season, we were pleased to see the plants continuing to do well as they bolted and went into flower. There were some humid days and few rainy days during the crop’s early flower stage, so I recommended that John go back in with a fungicide application as well as a nutrient foliar application to give the canola an added boost. At harvest time John had an excellent canola crop to swath and he ended up with a yield of 45 bushels per acre. An important lesson for growers to note is that even a canola field with two plants per acre can be brought back to profitability, as long as there is adequate moisture in the soil and steps are taken to provide proper nutrition and good weed control. Steve Leavitt is an area marketing representative with Richardson Pioneer Ltd. at Stirling, Alta.

NOVEMBER 10, 2015 grainews.ca /

Features

Seed processing

Bayer seed plant was born ready After a delayed official opening, InVigor seed plant preparing seed for 2016 season By Lee Hart

arcus Weidler hopes t h e r e a r e n ’t a n y more late spring panic situations forcing a scramble to produce treated canola seed to replant two million frosted acres, but he says Bayer CropScience’s newly expanded canola seed processing plant will be better prepared if there is. The southern Alberta plant near Lethbridge with a recently completed $15.6 million expansion was put to the test earlier this year when parts of Western Canada were hit with a late May frost forcing farmers from Alberta to Manitoba to replant nearly two million acres of canola. “The frost damage occurred on a Saturday and immediately the word was out that farmers would need more seed,” says Weidler, head of seeds for Bayer CropScience. “We had already completed our production for the season, a lot of our seasonal workers had gone home, so it was a real challenge. But our people were great. We had some just showing up Sunday morning saying, “I hear you can use some help.” Weidler says while any delay that time of year isn’t good, they did their best to have seed moving as much as 1,500 to 1,800 km to western Canadian retailers and distributors within five days. “If we hadn’t had the new facility the situation would have been much worse,” says Weidler. “But it gave us the capacity to move as much seed as we could in a short time — we were working round the clock. Hopefully we don’t run into that situation again, but since that event we have decided to hold a certain amount of stock and not touch it, just in case there is some emergency, which should help to reduce processing and delivery time by a couple days.” To put it in some perspective, he says the Lethbridge plant processed as much seed in those six days as European plants processes in a year.

to a large volume of more specific product orders coming in from its network of line-company and independent retailers and distributors. “It is a balancing act to have as much product ready for quick delivery to customers, but at the same time we don’t want a large volume of treated seed left over at the end of the season,” says Weidler. The increased capacity of the plant also means increased demand for certified seed from farmer suppliers, he says. The company has a well-established network of growers producing seed for Bayer, but will be looking for more production. “Of course the big factor with seed is to have it produced with the proper isolation from other canola crops,”

says Weidler. “Southern Alberta is an excellent area for seed production as the canola seed crops can be produced in areas were there are also specialty crops such as potatoes, providing buffer zones and isolation. We also have some seed produced in Saskatchewan and in parts of the United States. In the future, because of isolation requirements, we will be looking outside of southern Alberta to increase our seed production.” Along with increasing overall plant capacity, one other feature in the upgrade involved building a small-scale version of the processing line. Rather than test any new processing measures in the full plant, the small-scale line can answer the questions.

“This scaled-down version generally involves the canola seed cleaning process,” says Weidler. “If we want to try new equipment or a new process we can test it on this smaller scale equipment. We’ve even had people in the community suggest an idea or two for improved processing that we have tried and incorporated in our operation. “The people and the city of Lethbridge have been particularly helpful and supportive of our operations here, which now since the expansion, is the largest dedicated canola seed processing and seed storage facility in the Bayer network,” he says. † Lee Hart is a field editor for Grainews in Calgary, Contact him at 403-592-1964 or by email at lee@fbcpublishing.com.

Grand opening delayed The emergency seed processing also forced the company to cancel the originally schedule early-June grand opening of the upgraded Lethbridge plant. That job was finally done, with suitable fanfare, in early October. The expansion and upgrade to the canola seed processing plant, originally built in 2006, doubles processing capacity and increases flexibility, says Weidler. The 43,000 square foot facility, with 53 fulltime and seasonal workers, is now able to process up to 36,000 metric tonnes of canola seed, along with an additional five acres of storage bins and conveyances. Seed processing for the 2016 seeding season is well underway. “And it also increases our flexibility to have a wider range of InVigor canola processed and ready with different treatments depending on customer needs,” he says. “So it should mean faster access to a wider product line.” While the plant produces a given amount of seed based on reasonable demand estimates, it also responds

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photo: courtesy bayer crop science

Guests touring the Bayer canola seed processing plant in Lethbridge in early October look at part of the process used to clean and size canola seed.

/ grainews.ca NOVEMBER 10, 2015

Features

Crop production

Building a 137 bushel CPS crop It’s the whole agronomic program that will allow farmers to push yields to new limits By Lee Hart

chieving a 137 bushel per acre yield on CPS wheat in a relatively dry year is certainly noteworthy, but Fred Wood, an Alberta consulting agronomist says the real story is about the benefits of having a complete agronomy program. Varieties are important to some extent, says Wood who owns Meridian Ag Consulting, but the real key is a whole package of inputs and management, which makes it reasonable to push for higher yields. Wood was commenting on yields of AAC Penhold CPS wheat grown on Thompson Family Farms near Spruceview in west central Alberta. Working with Wood, the Thompsons had targeted a 130 bushel yield. The crop averaged 137. Similarly with hard red spring wheat they had targeted 90 bushels and yields averaged 94 bu./ac. Feed barley with 17 per cent hail damage had an actual yield of 139 — without the hail it would have been about 150 bu./ac. Malt barley came in at 131 bu./ac. “Achieving these higher yields isn’t necessarily about variety, but involves a whole package of good

photo: fred wood

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NOVEMBER 10, 2015 grainews.ca /

Features

The results Although the crop started with good moisture, overall it was a hot, dryer growing season, says Wood. This CPS was seeded on heavier soil with high organic matter con-

did help to strengthen the stem and improve standability. He says PGR treated CPS wheat was about one inch shorter, but the product still worked. The PGR had a more visible affect on the height of the hard red spring wheat. “As farmers target these high yields they need to use the full agronomic package,” says Wood. “That includes soil testing so you know your starting point,

know what the crop needs. It can also include tissue sampling during the season to determine any deficiencies. The farmer needs to work with the agronomist to set targets, use the tools that are available, and rely on the agronomist to take the lead in monitoring of the crop.” Wood says the Thompsons plan to continue with a similar program to target higher yielding

crops. “This isn’t the first year they’ve seen their CPS wheats and barley in that 130 bu./ac. range, but I think it is important as farmers push yields to get comfortable with producing a certain yield before they look at fine tuning that may take them to the next level.” † Lee Hart is a field editor for Grainews in Calgary, Contact him at 403-592-1964 or by email at lee@fbcpublishing.com.

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This high-yielding CPS wheat is a good example of the program that Wood and Thompson Farms developed. The year started out seeding the variety into a good seed bed with “excellent moisture.” Targeting 130 bushel yield, Thompsons applied 90 pounds of nitrogen as spring banded anhydrous ammonia just ahead of seeding. Seeding into pea stubble, they also applied a fertilizer blend of 20-20-0-10 in the seed row. The crop had good even emergence and later in the season was treated with an in-crop weed control product. One important new tool also applied was Manipulator plant growth regulator (PGR) at the five- to six-leaf stage. “This was the first year they had used Manipulator, but I feel it is important tool farmers have to consider as they target higher yields,” says Wood. “It would be foolish to grow some of these wheats with this high fertility and not use it. With the CPS for example you’re pushing it 20 bushels past its standability limit, so you need to use something.” Last year the Thompsons had applied Etherl, a long-established PGR developed by Bayer CropScience. It was effective for reducing crop height and standability in hard red spring wheat — it was as much as four to six inches shorter — but it has to be applied with very specific timing. Wood says there is a one or two day, maybe threeday window for effective use of Ethrel. Manipulator has a much wider window of safe application, although it’s optimum performance is at Growth Stage 31. Along with the PGR, the Thompsons also later in the season — late boot to early heading — applied the fungicide Prosaro. “A fungicide is another important tool for boosting yield,” says Wood. “Diseases such as stripe rush and leaf spotting diseases such as tan spot and septoria leaf blotch can really set the crop back. The level of disease is sometimes unpredictable, you may see it in the crop, or know it is in the area, it is sometimes hard to judge, but the fungicide can provide a big yield boost in high yielding cereal crops.”

tent that helped to hold moisture for the crop. There were a couple timely half inch showers, but overall he figures the crop could have used at least another 1.5 inches of rain. The crop held with fairly even maturity making it possible to straight combine in September. Wood says the PGR didn’t have a dramatic affect on reducing the height of the CPS wheat but it

The secrets to high-yielding CPS

It was a solid agronomic program that helped produce this 137 bu./ac. CPS crop on Thompson Family Farms in west central Alberta.

agronomic practices,” says Wood. “It isn’t really any one thing that makes the difference.” He says obviously weather is factor, but even in a relatively dry year like 2015, these higher than average yields are achievable with proper inputs and management. “I believe it is important for the farmer to have a good relationship with their agronomist,” says Wood. He has worked with Thompson Farms for the past 13 years. “You sit down and talk about realistic targets and develop a plan. As you look at pushing the boundaries of yield, you have to consider all aspects like the legs of a threelegged stool. You have to consider the agronomics, the asset management of the farm and of course the marketing. If you can achieve those higher yields, the return on investment doesn’t take long to add up.”

H S TA R G E N E

© NorthStar Genetics 2015 ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. Roundup Ready® crops contain genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides. Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides will kill crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate. Genuity and Design®, Genuity Icons, Genuity®, Roundup Ready 2 Yield®, Roundup Ready®, Roundup WeatherMAX®, and Roundup® are trademarks of Monsanto Technology LLC, Monsanto Canada, Inc. licensee. Respect the Refuge and Design is a registered trademark of the Canadian Seed Trade Association. Used under license. ©2012 Monsanto Canada, Inc.

/ grainews.ca NOVEMBER 10, 2015

Features

Gain transportation

Shipping grain through the Seaway Investments and changing regulations are key to the future of the St. Lawrence Seaway By Rachel Telford

ince 1679, commercial ships have plied the waters of the St. Lawrence moving goods from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic. Today, 165 million metric tonnes (MT) of cargo is shipped through these waterways within North America every year. “The farming community is extremely important to our business and to the Great Lakes St. Lawrence shipping industry as a whole,” says Captain Scott Bravener, president and CEO of Lower Lakes Towing Ltd. His company operates 15 vessels (with a 16th under construction), including four traditional bulk carriers which are primarily used for

agricultural commodities. These vessels move more than 24 million net tonnes annually within the Seaway system, including 2.5 million tonnes of agricultural commodities. This year, for the second year in a row, ice cover on the lakes made the first few weeks of the shipping season difficult. However, Bravener says, “the marine shipping industry has the capacity and resiliency to serve our customers well, no matter what the circumstances.” He notes that despite the slow start to ice melt in 2014, ships delivered over 12 million metric tonnes of grain via the St. Lawrence Seaway — the most in 14 years.

A competitive advantage The major Great Lakes ports serving farmers are Hamilton, Windsor, Sarnia, Goderich, Owen Sound, Johnstown, Port Colborne and Oshawa. These ports not only take away grain at harvest time, but are also important ports for receiving crop inputs, such as fertilizer. Port destinations for Ontario grain include Toledo, Buffalo, Montreal, Soral, Trois Rivières, Quebec, Baie Comeau and Port Cartier. Bulk carriers move the grain to the lower St. Lawrence River where it is then transferred onto ocean going vessels for transport overseas. Grain tonnage shipped through

the system is on the rise due to increased capacity, better crop yields, and more demand from export markets. “The food safety chain of Ontario crops makes them highly attractive to customers in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia,” says Bravener. “Future growth opportunities will be driven by continuing to grow the Ontario brand as a quality supplier with a secure, safe, and trustworthy pipeline.” Bravener also notes that keeping products on the water as long as possible translates into savings for processors. “Due to their large carrying capacity and new technology, Great Lakes ships are fuel efficient. One Great Lakes vessel can carry enough grain in one trip

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to make enough bread for everyone in Ontario for a month. This economy of scale saves companies $3.6 billion per year in annual transport savings compared to allland alternatives.”

Improvements A recently released study (Infrastructure Investment Survey of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway System) shows that $7 billion is currently being invested in capital improvements to Great Lakes ships, ports and terminals, and waterways. Bi-national funding (Canada and U.S.) of close to $1 billion has been committed to modernize the infrastructure and technology of the St. Lawrence Seaway; close to $2 billion dollars is being used to build new docks, storage, and equipment at ports by grain terminal operators; and $4 billion has been dedicated to the purchase of new ships, engines, and onboard technologies. “These new and improved ships, some of which are already sailing, have faster transit times, consume even less fuel, and will have the latest equipment to reduce air emissions,” says Bravener. “Lower Lakes has been an active participant in this investment having repowered four of our nine Canadian vessels since 2000 and with a new vessel set to be delivered from China this fall.”

Environmental regulations Despite the voluntary investments being made by the shipping industry to lessen their environmental impact, conflicting existing regulations and new proposed environmental regulations are creating a challenge for companies like Bravener’s that are based within the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System.

Tonnage shipped through the system is on the rise “As stewards of these essential bodies of water, we are cognisant of our role in both protecting and enhancing the environment in which we operate and live,” says Bravener. “Politicians and bureaucrats in their regulatory zeal must ensure that their decisions are based on sound science and practical solutions or run the risk of environmental degradation due to modal shifts.” The biggest concern is ballast water treatment regulations. Several government agencies in both Canada and the U.S. have been extremely active in enacting and proposing new duplicative, often un-harmonized, and usually impractical ballast water statutes and regulations. Current rules are already the most stringent in the world to eliminate the introduction of new aquatic species.

NOVEMBER 10, 2015 grainews.ca /

Features “Since the introduction in 2006 of the compulsory ballast water exchange flushing regime, and inspection and enforcement program, there have not been any new non- indigenous species detected in the Great Lakes eco-system due to ballast water,” claims Bravener. “It’s imperative that our countries provide a unique bi-national and harmonized regulatory solution that provides flexibility recognizing the fact that the domestic industry has never introduced an invasive species into our ecosystem.” Stephen Brooks, president of the Chamber of Marine Commerce, agrees that they are dealing with a challenging regulatory situation. “For many years the Chamber of Marine Commerce has maintained principled opposition to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s and the International Maritime Organization’s rules for ballast water for domestic vessels in the Great Lakes — St. Lawrence, given that domestic vessels operating exclusively within these waters can not introduce foreign aquatic invasive species and that Transport Canada has deemed the risk of transporting them as low,” says Brooks. However, Brooks adds they are seeing some progress. “While Canada has consistently maintained that it will implement the IMO’s ballast water convention in Canadian waters once the treaty comes into force, Minister of Transport, Lisa Raitt, recently clarified that those rules will not apply to domestic ships in the Great Lakes given the unavailability of technology for such ships in freshwater.” That being said, the marine shipping industry is still vexed with the current bi-national disharmony. “The industry continues to work with the U.S. and Canadian governments to achieve a practical and harmonized solution in the bi-national Great Lakes — Seaway,” says Brooks, “especially given that the U.S. EPA’s rules continue to require many Canadian ships to install ballast water treatment equipment despite the technological barriers and despite having effectively exempted the American domestic fleet.” The shipping industry has developed its own solutions to minimize risk from ballast water that have been created through binational initiatives and research. They have also developed best management practices which are a pro-active response to adopt practices which reduce the risk of transfer, promote testing, and foster cooperation with different government agencies. “Although these issues are daunting, we remain optimistic that common sense will prevail and that practical solutions will be found — solutions that will benefit both the environment and the economy,” says Bravener. Learn more about the St. Lawrence Seaway from Captain Scott Bravener — watch a video of his presentation from the 2015 Semi-Annual Meeting of Delegates on the Grain Farmers of Ontario YouTube channel: www.youtube. com/user/grainfarmersontario. † Rachel Telford is the managing editor of “Ontario Grain Farmer”, the magazine of the Grain Farmers of Ontario. This article originally appeared in the “Ontario Grain Farmer” and is reprinted here with permission.

photo: rachel telford

The major Great Lakes ports serving farmers are Hamilton, Windsor, Sarnia, Goderich, Owen Sound, Johnstown, Port Colborne and Oshawa.

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NEWS

2015-10-15 7:58 AM

/ grainews.ca NOVEMBER 10, 2015

Features

New corn varieties

New corn varieties ready for 2016 Get ready to research. Twenty new grain and silage corn varieties are hitting the market By Leeann Minogue

eed companies have reported a total of 13 new corn varieties on the market for the first time in 2016. These are only the new varieties available for the next crop year — this list doesn’t include other varieties that have been released in recent years.

Dow Seeds 4085 grain corn 4085 has Herculex Xtra and RR2 traits. It has strong early season vigour and emergence for cold wet soils early flowering with hard textured grain for northern adaptation. 2275 CHU. RM: 77. DS80A27 grain corn DS80A27 has the SmartStax trait. It has excellent top end grain yield, strong emergence and early season vigour for cool conditions. 2300 CHU. RM: 80. TMF86H77RA silage corn This variety has SmartStax Refuge Advanced traits. It has consistent yield, good digestibility, high tonnage with excellent starch scores, semi-flex ear provides flexibility across variable plant densities, widely adapted for variable soil types. 2550 CHU. RM:86. TMF91Q25 silage corn This variety has the SmartStax trait. It is a very tall robust plant with new leafy genetics. Nice ears with adequate husk coverage and excellent disease scores. 2750 CHU. RM: 91.

TMF94L37 silage corn This variety has the SmartStax trait. Excellent eye appeal and consistent ears down the row, strong emergence and early vigour, excellent leaf disease tolerance. 2800 CHU. RM: 94.

DuPont Pioneer P7005AM P7005AM is an Optimum AcreMax corn seed product with contains above ground insect control for protection against corn borer. It provides excellent yield potential with a 5.3 bu./acre yield increase over Pioneer hybrid P7213R in 27 large-scale Proving Ground grower sites across Western Canada in 2014 and 2015. P7005AM has excellent yield potential, corn borer protection, good test weight scores and husk cover. 2000 CHU. P7202AM P7202AM is an Optimum AcreMax corn seed product which contains above ground insect control for protection against corn borer. It provides excellent yield potential with a 5.9 bu./ acre yield increase over all competitor corn hybrids in in 26 largescale Proving Ground grower sites across Western Canada in 2014 and 2015. P7202AM has corn borer protection, produces large kernels and has good test weight scores. 2050 CHU. P7211HR P7211HR is a Roundup Ready Corn 2/LibertyLink corn hybrid with Herculex 1 technology for above ground insect control. It is a very early corn hybrid with high

yield potential and corn borer protection for Western Canada. It provides excellent yield potential with 2.1 bu./acre yield increase over competitor corn hybrids in 34 large-scale Proving Ground grower sites across Western Canada in 2014 and 2015. 2050 CHU. P7632AM P7632AM is an Optimum AcreMax corn seed product which contains above ground insect control for protection against corn borer. It provides excellent yield potential with 5.5 bu./acre yield increase over all competitor corn hybrids tested with 61 per cent wins in 27 large-scale Proving Ground grower sites across Western Canada in 2014 and 2015. P7632AM also has good stalk strength and excellent root strength for improved standability. 2225 CHU. 39V09AM 39V09AM is an Optimum AcreMax corn seed product which contains above ground insect control for protection against corn borer. It provides excellent yield potential with 3.2 bu./ acre yield increase over Pioneer hybrid 39D97 in seven largescale Proving Ground grower sites across Western Canada in 2014 and 2015. 39V09AM also has strong Goss’s Wilt resistance, good root strength, and good grain dry down. 2275 CHU. P8387AM P8387AM is an Optimum AcreMax corn seed product which contains above ground insect control for protection against corn

healthy roots, healthy plants,

healthy

retUrns.

photo: leeann minogue

This plot of DuPont Pioneer’s new variety P7005AM was on display at the Ag In Motion outdoor farmshow, near Saskatoon last summer. borer. It provides excellent yield potential with an average of 3.4 bu./acre yield increase over competitor corn hybrids across sites in Western Canada in 2014 and 2015. P8387AM also has strong Goss’s Wilt resistance and provides choice for harvest management (grain corn or silage corn). 2500 CHU. P8542AM P8542AM is an Optimum AcreMax corn seed product which contains above ground insect control for protection against corn

Get the right variety DEKALB has a fun online tool that allows you to narrow down the list of hybrids suitable for the heat units in your area. Try it yourself at www.dekalb.ca. † Leeann Minogue

Visit grainews.ca to sign up for enews.

Trait Stewardship Responsibilities Notice to Farmers Monsanto Company is a member of Excellence Through Stewardship® (ETS). Monsanto products are commercialized in accordance with ETS Product Launch Stewardship Guidance, and in compliance with Monsanto’s Policy for Commercialization of Biotechnology-Derived Plant Products in Commodity Crops. Commercialized products have been approved for import into key export markets with functioning regulatory systems. Any crop or material produced from this product can only be exported to, or used, processed or sold in countries where all necessary regulatory approvals have been granted. It is a violation of national and international law to move material containing biotech traits across boundaries into nations where import is not permitted. Growers should talk to their grain handler or product purchaser to confirm their buying position for this product. Excellence Through Stewardship® is a registered trademark of Excellence Through Stewardship.

Great crop returns start with ALPINE G22® and the ALPINE Phazed Nutrition Program™

Every seed gets Phos early with ALPINE G22® Call 1-844-655-PHOS (7467) Get the ALPINE® team and the Phazed Nutrition Program™ working for you. www.alpinepfl.com © 2015. NACHURS ALPINE SOLUTIONS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. “ALPINE” IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK of NACHURS ALPINE SOLUTIONS.

ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. Roundup Ready® crops contain genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides. Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides will kill crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate. Acceleron® seed treatment technology for canola contains the active ingredients difenoconazole, metalaxyl (M and S isomers), fludioxonil and thiamethoxam. Acceleron® seed treatment technology for canola plus Vibrance® is a combination of two separate individually-registered products, which together contain the active ingredients difenoconazole, metalaxyl (M and S isomers), fludioxonil, thiamethoxam, and sedaxane. Acceleron® seed treatment technology for corn (fungicides and insecticide) is a combination of four separate individually-registered products, which together contain the active ingredients metalaxyl, trifloxystrobin, ipconazole, and clothianidin. Acceleron® seed treatment technology for corn (fungicides only) is a combination of three separate individually-registered products, which together contain the active ingredients metalaxyl, trifloxystrobin and ipconazole. Acceleron® seed treatment technology for corn with Poncho®/ VoTivo™ (fungicides, insecticide and nematicide) is a combination of five separate individually-registered products, which together contain the active ingredients metalaxyl, trifloxystrobin, ipconazole, clothianidin and Bacillus firmus strain I-1582. Acceleron® seed treatment technology for soybeans (fungicides and insecticide) is a combination of four separate individually registered products, which together contain the active ingredients fluxapyroxad, pyraclostrobin, metalaxyl and imidacloprid. Acceleron® seed treatment technology for soybeans (fungicides only) is a combination of three separate individually registered products, which together contain the active ingredients fluxapyroxad, pyraclostrobin and metalaxyl. Acceleron and Design®, Acceleron®, DEKALB and Design®, DEKALB®, Genuity and Design®, Genuity®, JumpStart®, RIB Complete and Design®, RIB Complete®, Roundup Ready 2 Technology and Design®, Roundup Ready 2 Yield®, Roundup Ready®, Roundup Transorb®, Roundup WeatherMAX®, Roundup®, SmartStax and Design®, SmartStax®, Transorb®, VT Double PRO®, and VT Triple PRO® are registered trademarks of Monsanto Technology LLC, Used under license. Vibrance® and Fortenza® are registered trademarks of a Syngenta group company. LibertyLink® and the Water Droplet Design are trademarks of Bayer. Used under license. Herculex® is a registered trademark of Dow AgroSciences LLC. Used under license. Poncho® and Votivo™ are trademarks of Bayer. Used under license. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

NOVEMBER 10, 2015 grainews.ca /

Features borer. It is a high yielding silage corn product with very good root strength and average stalk strength to help with improved standability. It also provides very good drought tolerance scores in Western Canada. 2600 CHU.

Monsanto / DEKALB DKC23-17RIB DKC23-17RIB is an early maturing product with fast drydown. DKC32-12RIB DKC32-12RIB has top end yield potential, good ear flex and performance under drought stress. An excellent fit for Western Canada.

Pride Seeds A4199G2 RIB New introductory Genuity VT Double PRO RIB Complete PRIDE G2 hybrid delivering above ground insect control. This grain hybrid has very good drydown and maintains a visually attractive late season appearance. Strong agronomics with very rapid emergence and aggressive spring vigour. Very early flowering product and fast to maturity. 2175 CHU. A5095G2 RIB Exciting new introductory Genuity VT Double PRO RIB

Complete PRIDE G2 and conventional full season hybrid choices. Features early flowering and finish. Long ear length with girth. Excellent kernel quality with high test weight. Very strong late season stalk strength and intactness. An excellent choice for grain or silage. 2475 to 2450 CHU. A5433G3 RIB Strong silage hybrid with excellent biomass and very high starch levels. Exceptional drought and stress tolerance. Early flowering for maturity rating. Outstanding emergence, early seedling vigor, T:10.25” standability and health. Tall plant

with consistent full ear and size. High digestiblity and energy levels. 2425 to 2575 CHU.

Thunderseed TH7673VT2P rib-grain corn RIB – GRAIN CORN 2050 CHU This hybrid is Thunderseed’s lowest heat unit option, medium height, quick out of ground with a quick flowering and kernel set incredibly good dry down rate and has the corn borer protection. Great standability in field, can travel north very well. 2050 CHU. TH4126RR silage This corn can be silaged or

grazed very effectively. Tall, pineapple leaf with a large mid placement cob flint/dent kernels plant is quick out of ground with great spring vigor and a very good finish in the field excellent yielder. 2250 CHU. TH7681VT2P rib silage This is a full dent silage option that is also great for grazing. This is a tall corn with broad leaves and classic corn look in field long cob with good fill tip to tail. Corn borer protection and could be put in field with TH4126RR to provide some protection as well. Great yielder. 2350 CHU. † Leeann Minogue is the editor of Grainews.

T:11.375”

BayerCropScience.ca/InVigor or 1 888-283-6847 or contact your Bayer CropScience representative. Always read and follow label directions. InVigor® is a registered trademark of the Bayer Group. Bayer CropScience is a member of CropLife Canada.

0-66-09/15-10406655-E

/ grainews.ca NOVEMBER 10, 2015

Features

forage production

Is it time we scrapped that cap? Prepare for the debate by reading the details about the Maximum Revenue Entitlement By Lisa Guenther

f you’ve been following the transportation debates, you’ve heard about the maximum revenue entitlement, or revenue cap. And that means you’ve probably heard a lot of contradictory, confusing, and outright false information about how the revenue cap works and how it affects rail service. While it’s a complex issue, there are facts to be found. Grainews searched them out so that the next time the MRE comes up, you can separate myth from reality.

What is the Maximum Revenue Entitlement (MRE)? The MRE was created in 2000 to replace maximum freight rates for hauling grain. Railways now set rates for shipping grain. But the MRE limits the average revenue per tonne they can earn, while taking into account inflation of the railways’ costs. The Canadian Transportation Agency crunches the numbers every year to figure out the MRE. They use a complex formula that includes:

A. Company revenue for grain movement in base year. B. Tonnes moved in base year C. Average length of haul in current crop year. D. Average length of haul in base year. E. Tonnes moved in current crop year. F. VRCPI — an inflation index that includes forecasted price changes for railway, fuel, labour, material, capital purchases and inputs. It’s usually around two per cent. The formula looks like this: [A/ B+((C-D) x $0.22)]xExF The Canadian Transportation Agency publishes the VRCPI for the upcoming crop year by April 30. They also publish the MRE determination for the past crop year by December 31. If CN or CP top the MRE, they need to pay that excess, plus a penalty, to the Western Grains Research Foundation within 30 days.

What does the MRE cover? Quorum Corp has a factsheet online that outlines this succinctly. The MRE covers regulated grains originating in Western Canada and funnel-

ling through west coast ports. Any regulated grains moving through Armstrong, Ont. or Thunder Bay are also included, whether they’re for export or domestic use. Shipments through the west coast, but destined for consumption in the U.S. are excluded. Grain flowing through Churchill isn’t covered because the last leg is the Hudson Bay Railway, which is a non-prescribed carrier. The MRE regulates 58 grains and oilseeds crops, according to a report submitted by the Crop Logistics Working Group III MRE subcommittee. The Crop Logistics Working Group was struck in February 2015 to review supply chain and logistics issues in the grain industry. The working group has since filed their final report.

Does the MRE limit railways’ revenue from grain shipments? “The simple truth is that this is a false assertion,” Quorum’s fact sheet states. The MRE keeps raising freight rates in lines with underlying costs, the Quorum factsheet

notes. It doesn’t keep a railway from pricing differentially, based on season, commodity, equipment, or other factors, Quorum says. The MRE subcommittee’s report backs Quorum on this. The MRE takes into account inflation, haul length, and total grain hauled, says the report. The more grain hauled, the more revenue earned. Besides, hauling grain isn’t biting into the railways’ bottom lines. In fact, the opposite seems to be true, according to the MRE subcommittee report. In 2014, both CN and CP’s grain revenues grew significantly more than their overall revenues. And, the report notes, total railway revenue per revenue tonne mile has grown 2.26 per cent over the last 13 years. Grain under the MRE has increased by 2.24 per cent in that same time period.

Should we scrap the revenue cap? Both CN and CP have blamed the revenue cap for lagging investment in their grain operations. In its submission to the Canada Transport Act Review, CP

said removing the MRE would allow it to invest in new, larger hopper cars, as reported by the Globe and Mail last February. And the railways aren’t the only ones calling for the MRE’s demise. “If the railways were allowed to maximize the revenue they receive from hauling grain, it might be surprising how quickly they’d find a few spare grain cars sitting around — and how immediately those grain elevators would be emptied,” wrote Todd Hirsch in a March 2014 piece for the Globe and Mail. Hirsch, based in Calgary, is the chief economist of ATB Financial. But would scrapping the revenue cap improve service? The MRE subcommittee’s report suggests not. For one thing, shippers of crops such as soybeans, which don’t fall under the MRE, don’t get better service, the report notes. Neither do shippers of crops on non-regulated routes. And other commodities that pay more don’t necessarily get better service, according to the MRE subcommittee. “Paying a higher freight rate means only that the commodity

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Features is likely making a larger contribution to the railway’s fixed, or constant, costs and ultimately serving to enhance the railway’s profitability,” the subcommittee’s report states. The subcommittee was also sceptical that chopping the cap would boost investment by the railways. The MRE takes into account railway investments into hopper cars or grain facilities, the subcommittee notes. And railways have benefited from changes to the grain handling and transportation system, the report adds. But the only way to know for sure would be to make public the railways’ grain transportation costs, according to the MRE subcommittee. The Canadian Transportation Agency and the railways are the only ones with those numbers. The subcommittee did make an interesting observation about hopper car investments. The Agency uses one figure for each railway every year when rewarding them for hopper car investments. This means that if one railway pours cash into its hopper car fleet, and the other doesn’t, both railways would benefit.

CN train near the Scott Research Farm in Sask.

photo: lisa guenther

Should we review the costs built into the MRE? Many farm groups have asked for the MRE to stay put, but to review the costs built into the formula. The VRCPI is adjusted each year, but the Canadian Transportation Agency doesn’t review the railways’ actual costs for moving grain.

Trust Pioneer® brand corn hybrids for the earliest maturity available, integrated refuge insect control with Optimum® AcreMax® technology and the highest yield potential for your fields. Talk to your local Pioneer Hi-Bred sales representative today or find us at www.pioneer.com and on Twitter @PioneerWCanada.

P7005AM™

2000 heat units

P7202AM™

2050 heat units

“The MRE is working as intended” Elements of the MRE are based on the railways’ 1992 costs. Since then, the grain handling and transportation system has transformed into a much leaner machine. Some in the grain industry would like to review costs to see how much the railways are benefiting from those changes, and possibly share some of those gains with the grain sector. But the MRE is working as intended, the MRE subcommittee states. Shippers are protected from escalating shipping prices, railways earn a profit, and railways have some flexibility in setting prices, the report states. Ultimately, service issues are separate from the MRE, the subcommittee report states. Every sector has service issues, regardless of freight rates, the report points out. The subcommittee recommends addressing those issues before doing a full costing review or starting a public policy debate around the MRE. It did recommend full public disclosure of railway costs around shipping grain. Have a sudden urge to read more about the MRE? Both the MRE subcommittee report and the Quorum factsheet are online at quorumcorp.net. †

Early MATURING

corn hybrids ARE HERE Pioneer® brand products are provided subject to the terms and conditions of purchase which are part of the labeling and purchase documents. Roundup Ready®, YieldGuard and the YieldGuard Corn Borer design are registered trademarks used under license from Monsanto Company. Liberty Link® and the Water Droplet Design are trademarks of Bayer. Herculex® I insect protection technology by Dow AgroSciences and Pioneer Hi-Bred. Herculex® and the HX logo are trademarks of Dow AgroSciences LLC. ® SM TM , , Trademarks and service marks of DuPont Pioneer or their respective owners. © 2015, PHII.

Lisa Guenther is field editor for Grainews based at Livelong, Sask. Contact her at Lisa.Guenther@ fbcpublishing.com or on Twitter @LtoG. 1044 Pioneer CORN ad_EarlyMaturity_GrainNews.indd 1

10/21/15 9:29 AM

/ grainews.ca NOVEMBER 10, 2015

Features

IRRIGATED WINTER WHEAT YIELDS AND DATA, 2015 Sept. 5, 2015

CROP FB 9-4 Fababeans Peas

NITROGEN

PHOS

INOCULANT

$540

$740

per acre

$0.24

$0.34

$13.42

$5.70

FERTILIZER

SEED

per acre

SEED

bu.

per acre

SEED TREAT

per acre

FUNGICIDE

INSECTICIDE

HERBICIDE

in crop

*may not be needed

per acre

fung + insecticide on pulse crop $13.42

4.4

$60.50

$39.38

$18

TRUCKING

TOTAL COSTS

per acre

Edge, Viper, Assure 2 $8

$35

$174.30

$13.42

$7.20

$13.42

3.5

$42.00

$31.33

$15

$35

$17.25

$154.25

Winter wheat

$85.71

$28.53

$114.24

2.5

$31.88

$7.50

$15

$25

$26.25

$219.87

Wheat

$73.47

$26.85

$100.32

2.5

$31.88

$7.50

$15

$25

$21.25

$200.94

Barley

$61.22

$26.85

$88.07

2.5

$19.38

$6.25

$15

$25

$17.25

$170.95

Canola

$78.37

$26.85

$105.22

$65

$20

$15

$16.25

$229.47

Flax

$55.10

$13.42

$68.53

$25

$14

$30

$146.53

VALUE

IRRIGATED YIELD

GROSS

NET RETURNS

% OF WHEAT’S NET

RESIDUAL N

TOTAL NET RETURNS

% OF WHEAT’S NET

TRUCKING

TOTAL COSTS

$321.81 FB 9-4 Fababeans

$8.50

Peas

$9.50

$665

105

$630

Wheat

$6.15

$522.75

Barley

$4.60

115

Canola

$11.00

Flax

$13.50

Winter wheat

$680

$505.70

157%

$36.73

$542.43

169%

$510.75

159%

$24.49

$535.24

166%

$410.13

127%

$410.13

127%

$321.81

100%

$321.81

100%

$529

$358.05

111%

$358.05

111%

$715

$485.53

151%

$485.53

151%

$607.50

$460.97

143%

$460.97

143%

DRY LAND SOUTHERN ALBERTA WINTER WHEAT YIELDS AND DATA, 2015 Sept. 5, 2015

CROP

NITROGEN

PHOS

$540

$740

INOCULANT

per acre

FERTILIZER

SEED

per acre

bu.

SEED

per acre

SEED TREAT

per acre

FUNGICIDE

INSECTICIDE

HERBICIDE

in crop

*may not be needed

per acre

$0.24

$0.34

FB 9-4 Fababeans

fung + insecticide on pulse crop

$13.42

$5.70

$13.42

4.4

$60.50

$39.38

$18

Peas

$13.42

$7.20

$13.42

3.5

$42.00

$31.33

$15

per acre

Edge, Viper, Assure 2 $8

$35

$180

$35

$10

$153.95

Winter wheat

$48.98

$20.14

$69.12

2.5

$31.88

$7.50

$15

$25

$12.50

$160.99

Wheat

$41.63

$13.42

$55.06

2.5

$31.88

$7.50

$15

$25

$105

$144.43

2.5

$19.38

$6.25

$15

$65

$20

Barley

$41.63

$13.42

$55.06

Canola

$48.98

$16.78

$65.76

Flax

$41.63

$10.07

$51.70

$25

$14

VALUE

IRRIGATED YIELD

GROSS

NET RETURNS

% OF WHEAT’S NET

RESIDUAL N

TOTAL NET RETURNS

% OF WHEAT’S NET

$25

$8.25

$128.93

$15

$7.50

$181.26

$30

$124.70

$101.57 FB 9-4 Fababeans

$8.50

Peas

$9.50

$380

$300

Winter wheat

$255

$75

74%

$7.35

$82.34

81%

$226.05

159%

$24.49

$230.95

227%

$139.01

223%

$139.01

137%

Wheat

$6.15

$246

$101.57

100%

$101.57

100%

Barley

$4.60

$253

$124.07

122%

$124.07

122%

Canola

$11.00

$330

$148.74

146%

$148.74

146%

Flax

$13.50

$270

$145.30

143%

$145.30

143%

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Crop varieties

Profiting from winter wheat When Greg Stamp looks at the numbers on his farm, winter wheat pencils in well By Greg Stamp

ith price spreads between feed wheat and milling winter wheat compared to HRSW very narrow this fall, it looks very attractive to grow a winter crop on either irrigation or dry land. Irrigated and dry land winter wheat can yield 20 to 30 per cent more than HRSW. And, if you’re selling into the feed market there is less downgrading risk with winter wheat. If your HRSW is downgraded regularly, then the advantage of a winter wheat is increased. As well, winter wheat can spread out spring workload, help with weed control, take advantage of spring moisture, provide diversity in your farm marketing as well as habitat for nesting animals. We have been growing a number of milling varieties — Moats, Flourish, Gateway and Emerson. All of these varieties have protein, yield and disease package advantages over the check variety. They range in height over 20 cm so there are large differences in these varieties.

The data Table 1 shows our irrigated/high moisture yields and numbers from September 2015. Notice the costs are higher on winter wheat due to higher fertility and increased freight costs per acre. The second table shows Southern Alberta dry land yields and September 2015 prices. Yields for areas with medium moisture conditions will be between these charts for profitably with each crop. † Greg Stamp is a Southern Alberta farmer and CCA. Follow him on Twitter at @stampgreg, or visit stampseeds.com.

NOVEMBER 10, 2015 grainews.ca /

Columns Off farm income

Win by selling right and buying low Setting up a few simple rules for your stock portfolio could help you outrun the market bears ANDY SIRSKI

his has been an interesting summer. I sold most of my stocks around August 22 before I went to Vancouver for a family wedding. So when a lot of stocks tanked on August 24, my portfolio hardly noticed the drop. So, being curious, my question was: could I learn to make money with these big drops? I keep looking for ways to understand these big changes in the market. In my opinion we are getting closer and closer to picking the times when there is “blood on the streets” and learning how to make money when stocks drop.

Outlook First, we likely have to change our expectations about how much our money will earn. More and more so-called experts say we should not look to earn seven per cent per year on our money. One said most people should expect to earn under three per cent per year for the rest of their lives. There are several reasons for this. One is that families in developed countries are having smaller and smaller families. Count the numbers in your circle of friends and relatives. Even in the areas where families have lots of children, my circle of contacts tells me many people in those area die at a young are, well under 60, and there are very few offsetting births.

I beat the bear Second, in developed countries many people have record high debt. Debt financed a lot of growth in the past. Many companies have lots of cash and/or little debt but many corporate managers see the same small-growth future that I see, and they are not spending money to expand. Sure, they spend money on systems that improve worker productivity, which then reduces the number of people that same business needs. With slow growth around the world, central banks will see no need to raise interest rates. Interest earned on money saved will be small. Use the rule of 72: divide 72 by the rate of interest to see how long it takes to double our money. With two per cent interest, it will take 36 years (72/2) to double your money. That’s a lot slower than when money earned 12 per cent and money doubled in six years. So what to do? Well if you have someone managing your money, and the management fee is two per cent a year, it will take a good manager to earn more on your money than the fee will cost your portfolio.

Buy low sell high My first selling rule is to sell a stock when the daily price drops through the 10-day moving average. Some think that is too rapid so they wait until the daily price drops more or one moving average drops through another. In this day and age, when money rotates quickly and with little warning, I think selling sooner is better than later. I might miss out on some gains but I also risk less. My second selling rule is selling when my stocks are breaking even. Selling at breakeven may mean not making any money but at least I don’t lose. My final selling rule is to sell when I’m losing some pre-fixed

amount, say $300 or $500 on that batch of stocks. Some do not believe in selling. They are in for the long haul. That’s okay, as long as the investor understands that some stocks have dropped to zero or that an investor can easily give up on a stock and sell, often at a low. Another way to make more money is to buy low, which can be a hard thing to do. I am learning how to trust those lows. Yes, I might be wrong from time to time, but over time I should learn to manage these lows. In technical discussions with my investment group, we’ve turned the investment strategy upside down. The typical strategy is to look at an investment in

three steps: 1. The direction of the market; 2. The fundamentals of a stock; 3. Whether a stock is going up or down (the technical and seasonal factors). We turn that upside down. We look at the historic record of when our stock or sector are strong and when it is weak. It’s not perfect but it helps. You can find this data on Stockcharts (stockcharts.com) by clicking on “free charts,” go to the bottom of the screen to “create a seasonality chart.” Type in the stock symbol and you will see what the price of a stock has done over the past years. There’s also a good book by Brooke Thackray on the seasonality of stocks: Time In, Time

Out: Outsmart the Market Using Calendar Investment Strategies. You can buy it on Amazon or at a decent book store. All this sounds difficult. Well, if I learned it so can you — and I did not have someone who was willing to help me learn. I will NOT tell you which stocks to buy but I can walk you through the indicators so you can learn to judge bottoms and tops. Call me at 1- 204-453-4489 or email me at sirski@mymts.net and I will call you back. † Andy Sirski is mostly retired. He travels a bit with his wife, plays with his granddaughters, has a small tax business and manages his own portfolio. Andy also publishes an electronic newsletter called StocksTalk where he tells what he does with his investments, charts and other technical indicators.

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Columns Reporter’s notebook

Those awkward conversations Talking to urban consumers about food can be more uncomfortable than political debate Lisa Guenther

y the time you read this, the 2015 federal election will be history. Maybe you will have even re-friended any politicallyobnoxious people you dropped on Facebook in the weeks leading up to the big vote. Maybe. As I write this, before the election, I’m filled with the smug satisfaction of a citizen who already cast her ballot at the advance polls. I headed to Glaslyn, as instructed by my voter information card. It was actually correct. I marked my X, then drove home, happy to know that I could complain about the government for however long it lasts until the next election. There’s been a lot of talk about how long this election was, and how nasty some of the discussion got. I’m sure many of you suffered from election fatigue. Personally, I don’t mind a little political chatter. While in Australia this summer, I compared notes with quite a few Australians. And when I got back to Canada, I followed both the

thoughtful and ridiculous election coverage like a true news junkie. But I, too, am ready to close the book on this election. So here’s hoping that whoever takes over the Prime Minister’s office can hang onto it for four years. And here’s hoping our parliamentarians keep their rural and ag constituents in mind.

Other tricky things to talk about In late September I headed to Calgary for the Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation’s annual conference. Each year a different region organizes farm tours, professional development, and other activities for ag journalists and communications people from coast to coast. The Western Irrigation District story in this issue was part of that tour. This year’s conference focused on the rural/urban divide and what it means to the agriculture industry. It’s a meaty topic, and it was interesting. But I have to confess, I don’t always enjoy talking about agriculture with consumers. The main reason for my squeamishness is that I don’t always know what I’m going to get into with these conversations. Sometimes

they’re interesting and productive. I have friends and acquaintances who are very well read, and even when I don’t agree with them, I respect their opinions. But sometimes I feel like the other person is talking at me, rather than with me (and I sure hope I don’t do that to people). Terry Church of Canadian Rocky Mountain Ranch nailed down that feeling during the Farm Writers’ conference.

Food is becoming the new religion Food is becoming the new religion, he told us. It’s not about science. It’s about trust and being able to answer questions about how that animal was raised, he said. But people have a right to know about food production, whether they’re curious about canola or cattle. Many of my friends are only a generation removed from the farm, so they can just ask their country cousins. But few people have that luxury these days.

So whose job is it to have these conversations with consumers? I’m writing to you, as are many of my colleagues, and I doubt too many consumers are picking up copies of Grainews. I’m also reluctant to shove that communications burden onto farmers, or at least every farmer. I know farmers and ranchers who are good at what they do, but don’t want to talk about it. And why should they? Most farmers are producing a commodity, Ray Price pointed out at the conference. Price is co-founder of Sunterra Farms and Sunterra Market. Sunterra focuses more on freshness and quality than price, based on my visits to their south Edmonton store years ago. Farmers are already good at what they do, Price said, and besides, there are several links in the chain between them and consumers. Instead, we should be helping retailers educate consumers, Price said, by providing them with correct information. Sunterra Markets may be unique among food companies, though, because the Price family still raises hogs. In fact, the farming side is still bigger than the retail, Ray Price said.

And although they’ll bend to their customers’ wishes to some extent, there are things they won’t bend on philosophically, he told us. They don’t see any point in selling American beef or pork when there’s plenty right in Alberta, for example. And they won’t sell products with claims that Ray Price knows are wrong. (I got the impression that Ray Price’s B.S. detector is still intact).

Give them what they want I doubt most food companies are able or willing to draw those lines. Trish Sahlstrom, vice president of purchasing and distribution at A&W, told us very clearly that A&W’s focus is giving consumers what they want, not educating them. That it’s about consumer choice. And Mike Olson, vice president of fresh merchandising at Overwaitea Foods, also talked about consumer choice around GMOs. Fair enough. They are in business to make money, after all. And it’s hard to argue with providing consumers with choice. But I’m still not sure where that leaves consumers who truly

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NOVEMBER 10, 2015 grainews.ca /

Columns want to know more about food production. The ag sector can provide retailers and restaurants with all the facts in the world, but most of them seem hesitant to contradict their customers’ romantic view of farming. And while this divide may not affect the day-to-day operations on your farm yet, that doesn’t mean it won’t in the future. A&W is sourcing most of its beef from the U.S. and Australia. The company is also sourcing eggs from vegetarian hens, in case you missed that one (Sahlstrom said it came down to traceability in the feed. And that Canadian chicken producers were onboard with the change). Other quick service restaurants and retailers are pushing more requirements onto farmers. I’m not against improving animal welfare or environmental stewardship. After all, farmers have made huge improvements in the last 30 years in both those categories. But the worry is that all these

requirements will make it very difficult for livestock producers (and potentially other farmers) to actually run their farms. I think getting the urban media onto more farms is part of the solution, but that’s not a silver bullet. And you have to be willing to host them. Sahlstrom told us that consumers value farmers telling their story. “There’s only one thing that consumers truly want and that is transparency,” she said. So if you can talk about what you do without being condescending or hot-headed, you may want to check with your growers groups or provincial farm and food care group about speaker training. Sure, it’s not really your job to talk to consumers about farming. But I’m not sure if anyone else is going to do it for you. † Lisa Guenther is field editor for Grainews based at Livelong, Sask. Contact her at Lisa.Guenther@ fbcpublishing.com or on Twitter @LtoG.

photo: lisa guenther

The ag sector can provide retailers and restaurants with all the facts in the world, but most of them seem hesitant to contradict their customers’ romantic view of farming.

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/ grainews.ca NOVEMBER 10, 2015

Columns Can’t take the farm from the boy

Breaking new ground The first step in the process was a pretty rough ride Toban Dyck

R photos: toban dyck

Top: Getting ready to disc the 80-acre section that the previous renter ripped with spikes, which only scratched the surface and made it rough (and located a few rocks). Bottom: The 40-acre section hadn’t been broken at all before I started.

iding an angry bull is probably worse. It has to be. But, they don’t have to stay on for 120 acres. I did. I held on with both hands, and around corners would bounce out of my seat. It was the roughest tractor ride of my life. The tab that allows the driver to fill the seat’s underbelly with air broke off against my water jug by acre 10. I rented a 22-foot Wishek Disc and pulled it over 80-acres of

pastureland recently broken with spikes using our 400-horsepower Case tractor. I drove five miles per hour, the recommended speed in potentially rocky conditions. And this land is near the Pembina escarpment, and the disc was a rental, and I’m not a person who bets, but I’m willing to break character and put some money down on it costing a few bushels of soybeans to replace one of those discs. Fate, when the margins are tight, is not worth tempting. I went slow. It took all day. Twenty-two feet is not wide, and our tractor was working hard. The spikes found stones. Big stones. We buried them deep below the surface, trusting the

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Toban Dyck is a freelance writer and a new farmer on an old farm. Follow him on Twitter @tobandyck or email tobandyck@gmail.com.

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people who told us that they will never resurface. I’m a skeptic. “Never” is a flagged word. For this alone, the spikes were worth it. But, for the 40 or so acres that have yet to be broken with any implement, I’m discing first, then discing again. It’ll be a smoother ride, I’m hoping. The spikes only scored the surface in some spots, and scraped up balls of sod in others. This is what made it rough. This is what made that ride tantamount to riding an angry bull. After the first time over, I can say the entire field has been worked. The disc did a thorough job of cutting in and turning the soil. As I write this, the tractor is warming up. I’m off to the rental shop to pick up the disc to work the 80 for the second time and go over the 40 twice. The dead belt of caraganas has been ripped out and piled. The fenceposts and the trees that have started to grow in random spots have been taken care of. It’s time to go. It’s fall. Time is running out. I’m starting to feel the crunch. And the agronomists ready to test the soil can’t get to the areas they want to sample from until the field is even enough to drive on. It might be now after the first go with the disc, but it sure wasn’t before. Did I say it was rough? It was. When I took the sprayer operator around the field to show him the perimeters, he chuckled when I said this adventure of breaking new land would be an interesting one. “Well, I know guys who have done this. They broke an entire section of pastureland, and now, three years later, you’d never know.” I got the impression he would have given me a high-five for taking this on, if I had raised my hand in the slightest. In a subtle way, typical of farmers not used to showing emotion, he seemed pumped for me. I, of course, hope to be this story: “Hey, I knew this guy who broke 120-acres of pastureland, and one year later, you’d never know it hadn’t been cropland since the late 1800s.” Anyway, the tractor is warm, and I have to pack a day’s worth of food. This field is eight miles away from our farm, the longest distance our tractors have ever had to travel. I’ll let you know if I find any more boulders on the unbroken 40. And I’ll let you know if the white spots I saw on the soil while working the 80 is saline or not. I would bet, but I already broke character once in this article. Farming is full of challenges, I’m learning: tight margins, expensive land, and risk. But, it’s interesting. All of it is interesting. This challenge is no exception. I will not break land for the first time again. And I doubt I’ll ever have a wilder tractor ride than I did the other day, which reminds me: I need to glue that air-suspension tab back on this fall. †

Tawn

NOVEMBER 10, 2015 grainews.ca /

Columns Guarding wealth

The inevitable rise in interst rates Interest rates are going to have to rise sooner or later. The trick will be in the timing

By Andrew Allentuck

t is inevitable that interest rates will rise, but when that will happen, nobody knows. On Sept. 17, the U.S. Federal reserve announced that, yet again, the inevitable increase would be postponed, perhaps to December, perhaps beyond. Until then, the Fed will keep interest rates at the emergency level that has prevailed for half a decade and Canadian rates, too, will remain at their current levels beginning with 0.50 per cent for overnight loans to the chartered banks. Timing is everything. And that is the problem. Under-chair Janet Yellen, the Fed has deliberated over raising rates for more than a year, waiting for employment figures and inflation data to signal the kind of economic growth that meets their expectations. U.S. unemployment is down to 5.1 per cent, which is a pre-recession level (it’s seven per cent in Canada), U.S. gross domestic product is rising at 2.4 per cent at annualized rates — respectable though not breath taking (it’s an anemic 1.4 per cent in Canada), and business has in many ways gone back to its usual pace. So why the wait for what everyone knows must happen one day?

latest measure in July, the result of higher imported food and other goods costs caused by the Bank of Canada’s ruthless pushing down of interest rates. We are the outlier in the G7, yet the Bank of Canada would probably push down rates further from the present 0.5 per cent overnight rate in its endless but futile attempt to get orders for Ontario factories.

After the rise What will happen in capital markets when rates rise? A higher interest rate in the U.S. will cause more money to flow to U.S. Treasury bonds. The inflow of funds will raise the U.S. dollar and push down the Canadian dollar, Sterling and the Euro. As those currencies decline, the costs of living will rise. You could say that the Fed will be exporting inflation, but that’s only a side effect. The effect on Canada will be that our exports — grains, potash, copper, iron, and so on — will be cheaper in Canadian dollar terms. Most export commodities are priced in U.S. dollars, so a higher dollar translates as more money for producers, farmers included. Meanwhile, input costs in Canada, which are substantially priced in Canadian dollars, will be cheaper.

Another 30 years of very low rates

The increased profitability of farm and other exports will be short lived, for the Bank of Canada will, as it always has, follow the Fed after a few months. Our economies are too closely linked for interest rate policies to diverse too much for too long. There will be an uptick in the Canadian bank rate, maybe 0.25 per cent. A quarter of a point of interest will not change the world, yet importers will likely use the occasion to jack up the prices of canned American peaches and other imports. The way to fight the increased cost of goods is, of course, to refrain from buying. With the world economy sagging and close to deflation, it will be a very long time before interest

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Acting prematurely could trigger a new mini-recession, which the Fed has achieved in the past with bad timing, and, at worst force it to back down, cutting rates and losing a lot of street credibility. Thus the plodding timing. Moreover, Ms. Yellen and other Fed officials know that they are dealing in a token and they want to get it perfect. They hesitate to err even on the side of the inevitable. Rates must rise in the U.S., where overnight interbank loans remain at 0.25 per cent at annual rates. The bottom line reason is that the emergency of 2008 triggered by the failure of Lehman Brothers is long past. When rates do start to rise, yield curves, which trace the rates paid by each class of bond from governments to junk from one day to 30 years, will shift upward and perhaps flatten a little bit with the low end rising more than the top end. The wait is maddening and, what’s more, it doesn’t matter very much. The dance of the yield curve is a ballet in monetary theory. In the real world, mortgage loans will still be about where they are, store credit cards will still cost you 29 per cent if you run a credit balance, and car loans will be whatever charade the manufacturers want to play to convince you to buy on time. Behind the picking of daisy petals, indecision of the Fed is a deeper problem. The world is flirting with deflation. Within the G-7, consumer prices have risen just at 0.2 per cent on average in the U.S. 0.2 per cent in the U.K., 0.2 per cent in Italy, 0.2 per cent in Germany, 0.3 per cent in Japan, and 0.2 per cent in France this year. There is no need to raise interest rates to battle inflation for there isn’t any. Canada’s inflation rate is about 1.3 per cent at the

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A slow rise

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The move by the Fed and, evenrates return to the level of 2000 when a 10-year Government of tually, by the Bank of Canada will Canada bond bore a respectable have consequences for investors, coupon of 6.4º per cent. Monetary even if in substance a slight rate policy research suggests that we increase is of little significance are in for another 30 years of very on its own. The market for govlow rates and probably low growth ernment bonds, which is exquiof the world economy. sitely sensitive to rate changes, So what is the issue with will mark down all existing issues interest rates rising one fourth with long bonds dropping the of one per cent perhaps before most. This matters a great deal Christmas? It is symbolic at most. to bond traders, but for buy and Says James Hymas, head of Hymas hold bond investors who keep Investment Management Inc., a their bonds to maturity, it matters Toronto-based specialist in pre- little. Government bonds will still ferred stock investing, “the effect pay face value when their time is on the Canadian economy will be up. On the other hand, corporate minimal. But it will be warning bonds could gain value if invesshot for the market saying that tors take the rate rise as token rates will be low forever. We are of improving business conditions not out of the woods yet, so the and reduced credit risk. Fed’s move would be symbolic sayThe Fed’s moment to raise rates ing we are finally seeing the light will in 1December SEC-RAYMORE-PBR14-T_GN.qxd 1/8/15 come 2:26 again PM Page and the waiting game will begin at the end of the tunnel.”

again. The case for a rate rise will be what it is now — the end of the 2008 market meltdown. The case for waiting will remain psychological — why seem nasty just as Christmas is approaching. On these delicate matters capital markets wait. And yet there would be some market effects when it finally happens. Companies with a great deal of debt, such as public utilities, could suffer while those with little debt, such as technology issues, could rise if the rate rise implies good times ahead. In the end, the quarter point rate rise that may start a cycle of rising rates will be a token of what is to come. That is why what is so little seems to matter so much. † Andrew Allentuck is author of When Can I Retire? Planning Your Financial Future After Work (Penguin, 2011).

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Columns Understanding market bulls and bears

The new G3’s cross-Canada future Brian Wittal sees the new CWB as a strong competitor in the Canadian grain industry Brian wittal

n 2012 the CWB’s monopoly powers were stripped away. Over the next couple of years the new entity purchased or entered into joint ventures with producer-owned grain handling facilities and built a number of new concrete facilities across the Prairies to try to remain a relevant player in the grain handling and marketing business in Western Canada. They purchased Mission Terminal at Thunder Bay and the ETR facilities at Trois Rivières along the St Lawrence waterways to enable them to ship grains to market. They bought a stevedoring company and purchased two new Equinox class laker vessels for transporting grains and other cargo on the Great Lakes. Then a 50.1 per cent stake in the CWB was sold to Global Grain Group (G3) Canada Limited — a partnership between Bunge Ltd. and the Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Co. (SALIC). This allowed the new company to move ahead with expansion and growth plans. The CWB is now doing business as G3 Canada Limited. Most recently, G3 announced plans to build a new lake terminal facility at the Port of Hamilton to help originate grain out of southern Ontario to ship to export markets abroad. Now, G3 has facilities from Leader, Saskatchewan, all the way to Trois Rivières, Quebec, and soon to the Port of Hamilton. G3 is conspicuously absent in Alberta and for a very good reason: they do not have access to any west coast port facilities at either Vancouver or Prince Rupert. To ship grain by rail from Alberta east to port facilities is not economically viable, so until they have a west coast port facility they will not likely enter the Alberta grain buying landscape. Back in June G3 announced that plans for a feasibility study of the possibility of building a new grain terminal at Port Metro Vancouver. It would be the first new facility to be built there since 1968. (For more details, see g3terminalvancouver.ca.) If this were to happen, G3 would have a true coast-to-coast grain handling enterprise, and you can be assured that G3 would re-enter the Alberta grain market landscape. When the CWB lost its monopoly marketing powers I was skeptical that it would survive with no handling facilities or capital to build facilities. Much to its credit, CWB made strategic alliances and purchases with producer-owned terminals to start building a country grain sourcing network. Then it secured capital to build new facilities in strategic locations across Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The entry of G3 brought the

missing elements to the table — capital for investment and a link to a major export market into Saudi Arabia and the richest region in the world. What more could an old/new upstart grain handling company in Canada ask for? You might be thinking that all we get out of this is another foreign-owned multi-national grain-handling company, but that is not quite correct. There are a few key and distinct differences to how this corporation is modeled compared to the ABCD’s of the Grain handling world (Archer Daniels Midland, Bunge, Cargill and Louis Dreyfus). Now, obviously, Bunge (B) is involved in this ven-

ture but G3 is not a completely privately owned corporation. In the merger deal, 50.1 per cent of CWB was sold to G3, giving G3 controlling interest. What makes this deal different is that CWB, through its Farmer Equity Plan, is offering farmers the option to invest in the new company through grain deliveries. For every tonne of grain delivered against 2013-14, 201415 or 2015-16 contracts with CWB or G3, farmers will receive $5 in CWB Farmers Equity Trust units. G3 will hold these units for at least seven years. After that, G3 will have the option to purchase these units at fair market value. This is the first plan to offer

producers the ability to invest and build equity in a new and emerging Canadian grain business. G3 may not be a farmerowned grain handling company like back in the days of the Prairie Pools, but I do believe this new emerging company will be a force to be reckoned with and a benefit to farmers. A company building new stateof-the-art facilities both in the country and at port should be cost competitive. This should make the competition tighten their profit margins, which should mean better pricing offers to producers in the country. Add to that the Farmer Equity plan and G3 has another competitive advantage. From my perspective, the

Equity plan is a stroke of competitive genius — it offers producers a stake in G3 based on their patronage. Giving your primary customers a stake in the company all but ensures future success for the company and the producers who support it. G3 does have the ability to buy out the balance of the shares in seven years, but I don’t know why they would want to do that and lose the connection and competitive advantage they have with producers through the equity plan. † Brian Wittal has 30 years of grain industry experience, and currently offers market planning and marketing advice to farmers through his company Pro Com Marketing Ltd. (www.procommarketingltd.com).

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Columns Agronomy management

Using base-cation saturation ratios Fertilizer recommendations based on BCSRs do not beat traditional approaches Ross McKenzie

n my last column, I discussed soil pH and its effect on plant nutrients and fertilizers. In this issue, more about basic, or alkaline, soils and how some agronomists are using base saturation to make fertilizer recommendations. Remember that soils with a pH of 6.6 to 7.4 are in the neutral range, pH 7.5 to 7.8 are slightly alkaline and pH 7.9 to 8.4 are moderately alkaline. Soils with a pH above 7.5 generally have a higher saturation of

base cations (positively charged elements) that contribute to higher soil pH. These are potassium (K+), calcium (Ca++), magnesium (Mg++) and sodium (Na+). Soils with a pH >8.4 usually have excess levels of Na and are sodic. Remember, the two cations that contribute to soil acidity are: hydrogen (H+) and aluminium (Al+++). The number of positive charges varies depending on the element. For example potassium has one positive charge but calcium and magnesium each have two positive charges.

Cations and the CEC Cations are not very mobile is soil. This is because positively charged cations will attach to

negative sites on clay particles and humus (highly decomposed organic matter). The combination of clay particles and humus are referred to as soil colloids. Soil colloids have negative charges and hold positively charged cations on the negative exchange sites. Soil colloids play an important role by holding cations. Soils with higher levels of clay and organic matter usually have a greater capacity to hold more cations and these soils will be more fertile. The amount of cations a soil can hold is termed “cation exchange capacity (CEC)”. CEC can be determined by a soil testing lab, but generally is not very helpful in developing fertilizer recommendations in Western Canada. Further,

CEC level is mostly affected by the amount of clay in soil. Therefore CEC does not change from year to year, so there is no point in testing CEC each year.

Base saturation The term “base saturation” is used to indicate the amount of negative sites on the soil colloids that are occupied by the base cations (K, Ca, Mg and Na). The acidic cations (Al and H) occupy the remaining exchange sites. Base saturation describes how completely the soil colloid surface is filled with the basic cations (Ca, Mg, K, and Na) versus all cations. Normally, base saturation is expressed as a percentage:

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% Base Saturation = K+Ca+Mg+Na

X 100

K+Ca+Mg+Na+H+Al When all soil colloid exchange sites are occupied with base cations, the base saturation is 100 per cent, which occurs when soil pH > 7.0 (alkaline or basic soil). As soil pH declines below 7.0, Al and H occupy a percentage of exchange sites on soil colloids and base saturation percent declines.

Base-cation saturation ratio In recent years, some agronomists have been using the “basecation saturation ratio (BCSR)” approach to interpret soil test results to develop fertilizer recommendations. This approach attempts to balance specific soil cations according to varying ratios to balance nutrient levels in soil. The “base-cation saturation ratio” term is used to indicate the “ideal proportion” of the exchangeable cation nutrients K, Ca, Mg and H in soil. This approach was proposed by soil scientist Dr. F. E. Bear and coworkers in in 1945 based on a greenhouse experiment in New Jersey. They suggested that in the ideal soil Ca, Mg, K and H should occupy 65, 10, five and 20 per cent of the cation exchange capacity, respectively. The approach was to make K, Ca and Mg fertilizer recommendations. The BCSR approach was not intended for recommending nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur or micronutrient fertilizers. Over the past 30 years there has been considerable field research studying and comparing the BCSR to the sufficiency level approach to making fertilizer recommendations. In 2005, western Canadian researchers Dr. Adrian Johnston and Dr. Rigas Karamanos reported results of six trials on soils with sufficient plant available soil K concentrations, but low K saturation percentages, with no significant yield increase with wheat and barley from adding K fertilizer. A very extensive review paper on BCSR was published in the Soil Science Society of America Journal in 2007. In the article, researchers Kopittke and Menzies reviewed the published research from numerous research studies on BCSR, including the early work by Bear. They concluded that: “within the ranges commonly found in soils, the chemical, physical, and biological fertility of a soil is generally not inﬂuenced by the ratios of Ca, Mg, and K. The data do not support the claims of the BCSR, and continued promotion of the BCSR will result in the inefﬁcient use of resources in agriculture and horticulture.” (Find the whole article online at http:// www.organiclandcare.net/sites/ default/files/upload/kopittke__ menzies_2007_sssaj.pdf.)

» continued on next page

/ grainews.ca NOVEMBER 10, 2015

Columns Win this book » CONTINUED FROM Previous PAGE Research comparing the BCSR and “sufficiency level” approaches to making fertilizer recommendations has shown that plants are more sensitive to actual soil test K, Ca and Mg levels in soil versus using BCSR. A review of scientific research shows that the sufficiency level approach for plant available K, Ca and Mg in soil is superior to BCSR for predicting crop response to fertilizer. Many soil testing labs and agronomists base their fertilizer recommendations on regional field crop response data. Ideally, using regional crop response

research data calibrated with soil test nutrient levels has worked very well across Western Canada. The “sufficiency level” approach focuses on keeping plant-available soil nutrient levels within an optimum range so that each nutrient is above a deficiency level in soil. This has proven to be the best approach to making fertilizer recommendations for most western Canadian farms. † Ross H. McKenzie, PhD, P. Ag., is a former agronomy research scientist. He conducted soil, crop and irrigation research with Alberta Agriculture for 38 years. He has also been an adjunct professor at the University of Lethbridge since 1993, teaching four-year soil management and irrigation science courses.”

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NOVEMBER 10, 2015 grainews.ca /

Columns Soils and crops

Sustainability and feeding the world Sustainability, organic farming, and feeding the world: not as simple as they sound

Feeding a hungry world “Feeding a Hungry World” is a common buzz phrase. There are more hungry mouths to feed and we must gear up to do that, is what we are told. Malthus said the same thing 200 years ago

They can use it to quickly and easily determine the bio-diversity of microbes in the soil. But, oh my, what a disappointment when the organic rotation turns out to have less biodiversity than conventional. Our current “conventional” — continuous cropping, zero till complete with earthworms, several crops in rotation, adequate fertilizer and weed control — bears no relation to the “conventional” practices of a generation ago. Don’t get me wrong. I have no quarrel with folks who farm organically. Many have very sustainable and profitable businesses that include many crops, including perennials, and a good livestock base. And, if you can sell organic grains at $ 30/bushel that is great.

But, let us not pretend that a wholesale conversion to organic farming is going to feed the world. Many documents report that nearly half of all current crop production worldwide is because of fertilizer alone. Diversity is great, and diversity in types of farms is also great. I see no reason for a conventional farm to consider itself “superior” to an organic farm, or vice versa. † J.L.(Les) Henry is a former professor and extension specialist at the University of Saskatchewan. He farms at Dundurn, Sask. He recently finished a third printing of “Henry’s Handbook of Soil and Water,” a book that mixes the basics and practical aspects of soil, fertilizer and farming. Les will cover the shipping and GST for “Grainews” readers. Simply send a cheque for $50 to Henry Perspectives, 143 Tucker Cres, Saskatoon, SK, S7H 3H7, and he will dispatch a signed book.

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ustainability is a major ag buzzword today, mostly peddled by folks with little concept of what a farm is. It is being used in both crop and animal production but I will just talk about crops. To get on the “sustainable” list to market certain crops I see very strange requirements. You must not push any bush to clear new land and you must not drain a little slough to a big slough in current wet years. What does that have to do with “sustainability?” When the Romans landed in “Jolly Olde” (England) they found mostly bush and swamp. Left like that the U.K. would never have “sustained” many mouths. Many years ago a prominent Saskatchewan clay belt farmer stated that the then-practice of a wheat/summerfallow rotation was not sustainable. And he was right. A continual mining of nutrients eventually runs the tank dry, or at least to a point where yields decline to non-economic levels. I also have my doubts about crop rotations with only two crops. Corn/ soybeans in the U.S. still leads to soil erosion and too much glyphosate is leading to resistance issues. Our wheat/canola rotation leads to disease problems — fungicides are a Band-Aid but not a solution. We do have some sustainability issues but changes can be made to maintain a high level of production. To be sustainable we need to change crops and practices. Crop rotation with as many crops as possible will always be an advantage. Perennial legumes like alfalfa are a great option in theory but not always in practice. In northeast Saskatchewan alfalfa was a part of the rotation on many farms when the dehy industry was thriving. It would be a great option in this wet cycle as it would keep the water table lower. But, in drier areas and years, annual crop yields after alfalfa can be a big disappointment. Alfalfa sucks water from snow melt to snow fall and can leave soils without the water to grow a crop. Since about 2005, in our area in central Saskatchewan, a rotation

and it has yet to be proven. To increase production, all we need is a ready market and a profitable price. Farmers have proven that again and again. But each time farmers get geared up, surpluses come along and prices fall. Organic farming is often cited as the sustainable alternative. Not true. Without a livestock component to provide a ready supply of manure the soil phosphorus will slowly but surely decline. I still see organic farms that rely on summerfallow as a nitrogen source and weed control measure. Definitely not sustainable. It is interesting to listen to grad student seminars at the University of Saskatchewan. Soil microbiologists now have a new toy: DNA.

les henry

including three years of alfalfa on a part of the farm would have been a great rotation. That is, providing a nearby livestock farm provides the ready market for the crop at a reasonable price. The ideal situation would be to rent the land and the dairy could buy the crop in the field. That is how potatoes work in the irrigation areas around Lake Diefenbaker. But, alas, not too many have a dairy farm handy.

H S TA R G E

T NE

By jonny hawkins

Country Chuckles

/ grainews.ca NOVEMBER 10, 2015

Columns Hart attacks

Is there still a farm wife out there? Lee Hart treads into dangerous territory, daring to take on the issue of the term “farm wife” Lee Hart

ince religion and politics are always safe subjects, I thought I would really kick over the can of worms and talk about gender equality on the farm. I am not even sure where this topic is going, I just know the term “farm wife” raised a few hackles at a recent Canadian Farm Writers Federation conference in Calgary. The male speaker who prompted the discussion or comment was talking about the difference between speaking with the farmer and speaking with the farmer’s wife. That drew a somewhat critical response from one young

BASF 10.0000X4.0000 000062542r1 4C

woman, who is a communicator, but who along with her husband also farms. I believe she bristled at the notion the comment implied the woman on the farm was somehow different, out of touch or perhaps less knowledgeable about the farm than the man. And to play it safe on this one, I am just going to say “I agree.” I am not sure what that means, it can be taken either way. Quite seriously, I am probably as guilty as anyone in assuming when I call a farm to talk about crop or livestock production that I should talk to the man. I admit I am probably just “old school” but my conditioning over the years — over my life — is that

the man farmer is the one to talk about production and farm business matters. That’s partly due to the influence I had on our own family farm growing up as a kid. Dad looked after the farm stuff and mom looked after the house. That doesn’t mean Mom didn’t work hard on farm chores. She did. But Dad took the lead. And over the past 30 years or so as a farm writer I dare say 99.99 per cent of the time when I call a farm to talk about a livestock or crop production matter, the female who answers the phone defers or refers me to the man... “you need to talk to my husband about that — he’ll be in for lunch, call him first thing

in the morning, here is his cell number.” That’s the response I expect, but it isn’t because I think the woman on the farm isn’t bright enough to know what herbicide was used on a crop, or the weaning weights of calves. I just assume that isn’t her area of expertise and she is deferring me to the person who is the most familiar with that information. Maybe the reality is she’s just passing it off because she’s too busy to talk. She knows all the answers, but she wants her husband to feel like he is part of the operation too. And I know the agriculture industry has changed considerably in the past 20 to 25 years. There are way more women

involved in production and management than ever before. Certainly on the industry side there are far more livestock specialists and crop production and input specialists who are women than there was 10 or 15 years ago. And that’s great with me. And to be honest, every once in a while when I call a farm phone number for crop or livestock production information I do speak to the farm woman. For this issue of Grainews, I called the Cronin farm in Ontario to talk about their diversified hog operation, and Amy didn’t miss a beat in answering any questions I had about the farm. And that is great. Even in my own household here in Calgary, I am the one who knows how to start the lawnmower and the weed trimmer, but if someone asks about household finances — how much are your taxes, how much are your utilities, where are your investments, when is your payday — I have to defer them to my wife. She knows. (And that’s only because over the years I have been ground in to submission to stay out of matters I have a history of screwing up.) And that is great.

There are way more women involved I don’t know if it is politically correct to still refer to the woman in the farming operation as the “farm wife.” If not, then I apologize in advance. It relates to my upbringing and my conditioning over the years. Bottom line for me, when I call a farm looking for information, it doesn’t matter to me who I talk to. I just ask who ever answers the phone to point me in the right direction. I am open to learn. And if you need someone to dazzle you with creative bill paying just hand me your cheque book. It could then take years to get your finances back on track. † Lee Hart is a field editor for Grainews in Calgary, Contact him at 403-592-1964 or by email at lee@fbcpublishing.com.

By jonny hawkins

Country Chuckles

“Big Bucks.”

NOVEMBER 10, 2015 grainews.ca /

Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers

Edmonton hosting bright and talented young farmers Six farm couples from across Canada are competing for national honours By Lee Hart

he Marriott Hotel on Edmonton’s west side will later this month serve as headquarters for the 35th annual gathering of Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers (OYF). Six farm couples from across Canada who won the regional honours in their respective provinces, will meet in Edmonton November 17 to 22 to compete for the East and West national OYF titles. These regional honourees have been chosen from their home regions, and will present highlights of their operations at the national event, which will attract nearly 200 OYF alumni and guests. The near-weeklong event gets underway Tuesday Nov. 17 with registration and a judges’ dinner. While Wednesday and Thursday there are tours planned of different Edmonton and area urban and agricultural attractions, the nominees themselves will also be involved in different meetings with the judging panel. Friday’s day-long events, open to the public, includes an information forum entitled, “Working with the ones you love.” That will be followed by a presentation by each of the nominees giving a talk and slide presentation of their respective farming operations. The day concludes with a banquet and awards presentation. All Friday events will be at the Marriott River Cree Resort & Casino at Enoch, Alberta on the outskirts of Edmonton. The 2015 honourees represent a crosssection of the diversified Canadian agriculture industry. David and Sara Simmons are dairy farmers from Little Rapid, Nfld. The Simmons represent the Atlantic Canada region. This is the first time since the 1990s there has been a nominee from Newfoundland. From Ontario are pork producers Mike and Amy Cronin, of Bluevale, Ont. who

photo: thinkstock

have developed a diversified Canada/ U.S. hog operation. From Quebec, are Ayrshire dairy farmers Christian Bilodeau and Annie Sirois, who farm at St-Odilon-de-Cranbourne, Que., south of Quebec City. Mark and Cori Pawluk, Birtle, Man. not only produce grain and oilseeds on their Manitoba farm, but have also added diversified and value-added components. Jeff and Ebony Prosko, farm with their family at Rose Valley, Sask. and have added an ag retail outlet to their business profile. Patrick and Cherylynn Bos, Ponoka, Alta., have seized an interesting aspect of the dairy market, establishing the largest goat dairy operation in the world.

Atlantic Region

manitoba

Most years there is a seventh regional nominee from the B.C./Yukon Territory however, due to personal circumstances, Kerry and Anita Froese, poultry producers from Abbottsford, B.C., earlier this year withdrew from the competition. Two of these six regional winners will be chosen at the awards gala as Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2015. Celebrating 35 years, Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers’ program is an annual competition to recognize farmers that exemplify excellence in their profession and promote the tremendous contribution of agriculture. Open to participants 18 to 39 years of age, making the majority of income

Alberta

Ontario

from on-farm sources, participants are selected from seven regions across Canada, with two national winners chosen each year. The program is sponsored nationally by CIBC, John Deere, Bayer CropScience, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. The national media sponsor is Annex Business Media, and the program is supported nationally by AdFarm, BDO and Farm Management Canada. For more information on the OYF program and national competition visit the OYF website at: www. oyfcanada.com. † Lee Hart is a field editor for Grainews in Calgary, Contact him at 403-592-1964 or by email at lee@fbcpublishing.com.

Saskatchewan

Quebec

/ grainews.ca NOVEMBER 10, 2015

Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers

Atlantic Region

Atlantic OYF finalists David and Sara Simmons This Newfoundland couple enlist technology to improve dairy farm efficiency By Lee Hart

photo: courtesy canada’s oyf progrm

Altantic Canada OYF regional nominees, David and Sara Simmons with daughter Felicity.

hile there are some logistical issues involved being one of the further-most eastern dairy farms in Canada, David and Sara Simmons hasn’t let that stop them from developing a progressive and productive farming operation, and becoming a producer of high quality breeding stock. As the owners of Pure Holsteins dairy farm at Little Rapid, Newfoundland Labrador (NL) the Simmons have applied their college educations as well as the experience gained growing up on their respective dairy farming operations to building a modern and progressive dairy on the west coast of the island province near the city of Corner Brook. Their business management skills and family and community commitments earned them the recognition earlier this year being named Atlantic Canada nominees for the 2015 Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers award. David was born and raised on the family farm in Newfoundland, while Sara grew up on her family’s Boreview Holsteins at Lower Coverdale, near Moncton, N.B. They met while both were attending Nova Scotia Agricultural College. David is the third generation on the farm, which has a long history as a dairy operation. “While we both have farming backgrounds, it has been a steep learning experience running our own dairy farm,” says David, noting they bought Pure Holsteins about five years ago. Actually, they both have been involved with the dairy farm since 2008 when they began farming with David’s family. In just two years, they took over full management of the 100-cow milking herd. In 2011, they started Pure Holsteins Ltd. that includes a unique succession and business plan. David and Sara bought all the dairy assets including equipment and animals and lease the barn and quota from David’s father and

his two uncles. The young couple manage the cows and production. The Simmons focus not only on developing a high milk-producing herd, but also in developing high quality breeding stock. As the farm background on the Pure Holstein website (www.pureholsteins.com) explains: “Sara has a strong back ground in showing dairy cows as her family has been showing Boreview Holsteins since her grandfather, Rudy Steeves started their herd,” says David. “She has brought the love and desire of the true type cow and showing into my life. We have spent the last six years trying to breed for high type, all around beautiful Holstein’s. We have shown our animals in as many shows as we can afford to attend and always look forward to the Holstein Canada Classifier visits as each time we can easily see our hard work and breeding program improving and moving us forward in the Holstein industry.” Although Pure Holsteins is well connected with the Canadian dairy farming industry, Simmons says being one of 31 dairy farmers in Newfoundland has some challenges. For instance it is a 22-hour trip by land and ferry to get to his nearest farm machinery or fertilizer dealer on the mainland. The farm does source all the hay and forages it needs to feed the herd from nearby family members, but any grain, dairy ration, fertilizer, fuel and machinery all has come by ferry to the island. Since establishing their own dairy farm, the Simmons have worked to properly manage cash flow, improve animal husbandry, cow comfort and of course production. Operating with a free-stall system, improvements include installing rubber mats on all walking surfaces used by the cattle, and outfitting the barn with 24-foot diametre ventilation fans to maintain air quality and cow comfort. One major advance was outfitting the barn with two Lely robotic milkers a year ago. That’s had a

two-fold benefit of reducing labor and increasing milk production. “In working with a company such as Lely I believe we were always confident that the system would work well,” says Simmons. “In our area finding steady and reliable skilled labour for a dairy farm is almost impossible, so we looked at the robotic milkers to help with the farm workload.” Newfoundland also offers an excellent grant program which covered about 60 per cent of the total equipment and barn renovation costs. Over the past year of using the robotic milkers, Simmons estimates the labor cost savings alone is enough cover the payment costs on the milking equipment. Along with that they have seen a 30 per cent increase in milk production. He says their 100cow herd, which is averaging in the 55 to 60 litre per head per day range, is producing as much milk as 110 cows in a conventional parlour system. Looking ahead he says they do have plans to replace older facilities with a new calving barn, but for the immediate future they just want to get some “money in the bank.” “Our first few start up years has involved a lot of spending,” says Simmons. “So over the next couple years we are looking at making, rather than spending money. Once we get a bit ahead then longer term we can look at other new improvements.” Along with looking after the dairy herd, David and Sara are also involved in family, community and industry activities. Their daughter Felicity, four has already shown a keen interest in the farm, and they are planning to start a 4-H club in their community for her and other interested children. The Simmons’ are proud of their family farm business, and support their community by volunteering on the Deer Lake Agricultural Fall Fair committee. And David is president of the NS/NL Holstein Branch. † Lee Hart is a field editor for Grainews in Calgary, Contact him at 403-592-1964 or by email at lee@ fbcpublishing.com.

NOVEMBER 10, 2015 grainews.ca /

Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers

Alberta

Alberta regional finalists: Cherylynn and Patrick Bos As their goat milk and cheese business grew, this Alberta farm needed employees By Angela Lovell

fter riding the lumps and bumps of the goatmilk industry over the past few years, Patrick and Cherylynn Bos have made significant changes to their farm operation leading to more stability, farm expansion and recognition as Alberta’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2015. Eight years ago the Boses added a milk processing plant to their farm near the central Alberta community town Ponoka. The plant processes milk from their own goats as well as other area producers into milk and cheese sold under various brand names throughout Western Canada. “When we started milking goats 18 years ago we shipped to a plant which went eventually went bankrupt,” says Cherylynn. “So then we shipped to another plant which later got sold. There was no security. Finally we built our own plant, which gave us stability by allowing us to control our products from farm to fork.” Three years ago they introduced their own milk and cheese brand, Rock Ridge, marketed through specialty stores in Alberta. “We felt we had to get our foot in the market too and diversify,” says Cherylynn. One other major change for the couple was realizing as the business grew they couldn’t do everything themselves. “That’s been one of the biggest changes for Patrick and me,” says Cherylynn. “We’ve always been hands-on people and now that we’ve expanded the herd and with the plant’s growth, we’ve had to switch to being managers. When we don’t always get to do things ourselves, it can be frustrating sometimes, but we recognize that we can’t move ahead by doing it all ourselves.” The farm now has eight fulltime employees and also hires a few summer students. “We want this to be a really great environment for us and our employees to work and a nice place for our family to live,” says Patrick. “By making sure our employees have the management tools they need to make things sustainable it also means that as our children get older we can have a holiday and take time away from the farm for things that are important to them as well.” The couple have expanded their herd from 350 milking does to 750, and are in the process of setting up a new, 90-stall, semi-automated rotary milking parlour built through a collaboration of companies from Holland, Israel and Canada. “We realized that to be sustainable we needed to grow the herd size, and with the buildings, equipment and software which are coming into place now we can manage a large herd and focus on herd growth, health, and genetics,” says Patrick, who helped re-design part of the automation of the rotary parlour to better suit the needs of their operation.

“It will be the largest North America dairy goat herd, and the individualized feeding and herd management system, along with the amount of automation that’s going into it makes it one of the most cutting edge rotaries in the world right now.” A family member nominated Patrick and Cherylynn for the Outstanding Young Farmers title. “As family, I guess they see how hard we work, and it was so thoughtful on their part. It was just an incredible ‘WOW’ feeling to be nominated,” says Cherylynn. “When you go to the Outstanding Young Farmers you’re with a group of people who are very excited about farm-

ing, and you come back with such a renewed energy and excitement about what you’re doing,” says Patrick. “It’s very gratifying.” Along with more stability for the farm, the Boses hope the changes they’ve made and future plans will provide a better lifestyle and more options for their four children — Amelia,12, Connor, 10, Justin, nine and Adelle, four — down the road. “We’re not just growing the farm for now, we’re hoping to bring it to the point where our children, if they want, have the option to stay and work alongside us,” says Cherylynn. † Angela Lovell is a freelance writer based in Manitou, Manitoba.

photo: courtesy canada’s oyf progrm

Alberta OYF nominees Patrick and Cherylynn Bos with their children, Amelia,12, Connor, 10, Justin, nine and Adelle, four.

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/ grainews.ca NOVEMBER 10, 2015

Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers

Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan OYFs: Ebony and Jeff Prosko This Rose Valley farm family diversified their business with an ag retail outlet By Angela Lovell

W photo: courtesy canada’s oyf progrm

Jeff and Ebony Prosko along with their daughters Harper and Londyn are the Saskatchewan OYF nominees for 2015.

hen Ebony and Jeff Prosko learned their banker had nominated them for regional honors as Saskatchewan’s Outstanding Young Farmers, they were speechless. “When the guy that lends you money thinks you’re doing a good job that makes us feel that we are on the right path,” says Ebony. Ebony and Jeff are grain producers east of Saskatoon. ” It makes the nomination even more of an honour.” The Proskos won the provincial competition and are heading to compete for the national title of Canada’s Outstanding Young

Farmers in Edmonton in midNovember. The couple, who grow grains and oilseeds on about 4,500 acres as part of a larger, family-owned farming unit of 15,000 acres at Rose Valley, are always on the lookout for opportunities to expand and diversify the farm. “We look for opportunities to bring things to our area, to our farm and to our family that are going to help us succeed,” says Jeff. “Challenges can be opportunities too if you look at them the right way. Although a late harvest might be a problem for us, it’s also an opportunity to go custom harvesting and use your equipment a little bit more efficiently. We believe there’s opportunity in

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everything and our driving force is to seek it out.” Changes to the family dynamic over the past five years, with Jeff’s siblings, Joel and Giselle coming back to farm full-time, has provided impetus to establish a new farm enterprise. The family started an agricultural retail business called ProSoils in 2013. “The retail aspect had been a dream of mine for many years, but we didn’t want to take on something we couldn’t commit to properly,” says Jeff, who is president of the company. “When the siblings came back into the farm business we felt we could take this on and launch it. Timing was right as we saw changes in the marketplace with major companies decoupling their retail businesses from the grain side, which helped make the plan come together. We see this as exciting time for our farm, our family and our area. We’re really proud to plant the flag here.” Along with Jeff and Ebony, other family members involved in the farm include Jeff’s parents Rick and Donna as well as his brother Joel (Meghan) and sister Giselle (Reagen). The farm has eight full-time, year-round employees, but that grows to 20 to 25 employees during the busy season from April to November. The Proksos know how important their staff is to their continued growth and work to make them feel appreciated and respected. “We have an after-seeding party and an after-harvest party as well as a big Christmas party where we invite all their families,” says Ebony. “We would not be able to do what we do without our employees and we want to show that we appreciate every single one of them.” The couple also puts great value on their willingness to engage with their peers, make connections and be actively involved in farm groups. They are both involved in the Saskatchewan Young Agricultural Entrepreneurs and a peer group of large, progressive farmers from Canada and the United States. “Making connections and meeting people through these groups, really helps you grow,” says Jeff. “If you broaden your horizons a little bit and try to learn from other people, you can move ahead a lot faster.” Being involved in the Outstanding Young Farmer program has been rewarding from that aspect as well. “The OYF Alumni are a bunch of go-getting people and they’ve been extremely supportive for us,” says Ebony. ”It’s like having another family.” Jeff and Ebony just turned 30 and their siblings are still in their 20s, so the farm is young with plenty of time and energy to grow and expand. The couple say they’d like to farm a few more acres over the next five to 10 years, continue to grow the customer base for ProSoils and hopefully add an additional outlet at another location. † Angela Lovell is a freelance writer based in Manitou, Manitoba.

NOVEMBER 10, 2015 grainews.ca /

Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers

Manitoba

Manitoba OYFs: Mark and Cori Pawluk

Access to a rail line gives the Pawluks extra flexibility on their Manitoba grain farm “Meeting people face to face at conferences and being able to pick up the phone and ask a question of someone who knows the answer has been really valuable,” he says. As part of that, he says it has been rewarding to be involved with the Outstanding Young Farmer program. “The networking is unbelievable. I think that’s the real strength of the OYF program. It’s fun to talk business and hang out with so many people who are all on the same wavelength.” † Angela Lovell is a freelance writer based in Manitou, Manitoba

photo: courtesy canada’s oyf progrm

Manitoba farmers Mark and Cori Pawluk with young son, Landon, have developed a diversified and value-added farming operation near Birtle.

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hen Mark Pawluk joined his parents back on the farm in 1999, after completing his degree in agribusiness at the University of Manitoba, he was open to new opportunities and challenges. Pursing those opportunities and developing a successful valueadded farm business contributed to he and his wife Cori being named Manitoba’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2015. Along with taking over the family farm in 2011, after his parents retired, Pawluk looked for new opportunities to expand the operation. His parents still help out with producing grains and oilseeds grown on about 5,700 acres of deeded and rented land. About 10 years ago the Pawluks bought a former line-company elevator in the town of Birtle, about eight miles away. Unlike a lot of others who purchased decommissioned elevators, the Pawluks were able to keep the railway siding in place and continue to ship carloads of grain. “It’s been a huge advantage to have that facility and rail siding because it opens us to the world,” says Mark. “We aren’t just limited to trucking our grain to other nearby elevators.” Access to storage and the rail line, has given them the flexibility to take advantage of opportunities and higher value niche markets. “We are growing malt barley and shipping it directly to end users,” says Mark. “End users are actively looking to work with individual growers because in some cases they may only need 500 tonnes of good quality barley and the larger grain companies aren’t interested in these smaller programs.” Pawluk’s philosophy is to always treat the farm as a business. “If you treat it like a business you will see new opportunities and ways to differentiate yourself,” he says. Along with the elevator, the Pawluks also built a plant next to the elevator which processes flax for pet food and human consumption. “We are processing flax today because we have a contract providing steady business, but six months from now we could be doing something else,” he says. “We built the processing facility with the idea that we can take advantage of any opportunity that exists in the future.” Although the farm still grows bulk commodities, future plans include matching farm production to meet other niche-market opportunities, similar to what they are doing with malt barley. “We are looking to have production programs that are variety specific and tailor them to what end users are

looking for,” says Mark. “We like having full control of the product right from the field, to closing the lid on the railcar, to delivering it to the end user’s doorstep.” Although the goal is to continue to grow the farm businesses, Mark says it is also important to find a balance between work and family life with wife Cori, who also works off-farm as a psychiatric nurse, and young son, Landon. One important element Pawluk says contributes to the farm success is the immense value of networking with his peers.

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By Angela Lovell

/ grainews.ca NOVEMBER 10, 2015

Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers

Ontario

Ontario regional finalists: Mike and Amy Cronin Cronin Farms has grown a diversified hog operation with facilities in two countries By Lee Hart

ntario farmers Amy and Mike Cronin have relied on their management skills, sound core-business values and a team of trusted employees to help them build a successful international hog operation that has not only survived, but grown over the past 20 years amid often volatile market conditions. Although they established Cronin Farms in 1998, during one of the deeper downward markets, the Cronins have developed an efficient and diversified hog production business headquartered in Ontario, with operations also in two U.S. states. It has been their management skills along with their contributions to industry, community and family affairs that earned them recognition as Ontario Outstanding Young Farmers for 2015. They will be competing with other regional winners for the national OYF award in Edmonton in November. Born and raised on their respective dairy farms, Mike and Amy married 20 years ago and launched into their own non-supply management farming operation at

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photo: davidiam courtesy oyf

Mike and Amy Cronin with their six children from left, Sam, 8, Emmy, 10, Kyle, 15, Tyler, 17, Liam, 12, and Alyssa, 20. Bluevale, Ont., about an hour west of Kitchener. “Working with my family we actually managed a 600 sow farrow to weaner operation for two years before we bought the business and started on our own,” says Amy. Today Cronin Farms owns and operates a 3,600 sow farrow to weaner operation in Ontario. Weaners are raised to 55 pounds. Cronin sells about 85 per cent of those to finishing operations, and finish the rest themselves. They also crop about 1,000 acres of corn. In the U.S., they bought their

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first hog facility in 2006. In Iowa they have a farrow to finish operation, and last year built an earlyweaned pig production facility which markets 21-day-old weaned pigs to a niche market. They also have a genetic multiplier operation producing purebred stock in Missouri. “We entered the U.S. market for several reasons, but primarily for risk management,” says Amy. “It helps us to diversify our business so we are not just dependent on the hog operation in Ontario. There are transportation issues when you move pigs across the border, and

there are also different marketing opportunities in the U.S. than we have in Canada. So by having U.S. production facilities it was in some respects simpler and also gave us new opportunities. If the market is weaker in one area, hopefully it is stronger in another.” The Cronins applied the same business philosophy used in Canada to the U.S. operations. As they have built a successful hog operation, Amy says developing and using a proper data management system over the past five years has helped them improve overall efficiency and profit. “We have been able to improve our system for collecting data and then analyze it to make better management decisions,” she says. “It has helped us better manage significant inputs such as feed costs, which in turn has given us a much better understanding of cost of production. Through our very detailed data management system we can also look for hedging opportunities as part of risk management.” While the entire family, including the oldest of their six children are actively involved with the farming operation, Amy says the farm also relies heavily on a dedicated team of employees.

“Looking ahead our focus will be to concentrate on the skills and abilities of our employees to make sure we have the right people in the right place,” she says. “We have a fantastic team now and we know we can’t run this operation without them. So our focus will be on fostering improved working relations, helping them to understand our core business values, which in turn will empower our employees to make good decisions as well.” Along with the farm, the Cronins are actively involved in community and industry committees and boards. Mike is involved in the Huron County Pork Producers and Ontario Pork, the local parish and as a youth soccer coach for more than 20 years. He was recently invited to be one of two Canadians to join the 21st Century Pork Forum in the U.S. Amy is a school board trustee, vice chair of the local credit union and is on the board of the Catholic Community Foundation of southwestern Ontario. She is the current chair of Ontario Pork and a recently appointed vice-chair of the Growth Steering Committee of Agriculture in Ontario. † Lee Hart is a field editor for Grainews in Calgary, Contact him at 403-592-1964 or by email at lee@fbcpublishing.com.

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NOVEMBER 10, 2015 grainews.ca /

Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers

Quebec

Quebec finalists: Christian Bilodeau and Annie Sirois This Quebec family runs a dairy herd, 360 acres, and an occasional maple syrup business By Lee Hart

ew facilities for their top performing Ayrshire dairy herd are on the agenda as Christian Bilodeau and Annie Sirois look at the future improvements to their southern Quebec farm. Working with older facilities now, with the milking herd, calves and dry cows housed in separate barns, the Quebec couple, who farm at St-Odilon-de-Cranbourne, south of Quebec City say a new barn that brings all cattle under one roof is one major improvement they hope to undertake over the next few years. Bilodeau and Sirois milk 50 head of cows on the family farm where Christian was born and raised. Christian took over the family opération about 17 years ago. Annie, who came from a non-farming background at BaieComeau has been learning the dairy industry since the couple was married in 2003. Bilodeau and Sirois’ management in developing a high quality, high producing diary herd, along with their community and industry involvement earned them the honour of being named Quebec’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2015. They will be competing with other regional winners for the national Outstanding Young Farmer honours at the annual awards competition in Edmonton in November. As Bilodeau and Sirois have worked to improve dairy herd genetics over the years — they were named Ayrshire Canada Master Breeders in 2001 — one of the most important management changes has been to install a BouMatic robotic milker. The robotic milker has helped reduce labour requirements on the farm, as well as increase milk production. Along with managing the dairy herd, Bilodeau and Sirois also own about 360 acres part of which produces forages for the dairy herd, and seasonally they also run a maple syrup operation. While Sirois is actively involved in community, school and sporting activities involving their four children, Kellyann, 14, Louis-Alexis, 13, Charles-Antoine, 10 and Lily, eight, Bilodeau is also involved in industry and community organizations. Bilodeau is a director of Ayrshire Quebec, president of the local Applaches Ayrshire Club, and as well as has long involvement, holding executive positions, with a provincial livestock improvement organization. Also, as a volunteer fire fighter, Bilodeau says one of his most challenging experiences was being among area emergency response crews attending to the devastating 2013 train derailment and fire in the nearby community of Lac Megantic. †

Quebec diary farming family Christian Bilodeau and Annie Sirois and their family Kellyann, 14, Louis-Alexis, 13, Charles-Antoine, 10 and Lily, eight. photo: courtesy canada’s oyf program

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Tire Technology Tire technology

Mitas AirCell can pump you up Refinement to on-board ag tire inflation system speeds up pressure changes By Scott Garvey

ne of the high-end features offered on AGCO’s Fendt-brand tractors is VarioGrip, which lets the operator adjust tire pressure right from the cab via the VarioTerminal. That provides some significant benefits. When the tractor drives through a gate and into a field, it’s possible to air down the tires for maximum traction and minimum soil compaction. At the end of the day, just air them back up to hit the road for the trip back to the yard. As quick as that system is, making a large change in pressure will still take a few minutes with the tractor engine running at fairly high revs to drive the on-board compressor. However, as a result of a co-operative engineering effort with tire manufacturer Mitas, there are some changes coming that will turn those few minutes into only a few seconds. The new Mitas AirCell makes it possible to adjust inflation pressure in a large Mitas ag tire by one Bar (14.5 p.s.i.) in about 30 seconds. The system will be offered on 900 Series Fendt tractors equipped with Mitas 710/75 R42 SFT tires as the VarioGrip Pro option starting in November 2016.

The AirCell is a rubberized tube that mounts on a standard rim inside a tractor tire and is continually inflated to eight Bar (116 p.s.i.). It occupies about 30 per cent of the tire’s interior space and can quickly dump air into the surrounding area of the tire interior to cut down the amount of time it takes to air it up. And because the interior volume of the tire is reduced by 30 per cent due to the presence of the Air Cell, deflation times are reduced as well. The AirCell maintains a constant shape regardless of its interior pressure, so the tire’s shape and flex rate don’t depend on the cell’s own inflation pressure. “Mitas AirCell was developed to reduce tire filling waiting time, cut fuel costs, protect the soil, increase the life of the tire and improve handling characteristics during on-road transportation,” said Hans-Ulrich Klose, head of Mitas’ automotive engineering unit, in a press release. “Mitas AirCell also provides synergies for the integration of tire inflation systems into the complex structure of high-tech tractors.” † Scott Garvey is machinery editor for Grainews. Contact him at Scott.Garvey@fbcpublishing.com.

photo: mitas

The Mitas AirCell allows for quick changes to tire inflation pressure and mounts on standard ag tire rims without special tools.

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/ grainews.ca NOVEMBER 10, 2015

Tire Technology Tire technology

Unique PneuTrac tire within two years Mitas’ new tire technology goes into field trials ahead of upcoming launch By Scott Garvey

itas’ revolutionary PneuTrac concept ag tire was first shown to the world at the last Agritechnica farm machinery show in Germany in 2013. Now the company says it is ready to put the tire into field trials, and it expects to have the PneuTrac market ready by the end of 2017. The PneuTrac uses a completely different, inverted sidewall design, which allows it to develop a larger footprint producing more traction than a conventional tire. And without an exposed sidewall, the tire is less prone to field damage. The tire also rides on a much lower inflation pressure than standard radials. During an interview with the tire’s inventor, Avishay Novoplanski, during Agritechnica 2013, he told Grainews the tire can also function even with a complete loss of air pressure. Mitas has described the PneuTrac as a hybrid, bridging the gap between modern radial tires and rubber-belt track systems. In fact, part of the field testing the company plans to do over the next two years involves measuring the PneuTrac’s performance against rubber tracks. “The footprint and traction force of Mitas PneuTrac and rubber tracks are superior to those of traditional pneumatic tires,” said Andrew Mabin, Mitas’ sales and marketing director in a recent press release. “The next step is to compare PneuTrac and rubber tracks and see how close they will come.” The field trials currently underway in Europe have so far yielded encouraging results, according to the company. “Mitas is conducting field tests in the Czech Republic with a John Deere 6150R tractor mounted with 480/65 R28 PneuTrac on the front axle and 600/65 R38 PneuTrac on the rear,” the press release explains. “The results show the traction force of Mitas 600/65 R38 PneuTrac is approximately 25 per cent higher than a standard tire and, compared with an IF-rated tire, PneuTrac delivers approximately 15 per cent better traction. Taking a closer look at the 480/65 R28 PneuTrac, it has approximately 10 per cent advantage in traction force over a standard tire and approximately seven per cent over the IF tire.” † Scott Garvey is machinery editor for Grainews. Contact him at Scott.Garvey@fbcpublishing.com.

Mitas PneuTrac tires are currently undergoing field trials in Europe. The company expects them to be market ready by late 2017. photo: radek prazan, mitas

NOVEMBER 10, 2015 grainews.ca /

Tire Technology Tire technology

Free app calculates tire pressure needs

ichelin just introduced the Pressure Calculator, a free app for mobile phones that can help determine exact pressure requirements for ag tires. Using the Pressure Calculator involves three steps. First, type in the load supported by front and rear axles. Then enter the type of tire using the dropdown menus. Finally, take a photo of the tractor with the smartphone. The app’s built-in camera function calculates load distribution and the length of the overhang measured from the axles. The app instantly works out the most appropriate tire pressure for the desired load and speed. This app is the only one of its kind on the market, according to the company. It’s free and available on both Android and iOS devices. It’s also available in French. † Scott Garvey

A built-in camera function helps the Michelin mobile app calculate inflation pressure requirements for a specific tractor.

photo: michelin

A new high-capacity CerexBib tire for combines is one of four new ag tires available for next season.

Michelin expands its ag tire line By Scott Garvey

etween now and next June, Michelin will roll out four new highcapacity additions to its line of ag tires. In September it added the VF480/80R50 179D SprayBib to its VF (Very High Flexion) high-clearance sprayer tire offerings. “The tire is designed to offer farmers a unique balance between a narrow tire to avoid crop damage and a flotation tire to minimize compaction,” said James Crouch, farm segment marketing manager for Michelin North America, in a press release. The tire can carry a maximum load of over 17,000 pounds and has a top rated speed of 40 m.p.h. In December Michelin plans to follow up that introduction with the release of an Ultraflex 710/45R22.5 165D CargoXBib High Flotation for its large implement line. It gets a new tread design that improves clean-out characteristics, replacing the current CargoXBib tread pattern that has been available in North America for the past seven years. When it comes big singles for a tractor, the brand’s seven feet, six inches-tall IF900/65R46 190D AxioBib is the largest farm tire in in the world, according to the company, and it has a load capacity of 24,000 pounds. It was introduced in Europe in 2014 and will debut here in March. A few months later, in June of 2016, the IF1000/55R32 CFO 188A8 CerexBib will hit the Canadian market. It’s designed for large combines and grain carts. †

Scott Garvey is machinery editor for Grainews. Contact him at Scott.Garvey@fbcpublishing.com.

/ grainews.ca NOVEMBER 10, 2015

Tire Technology Undercarriage evolution

Can tracks increase profits? Camso program measures the profit potential of rubber belts over tires By Scott Garvey

t makes for great coffee shop debates. Do rubber-belt track systems really offer advantages over cutting edge radial tires? And if so, do those advantages outweigh the extra investment cost? Camso (formerly known as Camoplast Solideal), the ag industry’s largest track systems supplier, has launched a new research program called “Profit From the Ground Up,” designed, it says, to answer exactly those questions. According to the company, the initial round of data collected in the program’s open-ended, realworld field trials proves rubber-belt track systems can add some profit to a farm’s bottom line. “’Profit From the Ground Up,’ basically, is our approach to the market,” says Martin Lunkenbein, business line executive director, agriculture at Camso. “We want to make sure that what we deliver to the grower is a tool to increase their business. We’re trying to get everyone to look at it not as rubber and steel but as tools that a farmer will have in his toolbox to grow his business.” A detailed discussion of soil compaction and other agronomic aspects aren’t front and centre in Camso’s description of the test results, although they’re bound to be the underlying factors driving any benefits. Instead, the company has cut to the chase, focusing on farmers’ bottom lines by asking, will you make more money with tracks through increased yields. “We’re doing work in the fields with farmers to quantify the benefits of switching over to track systems,” he adds. “We’re working with them to move away from just using terms like compaction and ground damage and move toward what it really means: how much more yield is it driving?” In it’s first season of partnering with farmers and comparing tracks to tires, the company focused on heavy planters. It released the results of that first “chapter” of testing at the U.S. Farm Progress Show last August. “One of the examples of what we’ve done is side-by-side plant-

ing with a planter on wheels and one on track systems,” Lunkenbein adds. “We’re showing a five per cent increase in yield. So basically, the farmer is getting a return on his investment in less than a year in this particular case due to the size of his farm (1,500 acres) just by making that conversion.” Testing suggests those gains are coming, in part, from a reduction in the number of “pinch points.” By reducing the planters from four tires to two tracks, so the number of compaction passes is reduced. That improves water filtration and adds to seed placement accuracy. At the end of the initial test season, the company report claimed more even crop maturity and yield gains with tracks. The Camso research isn’t alone in showing yield improvements Lunkenbein points out: “If you look around at other work being done by Gregg Sauder at Yield 360 (360yieldcenter.com), he’s showing some very similar results as well. So what we’re demonstrating is not unique.” On headlands, Camso’s data showed a 15 per cent gain in yield, but that testing is in the early stages and it’s not clear why the gain is higher there. “That’s fresh data that we have,” he adds. “And those need to be confirmed. We have to understand that and how we can drive that on a repeatable basis.” Camso’s initial round of testing was done in the U.S. But the company plans to expand the geographic base for its data collection by including various locations in North America and Europe in future evaluations. “We have to do comparative studies in different soil types and different geographies so that what we’re putting out in terms of yield results stays true across the board,” says Derek Bradeen, Camso marketing strategy and communications director. “And (determining) it’s not the geography that contributes to that yield increase, it’s the Camso belt and track system.” “There will be those ‘yeah buts’ (from doubters) at the beginning,” Lunkenbein acknowledges. “But that’s why, for us, it’s an ongoing

photo: camso

Ag track systems manufacturer Camso recently announced an ongoing research project to determine if converting field equipment to tracks can actually put more money in farmers’ pockets. project. We’ve demonstrated it in one area. Now we’re moving on to different areas, different applications, different soil types to be able to substantiate this is not just one lucky event.” The next chapter the company expects to release will focus on the effects of tracks on combines. That data should be available sometime in February. “We’ve done the first chapter, if you will, on planters,” says Bradeen. “This is being done on combines right now and other chapters include sprayers, tractors and different applications throughout the farming duty cycle.” “What we’re finding is every time you touch a field with one of the pieces of equipment throughout the growing cycle from field preparation to harvest there is an impact,” Lunkenbein says. “We’re quantifying that impact and driving it all the way back to yield. These improvements are what’s driving our product development to help growers increase the efficiency of their business. That’s where the focus has to be for us.” For more on Camso’s “Profit From the Ground Up” research, go to the company’s website at Camso. co, or check out their YouTube video. †

Camso launches track selector web feature

nyone considering converting a farm machine or even an ATV to a rubber-belt track system from tires can now find information about that process online. Track systems manufacturer, Camso, has added a track selection feature to its website, Camso.co. “Simple navigation and menu items enable visitors to select multiple options related to their work or application needs,” reads a company press release. “The system suggests the best product and a choice of suitable alternatives. This makes it easier for users to evaluate products on criteria such as energy efficiency, product life cycle, ride comfort, traction, floatation, versatility and stability.” † Scott Garvey

Camso’s new website offers advice and information on converting equipment from wheels to tracks. photo: camso

Scott Garvey is machinery editor for Grainews. Contact him at Scott.Garvey@fbcpublishing.com.

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NOVEMBER 10, 2015 grainews.ca /

Tire Technology Tire technology

“ Transformer” concept wins award New engineering design removes and re-installs duals in seconds By Scott Garvey

e e c o n , E t t e n - L e u r, a D u t c h c o m p a n y, recently received a Silver Innovation award from Agritechnica, the giant German farm machinery show, for its “Gull Wing double tire system,” which seems a little like something out of a “Transformer” movie. It will be on display at Agritechnica this month in Hanover. This automated, quick change system allows a tractor operator to remove and re-install duals in a tiny fraction of the time it would normally take to do the job. But why would you want that ability? Because highhorsepower tractors fitted with duals can easily exceed allowable road transport dimensions in many countries around the world. Removing them between fields could be the only way to get a tractor down the road. “The new hydraulic folding system is the first system that allows quick attachment and removal of rear dual wheels,” reads the company’s press release. “During road travel, the dual wheels remain on the tractor and are folded up and behind the tractor cab. When the machine arrives in the field, the operator folds down the wheels without having to leave the cab. The duals are then attached to the rear wheels via a special coupling system and the tractor is quickly ready for work.” †

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Scott Garvey is machinery editor for Grainews. Contact him at Scott.Garvey@fbcpublishing.com.

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/ grainews.ca NOVEMBER 10, 2015

Tire Technology Tire technology 1

Is it time for new tires? Performance of worn tires will depend on field conditions By Scott Garvey

ny producer who keeps the same tractor around the farm for several years will eventually need to decide when it’s time to replace the tires. Excessively worn drive tires can seriously affect a tractor’s performance and increase operating costs due to higher fuel consumption, because increased wheel slip caused by poor traction is wasted energy. But at what point, exactly, is a tire on a field tractor due for replacement? There is no standard rule in determining that, according to James Crouch, farm segment marketing manager at Michelin. “There are a lot of different things that you can consider here,” he told Grainews. “The first one would obviously be a wornout tire, if your tread depth is really low. But there’s not really a standard of how low it should be before you change it. It’s almost regional. Your soil type and moisture conditions will influence how effective your tire will be. It’s individually specific.” “If you’re in a really wet region or year and your tire is really worn out, then your (wheel) slip is going to be really high, and it’s going to waste a lot of fuel. If it’s really dry, you may be able to hold off (replacing them) a little bit longer.” Many newer-model tractors have wheel slip indicators, making it easy to determine what a tractor’s wheel slip rate is. On an older tractor, however, precisely determining that will be a little harder, and it may come down to using your experience as an operator.

Looking at how far dirt is pushed backward by the lugs in a tire track when the tractor is under load can be a useful indicator. “When your slip starts to increase and gets to a point that you know it’s much higher than it used to be, that’s when you need to start looking at changing your tires,” Crouch advises. “Any slip at all is wasted energy. You want to make sure that stays as low as possible and still allows the tractor to do what it is supposed to do.” “Some of the equipment manufacturers (recommend) from three to seven per cent, three to 10 per cent in some cases,” he continues. “It can be different depending on what your implement is, how much drag it creates. Your machine is designed to work with a little bit of slip. Once you get up to that eight, 10, 12 per cent, you start to waste a little bit of fuel.”

Finding serious damage Aside from assessing tread wear, finding serious damage is the other factor in deciding when to replace a tire. “When you start to see cords, it needs to come off,” Crouch says. “Any other damage needs to be looked at on an individual basis. Damage on the shoulder (also) needs to be looked at or repaired. Most of the time if you see enough damage to get your attention, it’s time to call your tire dealer and let them look at it. They can tell you if it can be fixed.” If it’s time for new shoes on an older machine that still rolls on bias rubber, upgrading to radials could make sense if you expect to

continue using the tractor for a few more years. Radials will vastly improve its performance. “It’ll be night and day different,” says Crouch. “It will change the tractor completely. You’ll never go back to a bias, which is why the market has gone radial so fast. Your initial investment will be much higher, but the longevity will pay for itself two or three times. It will be a complete game changer. ” “You’re going to be more fuel efficient,” he continues. “The ride quality is so much different on a radial than a bias. If you’re on the road at all, you’re going to see a huge difference in the longevity of the tire, because it’s going to wear evenly as opposed to a bias which is going to wear in the centre because of the construction of the tire.” And when you replace tires, don’t fall back on internal fluid for ballast, even if the tractor currently uses it. “We don’t recommend it,” Crouch says. “We would rather see someone put cast iron weights on to get what you need. The reason we do is because when you put fluid into a tire for weight, it changes the entire movement of the tire. Any radial tire is designed to flex. When you put fluid in there, it changes the way the tire is able to move. So it will change the performance of the tire a bit. It will change the contact patch. It will change the way the footprint plays out. It will change the way the tire wears. You lose a lot of the benefit of a radial and you’re starting to backtrack toward a bias.” † Scott Garvey is machinery editor for Grainews. Contact him at Scott.Garvey@fbcpublishing.com.

photos: scott garvey

1. Excessively worn tires will increase wheel slip, which wastes fuel. 2. If tire lugs are pushing dirt a long way rearward in a tire track, it can be an indication of excessive wheel slip.

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Machinery & Shop

Forage equipment

Big and small baler in one machine Krone’s MultiBale technology gives producers a new option for handling hay

The unique BiG Pack 870 baler can tie up to eight individual small bales within one large square bale, offering producers a new way to put up hay and straw bales.

By Scott Garvey

n October Krone announced it was adding another model to its BiG Pack baler line, the 870 High Speed (HS) HDP. It’s the newest large square baler from the family-owned, German company, which has been producing haying equipment since 1906 and selling into the North American market since 1973. The 870 HS HDP, however, isn’t your average large square baler. It uses the brand’s MultiBale technology, producing 2'7" x 2'3" bales with the ability to tie up to eight small individual bales within one large bale. Krone says the advantage of this model is it offers the capacity and efficiency of a large square baler, and at the same time it is a machine that could replace conventional small square balers. Just cut the three twines holding the large bale together and you can end up with eight pretied small bales. The smaller bales within the large one weigh about 80 to 90 pounds each in an alfalfa crop, depending on how you set the baler up. So they can then be manually handled like regular small bales. The MultiBale concept also offers producers an easier way to bring in small bales from the field, by making them part of a single, large bale.

photo: krone

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Not your average large square baler “The BiG Pack 870 HS HDP is an extremely versatile baler,” said Cliff Addison, Krone product development manager, in a press release. “It combines a high density, 3' x 2' large bale with the MultiBale function. This allows the operator the flexibility to choose to tie either one large bale, or up to eight small MultiBales within one large square bale.” The company claims this baler achieves up to 25 per cent higher bale density with its HDP technology compared to some standard large square balers. So that saves time and effort transporting and allows more hay to be stored in a smaller space. The BiG Pack 870 HS HDP uses Krone’s double knotter technology. Equipped with a total of five double knotters, two are used to tie individual small bales and the additional three knotters tie the “MultiBales” into one large bale. When the MultiBale function is turned off, all five knotters work together to create a standard large square bale. The BiG Pack 870 HS HDP features Krone’s active pick-up technology, the variable filling system, and an integrated bale weighing system. For more information on the BiG Pack balers, go online to krone-na.com. † Scott Garvey is machinery editor for Grainews. Contact him at Scott.Garvey@fbcpublishing.com.

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/ grainews.ca NOVEMBER 10, 2015

Machinery & Shop

Machinery book review

Red Combines book hot off the press Add this to the Christmas gift list for the IH enthusiast in your house Red Combines is a comprehensive look at the evolution of International Harvester combines. It’s pretty interesting and a makes for a good read. photo: scott garvey

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By Scott Garvey

hether you are a diehard fan of the former International Harvester brand or just a regular gearhead, the new book Red Combines from Octane Press should be near the top of your Christmas wish list this year. It chronicles the evolution of IH combines from the early McCormick-Deering days to modern Case IH models. At around 380 pages, there’s a lot packed into this book. It even includes a model list of machines built from 1914 through to 2015, including build years and in some cases total production numbers. The book also takes an interesting look at some combines and harvesters that didn’t see production, like the Probine concept for harvesting and separating protein from crops. You’ve likely never seen any of the concept drawings for these far-out machines. There is insight from the engineers behind the machines and the corporate decision makers, including a look at the 172-day labour strike that helped bring the brand to its financial knees. The book has great photographs of prototypes from the early days of rotary combine development, which was underway as far back as the 1950s. Actually, it’s rich in pictures throughout, from cover to cover. Overall, Red Combines is well researched and must have taken a long time to put together, so the authors, Lee Klancher and Gerry Salzman, deserve a pat on the back for this effort. At $75 the book isn’t cheap, but there’s ample value there for the money. It’s a must-have for any IH enthusiast’s library. † Scott Garvey is machinery editor for Grainews. Contact him at Scott.Garvey@fbcpublishing.com

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NOVEMBER 10, 2015 grainews.ca /

Machinery & Shop

Agricultural air force

Considering trying out a UAV? You could hire a custom operator to fly fields for you or take some training and fly your own By Scott Garvey

hould you add a UAV to your farm fleet or should you just hire someone with their own to do the flying for you? That’s a question farmers looking to collect the kind of data a UAV can capture will have to consider. At three to five dollars per acre to have a custom operator fly over fields and create images, it may make sense for large farmers to buy their own. “Depending on how much labour you have at home, that’s really what it comes down to,” says Markus Weber, president of AgEagle Canada, a UAV retailer. “If they have the time between seeding and spraying to be flying — that’s really the crucial time for flying — then you fly your own.” The alternative is to hire one of the increasing number of custom operators who will fly their own UAVs and capture data from your fields for you. “There is a whole industry that is starting to develop over just flying these things,” Weber adds. “They buy the wing, then resell the imagery to the agronomist or farmer.” But for those who decide they want their own air force, they should consider making some efforts to earn their wings first. Federal regulations may require proof they have the training needed to safely operate a UAV when applying for a Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC), which is required for most types of flights by the kinds of larger UAVs typically used in agriculture. “Even if Transport Canada didn’t require it, it makes sense to go through that kind of training,” says Weber. “Safety means it’s going to fly a lot longer, you’re not going to fly it into other things. It makes sense to go through that kind of training.” Some retailers offer pilot training with the purchase of a UAV. Alternatively, fledgling pilots can attend a one and one-half day ground school at a place like the Canadian Centre for Unmanned Vehicle Systems in Southern Alberta (CCUVS.com). “There are three different types of flights,” explains Weber. “The standard is you need a Special Operations Certificate (SFOC). There is paperwork, and you apply to Transport Canada.” However, the other two types

of flights don’t require a SFOC. One is if the UAV is under 2.5 kilograms. It then qualifies for an exemption. But that is a pretty small aircraft and not likely suitable for ag data collection. “You can fly, as long as you comply with the rules, you don’t even notify Transport Canada,” he adds. “For anything over 2.5 kilograms there are notification requirements.” The third type of flight applies to farmers that are more than five miles away from a built-up area. They could qualify for an exemption allowing them to fly without a SFOC if they don’t fly higher than 300 feet. †

photo: scott garvey

Scott Garvey is machinery editor for Grainews. Contact him at Scott.Garvey@fbcpublishing.com.

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Flying a UAV to capture farm data may mean applying for a Special Flight Operations Certificate from Transport Canada.

/ grainews.ca NOVEMBER 10, 2015

Machinery & Shop

Agricultural air force

Flying Solo: the new AGCO craft AGCO takes to the air, introducing its own UAV designed for field scounting By Scott Garvey

n August AGCO surprised a few people by introducing its own UAV, the Solo AGCO Edition, which is a rotary craft designed for field scouting. “We thought through everything a farmer needs to not only scout their fields, but also collect useful data beneficial to managing their farm and improving yields and efficiency,” says Jeff Punter, manager of purchasing for AGCO Parts in a press release. The Solo uses cloud-based, highresolution mapping software and what the company claims is “intuitive mission planning,” which in plain language means the UAV is easy to use. “The Solo AGCO Edition is our field mapping solution for the everyday farmer,” adds Darren Parker, director of sales and marketing for AGCO Parts. “You do not need to be tech savvy to operate this UAV, you just need to be able to press ‘launch.’” The Solo can fly in winds up to 25 m.p.h. and has a maximum speed of 55 m.p.h. Each of its four batteries, when fully charged, allows the Solo to cover up to 60 acres, depending on conditions and user-defined settings. The average maximum flight time is 20 minutes. So the Solo can scout a total of 240 acres in

The Solo AGCO Edition UAV was introduced last August. photo: agco

one trip to the field without the need to recharge its batteries. Images captured by the Solo are maintained in the cloud. (That does seem appropriate for an aircraft, doesn’t it?) Live flight data, including the battery life,

altitude and distance from home, are all streamed to the operator’s controller in real time. It is equipped with auto takeoff and landing, as well as emergency in-air brake and return-to-home features. With the Solo kit, buyers get all

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the necessary hardware and software, including in-app training. Suggested retail price for the Solo AGCO Edition is US$5,999. † Scott Garvey is machinery editor for Grainews. Contact him at Scott.Garvey@fbcpublishing.com.

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NOVEMBER 10, 2015 grainews.ca /

Machinery & Shop

Agricultural air force

In the field with an AgEagle UAV Grainews participated in two exclusive UAV demo flights at the Ag in Motion farm show By Scott Garvey

tanding in a demonstration field at the Ag in Motion farm show near Saskatoon in July, Markus Weber, president of AgEagle Canada (AgEagle.ca), launched one of the company’s unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as the Grainews video team looked on. The battery powered, flying-wing model quietly took to the air and flew the preplanned route Weber had programmed into it from a tablet a few minutes earlier. Designed for agricultural field mapping, the flying-wing configuration allows the AgEagle UAV to cover a lot of ground in a short time. “The AgEagle is our flagship product, 250 acres in 35 minutes,” he explains. “So it’s large acreage coverage.” The company sells another type of UAV too, the multicopter. Each of the two models has different advantages, but Weber thinks it’s the fixed-wing AgEagle that will be the most in demand in agriculture. “For most farmers, this is what I think they’ll be buying, eventually,” he adds. “For entire fields, you’re going to use something like that. There is incredible complexity in there. There is WiFi onboard. There is a cellular modem. It’s communicating with the cellular network to send imagery live while it’s flying.” With its onboard Sony QX1 or A5000 camera, the AgEagle can take photos and provide the pilot with a “fully stitched” image where all inflight pictures are merged together into full-field displays. The images can then be transferred to a farm office or sent to an agronomist. And the cameras are NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) capable, allowing you to get a good understanding of the growing conditions in a field. “The imagery you’re collecting with our machines, by and large, is NDVI,” he says. “People are working on hyper spectral and thermal. There are a whole bunch of different optics that are available, but the most common is NDVI.” “You could use it as early as before seeding to see where you have weeds. You could fly digital elevation models in the fall as well. 3D modelling, all this kind of stuff is available as well. So you can use it early and late in the season, but most of it is going to be during the two to three leaf stage, which is about the smallest (plant size) you’ll be able to see from an altitude of 300 to 400 feet.” The company’s other model, the multicopter, has the flight characteristics of a regular helicopter, enabling lower-level flying and hovering, which farmers could use to obtain

more localized, close-up images or do any of a variety of other photographic tasks. Although it looks like a more expensive machine, the multicopter is actually a cheaper alternative, with a price tag starting at about $6,450 compared to roughly $20,000 for the fixed-wing AgEagle package. But both come with all the equipment necessary to start collecting onfarm data right away. “This one (the multicopter) is better tailored to flying different altitudes,” Weber continues. “With a flying wing you have a certain speed you need to maintain or it stalls out. You’re flying 33 m.p.h. You’re not going to go lower than 300 feet, generally. If you want an up-close look at some plants, you’re going to have to use a helicopter of some sort.” The multicopter has a shorter flight time, however, 18 minutes in the air compared to 35 minutes with the flying-wing model. That’s because the wing provides the lift, and the propellor only has to move it forward. “The principle is rather than using energy to keep it aloft, like a multicopter, you’re using energy to drive it forward,” Weber explains. While UAVs provide a unique method of collecting on-farm data to help in management decisions, Weber notes that farmers will need to have a firm idea how they will use the avalanche of new information they’ll be collecting before making the investment in a UAV. “The main thing they need to know is how they’re going to use UAV imagery on their farm,” he says. “Most people don’t know how they’re going to use the NDVI imagery yet. The flight platform is the delivery vehicle, but ultimately it’s about the camera, taking pictures with that camera and turning it into data they can really use, either to make decisions or figure out if the decisions they made, made sense.” “In Western Canada, the uses are quite creative. Once they buy them, it’s amazing what people use them for.” Weber cited an example of someone who used his UAV to make multiple passes above a field over time to see if a fungicide application during dry conditions made any difference to the crop. “He spent $25 per acre to spray and didn’t see a difference,” Weber says. “He didn’t save the money this year, but he sure will next year.” For a video look at the AgEagle flying wing and multicopter, go online to Grainews.ca and click on the e-QuipTV button on the videos page. †

Scott Garvey is machinery editor for Grainews. Contact him at Scott.Garvey@fbcpublishing.com.

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1. Seen here ready to launch, the AgEagle flyingwing UAV is designed to capture images of fields with an onboard camera. It can cover about 250 acres in 35 minutes. 2. A pilot uses a tablet to control the movements of the Multicopter. 3. Markus Weber, president of AgEagle Canada stands with the two types of UAVs his company retails. 4. The Multicopter also carries an onboard camera and can be used to take closeup, low-level field images, but it has a shorter flight time than the flying wing.

/ grainews.ca NOVEMBER 10, 2015

Cattleman’s Corner Community rallies

Farrier competition honours Chad Johnstone Funds raised create a scholarship at Olds College BY ANNE LAZURKO

hen a work accident took Chad Johnstone’s life almost a year ago, touching tributes to the 38-yearold farrier immediately poured in from family, friends, colleagues and clients. And they came from across Saskatchewan and beyond. “He knew everybody and everybody knew him,” says wife Marla Holdstock. “He’d help anybody out and people wanted to give back.” Gerd Martin found a way for those who mourned Chad’s loss to do just that. A fellow farrier from Qu’Appelle, Sask., Martin set out to organize a memorial farrier competition as part of this past summer’s 2015 Weyburn Agricultural Society Fair. Johnstone was president of the Ag Society when he passed away. “I’d organized contests before and realized there was a bit of a void in Saskatchewan,” Martin says. “After Chad died I thought it would be a nice tribute to him and a way to make people aware of what farriers are.” The Ag Society worked on logistics while Marla and the Johnstone family found 24 sponsors from the community, the province and beyond. Martin organized access to demo horses, the required gas and coke forges, and a judge. He

put the word out to a relatively small community of farriers and attracted 11 contestants from across the Prairies and one from France. They took part in novice, intermediate and open categories. For two mornings, judge Steve Dixon from Maple Ridge B.C. watched as the contestants forged a pair of horseshoes to his specifications in a given amount of time. In the afternoons the farriers really drew the crowds when they showed off their skills at liveshoeing. The farriers trimmed the horse’s feet, cut the steel, forged a shoe and nailed it on, again in a given amount of time. The event attracted both those who came specifically to see the contest, but many who were passing through the fair grounds. “You fill a tent with smoke and horses and fire and you’re going to attract a crowd,” Martin laughs, saying the Western Canadian Farriers Association was happy to sponsor the judge because there are not many contests in Canada held in such a public venue. While the farrier competition attracted sponsors and a crowd to the memorial, the Holdstock and Johnstone families were able to collect donated items and organize an auction that raised $16,000, the proceeds put toward a scholarship endowment for students attending the farrier program at

Olds College in Alberta, where Chad had gone to school. “My goal for the scholarship was to get to where it was a permanent endowment,” says Marla. “I thought it might take two or three years.” But between the auction and donations from a South Country Equipment Bar-B-Q and the Brokenshell 4-H Club fundraiser, it happened in one summer. “We can begin to pay out to a student this fall because we could create two funds, one to pay out right away and the other to collect the interest that will keep it alive as a lifetime endowment at the college.” The primary criteria to apply for the scholarship is that a student be from Saskatchewan and excel in the program. If there are no applicants who meet the criteria, it will be opened up to others. Both Marla Holdstock and Gerd Martin are confident the farrier competition in Weyburn will be bigger and better next year. “So many people were interested and asked a lot of questions,” Marla says. “The old-timers were impressed to see the young guys hot-shoeing. And if some young person wants to do this, he might be inspired seeing this contest. Good farriers are hard to find and this creates awareness of a trade that’s out there and in demand.” †

Top. Gerd Martin, left, who spearheaded the Weyburn Ag Society farrier competition, works over hot bed of coals with competitor Todd Bailey. Bottom Left. Glenn MCullough, hammers on some hot steel at the Weyburn farrier competition. photos: anne lazurko

Anne Lazurko is a Saskatchewan-based freelance writer

the Markets

No bright lights ahead in beef market Jerry Klassen Market Update

he fed and feeder cattle market have many fundamental factors to digest over the next few months. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle near $169 in late October, which is down from the late spring highs of $204. Breakeven values on pen closeouts are in the range of $195 to $198 so in the best-case scenario, margins are bleeding over $300 on a 1450 pound steer. Feedlot inventories usually run at seasonal lows during the early fall period but packers are well covered for the nearby requirements, which is causing cattle to back up in the feedlot. Wholesale choice beef values were quoted at US$204/cwt in late October, down from US$250/ cwt for the same time last year. Carcass weights are running 30 lbs above year-ago levels and there is no signal that this environment is turning around. The negative margin structure has weighed on feeder cattle prices with prices down approximately $30 to $40 from the summer highs. Shorter-keep cattle have lead the markets lower because

feedlots cannot forward price these cattle at profitable levels. The longer time frame on lighter weight calves will allow more time for the market to turn around, but the outlook is fairly uncertain looking forward. Growing beef and meat supplies along with stagnating consumer demand have producers enduring above normal risk tolerances on the next round of feeding.

U.S. NUMBERS U.S. cattle on feed inventories have been running three per cent above year ago levels and with the heavier carcass weights, the USDA raised beef production estimates for the fourth quarter of 2015 and all of 2016. Production is coming in larger than anticipated in the short term and first quarter supplies for 2016 are also expected to show a year-over-year increase of nearly 300 million pounds. The second quarter beef production for 2016 is now expected to be 700 million pounds above 2015. The bulk of the yearly increase is coming in the second quarter, which is a cause for concern buying feeder cattle at the current levels that will be marketed next spring. The cattle market and overall beef complex is functioning to encourage demand as supplies increase. U.S. pork production was also revised

upward while marginal revisions were made for poultry.

CANADIAN NUMBERS Canadian beef production for the week ending October 10 was 749,298 mt, down four per cent from last year. However, exports of slaughter steers and heifers to the U.S. for the week ending October 3 were just over 159,000 head, down 46 per cent from 2014. The lower beef production along with the year-over-year decline in live cattle exports have cattle backed up in the feedlots. September and October are months of seasonal low demand, which has not helped absorb the growing supplies. At-home food spending has actually dropped below year-ago levels by 0.5 per cent; at the same time, away-fromhome food spending has dropped from 10 per cent in summer to only five per cent. The dip in overall food spending has resulted in softer wholesale beef prices as packers struggle to move product. I’ve mentioned in previous articles the U.S. economy has peaked out. We are not seeing major improvements in employment levels. Nor are we hearing of significant increases in disposable income, which is needed to sustain the beef complex. Another major sign of stagnation is that U.S. housing starts

U.S. QUARTERLY BEEF PRODUCTION (MILLION POUNDS) Quarter

2012

2013

2014

EST. 2015

EST. 2016

6,283

6,172

5,868

5,664

5,940

6,475

6,517

6,183

5,855

6,545

6,584

6,608

6,179

6,100

6,330

6,571

6,420

6,021

6,175

6,145

Total

25,913

25,717

24,251

23,794

24,960

Source USDA

have tapered off after reaching eight-year highs in the summer. Canada is basically in a recession and it doesn’t appear that will see any changes in Canadian consumption patterns to absorb the surplus production.

BACKGROUNDING AND FEEDERS I’ve received many inquiries from feedlots and backgrounding operators in regards to the feeder market. Prices remain elevated so that producers cannot forward price calves or yearlings at profitable levels. As of late October, the December live cattle futures were trading near $142 but the June contract was at $132. Similarly, the November feeder cattle futures were trading at $192 while the May contract was at $181. We’ve seen a sharp drop in the feeder cattle market but a prolonged period of negative margins could result in another major decline in the spring period. Cow-calf producers will want to sell sooner rather than later as I’ve mentioned in previous

articles. Backgrounding operators need to buy minimal numbers over time and use any rally in the feeder market to buy their price insurance or hedge themselves. The cattle market is infamous for seasonal rallies and consumer demand peaks in December and then again in March. These are two timeframes where the market may allow a hedging opportunity. I’m still friendly to the feed grains complex longer term and expect barley, feed wheat and corn prices to strengthen over the winter. This could further weigh on the feeder market but overall, producers need to be aware that they will be holding cattle in a longer term downward trending market. † Jerry Klassen is manager of the Canadian office for Swiss based grain trader GAP SA Grains and Products Ltd. He is also president and founder of Resilient Capital — a specialist in commodity futures trading and commodity market analysis. Aside from owning farmland in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, he’s a University of Alberta graduate who grew up on a mixed farm feedlot operation in Southern Alberta, which keeps him close to the grassroots of grain and cattle production. He can be reached at 204 504 8339.

BUILDING TRUST IN CANADIAN BEEF

Think inside the truck

You ship your market integrity with every load of cattle People who golf quickly learn the term “mulligan.” It’s a chance to take a shot over with no penalty because you flubbed it badly. There are no mulligans in cattle shipping. No chance to do it over if you make a poor decision. Every load of cattle that goes out the chute carries with it your personal and industry market integrity. It might as well have your name on the side, “I (your name here) made the decisions on what was loaded, how they were treated and what you’ll get as my customer.” Today’s cattle producers have the tools and knowledge to handle this. But in the rush of a busy work time it’s a good idea to make sure everyone on the processing and loading team knows what is expected. Remember especially new people who may not be familiar with things.

A checklist

A simple rule is if you don’t want to walk them down the main street of Vancouver or Toronto, or if you don’t want to eat them yourself, don’t send them. Here’s a reminder of the big issues. Physically fit. Check animals for any signs of physical issues that would make animals unable to handle travel. Things like cancer eye, or an inability to walk properly. If they can’t handle the trip to the end point and the waits, don’t send them. Drug withdrawal. Simple. Make sure withdrawal times are met and check before sorting. Feed records may be separate from animal health so check them all so there are no surprises down the road. Broken needles. Check records and identify any animal with suspect broken needles. Simplest solution is to slaughter for your own use. If you do ship them, make sure the next owner or the processing plant is informed and that this contact information is recorded. Support your buyer. If you ship recently vaccinated heifers or backgrounded calves to the next feedlot, let the new manager know about the treatments. Something may happen to require an emergency slaughter. Note the date you did that for your own protection. Keep current records. Make sure the withdrawal check with date is on record. Set an example of due diligence for your family and staff and your customer.

Trucking cattle can have high visibility with the public, and may be the only livestock they get to see.

Trucking sense. Use accepted transport standards like checking for possible slippery floors and proper animal densities. The Golden Rule Remember the Golden Rule of shipping. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” You would find it an inconvenience or an annoyance to receive cattle with incomplete or incorrect records. So make sure you support buyers with the information to make good decisions.

The VBP standard

Shipping is just one Standard Operating Procedure under the Verified Beef Production (VBP) program. Producers who are interested in continually improving their production standards are welcome to take a VBP workshop or review online. VBP outlines industry-sanctioned practices for food safety. Provincial contacts for VBP across Canada are available at www.verifiedbeef.org.

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/ grainews.ca NOVEMBER 10, 2015

Cattleman’s Corner keepers and culls

I am not sure how much time I have left

Green light for Harmony Beef

800 head a day compared to 5,000 — we are the largest facility in Canada certifiable for export to the European Union.” Go, Harmony, Go!

A smaller southern Alberta beef processing plant that has been struggling and waiting about 18 months to get into SOIL HEALTH production, finally has been CONFERENCES given the green light. Actually lee hart Harmony Beef at Balzac, just If you are into soil health north of Calgary, just has to (and who isn’t) there are ere we go again — meat is killing us build and get operational a two informative conferences and I have bacon and beef in the 6,400 square foot water recly- coming up in Saskatchewan freezer! cling facility and then it can and Alberta over the comThere was an interesting observaget rolling — hopefully by ing weeks that will not only tion during lunch at a canola meeting I attended April 2016. help you understand why soil in late October. Manitoba farmer Ed Rempel The processing plant health is important, but also noted despite the World Health Organization’s project, spearheaded by Rich give you advice on how to (WHO) recent report that processed meat (and Vesta and family, has been improve production and profmeat in general) is bad for us, it was the processed stalled pending environmen- its on your farm. meat on the lunch buffet that disappeared first. tal reports largely stirred up The Canadian Forage and Obviously, the farmers attending that lunch so by the city of Calgary (Mayor Grassland Association (CFGA) My plan is to eat this $4 pound of bacon and far hadn’t hit the panic button when it comes to then read the health warning reports. Naheed Nenshi) who was con- has organized the sixth annual meat on the menu. The lasagna also served that cerned about the impact of a conference to be held Nov. 17 day that was made with ground beef was disap- ground turkey as well. I am pretty sure none of it beef processing plant just out- to 19, 2015 at the Sheraton side the northeast boundary Cavalier Hotel, Saskatoon. pearing pretty quickly too. is headed for a hazardous materials landfill. of the city. I hope Rempel’s comments represent how most Full conference details are I don’t doubt the science behind this and some I am not sure if the city is available on their website at: consumers will view the WHO warning about other studies. There is no doubt these scientists happy, but the rural munici- www.canadianfga.com meats — don’t dismiss it, but don’t panic over it saw something that raised a red flag linking meat pality, Rocky View County, either. It was the International Agency for Research consumption to the risk of cancer. And yes it was The event kicks off with on Cancer (IARC) that classified processed meat worth letting the world know about it. The trousaid it had received enough an interesting pre-conference such as hot dogs, bacon and ham as carcinogenic ble with these issues is that some media and some assurances to give Harmony tour Nov. 17, that includes to humans. They also classified red meat such as consumers never reach the qualifying comments the go ahead. The company a stop at the University of beef, lamb and pork as a “probable” carcinogen. was waiting for approval of a Saskatchewan Rayner Dairy such as “depending on how much you eat.” In all fairness, one of the IARC researchers building permit for the water Research Farm. Later you can You eat a ton of anything, day in and day out, said the risk of developing colorectal cancer and it is bound to have some adverse affect sometreatment plant to complete tour the Canadian Light Source after eating small amounts of processed meat is where. So hopefully consumers hear those news its $25 million renovation Inc.’s Synchrotron Facility — likely low, however “the risk increases with the reports and understand them for what they really of the 10-year-old former and if you don’t know what amount of meat consumed.” mean. As Janice Tranberg, Executive Director Rancher’s Beef plant that has that is... A synchrotron is a I am sure there are some bacon fanatics who of the Saskatchewan Canola Development mostly sat idle for most of source of brilliant light that eat a pound of bacon five days a week. As much Commission, who was also having lunch at our scientists can use to gather those years. as I love bacon, I doubt we eat a pound of table that day said as she settled down with a In an October newslet- information about the strucbacon per month. It is more like once every two well-balanced plate of food “everything in modter from Harmony Beef, the tural and chemical properties months, or on some special occasion breakfast. It eration.” Sometimes that wisdom gets lost on our of materials at the molecular Vesta’s report that all is a go. is not that I worry about it other than it can be a “all or nothing” society. † “After a more than level. And finally on the pretad fattening, so it is something I should avoid. 18-month strenuous review conference tour you will be I eat a lot of ham and the freezer right now is and exacting due diligence, able to tour the New Holland quite full of good B.C. farm-finished beef, and manufacturing Rocky View County council machinery there are also packages of frozen chicken and on Sept. 15 approved a devel- facility in Saskatoon. The conference kicks off opment permit which will allow Harmony Beef in Balzac Nov. 18 with some excellent to erect a small, 6,400 square speakers talking about soil foot building to house our health, and of course about industry-leading water recy- healthy grasslands and forage production. cling facility. A few weeks later you can “The building will be adjacent to the existing former plan to be in Edmonton Rancher’s beef facility that for the Western Canada we have spent $25 million Conference on Soil Health renovating for re-opening organized by the provincial with state-of-the art European applied research association equipment. “The recycling ARECA. That conference is process we are introducing being held Dec. 8, 9 and 10 at reduces new water use dra- the Radisson Hotel Edmonton matically compared to tradi- South. You can get full details tional beef processing plants on that conference at: alberta– a fantastic positive environ- soilhealth.ca Again an excellent slate of mental story. It opens the door for us speakers is lined up to talk to create a total of about about what is soil health?, how 325 new jobs, and judging to assess it, how to develop th th th th th th ht ht ht from the applications already it, what plants contribute to coming in the door, a large improved soil health, and number of the people want- how to graze cattle to produce ing to work for us live within healthier soil. Along with scia few kilometres in northeast entists a number of producers Photo courtesy of USDA NRCS Photo courtesy of USDAPhoto NRCS courtesy of USDA NRCS Calgary. This is months before will also be speaking.SCRN ADSU fo ysetruoc otohP 4440 GATEWAY BOULEVARD 4440 GATEWAY BOULEVARD DRAVELUOB YAWETAG 0444 “With we open an industry-leading Speakers: Speakers: :sre2015 kaepSbeing declared International of Soils facility during a time Dr. Yamily Zavala Dr. Yamily What Zavala is Soil Health? What is Soil Health? ?htlDr aof eH lilow oS si tahW .alavaY Z yYear limaY .rDami ARECA and its nine oil prices when new jobs are (IYS), . Dr. Harold van Es Dr. Harold Soilvan Health Es AssessmentSoil andHealth Building Assessment Soils for Better and Building Crops Soils for Better Crops sporC retteB rof slioS gnidliuB dna tnemsDr sessA htlaeH lioS sE naHaro v dloraH .rD member associations across the at a premium. Gabe Brown Gabe Healthy Brown Soils, Healthy Healthy Farms, Healthy Soils, Healthy Communities Farms, Healthy Communities seitinummoC yhtlaeH ,smraF yhtlaeH ,slioS yhtlaeH nworB ebaG Gab launched a soil “We have received the devel- province have Healthy Plants Grow in Healthy Healthy Plants Soils Grow in Healthy Soils s l i o S y h t l a e H n i w o r G s t n a l P y h t l a e H Dr. Jill Clapperton Dr. Jill Clapperton notreppalC lto liJ .rDincrease Cla healthJill initiative opment permit Dr for the water . Adaptive Grazing Leads Adaptive to Reduced Grazing Inputs Leads & Improved to Reduced Profitability; Inputs & Improved Profitability; ;ytilibatfiorP devorpmI & stupnI decudeR ot sdaeL gnizarG evitpadA recycling facility and are now awareness Dr. Allen Williams Dr. Allen Williams Dr . sAllen maand illiW nelunderstandlA .rD Grazing for Soil HealthGrazing for Soil Health htlaeH lioS rof gnizarG of theill. going Dr. Jeff Battigelli Dr. JeffSoil Battigelli eimportance gittaB ffeJeff J .rD of soil Biodiversity - Exploring Soil Biodiversity the World Beneath - Exploring Your the Feet World Beneath Your Feet teeF ruo Y htaeneBthrough dlroW eht gnirthe olpxE - adminytisrevDr idoiB lioing S istrative process to secure a for food security and essenDr. Martin Entz Dr. Martin Ecological Entz Farm Management Ecological to Farm Improve Management Health of Prairie to Improve Soils Health of Prairie Soils slioS eiriarP fo htlaeH evorpmI ot tnemeganaM mraF lacigolocE Dr ztnE nitraM .rD . 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We have set a says a ARECA release. “Several Dr. Odette Menard Dr. OdetteEarthworms, Menard Soil Conservation, Earthworms, SoilSoil Health...Getting Conservation,toSoil theHealth...Getting Roots of It to the Roots of IttI fo stooR eht ot gnitentative tteG...htlaeHDr lioS ,noitavredate snoC liof oS ,April s. mrowhtraworkshops Odette E draand neM etactivities tedO .rD opening are Cover Crops and LivingCover Soils Crops and Living Soils ioS gniviL dna sporC revoplanned C 4, 2016 for theslplant. throughout the year, Jay Fuhrer Jay Fuhrer rerhuF yaJ Ja “We are the Producer Panel Producer HowPanel I Improved the Health How of I Improved My Soil the Health of My Soil lioS excited yM fo htlaeto H ehimprove t devorpmI I woconcluding H Produ lenawith P recud orP very first the international marketing Western Banquet Speaker: Banquet Speaker: :rekaeCanada pS teuqnaBConference Ban on Soil Health.” Nuffield Nuffield Scholar Cover Cropping “Multi-species Around Cover the World” Cropping Around the World” ”dlroW eht dnuorAopportunities gnipporC revoC seicepfor s-itluMpremium “ ralohcS dleffiuN Blake Vince Blake VinceScholar “Multi-species ecniV ekalB† Bla Alberta Beef. Although we are Lee Hart is editor of Cattleman’s Corner Early Bird Conference Fees Early (Banquet Bird Conference not included) Fees (Banquet . Student $200 not included) . Producer. Student $250 . $200 . Producer $250 . . 052$ small recudorP compared . 002$ tnedutS . )to dedEarly uother lcni ton teubased qnaB( sin eeFCalgary. ecnerefnContact oC driB yhim lraE at 403-592Bird very Farm Unit (2 members) $450 Farm .Unit Industry (2 members) $275 . One $450 Day. Industry Registration $275$175 . One. Banquet Day Registration Ticket $42 $175 . Banquet Ticket $42 Farm 24$beef tekciT tprocessors euqnaB . 571$ no— itartsonly igeR yaDabout enUnit O . 572$ 1964 yrtsudor nI . 0by 54$email )srebmatemlee@fbcpublishing. 2( tinU mraF (2 m

December December & 10 2015 8 , 9 &810, 9 2015

After Nov 20 and at door After conference Nov 20 and feesatincrease door conference an additional fees $25/pr increase an additional $25/pr Register . www.albertasoilhealth.ca Register . www.albertasoilhealth.ca or ARECA 780-612-9712or ARECA 780-612-9712

rebmeceD 5102 01 & 9 , 8

rp/52$ lanoitidda na esaercni seef ecnerefncom. oc rood ta dna 02 voN retfA Af te 2179-216-087 ACERA ro ac.htlaehliosatrebla.www . retsigeR

NOVEMBER 10, 2015 grainews.ca /

Cattleman’s Corner Rancher’s Diary

Ranch work winding down for fall Still plenty of grass as cows are back on pasture after weaning heather smith thomas

OCTOBER 10

ichael and Nick have been working on custom fence-building jobs and Robbie helped them for a few days. The day after we preg-checked the cows and took the heifers’ mothers to the 320-acre mountain pasture, we put the heifer calves in the orchard, and the two bull calves in the horse pasture. They are content to graze and already weaned with nose flaps. There’s a lot of green grass this year in the orchard and horse pasture, thanks to Andrea’s diligent irrigating during the dry summer. Last Friday we brought the steers into the corral before daylight, sorted off their mothers, and when Michael and Carolyn brought their steers down we were ready to load ours to haul to the sale in Montana. On the way over, they had to change a flat tire on the trailer. The cattle market is off from what it was earlier this summer; the steers didn’t bring as much per pound as last year, but they weighed a little more. Dani and Andrea rode with me to check cows on the 320. We moved a few that were low, and took them up the ridge to the high part where there’s a lot more grass. We hurried home, trotting most of the way, to make it in time for Andrea to take Sam and Charlie to play in the band for the high school football game. Saturday Dani rode with me and we checked the cows again, and moved a few more cows up the ridge. The weather was cold by the time we got home, so Lynn built a fire in our stove (first fire this fall). Sunday Andrea shut off a couple of ditches; we are nearly done irrigating and just have fields left to finish watering before we shut all ditches off for winter so they won’t create ice flows across the fields. The two little bulls in the orchard have never drank from tubs; they grew up on the upper place and always had the creek or a ditch. They were thirsty after we turned off the ditch, but too leery of the plastic tubs to try to drink from them. For a couple of days I gently herded them down to that corner, and they finally got brave enough to stick their noses into the water tubs. Tuesday Carolyn and Nick brought their trailer down and we loaded the steers’ mothers to haul to the upper place. We left Buffalo Girl (she’s getting old and a little thin) and Magrat (the cow that was crippled awhile this summer) and put them in the lower field so they can have an easy life this fall on green pasture. Andrea and I rode to the upper place and met Carolyn and Heather at the upper corral. They’d put our two little groups together and we herded them to the 320 to join the other cows that had been there a week. We took them all to

the top trough in Baker Creek and came home down the ridge. Dottie lost a shoe and was a little tender by the time we got home, so I put another shoe on that foot. Thursday Andrea and I rode Shiloh and Dottie to check cows and moved some low ones up again. With all the hunters about we wore red, and draped red shirts over the rumps of our horses, to make sure no one would mistake us for deer or elk. Yesterday young Heather drove back to Canada to spend a month with her friend Gregory and his family. Today Andrea and I rode Shiloh and Dottie to check cows, and spray-painted our fence posts

» continued on page 52

photo: heather smith thomas

Andrea riding Shiloh moving cows to better pasture during some gorgeous weather this fall.

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/ grainews.ca NOVEMBER 10, 2015

The Dairy Corner

Test corn silage moisture for better milk production Dairy producers should test every time a new bag, bunk or silo is opened BY PETER VITTI

GOOD TO KNOW

here are three stages to the corn harvest in Manitoba. The first starts in September when the corn crop matures and whole plant moisture dries to about 35 per cent dry matter — it’s one of the best time to take off corn silage. The second occurs weeks later when the grain corn dries to about 75 per cent dry matter; that’s when to harvest highmoisture corn. Finally, when the same corn kernels drop below 15 per cent moisture; it should be combined. As a dairy nutritionist, it has been my experience that even modest changes to the moisture content of corn silage compared to high-moisture or dry corn has a significant impact on the amount of nutritious feed eaten by lactating dairy cows. I strongly recommend that dairy producers test corn silage moisture content after a new bag, bunk or silo is opened. The value of knowing the new corn silage’s moisture is easily illustrated. An early-lactating dairy herd eats 90 lbs. of a dairy diet with a total moisture content of 50 per cent, which translates into a base consumption of 45 lbs. of dry matter intake (DMI). Now, let’s assume the moisture content of new bunk of corn silage making up 40 per cent of this lactation diet is really 67 per cent moisture rather than an estimated 60 per cent moisture. The actual diet is about three per cent wetter than estimated (52.8 per cent moisture). The real DMI of the herd could drop by 2.5 lbs. with a potential loss of about five lbs. of milk per cow may result (re: one lb. DMI = 2.02.5 lbs. milk produced, source: University of Illinois).

This is useful information when corn silage is excessively dry, because it will significantly decrease the final moisture content of the entire dairy diet. An excessively dry TMR has a low physical density, which allows dairy cattle to separate the finer grain and protein supplement material from coarser forage fibres. In order to achieve this goal, dairy producers can add up to seven kilograms (15 lbs.) of water per lactating head into a TMR diet to bring its moisture content into a 50 per cent optimum moisture range. For example, adding 10 lbs. of water to a TMR of 40 per cent moisture (with very dry corn silage) and fed to lactating dairy cows at 80 lbs. per head per day can increase this dairy diet’s moisture content to a more plausible 47 per cent.

» CONTINUED FROM PAGE 51

Ranch work winding down for fall orange by our locked gates. We don’t want people trying to hunt while there are cattle in there. In years past we’ve had cows shot, so we want the hunters to know it’s private land. While we were there Andrea worked on the springbox again at the top trough in Baker Creek. It sometimes gets plugged with mud and fir needles and quits running. After we got home, Andrea, Lynn and Robbie drove to the upper corral to get her little jeep. It quit running (out of gas) the night they drove to the 320 to hunt and they hiked home in the dark. It seemed strange that it was out of gas, because they’d filled it recently. A couple of their vehicles mysteriously were low on gas and they suspect someone may have “borrowed” a little. When they went back a few days later to get the jeep, the battery was dead, so they pulled it out of the 320 and coasted it down the road to Michael and

photo: peter vitii

MOISTURE TESTING METHODS

One of the challenges of putting up corn silage is to harvest when it is not too dry or too wet. Although water can be added to the ration to increase moisture content.

Whether dealing with ideal, wet or dry corn silage, the dairy producer should choose the best method that works for them in determining the moisture content of post-ensiled corn silage samples. While there are many ways to test moisture content in feeds, I like the two easy-to-do approaches; namely, using a Koster tester or by microwave oven (MV). The moisture-content procedures for both methods are virtually identical: (1) Weigh out a 100 to 500 grams corn silage sample representative of harvested fields on a gram-weighing scale. (2) Corn silage samples can be dried by either the Koster tester or microwave oven. (3) Re-weigh dried out corn silage samples and, (4) Calculate moisture results; per cent moisture content = ((Initial sample wt. - Dried sample

wt.)/Initial sample wt.) x 100. If a 500-gram corn silage sample is dried to 184 grams, its moisture content would be 36.8 per cent. The electric Koster dryer is specifically designed for drying forages and wet feeds, and determining their moisture content. This apparatus has a heating element and built-in fan to blow hot air through the feed sample placed on a built-in screen. Its drying procedure takes about 20 to 25 minutes. Sample loss tends to be a small problem in using the Koster tester. The common microwave oven provides a quick means of also drying samples. Its greatest challenge is to avoid burning samples, when they get crispy (it’s recommended to place a small amount of water in oven). MV drying time is about five to 10 minutes for most wet feeds. Regardless of the method it sometimes takes a bit

of practice to refine procedures in order to achieve the most accurate moisture results.

Carolyn’s corral, where it sat until now. This evening they brought it home. Robbie and Lynn pulled it to the top of the hill by the Wild Meadow, and Andrea coasted it the rest of the way home (about two miles — all downhill).

ist again, to have a few more precancerous lesions frozen off his face. The good news was learning the growth on his eyelid (which Dr. Carrington removed a few weeks ago) was benign. Michael and Nick went deer hunting up Haines Creek, and Nick got a buck. That afternoon Andrea and Carolyn took Andrea’s truck and Michael’s fourwheeler to retrieve it. They saw more elk that day than deer (but didn’t have elk tags) and one big bull walked right up to Nick in the thick timber — within 15 feet. Dani had a friend stay overnight, and the next morning took her friend for a short ride on Ed. Dani brushed and saddled Ed, and they took turns riding that good old mare. Andrea and I rode again to check the cows. Andrea took her rifle in case we saw a buck. The cows were all high that day and we didn’t have to move any, but had to work on the water trough springbox again. On our way home we saw 15 does and fawns, but no bucks. Friday Michael put new shoes on Sprout for Andrea, and Sam held Breezy while I took her shoes

off and trimmed her feet. She won’t need shoes for the few rides she’ll have this fall. Later Sam, Dani, Andrea and I went for a short ride around the low range. It was Sam’s first ride since breaking her ankle early this summer. On this short ride, Andrea rode Shiloh and Sam rode Breezy and then she and Andrea switched horses — to give Sam a chance to try Shiloh. They did fine together, and Sam is looking forward to riding Shiloh next summer. Breezy will be 25, and she’s getting stiff, so it will be good for Sam to have some other options. Sam and I can trade off on Dottie and Shiloh. Saturday Michael and Nick went hunting again in the high country but this time didn’t see any game, just a wolf-killed carcass. That morning Andrea had good luck, however, shooting a whitetail buck in the field below her house. Then Andrea took Sam on a short hunt — and Sam was able to shoot her very first deer. Saturday was Rocky’s birthday, so I gave him a copy of my new book Cow Tales. Some of the chapters include reminiscences of cattle he and I grew up with on the ranch.

OCTOBER 20 Last week Michael put new shoes on Ed. Her feet were long and her shoes were worn out. I’m hoping Dani will be able to ride with me a few more times this fall, checking cows, so I want that mare’s feet to be in good shape, with plenty of traction on frozen ground — and not too long. We don’t want her tripping and stumbling. Last Monday we went to Myra Miller’s funeral. She was 93 — the last of my parents’ generation. Her family and mine have been closely associated since I was a baby, when my parents moved here. My brother and I grew up with Myra’s kids. It was great to see her kids again for the celebration of Myra’s life. And a great life it was — an inspiration to all of us. Lynn went to the skin special-

SURPRISING NUMBERS On occasion some dairy producers might find the tested moisture of their current corn silage is higher than expected. That’s because most whole corn plants despite looking brown and wilted when chopped often contain considerable moisture, because their numerous ears contain more water than expected. Some dairy producers were proactive and took pre-harvest corn silage samples. They did this by a sweep of a harvester or yardcutter, which allowed them to possibly delay harvest and allowed standing corn plants to wilt further. This corrective opportunity tends to avoid excessively wet corn silage (greater than 75-80 per cent

moisture) going into the bunk; which contributes to a greater loss of nutrients during the ensiling, storage and feed-out processes. We should still moisture test more samples of corn silage when the bunk or bags are finally opened. This is the corn silage that will be fed to the lactating dairy cows and most dairy diets. The feed value of corn silage will be impacted by its moisture content (as demonstrated above). It is important to know the actual moisture content of incorporated corn silage in order to formulate a well-balanced dairy diet. Periodically, we should test the moisture content of the final TMR diet, so we can make further adjustments, so milk production by lactating cows is optimized. † Peter Vitti is an independent livestock nutritionist and consultant based in Winnipeg. To reach him call 204-254-7497 or by email at vitti@mts.net

The next day Andrea boned out the two deer and put the meat in coolers with ice. Sam rode with me to the 320 (since Andrea was busy cutting up meat), to check the cows. Breezy did fine without shoes. We hadn’t checked the cows for several days, and wanted to make sure they were doing ok with all the hunters around. Yesterday it rained. Andrea and Carolyn drove to Idaho Falls for Andrea’s appointment with her pain doctor (and received six steroid shots in her lower back, to help relieve some of the pain that keeps her awake nights). While they were there they stocked up on dog food, cat food and groceries (cheaper there) and bought a new fly mask for Breezy. We keep a mask on her all the time except when she’s being ridden, to protect her one eye from sunlight. Andrea and Sammy got the rest of their deer meat ground into hamburger last night. We are out of meat, so they plan to share it with us and Michael and Carolyn. † Heather Smith Thomas ranches with her husband Lynn near Salmon, Idaho. Contact her at 208-756-2841.

NOVEMBER 10, 2015 grainews.ca /

Cattleman’s Corner Animal Health

Learn the one-handed sub-Q injection method Easier, safer and just as accurate Roy Lewis animal health

t is worth revisiting information from a research trial completed more than 10 years ago on subcutaneous administration of the drug Micotil from Elanco, which adds credence to using a one-handed subcutaneous administration technique. This technique is much safer for the producer to administer as well as a labour saver. This study also proves it is just as accurate in vaccinating in the proper location as the original two-handed tenting subcutaneous technique. Elanco did their trial on very chronic feedlot animals that were destined to be put down. They preformed the procedure by injecting an antibiotic with dye. One side of the neck received the product with the traditional two-handed tenting technique. This is where the skin is lifted with one hand and injected with the other. Needle pricks in your fingers are common if you’re not careful as the needle and the hand holding the skin are close to each another. The other side of the neck received the new one-handed technique.

ONE-HAND JUST AS ACCURATE What they found was somewhat surprising. The one-handed technique is just as accurate at placing the product in the proper location. With both methods (one-handed and skin tenting) around 60 per cent of the time the entire product was placed in the proper location. Another 20 per cent of the time 90 per cent of the product was in the right location. You are not going to be accurate 100 per cent of the time with either technique. But the one-handed method is just as accurate as the long-advocated two-handed tenting method. Any subcutaneous injection should be done with a short 5/8to 3/4-inch-long needle. Generally a 16-gauge needle is used for antibiotics and thicker vaccines. With some syringeable vaccines an 18-gauge needle can be employed. Make sure the needles have metal hubs to avoid breakage and risk of leaving them in the animal.

FIND THE SPOT The one-handed technique involves injecting downwards at about a 20 to 30 degree angle off the animal’s side. Once the skin is penetrated, roll your hand towards the body and this causes the natural tenting of the skin. When injecting, pull back on the syringe slightly, allowing the needle to drop into the subcutaneous space. Remember the neck is the one region approved for subcutaneous administration. As a backup, a site being behind the elbow can be used if the first site is inaccessible. By changing needles more frequently you will find they will slip into the subcutaneous space much more easily. I must emphasize the one-handed technique is to be used with the stronger multi-

dosing syringes, only. The common plastic syringes will break off at the neck if they are used one handed so if using plastic syringes for an antibiotic, for example, use the two-handed technique. Proving this one-handed technique was especially important with a product like Micotil, which is only approved for subcutaneous usage. Although the earlier Beef Quality Assurance guidelines call for the two-handed technique with subcutaneous products, these guidelines have now been changed to the one-handed technique. Many feedlot personnel have been using the one-handed technique for years without really thinking about it. The free hand was used to run the hydrau-

lic chute or pat the animal to move it forward. Some ambidextrous operators use an automatic syringe in each hand administering two products almost simultaneously. Be careful to place the two products at least 10 cm apart. This one-handed technique works well with vaccinations. They are a lower volume injection and with almost all of them, if approved for subcutaneous (SC) usage, they are also approved for intramuscular (IM) administration. If some of the product does inadvertently get into the muscle it is inconsequential. It is nice to administer as many products under the skin to maintain beef quality. Double check the label to make sure

the product is SC approved. Our clinic, especially when it comes to vaccines, purchases products for subcutaneous administration. These days about the only vaccinations routinely given in the muscle are the scours vaccinations. Most new vaccines or antibiotics are being approved for SC and there are even some vaccines approved intranasally. Try to implement the onehanded technique in your feedlot or cow-calf operation. You will develop a feel for dropping the needle into the subcutaneous space. The technique is easier and safer, especially when working around manual chutes and animals lurching ahead. With any vaccination or antibi-

otic injection, remember to keep the products at the proper temperature. Again don’t inject two products, especially subcutaneously, in close proximity. Leave at least 10 centimetres between injection sites to be safe and insure maximum benefit from the products. If a broken needle is not retrieved make sure the animal’s number and injection site are recorded. These guidelines hopefully will allow you to vaccinate one-handed with confidence and keep injuries and accidental needle pricks to an absolute minimum. † Roy Lewis is an Alberta-based veterinarian specializing in large-animal practice. He is also a part-time technical services vet for Merck Animal Health.

/ grainews.ca NOVEMBER 10, 2015

Cattleman’s Corner Better bunks and Pastures

Visible and invisible benefits of preconditioning ‘Truck weaned’ calves are highly stressed and ultimately suffer from a higher rate of shrink during trucking to a feedlot PETER VITTI

ing — more evident during wide price variations due to heavier weight discounts and market seasonality.

FEEDERS NOTICE

reconditioned is a general term for feedlot-destined calves that have been vaccinated, castrated, dehorned, weaned, have some feed-bunk/waterer experience and have been fed a nutritious postweaning diet for at least 30-45 days prior to being sold to a feedlot. Recently, I’ve talked to some cow-calf operators selling spring calves to feedlots in the fall, who see no problem in “truck weaning,” where calves are abruptly removed from their mothers, loaded onto a cattle trailer and transported to another yard. Many of the truck-wean producers say the economics of preconditioning don’t pencil out. Their opinion is in contrast to an Alberta study (2012) showing pre-conditioned calf sales earn an $8/cwt premium per spring calf. Truck-wean supporters counter that this study has merit, but this extra $50 per 600-lb. calves ($8 x 600 lb./100) often doesn’t cover the extra costs of precondition-

One person paying more for preconditioned calves is a buyer I met at a stockman’s meeting, whom purchases short-kept calves for backgrounding. One year she bought 800 unconditioned heifer calves, trucked them 1,000 miles and almost immediately regretted the purchase. Her experience involved a lot of extra time getting these unconditioned calves up to the feed bunk. She spent at least $25 per head treating sick calves, mainly injections for respiratory problems. The following year, she bought a similar number of preconditioned 600-lb. calves which were transported to her yard. Although she didn’t disclose the premium paid for these preconditioned calves, she did say that the premium was worth it, because not one animal was needled and quickly got onto her feedlot starter diet. I believe sellers and buyers of calves each have a plausible for/ against case about the economics of preconditioning calves. Anyone

planning to sell preconditioned calves, should roughly follow a three phase program that involves: (1) pre-weaned preparation phase, (2) viable weaning period and (3) 45-day post-weaning phase. The primary goal of each phase is to reduce the amount of weaning stress in saleable calves, as well as dovetail into future feedlot feeding programs.

PHASE 1 Starting with the pre-weaned phase, I recommend cow-calf operators talk to their veterinarian about a well-planned vaccination program implemented about three weeks before calves are weaned. Calves should also be dewormed, dehorned and male calves castrated. Meanwhile, I suggest these preweaned calves be fed a nutritious 14-16 per cent medium-energy creep feed that helps develop their immature rumens, while it encourages them to eat from a bunk or self-feeder. I also like to see calves, roaming with their mothers, fed a well-balanced commercial beef mineral (and vitamins) to build mineral status for better immunity against disease, as well as help boost autumn vaccination titres.

PHASE 2

PHASE 3

Next comes the actual weaning of the calves. Luckily there are many practical methods that reduces weaning stress.. One recommendation is rather than separate the calves right off the cows, and move them into strange pens is to move the cowcalf pairs into a new feeding area that will be used only for the calves after weaning. Once the calves get used to the feed bunks and waterers, move the cows out. The idea being that the calves are no longer in a strange place and even without their mothers, will quickly get accustomed to what and where their new dinner will be. Likewise, some people advocate calves can be effectively weaned with a strong fence separating them from their dams. The idea is that cows and calves are prevented from touching one another, but have visual contact to reduce stress on both sides of the fence. For example, a friend of mine, who raises about 100 cowcalf pairs uses this “fenceline” method with two fenced-in pastures separated by a road. He says cows and calves bawl for about a day and then seem to forget about one another.

In the next few days, settled weaned calves should be moved onto a 45-day post-weaning/preconditioning feeding program. This tends to be a high-forage diet that puts on modest gains to draw premium market value or dovetails with an advanced backgrounding rations when ownership is retained. As a ruminant nutritionist, I often recommend the following 45-day preconditioning feed and management program. • A weaned calf gains two pounds per day or about 90 lbs. more of marketable weight. Spring calves (500-700 lbs.) require about 65-68 per cent TDN, 13-14 per cent protein, high mineral and vitamins. • 14 per cent post-weaning ration consists of corn, oats, corn distillers, soybean meal, mineralvitamin premix and medicated with monensin sodium at 22mg/kg. • Forage: Mixed adequate mixed hay (Substitute with fall pastures, green chop, or stubble grazing). †

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Peter Vitti is an independent livestock nutritionist and consultant based in Winnipeg. To reach him call 204-254-7497 or by email at vitti@mts.net.

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NOVEMBER 10, 2015 grainews.ca /

Home Quarter Farm Life SEEDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

Farm women… love yourself more than your cows! Are you tired of being last? Decide what to hang on to and what to let go of Elaine Froese

he cartoon featured a man and wife sitting upright in their bed with the man holding a pitchfork and a Holstein cow between them. The caption reads: “Honey you love your cows more than me!” Some dairy folks don’t find this funny, because they see a grain of truth in the humour. The cows often come first before family. Many farm women who call for coaching are tired of being last on the list. My question is, “How did you allow this to happen?” We all need to take responsibility for the choices we make. Loving ourselves enough to take good care of our body, mind and spirit is not selfish. So perhaps this fall day after a long harvest and the regular grind of caring for cows 24-7, it is a good time to take stock of your many roles as a farm woman. What would you like to hang on to, and what would you like to let go of? Each of us fulfils six major roles as we journey through the adventure of farm life: 1. Self-care. When was the last time you were to the doctor to check out your physical well-being? You don’t get any martyr medals for ignoring that pain in your back or shoulder. Your physician can also run a

quick checklist of questions to ensure that you are not suffering from a low-grade depression. That lingering sadness maybe a sign to you that you need medical treatment to get your joy back. 2. Couple: Married or “almost married”… Whatever your partnership looks like, staying in healthy relationships requires time and attention. The Alpha Marriage course encourages one hour per week of focusing on “the state of your union” with intentional time and conversation. This might be a walk down the lane, or sharing a hot chocolate at a favourite café or your own coffee table. Share each other’s needs. Love does not read minds. Use a journal to help you work through the seasons of your life, and mirror back to you what you need, what you are receiving, and where the gaps of enjoyment are. 3. Family. Moms tend to get stuck in the middle as mediators. Stop this triangle of your adult children going through you to complain about the founder (Dad). You can let go of your referee sweater and let your adult children confront their issue directly with those they have issues with. If this gets heated, use a third-party facilitator at your next family business meeting. Families that stay together need to pray and play together. What celebrations or fun activities can you enjoy away from the farm or on the farm to give you a sense of refreshing and renewal? Bonfires, walks in the woods, cycling? 4. Farm. This work role is the one

that typically overwhelms farm women. They keep serving, adding on new jobs, and forget about subtraction. We all need fulfilling meaningful work. Time flies by and we wake up wondering if it is time to create a new chapter with less stress. Farms can consume all the available cash for growth or debt servicing at the expense of a personal wealth bubble for the founding couple. Farm women need to have access to personal wealth and make decisions with spouses for their personal goals, not just the farm’s goals. Do you feel you are being fairly compensated for the farm roles you perform? Do you know you could cope well as a farm widow? Are you embracing your farm financial status or avoiding the conversation? 5. Friends. Women typically are more concerned about rapport rather than reports, according to author Deborah Tannen. Relationships are very important, so my question is, “Who is your emotional support group beyond the farm family?” If your response is, “I don’t have time for my friends,” then you have just nailed your own stress issue. Being rich in relationship is a huge piece of the resiliency power to manage the stress of farming and life in general. Fast from Facebook, avoid it and pick up the phone and visit your friends with face-to-face conversation not just “Facetime!” 6. Community. Volunteers are the lifeblood of vibrant small towns and events that bring community together.

Sometimes, as your personal health and ability to manage all the roles you carry are changing, you need to learn to say “no, not at this time.” I’ve found great joy in buying pie at the farmers’ market to help a young farm woman, and that same pie is delivered to the required church function. I still make pie, but I can choose to spend $8 not to make my own pie. Again, the choice is always there to find a different way to meet community expectations and still get a good result. In all of these roles that you manage as a farm woman, consider, “Does this role or expectation make me feel heavy or light?” Lightness is a good decision that aligns with your current needs and values. Heaviness leans toward obligation, duty and guilt. Don’t go there. Life is not a straight line, but more like a Slinky that stretches and curves and bounces around. Every morning we get to choose to embrace the day. It is good news that you are healthy enough to get out of bed, walk and create plans for your life. Be thankful for the many opportunities you are given as a farm woman. Just make sure that you are enjoying your choices, and not resentful that you feel pressured to live someone else’s life, and not your own intentional one. Seek out coaching or counselling to guide you in making better choices so that you love yourself more than the cows. † Elaine Froese, CSP, CAFA, CHICoach has many roles on her farm in southwestern Manitoba. Buy her books full of practical tools for your life on the farm at www. elainefroese.com/store. Invite her to speak at your association events.

EXTENDED OUTLOOK FOR THE PRAIRIES Weather Forecast for the period of November 15 to December 12, 2015

Southern Alberta

Peace River Region November 15 - 21 Seasonal to mild temperatures. Fair, but colder, windy days bring snow, possibly heavy. High windchills are expected.

November 15 - 21 Seasonal to mild temperatures. Fair, but colder, windy days bring snow and rain. High windchills are expected.

November 22 - 28 Mild spells with thawing temperatures interchange with cooler blustery days and some high windchills. Fair overall apart from periodic snow.

November 22 - 28 Mild spells with thawing temperatures mix with cooler blustery days and some high windchills. Fair, but expect some snow or freezing rain.

November 29 - December 5 Fair skies alternate with snow and blowing snow on 2 to 3 occasions as cold and mild air intermingle. Windy from time to time with occasional higher windchills.

December 6 - 12 Unsettled on a couple of days with intermittent snow and drifting. Temperatures will be seasonal to cold.

December 6 - 12 Unsettled on a couple of days with intermittent snow and drifting. Temperatures will be seasonal to mild. Risk of freezing rain.

-15 / -5 Grande Prairie 26.9 mms

-15 / -4 Edmonton

-12 / -3 Jasper

BELOW NORMAL

26.8 mms

-11 / -2

34.6 mms

Banff

-11 / 1 Calgary

13.2 mms

-15 / -2 Red Deer 18.8 mms

-11 / 0 Medicine Hat cms Lethbridge 16.219mms 20.1 mms 26 cms-11 / 2

Manitoba November 15 - 21 Fair skies interchange with cloud and snow, heavier in north and near lakes. Chance of rain in the south. Temperatures are seasonal to mild.

November 15 - 21 Seasonal to mild, and mainly fair skies. A couple of colder, windy days have snow and high windchills. Chance of rain in the south.

November 22 - 28 Snow falls in several areas, chance of heavy in places. Blustery winds will create changeable temperatures from mild to cold. High windchills.

November 22 - 28 Mild, fair weather days alternate with snow and occasional blowing snow. Risk of freezing rain in the south. Variable in the north with some snow.

-15 / -6 North Battleford

November 29 - December 5 Mainly fair, but snow and blowing snow on a couple of colder days. Heavier snow near open waters. Temperatures will be normal to a bit above normal.

November 29 - December 5 Temperatures fluctuate from mild to seasonal under windy conditions. Snow and blowing snow in the south on 2 or 3 days. Expect high windchills. December 6 - 12 Mainly mild temperatures under fair skies, but with periodic snow and some cooling. Windy at times with blowing or drifting. Expect higher windchills on some days.

Precipitation Forecast 22.2 mms

Forecasts should be 80% accurate, but expect variations by a day or two because of changeable speed of weather systems.

Saskatchewan

-17 / -6 Prince Albert 19.1 mms

-17 / -9 The Pas

December 6 - 12 Fair overall, but a couple of colder, windy days bring snow to many areas, with blowing snow in the south. Temperatures swing from seasonal to mild.

NEAR NORMAL

22.0 mms

19.0 mms

-15 / -5 Saskatoon 17.2 mms

-15 / -6 Yorkton

-15 / -5 Dauphin

-14 / -5 -14 / -4 21.0 mms 20.5 mms Gimli -12 / -2 Regina -13 / -3 Moose Jaw 15.9 mms 26.2 mms BELOW Swift 18.8 mms -14 / -4 NORMAL -15 / -5 Portage -14 / -5 Current -13 / -3 Brandon 22.2 mms Winnipeg 21.5 mms Weyburn 18.9 mms 18.6 mms 19.0 mms -13 / -2 Estevan Melita -14 / -3 18.1 mms

19.7 mms

Precipitation Outlook For December Much Above Normal Below Much above normal normal below normal normal

/ grainews.ca NOVEMBER 10, 2015

Home Quarter Farm Life

Debut novel for Grainews writer explores serious subject Friendly Fire delves into small-town family secrets and violence and why some speak out and others don’t BY ANNE LAZURKO

hen Darby Swank finds her beloved aunt floating dead in the water of Brightsand Lake, it sets in motion a hunt for the killer and shatters the tranquil facade of the rural community Darby calls home. If it sounds like a murder mystery, it is. But Grainews writer Lisa Guenther’s debut novel, Friendly Fire, is much more than that. Set against the backdrop of the 2002 Turtle Lake fire in a small town in northwest Saskatchewan, the story is really about Darby’s slow recognition of the secrets and violence that lurk behind the shiniest veneer of family and community. “It’s about how we uncover those secrets and who the gatekeepers are and the effects on the people involved,” says Guenther. “Family violence is a problem everywhere, but it looks different in a small town… because in a small town there’s always someone who knows. There has to be. They condone or ignore or keep it secret and it depends on the relationship with the abuser.” Careful not to paint a clichéd picture, Guenther chooses her words. “I wanted to examine why some people speak out and others don’t and why they react in these different ways; what it takes to be brave enough to do something.” Guenther knows small towns well.

“Livelong is three streets by three streets. And still people can’t find my house sometimes,” she laughs. She grew up on a farm near the small community of 100 in northwest Saskatchewan and moved back with her husband a few years ago to pursue a freelance writing career after working with Alberta Agriculture in Edmonton. She’s an agricultural journalist, a staff writer with Grainews and Country Guide, and president of the Canadian Farm Writers Federation. Growing up in lake country at the edge of the boreal forest might not make Guenther the typical wheat field “Prairie writer,” but like many Prairie writers the landscape surrounding her becomes almost another character in her novel. Fire and drought are always present. So too are an appreciation of Prairie language and culture and agriculture. Cattle vaccinations and calf processing, references to horse-training skills, and scenes at a community hall used for funeral processions, wedding dances and everything in between, are all there as an organic part of her writing, largely because they are a part of Guenther’s own life. Although the novel deals with the heavy themes of family secrets and violence, there is humour and lightness in her story. “That’s how life is,” Guenther says. “Even in the worst situation, we often cope through humour. In this case I do it with empathy, so it’s not laughing at someone, but rather sharing in their experience.” In the novel the fire at Turtle Lake is

accidentally set by a fictional character named Friendly, thus the title, Friendly Fire. But the words carry other connotations. In war and at home, violence can come from where you least expect it and from people it should not be coming from. “I wanted to talk about it in fiction because there’s more room to explore and look into a character’s head and do it in a safe way. As a reporter it would be heartbreaking and you can’t resolve anything. Fiction gets at the truth in a different way.” Friendly Fire won second place in the Saskatchewan Writers Guild 2013 John V. Hicks award for fiction. Guenther then sent it to Newest Press, an independent literary press in Edmonton, which accepted it. The publisher told Guenther her writing was direct and to the point and asked if that was a result of her journalism background. “That’s likely a combination of my personality and my job,” she laughs. “I’m not a flowery writer. I like a good metaphor or a nice description, but I definitely don’t have too much extraneous writing in there… Writing and working in agriculture keeps you real.” Guenther has received a good response from both city and small-town readers. “People from small towns recognize themselves (in the novel) and those who are not from a small town connect with Darby,” she says. Find out more at www.lisaguenther.com. Anne Lazurko writes from Weyburn, Sask.

photo: courtesy julie parkinson

Lisa Guenther reading from Friendly Fire.

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