AFE130610 by Farm Business Communications

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The silver lining in BSE crisis Prior to crisis, only a handful of Canadian scientists were researching diseases caused by protein folding — today there are dozens, with many working in Alberta By Alexis Kienlen af staff / edmonton

here’s no denying BSE was devastating for the cattle industry in Alberta. Yet out of every misfortune, there are positive developments. “It was a terrible event with terrible consequences for the industry and many families,” said Kevin Keough, executive director of the Alberta Prion Research Institute

(APRI). “But some of the things that came from it made things better than before.” The BSE crisis a decade ago led Canada, and Alberta in particular, to create a strong research community that is investigating bovine spongiform encephalopathy and other prion-folding diseases — a development celebrated recently at a small commemorative event at the Centre for Prion and Protein Folding Diseases at the University of Alberta.

“In 2003, there were probably about five people in Canada who would be classified with a high degree of scientific knowledge of prions,” said Keough. Today, there are now dozens of researchers in Canada working on prions, including at APRI, which was created by the government of Alberta in 2005. The institute has helped the province recruit 11 prion research scientists, who now work throughout the province, and develop two prion laborato-

ries — the University of Alberta’s centre and a prion research laboratory at the University of Calgary veterinary college. Over 300 technicians, students, and graduate students have been employed in the prion research laboratories in Alberta since 2003. “We have created the capacity we were asked to create,” said Keough. “We have created a worldclass environment, international leadership and we have encouraged interdisciplinary research

and have developed research and industry collaborations.” “This allows us to now push through a pipeline of experiments to deal with prions,” added David Westaway, the director of the U of A centre. “We didn’t have this capability before.” Shirley McClellan, who was provincial agriculture minister in May 2003 when the first confirmed case of BSE was discovered in Alberta,

see BSE } page 6

100 years of 4-H

More than 500 attended a gala to celebrate 100 years of 4-H in Canada in Winnipeg May 30. Among the events was awarding of honorary life memberships recognizing their volunteer contributions to Marguerite Stark from Alberta, Dori Gingera-Beauchemin of Manitoba and Bertram (Bert) Stewart of Ontario. Members of the 4-H Youth Advisory Committee were (l-r) Arin Douglas (P.E.I.); Allyson Barnable (Nfld.); Heidi Pickard (N.B.); Breanne Durie (Alta.); Cindy Jaton (Que.); Jacob Works (N.S.); Katie Hunter (Man.); Valerie Stone (Ont.); Savanah Cheney (Sask.); Kirsten Bevandick (B.C.); Charles Gascon (Que.) and Lexi Tucker (Que.). Photo: 4-H Canada

wait is over

New pig care code draft released } PAGE 7

SPELLCHECK P

news » inside this week

inside » Life-changing experience Scientist recalls first look at BSE

JUNE 10, 2013 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

livestock

crops

No silver bullet

Biochar initiative

columNists David Drozd

brenda schoepp Argentina shows need for good government

Peace pipeline plans Water shortages a growing problem

NEWS Now that’s a lineup santos, brazil/reuters A new ordinance that prohibits trucks from parking at Brazil’s main Santos port at night caused what may be the worst traffic jam of a busy season last Tuesday, slowing delivery of the country’s record soybean crop. Lines of parked trucks extended as much as 50 kilometres (31 miles) on the Anchieta highway leading to the Santos coast, according to highway operator EcoVias. Congestion was later reduced after lanes for return traffic were reversed, but afternoon rains made for slow passage. The new regulations took effect June 3 and were meant to pressure authorities to find a solution for the massive number of trucks that have been bothering nearby residents for months as Brazil exports record amounts of soy, sugar and corn. But last Tuesday’s chaos on the highways was enough to persuade the municipality of Cubatão to suspend temporarily the ordinance limiting the hours for truck parking and search for another solution. With holding areas for trucks closed on Monday night, vehicles had no other option than to wait on the roads for a chance to unload at Santos. That left thousands of drivers milling around on the highway on Tuesday, truck doors left open, while commuters from nearby Sao Paulo found themselves stuck for hours. Few terminals in Brazil are covered, and rainshowers in recent days had shut down ship loading, adding to the number of trucks on the roads and slowing traffic. Ship wait times at Brazilian ports, which soared to longer than two months this season, are mostly due to difficulty getting bulk commodities to port, not to actual port capacity, executives from Danish shipping company Maersk Line said on Monday. Due to paltry investment in the country’s rail and waterways, Brazil is overwhelmingly reliant on trucks for transport. As much as two-thirds of Brazil’s new investments in the first quarter were likely related to construction of heavy trucks.

Bear trap catches soybean shorts

Daniel Bezte E. coli vigilance needed throughout system

Uses include soil fertility and carbon capture

Alberta weather outlook for June and July

Plants affected by foot traffic on trails

Hiking trails not only have fewer plants, but very different kinds By Elizabeth Ng

university of alberta release

ikers heading out onto the trails for the summer should watch where they’re walking. A new ALES study found that the plants growing around trails are negatively affected by foot traffic. ALES researcher Ellen Macdonald of the Department of Renewable Resources, her colleague adjunct professor, Joyce Gould and graduate student Varina Crisfield looked at trails in Whitehorse Provincial Park, south of Hinton. The researchers surveyed the alpine plants, taking stock of their different types and quantity. They also measured, among other things, soil compaction around the trails and the amount of disturbed soil and gravel. They found that hiking trails not only have fewer plants, but very different kinds. They also found the areas bordering the trails showed signs of plant disturbance up to five metres away, indicating that the foot traffic has a wider impact than just where the paths are. Macdonald says the most interesting results came when

they compared the trails to naturally disturbed areas. These areas, which look like hiking trails, have few plants and a lot of gravel because of frost damage. They found that hiking trails were very different than naturally disturbed areas. Hiking trails have plants growing where they naturally wouldn’t, resulting in a decline of the plant species you would normally find. In a natural alpine area, plant species benefit each other by creating a better microclimate to grow in. The loss of one species changes these microclimates, which then negatively affects other plants, causing a decline in plant cover and number of species. Macdonald says their findings suggest it will take a very long time for these trails to recover and will require active restoration efforts to do so. But Macdonald doesn’t want people to stop hiking. “You know, I love hiking, it’s a way for people to enjoy nature. I think closing trails that are really damaged or temporarily closing trails so they can recover is a good idea. And hikers have to hike responsibly. Stay on the trails!”

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • JUNE 10, 2013

Beef industry seeks approval for irradiation of ground beef Consumers Association of Canada also supports the technology BY ALEX BINKLEY

CONTRIBUTOR / OTTAWA

The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association has once again asked Health Canada to approve irradiation of ground beef. The association made the same request in 1998, but never received a public response from Health Canada. Although many oppose irradiation, the association has the support of the Consumers Association of Canada this time around, and is hoping growing concern about food safety will also bolster its case. “Irradiation is an effective technology already approved for other foods in Canada and used as a normal course of business in 50 countries around the world to improve food safety for consumers,” the association said in a statement. “When combined with food safety interventions already in use, irradiation could essentially eliminate E. colirelated illness associated with ground beef.” The irradiation technique supported by the CCA is called E-beam, which uses electricity to destroy harmful bacteria, and has been in use in the U.S. since 2000. A previous Health Canada review of the technology found it results in only “minor changes to food, similar to cooking,” doesn’t significantly reduce its nutritional value, and poses no health threats, the association said. The Canadian Meat Council, another supporter of irradiation, likens it to pasteurization of milk, and noted it also extends the shelf life of ground beef. Health Canada allows irradiation for onions, potatoes, wheat, flour, whole wheat flour, and whole or ground spices and dehydrated seasonings. It is used primarily on spices.

Effort to revitalize beef industry wins additional support Stung by criticism of complacency and drift, beef sector has asked three industry veterans to lead the effort to create a new and better approach BY VICTORIA PATERSON AF STAFF / CALGARY

ndustry reps in Central Canada have joined their western counterparts in endorsing a strategy to revitalize the country’s beef industry. The trio leading the effort — Kim McConnell, John Kolk and Dave Andrews — followed up a successful presentation of their five-point strategy at a summit in Calgary last month with an equally successful one in Toronto recently. “The summits gave us an endorsement to… keep this moving forward, put meat on the bones, and keep this process sound,” said McConnell. The three industry veterans were asked to undertake the initiative in the wake of a stinging critique by the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute last fall that accused the Canadian beef sector of being complacent and

lacking a strategy to succeed. It highlighted a number of troubling issues, including that in 2011, Canada received $3.74 for each kilogram of beef it sold in the U.S., while Americans sold us their beef, often from Canadian-raised cattle, at an average of $6.55 a kilogram. It also found American beef exports, on a value basis, have increased six times faster than Canadian ones since 2005. The five ‘bones’ of the trio’s plan centre around improved information flow system; clear goals and a simple way to measure progress in achieving them; industry-wide financial support for Canada beef; speaking with a unified voice, and twice-yearly meetings to bring the entire industry together. Work will continue on the first four this summer and it’s hoped the first national meeting will be held in the fall, McConnell said. A large number of people from across all sectors of the beef industry have volunteered to work on the initiative.

McConnell said they can’t accommodate everyone, so they’ll put people with particular expertise into appropriate groups and the others who volunteered will be asked to review and provide feedback on their work. The trio of McConnell, Kolk and Andrews will help guide the process forward. It’s been a good start but it’s important to keep the process moving forward, said McConnell, and that will require industry players to be open to change and not interpret observations and suggestions from the working groups as criticism. Putting everyone from cow-calf operators right to retailers in the same room to discuss the strategy is sure to elicit some opposing viewpoints, but “robust dialogue is good,” McConnell said. The initiative will also require some limited funding, he said. victoria.paterson@fbcpublishing.com

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JUNE 10, 2013 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

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An anniversary many would like to forget

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Testing of beef carcasses was fiercely resisted but remains the ‘what if’ legacy of the BSE outbreak

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By will verboven

Alberta Farmer | Editor

number of media outlets, including some big-city daily newspapers, have been commemorating the 10th anniversary of the outbreak of BSE in Alberta. It’s an anniversary that I expect most folks in the cattle industry who were adversely affected by this calamity would rather forget. But it is somewhat curious to see urban newspapers run stories with thousands of words covering the minutia of what happened back then. True to form, most of the stories carried the words “mad cow” prominently in the headline as if once again trying to sensationalize the issue with such provocative words. After all these years it seems that headline can still be the story. What is of interest with many BSE stories make almost no mention of the raging controversy that has dogged the issue for most of the past 10 years. The controversy that was so prominent at the time was the use of universal BSE testing in mitigating the impact on most beef export markets. Such testing was fiercely opposed and blocked by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). To many, it remains a black mark on that government agency. In retrospect, the devastating impact of BSE on our offshore beef export markets could have been greatly reduced had common sense and precedents been followed. Sadly it took almost eight years before an ALMA marketing study confirmed that universal BSE testing would have made a difference in mitigating the impact on those exports. One shudders to think how different it all would have been if not for bureaucratic obstinacy and arrogance. It all boils down to the unfortunate reality that when it comes to so many agriculture

industry issues, our bureaucrats insist that we repeat history and BSE was perhaps the classic example of that insanity. It seemed from the very beginning of the outbreak that both the CFIA and U.S. Department of Agriculture were convinced that this was the first such outbreak in the world and they would have to deal with it in their own way. This attitude seemed most disconcerting to most other observers since BSE and its marketing repercussions had been going on in the U.K. and Europe for almost 10 years. Sheer common sense would have screamed that perhaps our government response might learn something from the European BSE experience. After all by their own admission, European authorities and governing politicians had made all the mistakes, but having learned were on the track to beef-marketing recovery. Apparently that mattered little to our own experts and agencies, who were determined to repeat history. What the Europeans had learned was that science was not always the best way to deal with a public perception issue. Which is why after almost losing their beef market to suspicious consumers, they decided that regardless of the science and testing efficacy that they would begin a universal BSE-testing program across the EU for all beef carcasses. That critical move silenced a rabid media and relieved consumer fears about beef safety. The result was an almost immediate return of consumer confidence for the simple reason that they believed universal testing made their beef safer. Whether it was scientifically correct or effective to do so did not matter, it was a matter of perception and it worked. Sure, more cases of BSE were discovered in Europe with such an extensive testing program. But consumers felt that every new case was one less case of contaminated beef in the system. Interestingly,

the discovery of more cases was viewed by the European media and consumers as a positive revelation that their universal system was working. Contrast this to North America and its restricted and selective BSE-monitoring and -testing program, where every new BSE case was viewed as another disaster and death blow to the beef industry. North American government agencies, the processing industry and government politicians also claimed universal BSE testing was impractical and too costly. Costs of $100 per test were cited along with a logistical nightmare for processors. My own investigation in Europe found that costs were more like $20 and falling, and that private enterprise had found a very efficient way to process thousands of samples virtually overnight. It could have been done here and export markets like Japan who had their own universal BSE-testing program might have opened a lot sooner. In retrospect when one considers the billions lost in export sales and billions of taxpayer dollars spent in subsidies, universal testing would have been a bargain. But alas, it’s all history now. Alberta did gain some positive results from the outbreak, we did establish a worldclass prion research institute at the University of Alberta and a veterinary college was established at the University of Calgary. Much of the credit for that goes to our own Iron Lady, Shirley McClellan, who was the ag minister at the time of the BSE outbreak. Finally and ironically, it would seem that there now appears to be a government planning document that states that if there ever is another future major outbreak of BSE in Canada, that all beef will be universally BSE tested for domestic and export markets. It would seem that history in this case may not repeat itself. Too bad we had to learn the hard way.

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Retiring deputy minister can look back on big changes By Will Verboven

fter guiding Alberta Agriculture through some turbulent times, Deputy Minister John Knapp has announced that he will be retiring in July. First some transparency — I have known John for over 25 years and consider him a personal friend. He started out as a DA in southern Alberta and was a provincial sheep specialist for many years before his long climb up the departmental ladder to regional director, to ADM and finally to the deputy minister throne. He spent some time in other government departments, but Alberta Agriculture was always his real home. During his long career he witnessed the incredible roller-coaster the department has gone through over the years. He was there in the glory years when there was a DA in every town, half a dozen ADMs, multiple

specialists for every commodity, market analysts, and policy planners for every product and concept. But he was also there in the bad old days when the department was cut back to a shadow of its former self. I expect he had to handle the axe a few times himself. Like most deputies, he had his own ideas as to how to structure the department and change it to reflect his own perspective. He had a bit of an easier time in doing that being he has seen a revolving door of bosses. I think he survived five different ag ministers as deputy; none were around long enough to make big administrative changes themselves. It seemed that by the time John had trained a new ag minister, they were either shuffled out to other cabinet posts, fired or lost their seats in elections. He was also the first deputy ag minister to ever employ a former boss. That happened when former ag minister Evan Berger lost his seat and was appointed to a political patronage govern-

ment job in southern Alberta as an adviser to John. That raised more than a few chuckles within industry circles and the ag media, much to John’s consternation I expect. But his tenure was not without some controversy, the biggest being the government’s decision to terminate mandatory checkoffs for cattle, sheep, hogs and potatoes. It was a dubious political decision, and the repercussions and turmoil to those industries are still being felt to this day. What role John played in that exercise will probably never be known, but it will be part of his legacy. Today, Alberta Agriculture is a much more streamlined and focused department, and it has changed along with the industry in this province. It reflects the consolidation that has occurred at the production and processing level. John has seen it all evolve over the years and played a significant part in that evolution. It’s a job he did well. Thanks John.

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • JUNE 10, 2013

Canadian Grain Commission user fees — a closer look Planned changes to inspection and other fees represent an added cost of $2,750 over a 5,000-acre farm By Wade Sobkowich,

executive director, western grain elevator association and

Kevin Hursh,

executive director, inland terminal association of canada

he Canada Grain Act was enacted in 1912. The last set of significant amendments was made in the early 1970s. Since then, there have been vast changes in farm operations, grain handling, marketing, exporting and the global marketplace. The time is exactly right to modernize the Canada Grain Act. The federal government passed Bill C-45, which contained three main amendments: • Allows the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) flexibility in ways to have elevators post security; • Removes mandatory nature of having the CGC do inward weighing and inspection; • Moves the CGC to monitoring on outward weighing. These are generally positive changes that will result in cost savings, but to whom? Government funding to the CGC is decreasing from approximately

$37 million to $5.4 million, or down from 50 per cent to nine per cent. Meanwhile, outward inspection costs are more than tripling from $0.51 per tonne to $1.60. Elevator licensing fees are increasing from approximately $100 per elevator per year to a staggering $3,300 per year. In both cases, the increased cost does not come with any change in the nature of services provided by the CGC. Looking then at outward inspection which will now be the CGC’s most significant revenue stream, the cost of a single Certificate Final for a 50,000-tonne vessel will increase from $25,500 to $80,000. The annual cost to an export terminal handling five million tonnes of grain per year will now be $8 million. To put this into perspective, other operating costs including union labour costs at this same terminal with over 100 employees would be approximately $14 million. As one can see, the outward inspection cost is much too high in proportion to this business’s operating budget in order for this Canadian terminal to stay competitive. Other regulatory agencies such

Why, as an industry, have we seemed to accept the notion that the CGC needs to be completely funded through user fees?

as those that deal with border services, policing, vehicle weight restrictions, etc., are deemed to be for the good of Canada and paid for by the taxpayers of Canada. It is worth noting that in the U.S., one of Canada’s major competitors, the Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) receives government funding at a 37 per cent level. Having the CGC provide outward inspection should be optional. It should be available for customers that require it, but other third parties could provide the same service as well. Certain buyers that require an export certificate do not necessarily

require that it be provided by the CGC, and other customers accept third-party inspection regardless of the CGC certificate, resulting in a duplication of costs. Qualified third parties can provide an export certificate at considerably less expense, approximately $0.40 per tonne, which is similar to what U.S. exporters pay for Certificates final. Assuming more than 30 million tonnes of grains and oilseeds are exported from Canada, requiring the industry to use the CGC for these certificates will add more than $36 million of cost to the grain-handling system in order to maintain a document that is sometimes of little or no value to the buyer. The root of the issue is that the CGC performs some functions for the good of Canada, and is being required to include the costs for these other functions in its cost calculations for user fees. There is an inherent conflict of interest when a regulatory agency operates on a complete cost-recovery basis. Rather than being primarily motivated to undertake activities that are in the best interest of the Canadian grain industry, the primary interest becomes

one of seeking to create and apply regulations, policies and procedures in a way that generates the most revenue for the commission itself. As a regulated service provider, the CGC should not be burdened with trying to find ways to extract enough revenue to cover its operating costs. The CGC should be focusing on providing the right services most appropriate in a rapidly changing industry, which may or may not be the optimal path for procurement of funds. Bottom line — at August 1, 2013 the cost of the CGC is increasing from about $1.25 to $1.80 per tonne, again assuming 30 million tonnes of exported product. At one-tonne-per-acre yield, this is an added cost of $2,750 over a 5,000-acre farm. Why, as an industry, have we seemed to accept the notion that the CGC needs to be completely funded through user fees? Some CGC functions will always be essential, but the costs associated with “Good of Canada” functions should be removed from the calculations of the remaining services. This will ensure the CGC provides a competitive quality of service at a competitive price.

U.S. ranchers ask, ‘Where’s my cow insurance?’ Crop insurance provisions in the U.S. Farm Bill could gut the cattle sector by Alan Guebert

t was evident from the hello that the South Dakota rancher had practised his pitch before he dialed my office. “I’m (so and so),” he said in a clipped, clear voice, “an independent cow-calf producer west of the (Missouri) river with 500 cows. I’m calling with one question: Where do I go to sign up for revenue-based cowcalf insurance?” I’m sorry, did you say “revenuebased cow-calf insurance?” “I did,” replied the cowboy. “You know, like revenue-based federal crop insurance. Farmers get that now and they’ll get even more when Congress passes the Farm Bill, right?” Probably, yes, but I’m sure you know there’s no such thing as revenue-based, federally subsidized cowcalf insurance. A long, tired sigh came across 750 miles of cellular ether. “Well, yeah,” he said finally, “but somebody needs to ask why taxpayers are guaranteeing my neighbours $300- and $400-an-acre profit through federal crop insurance to farm ranchland when I can’t buy any insurance — let alone subsidized insurance — to lock in one-tenth

of that by doing the land right and ranching it.” It was my turn to sigh. No argument; you’re right. “Being right won’t mean much when my neighbours rent or buy the land I rent to plant more corn and beans while you, me and taxpayers buy most of the insurance to guarantee them a profit and me a smaller ranch.” That was late March and this is late May and being right still won’t matter because each version of the 2013 Farm Bill that cleared its respective congressional ag committee earlier this month includes expanded versions of today’s generous federal crop insurance programs. In fact, some of the liveliest debates on the bills centred on how to grow the federal crop insurance program while keeping ag outsiders — mostly environmental, nutrition and conservation groups — from either placing restrictions on the expanding program or poaching some of its funds. Each bill is far from any finish line, though. The Senate bill (soon to be voted on by the full Senate), for example, includes compromise wording that links conservation compliance with the new, bigger insurance program. The House Farm Bill does not.

Some Farm Bill watchers now suspect the conservation part of the deal won’t survive the Senate-House conference to marry the two bills. They see the House version — no conservation compliance, no limits — gaining traction. If so, my ranching pal’s future will sport more tractors and combines than cows and calves. Landlords and farmers, unleashed from any conservation requirement and able to buy cheap crop insurance that virtually assures a profit, will plow under more grass to plant more corn and beans. But even if the Senate’s conservation linkage remains in the final bill, the rancher is headed for an almost equally woeful future because farm program benefits, be they direct payments or insurance subsidies, end up being capitalized in land. That’s the biggest reason his cows and calves can’t compete with corn and beans now; the land has been made too valuable by the federal crop insurance guarantees paid for, in part, by American taxpayers. In fact, that puts taxpayers in the business of pretty much putting this rancher out of business. Alan Guebert is a columnist based in Illinois. His Farm and Food File is published weekly in more than 70 newspapers in North America.

Off the front

BSE } from page 1 was singled out for her role in the initiative by John Knapp, the deputy minister of Alberta Agriculture. “Shirley’s vision, her steadfastness, and, above all else, that iron determination was what helped so many of us in this room to do the work in the trenches that we needed to get through this,” he said. The BSE crisis brought people together from government, universities, and the beef sector, he said. “There is one takeaway in this — it was the worst of times, but it brought out the best in all of those who were engaged,” said Knapp. “This has enabled and engendered a direction of inquiry that has not only made us a world centre of renown for research, but is going to make a lasting contribution to both the animal and human side of the equation that future generations will look back on.”

Kevin Keough, executive director of the Alberta Prion Research Institute. Photos: Alexis Kienlen

“We have created the capacity we were asked to create. We have created a worldclass environment, international leadership and we have encouraged interdisciplinary research and have developed research and industry collaborations.”

Kevin Keough

John Knapp, deputy minister of Alberta Agriculture.

June 10, 2013 • Albertafarmexpress.ca

U.S. seeking source of rogue wheat Glyphosate-resistant white winter wheat was found growing on an Oregon farm By Charles Abbott and Meeyoung Cho washington/seoul/ reuters

he United States is still racing to determine how unapproved genetically modified white winter wheat was found growing in an Oregon field, a discovery that caused South Korean buyers to step aside and other importers to step up testing. A top official with the U.S. Department of Agriculture said investigators are “pursuing many avenues” to determine how the wheat — which carries a gene making it resistant to glyphosate herbicide applications — popped up in late April. “At this point we have not... eliminated any” potential causes, Bernadette Juarez, deputy director of the investigative unit with USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, told Reuters in a telephone interview. South Korean millers suspended imports of U.S. wheat May 31 and some Asian countries increased inspections after the discovery of the unapproved wheat, but stopped short of imposing import bans. U.S. officials are attempting to tamp down global alarm about the wheat, developed by biotech giant Monsanto Co. more than a decade ago but never put into commercial production. Field tests on GMO wheat were last conducted in 2005. The discovery of the long-forgotten strain prompted major buyer Japan to shun wheat from the Pacific Northwest at its weekly tender May 30, while the European Union said it would step up testing.

Canadian sales boost?

So far, rival exporter Canada has not seen any benT:10.25” efit from the incident, a major Canadian merchant S:9.5666”

said, predicting that the nervous response from buyers might soon fade. “It’s like the lights going out in the restaurant I was in last night. Nobody really expects they’ll stay out for very long,” Curt Vossen, chief executive of Richardson International Ltd. told Reuters. “It might be five minutes, but they’ll come on again fairly quickly.” CWB president Ian White said the development is unlikely to result in additional sales for Canada. An industry official in the Philippines, which buys about four million tonnes of wheat a year and relies mainly on U.S. supplies, said the country could turn to Canada if it decides not to import from the U.S. The impact of the GMO wheat find has been felt mostly on cash prices in the Pacific Northwest, a key market for Asian buyers to purchase supplies of white wheat. U.S. scientists had conducted weeks of quiet field work and complex tests before the bombshell news was announced. To pin down the origin of the wheat, USDA extracted DNA from the tissue of wheat plants collected by its investigators from the Oregon field, and sent material to three facilities. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has said the wheat posed no threat to human health. The wheat had received clearances for food and feed safety but no varieties had been put forward for commercialization when Monsanto withdrew from the program. Red spring wheat that was resistant to glyphosate was also tested in Canada until 2004. It had received food, feed and environmental safety clearances from Health Canada. But varieties had not been submitted for registration when Monsanto withdrew.

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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • JUNE 10, 2013

New pig care code brings change Stalling on key issues is no longer an option BY SHANNON VANRAES STAFF

he much-anticipated draft Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Pigs released by the National Farm Animal Care Council signals change is coming to the industry’s use of sow gestation stalls and other herd management practices such as castration. “In well-managed and -designed housing systems, it is possible to achieve equal or better productivity and health in group housing systems compared to individual gestation stalls through science and innovation,” reads the very first section of the draft code. The draft document goes on to note sows are often housed in stalls too small and that they routinely exhibit behaviours indicating stress, such as bar biting, sham chewing and excessive drinking. But the yet-to-be finalized code of practice stops short of banning gestation stalls all together, allowing them to be used for up to 35 days per cycle. “Due to the inherent aggressive nature of sows, a combination of group housing with a short period of stall housing can assist in minimizing injuries, improving body condition and can facilitate confirming pregnancy after breeding,” the draft reads. However, as of July 1, 2024 the standard-size sow stall of 58 to 60 cm wide may not be large enough to meet the new requirements of the updated code of practice. New requirements for gestation stalls are outlined in the draft code and state sows must be able to stand up at rest without simultaneously touching both sides of

PHOTO: THINKSTOCK

the stall and be able to lie down without their udders protruding into adjacent stalls. Sows must also be able to stand up without touching the top bars, and be able to stand in the stall without simultaneously touching both ends of the structure. Issues of pain control during castration are also addressed in the updated code, which stipulates that castration done at any age must be performed using analgesics to help control postprocedure pain as of July 2019. Dr. Carol Morgan, a pig welfare specialist representing the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies (CFHS) during the draft process, points out that other

U.S. Senate votes to cut insurance subsidies to rich farmers The wealthiest one per cent would pay a larger share of premium WASHINGTON / REUTERS

he wealthiest 20,000 U.S. farmers should pay more for taxpayer subsidized crop insurance, the Senate voted May 23, adopting a measure that blended deficit reduction, populism and farm program reform. Senators approved the amendment by a lopsided 59-33 vote, in defiance of Agriculture Committee leaders. The move would save $1.3 billion over a decade by reducing the premium subsidy for growers with more than $750,000 of adjusted gross income. Crop insurance, which pays out if farmers’ crops are damaged, is the costliest part of the farm safety net, costing $9 billion a year. It would expand by five per cent in the Senate bill even as other farm, conservation and nutrition programs are cut by $24 billion over 10 years. Agriculture chairwoman Debbie Stabenow of Michigan said she expected more attempts to

rein in crop insurance spending before the Senate votes on the full five-year, $500-billion bill in early June. One pending amendment would limit farmers to $50,000 a year in insurance subsidies. The government currently picks up 62 cents of each $1 in crop insurance premiums. The subsidy would drop to 47 per cent for the top one per cent of growers under the latest amendment. Stabenow said some farmers would find the reduction too onerous, coming on top of a requirement to practise soil conservation in order to qualify for subsidized insurance, and would drop out of the program. Tom Coburn, the Oklahoma Republican who co-sponsored the amendment, said farmers would still be getting “too much of a sweetheart deal” to drop out of the program. The Democratic-controlled Senate earlier defeated Republican proposals to cut food stamps by $31 billion over a decade and to convert food stamps into a block grant.

nations, such as those in the European Union, are phasing out castration entirely by 2018. “That’s the ideal solution, but meat processors in Canada refuse to accept uncastrated males. It’s a problem with processors not producers,” said Morgan. But overall, CFHS said it welcomes the move to restrict the use of gestation stalls. “Science has shown that when confined in sow stalls, pigs experience extreme stress and frustration because they are unable to turn around or express natural behaviours,” said Barbara Cartwright, federation CEO. “It’s like being stuck in an airline seat for your life.” GG NG - 6 x 6.625 -_AGI 2013-03-04

The National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) co-ordinates the work on codes, in conjunction with a two-committee process — a Code Development Committee and a Scientists’ Committee. “The Code Development Committee has worked to develop the draft code since 2010 and the public comment period will allow us to extend the conversation to a broader group,” said Florian Possberg, pork producer and chair of the Code Development Committee in a Canadian Pork Council release. “We welcome all comments and will be reviewed by the code committee.” “The Pork Council 10:35 AM Canadian Page 1

and its members are encouraging producers to carefully review the text of the draft code and submit comments,” said Jean-Guy Vincent, chair of the Canadian Pork Council in a release. “The public comment period is a critical part of the process. As it will fall to producers to implement the code, it is essential for producers to review the draft text and respond with informed and constructive input.” The comment period on the draft code is open until August 3. The full code and online comment is available at: http://www. nfacc.ca/codes-of-practice/pigs shannon.vanraes@fbcpublishing.com

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JUNE 10, 2013 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Olson high on possibilities for further trade with Kazakhstan Among the deals struck on a recent trade mission was the creation of an agriculture school and a $3-million deal to export Canadian purebred cattle to Kazakhstan BY VICTORIA PATERSON AF STAFF / CALGARY

trade mission in Kazakhstan has yielded good results, officials say. “The industry people who I’ve been travelling with have told me just about every day they’ve been here they’ve had very productive meetings,” Alberta Agriculture Minister Verlyn Olson said in a media conference call from Kazakhstan. One of the deals will see the Canadian Hereford Association collaborate with a large ranch in Kazakhstan. “They’re working together on the creation of an agricul-

ture school,” said Olson, adding the association donated $5,000 towards the project, which will involve Lakeland College. As well, Xports International signed a $3-million deal to export Canadian purebred cattle to Kazakhstan. On the earlier Russian leg of the trade trip, Genesus signed an $8-million contract to export 6,500 breeding swine to Russia. Olson predicted there will be many more deals between Kazakhstan, already the biggest importer of Canadian purebred cattle, and Alberta’s ag industry. “When you drive out in the country here, it feels very much like maybe the Brooks coun-

“There is a great opportunity for us to sell cattle and farm equipment here.”

VERLYN OLSON

try or maybe Hanna country, except there are no fences, it just goes for miles… so there is a great opportunity for us to

sell cattle and farm equipment here,” he said. “There’s huge potential.” While in Russia, federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz had talks with officials on the country’s ban on meat from animals given the feed additive ractopamine. He said Russia is sending a team of veterinarians to Canada to verify that plants here are capable of keeping animals treated with ractopamine separate from those that aren’t. Currently only those plants which don’t process ractopamine-treated livestock are allowed to export to Russia. victoria.paterson@fbcpublishing.com

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Surge in bee deaths has made colony collapse disorder a political issue Europe is banning neonicotinoid insecticides and some want Canada to do the same BY ALEX BINKLEY

CONTRIBUTOR / OTTAWA

he humble honeybee has Ottawa and Washington abuzz these days thanks to some controversial dust. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has released a protection protocol for honeybee populations, the Commons agriculture committee has launched a study of threats to bees, the Green Party and Sierra Club want an immediate ban of a controversial class of insecticides, and U.S. officials are trying to sort through a host of factors that might be contributing to colony collapse disorder. Canadian beekeepers have been struggling for more than a decade with mites and other problems devastating their hives. In the spring of 2012, they were pounded with what John Cowan, vice-president of Grain Farmers of Ontario, calls a perfect storm that decimated bee populations in major corngrowing areas. It was linked to an unusually warm and dry spring, and the use of corn seed coated in neonicotinoid insecticide. Some of the insecticide floats in the dust created when corn is planted, thereby reaching — and possibly — killing bees. While most of the 2013 corn crop in Ontario and Quebec has been planted this year under new government guidelines for reducing dust, it’s too soon to get much of a read on how the bee population has fared, Cowan says. Ironically the neonicotinoid insecticide replaced lindane, a really nasty product ordered off the market in Canada because of its devastating impact on bees, birds and other wildlife. Cowan says there’s no silver bullet to fixing the bee health issue but farmers understand the importance the insects play in the development in their crops. Doing without them would cost the average Ontario corn grower $50,000 in lost income, he estimates. While the Green Party and Sierra Club want Ottawa to follow Europe’s lead and ban neonicotinoid insecticides, Cowan argues farming practices in Europe and Ontario are so different that they can’t be compared. Nor is it clear how much blame the insecticides deserve. Many in the U.S. honey sector say the varroa mite is the main culprit, and poor nutrition and exposure to other pesticides are factors. Cowan told the MPs that more study is needed. We need to “understand bee health, bee colony foraging, and all the interactions that exist with farmers and the environment that they work in,” he said.

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • JUNE 10, 2013

China Inc.’s Smithfield bid expected to pass Washington test The deal will face scrutiny but is expected to be cleared BY MICHAEL ERMAN, OLIVIA ORAN AND GREG ROUMELIOTIS

“(T)o have a Chinese food company controlling a major U.S. meat supplier, without shareholder accountability, is a bit concerning.”

REUTERS

ashington may still be digesting news of China Inc.’s latest bold move into America with the nearly $5-billion takeover of Smithfield Foods Inc., but early indications are the deal will not inflame enough nationalistic opposition to kill it, and success could pave the way for more Chinese purchases. Shuanghui International Holdings’ agreement to buy Smithfield would be the largest-ever acquisition of a U.S. company by a Chinese one. The bid — an effort to feed a growing Chinese appetite for U.S. pork — has stirred some concern among U.S. politicians and will face review by a Treasury committee. To many dealmakers and executives, that review is procedural and should not set off alarms. “I don’t think the Smithfield deal will have problems,” said David Marchick, who leads private equity firm Carlyle Group LP’s government, public and regulatory affairs and was not involved in the deal. “It’s not a sensitive sector. They are keeping American management. And the U.S. agricultural commu-

SENATOR CHARLES GRASSLEY

Smithfield controls 26 per cent of U.S. pork processing and 15 per cent of domestic hog production. nity would love to export more to China. “Most Chinese acquisitions in the U.S. will not encounter regulatory or political challenges. Three or four deals a year do encounter problems — and garner all the attention,” said Marchick, who has co-authored a book on U.S. national security and foreign direct investment.

Only a handful of lawmakers — notably Charles Grassley, Republican Senator from Iowa, the largest U.S. hog-producing state — have expressed doubts. “No one can deny the unsafe tactics used by some Chinese food companies. And, to have a Chinese food company controlling a major U.S. meat supplier, without shareholder accountabil-

ity, is a bit concerning,” Grassley said in a statement. Aaron Schock, an Illinois Republican and a member of the House subcommittee on trade whose district includes several hog farms, raised concerns about food safety. “We have to be cautious that a Chinese-run firm wouldn’t result in Chinese standards here in the U.S.,” he said.

“The safety of the consumer is the utmost concern and if that can’t be dealt with, then this deal might be for naught.” The National Farmers Union, which mostly represents family farms and co-ops, said it opposed the deal out of concerns about concentration in the agricultural markets. “Now, in one fell swoop, 26 per cent of U.S. pork processing and 15 per cent of domestic hog production will be controlled by a foreign company,” it said in a statement. Shuanghui has promised not to close or move any of Smithfield’s operations and will keep current management, including CEO Larry Pope, in place.

WHAT’S UP

Send agriculture-related meeting and event announcements to: will.verboven@fbcpublishing.com June 12: Medicine River Watershed Info, Community Hall 5:30 pm, Gilby. Call: Gary 403-845-4444 June 12/13: Grazing School for Women, Location TBA, Vermilion. Call: Linsey 780-384-4129 June 13: Farming Smarter Crop Walk, FS Field Site, Lethbridge. Call: ACPC 800-551-6652 June 14/16: Alberta Provincial Plowing Match, Community Sportsgrounds, Wanham. Call: Stacey 780-694-2080 June 15: Alta Sheep Breeders Association Barn Burner, Cow Palace 7:30 am, Olds. Call: Rod 403-843-3032 June 18: Beef Symposium, Banff Park Lodge 8:30 am, Banff. Email trevor.alexander@agr.gc.ca

June 19/22: 2013 International Clubroot Workshop, Delta South Hotel, Edmonton. Call: Clint 306821-2935 June 20: All Crops Tour, Lethbridge Research Centre, Lethbridge. Call: ACPC 800-551-6652 June 20: UCVM Beef Conference 2013, Coast Plaza Hotel, Calgary. Call: Brenda 403-210-7309 June 25/26: 2013 Farming Smarter Field School 8:30 am, FS Field Site, Lethbridge. Call: FS 403-381-5118 June 26: CTF & Precision Ag Field Day, Durango Farms 1:00 pm, Lacombe. Call: ACPC 800-551-6652 July 9: All Crops Tour 2013, Lacombe Research Station, Lacombe. Call: ACPC 800-551-6659 July 10: 2013 International Livestock Congress, Deerfoot Inn, Calgary. Call: Chantelle 403-6868407 July 19/20: 2013 World Plowing Championship, Olds College, Olds. Call: Kerry 403-556-4762

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JUNE 10, 2013 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Bear trap catches the shorts in soybeans looking the wrong way Without news to explain the sudden turn, shorts may at first misjudge the turn as being merely a rally By david drozd

oybean prices have continued to trade in a sideways to slightly higher trading range since November 2012. Support is down at $14 and resistance up at $15.30. This $1.30 trading range is indicative of a market in equilibrium for the past seven months, with few buyers willing to pay more than $15.30 and most sellers unwilling to accept less than $14. The exception was a quick sell-off to $13.55 in early April, which proved to be a fantastic buying opportunity, as prices slipped below $13.95 and ran sell-stops driving prices down another $.40 per bushel. The news was bearish at the time, as the record South American soybean harvest was wrapping up, which left some traders looking for additional weakness. However, this was nothing more than a bear trap. As the name implies, a bear trap catches the bears looking down at the bottom. Bears, who are also referred to as shorts, are market participants who are expecting lower prices. When prices fail to have any follow-through weakness and turn back up, the shorts are caught having to buy back their positions to protect their profit or to cut their losses.

Market psychology

It takes an experienced eye to anticipate the formation of a

bear trap, but the action of the market participants caught in a bear trap is easy to predict. Since the market is likely to be in a vertical fall prior to its development, we find the shorts are making money and the longs are being wiped out. With this chart pattern there is hardly any room in between. When the turn comes, the psychology of the market instantly turns 180 degrees. At the bottom, the shorts are reaping profits and the longs are being battered. Suddenly, and without any hesitation, a dramatic shift in psychology drives the shorts to cover (buy back) their positions. They find that they have plenty of company, as potential new longs also want in. Emotions probably run higher in a bear trap than in any other chart formation. When the pattern occurs in the absence of any news or explanation it could initially be less dynamic, but the motivation to preserve profits quickly takes hold. Without news to explain the sudden turn, shorts may at first misjudge the turn as being merely a rally. With profits on the books, they are going to wait and see what happens — a big mistake! The market is propelled higher by aggressive new longs and suddenly the race is on, with shorts trying to make the best of a rapidly deteriorating position. As illustrated in the accompanying chart, soybean prices

CBOT Soybean Weekly Nearby (Chart as of May 29, 2013)

rallied for six consecutive weeks and gained nearly $2 per bushel without any significant bullish news. Not only was this a bear trap, but a reversal pattern called a two-week reversal also materialized at that time, which gave further substantiation of an impending rally. On the first day (at a low) the market advances to new lows, but closes very weak, at or near the low of the week. The following week, prices open unchanged to slightly lower but cannot make additional downside progress. Quantity buying appears early in the

week and prices begin to rally. By week’s end, the market rallies to around the preceding week’s high and closes at or near that level. Reversals on weekly charts usually signify turns of intermediate importance. However, when they appear as part of larger, more important reversal formations, such as a bear trap, their significance is greatly enhanced as a leading indicator of an impending trend change. This is a classic example of how chart formations, such as bear traps and two-week reversals enable savvy trad-

ers and farmers alike to cut through the news, which can sometimes have them looking the wrong way. Send your questions or comments about this article and chart to info@ag-chieve.ca. David Drozd is president and senior market analyst for Winnipegbased Ag-Chieve Corporation. The opinions expressed are those of the writer and are solely intended to assist readers with a better understanding of technical analysis. Visit Ag-Chieve online at www.ag-chieve.ca for information about grain-marketing advisory services, or call us toll free at 1-888274-3138 for a free consultation.

Farm groups welcome plan to add more Alberta trade offices New trade offices planned for China, Singapore, India, Brazil, Illinois and California By Victoria Paterson af staff / calgary

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he province wants to increase export opportunities for Alberta businesses, including agricultural ones, by opening six new trade offices and creating an export council for medium and small businesses. The new offices in China, Singapore, India, Brazil, Illinois and California were “selected to benefit the major industries in Alberta and of course agriculture is among them,” said David Sands, a spokesperson for the Ministry of International and Intergovernmental Relations. Existing offices in places such as Japan and Korea have been very successful and are a great resource for businesses looking to export, he said.

“They know what the local regulations are, they know what the local process is, and they know what the local market is looking for,” Sands said. Currently the government has identified opportunities abroad for canola, beef, barley, wheat, pork and processed potatoes, Sands said, though that doesn’t mean opportunities for other products don’t exist. The international offices currently cost $9 million a year to run, and the new offices will up that to about $12 million, he said. Most will open later this year or next, although the Brazilian office isn’t slated to open until 2015. Opposition agriculture critics were generally supportive but Liberal David Swann said their worth will be determined by how knowledgeable and connected the staff in the offices are.

“People can communicate so well internationally now, that you really wonder what some of these offices are able to accomplish by being there in person,” Swann said. Alberta Barley Commission general manager Lisa Skierka said the existing offices have been very helpful and said the new locations “make sense.” Alberta Beef Producers’ executive director also welcomed the announcement. “I think they can do a better job than the federal government at reflecting provincial priorities,” he said. Officials in some countries are more used to dealing with governments than private industry, and so being able to partner with government staff is helpful, he said. victoria.paterson@fbcpublishing.com

}Wet weather

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • JUNE 10, 2013

U.S. corn acreage seen down

Paraguay soy haul bounces back

Morgan Stanley forecast 2013 U.S. corn plantings at 93.5 million acres, nearly four per cent below the U.S. Agriculture Department’s forecast of 97.3 million, as wet weather has slowed field work, the firm said in a research note June 3. The firm projected U.S. corn production for 2013-14 at 13.3 billion bushels, down six per cent from USDA’s forecast of 14.14 billion. Morgan Stanley noted that wet weather has stalled seedings in the U.S. Midwest, especially in top U.S. corn producer Iowa. Morgan Stanley said farmers in northern states are not likely to continue planting into June as crop insurance deadlines for corn have passed in Iowa and many other states — Reuters

Farmers in Paraguay harvested a record high 9.3 million tonnes this crop year, more than doubling the previous season’s take, the country’s grains-exporting chamber said. The landlocked South American country is the world’s No. 4 exporter of the oilseed after the United States, Brazil and Argentina. The previous crop was a scant 4.3 million tonnes due to drought. The national yield average for the just-concluded 2012-13 season was 2.967 kilos per hectare, against an average yield of 1.473 kilos in the previous crop year. — Reuters

Soybean planting delays in U.S. support canola futures GM wheat concerns in Oregon have become a drag on wheat By Dwayne Klassen

eather conditions remained an important factor in determining price directions in both Canada and the U.S. during the week ended May 31. However, with seeding operations in Canada starting to wind down, the emphasis will be on planting operations in the U.S. Midwest. Canola futures on ICE Futures Canada’s trading platform trended to the upside during the reporting period, with the weak Canadian dollar and steady demand from the commercial sector helping to encourage the advances. Much of the commercial interest was the pricing of routine export business, as well as covering new-crop domestic processor requirements. Some processors were said to be still aggressively seeking canola, but for spot November delivery. The basis at some locations was easily $89 to $100 over the November canola future. Support in canola was also derived from the need to keep a weather premium built into values, just in case. A lot of market participants are commenting that canola-seeding operations were progressing at a quick pace and earlyseeded crops were developing very well. However, the crop is far from being harvested and there will be a few weather scares between now and the fall. Some of the strength in canola also came from delays in putting the U.S. soybean crop into the ground, especially in the key growing regions of the U.S. Midwest. ICE Futures Canada officials finally were in touch this week, and while they acknowledged there has been little interest shown for the milling wheat, durum and barley contracts, the exchange is not ready to give up on those futures quite yet. The exchange pointed out that conditions in the global wheat market are slowly changing and may help to encourage some use of these risk-management tools. Efforts will also be made this summer to encourage the big grain companies, as well as end-users, to give these futures a chance.

Tight soy supplies

Soybean futures at the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) posted some significant advances during the reporting period, with a lot of that upward price momentum linked to the tight supply situation. Not only are old-crop stocks seen to be less than adequate, but worries about when new-crop supplies will be available have also surfaced. There had been ideas that planting of the soybean crop would be closer to being done and supplies would begin to become available

PHOTo: thinkstock sooner. However, it now appears these new-crop stocks will not be available until later in the autumn. Late development also leaves the soybean crop susceptible to an early frost. Advances in soybeans, however, were capped by the taking of profits as well as cancelled export business by China, as values for the commodity began to get higher than China likes. Ample availability of cheap soybeans from South America made it easier for China to cancel the high-priced product from the U.S. Corn futures at the CBOT also experienced some decent price gains, with much of the upward momentum again associated with the weather. The big problem for corn has been that while seeding of the crop has been decent in most of the smaller producing regions in the U.S., the crop in the U.S. Midwest is far from being in the ground. Extremely heavy precipitation has kept farmers in that area out of the fields, and outlooks calling for additional precipitation in the weeks ahead have prompted some

participants to believe “millions of corn acres” will not be planted this summer. If those huge corn acres are not planted, the ideas are that soybean area will grow as a result. That could temper the upside in those values as a result. As for the delays in seeding soybeans, a number of market participants are still convinced there is plenty of time to put that crop in the ground, as it’s not unusual to see those planting operations go until at least the second week of June. Weather uncertainty managed to help wheat futures on the CBOT, MGEX and KCBT push higher during the reporting period, with spillover from the gains in corn also adding a friendly price floor. The upside in wheat was capped, however, by news that volunteer GM wheat was recently discovered at an Oregon farm in a field that grew winter wheat in 2012. The wheat showed resistance to the herbicide glyphosate. The wheat in question is reported to be a strain that was field tested by Monsanto from 1998 to 2005, but was never commercially produced as international opposition

to GM wheat caused the company to stop the tests. The GM wheat is said to be safe to eat, with no sign that any entered the market, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. While GM soybeans and corn are common in the U.S., no genetically engineered wheat has ever been approved for production in the country. USDA is now investigating how the GM wheat came to be on the field and whether or not it is more widespread. Many importing countries are opposed to GM wheat, and Japan announced it was suspending purchases of U.S. western white and feed wheat in response to the discovery. The European Union has also said it will test incoming shipments and block any that contain GM wheat. Field tests on glyphosate-resistant Roundup Ready wheat were also conducted in Western Canada from 1998 through 2004. Dwayne Klassen writes for Commodity News Service Canada, a Winnipeg company specializing in grain and commodity market reporting.

JUNE 10, 2013 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Middle Eastern favourite expected to boost chickpea production High carry-over was expected to weigh on chickpea acres this year, but rising demand for hummus could change that picture ing along the eastern seaboard. Sabra Dipping (50 per cent owned by PepsiCo) is a major producer of hummus and recently announced plans to expand its plant in Virginia. “It’s a very interesting, highvalue opportunity for growers,” said Carl Potts, executive director of the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers. The CDC Frontier variety of kabuli chickpea grown in Saskatchewan is used extensively in producing the dip, he said, adding companies purchasing chickpeas for hummus are also showing interest in improved varieties well suited to Saskatchewan. Canada grew 158,000 tonnes of chickpeas on 200,000 acres last year, mostly in Saskatchewan,

By Phil Franz-Warkentin commodity news service canada

rowing North American demand for hummus should benefit Canadian chickpea growers as the Middle Eastern dip finds its way onto more and more grocery shelves. Chickpeas were highlighted in a recent Wall Street Journal story titled “Hummus Is Conquering America.” It noted health-conscious consumers are driving demand for hummus, with sales for the chickpea-based dip up 25 per cent or more in the past two years. Most of the U.S. chickpea crop is grown in the Pacific Northwest, but production is increas-

and the U.S. had a similar-size crop, producing 150,000 tonnes on 206,000 acres. But while American producers are forecast to seed 214,300 acres this year, StatsCan expects Canadian seeding to decline to 155,000 acres. Most Canadian chickpeas are still exported offshore, but that could change, said Potts. “That is a market that is growing faster than the overall growth consumption in the export market,” he said. Canada has more than enough chickpeas to work with for the time being. Chickpea supplies in the country, as of March 31, came in at 111,000 tonnes, according to StatsCan data. That’s the largest stocks for that time of year since 2004.

However, while larger supplies have caused prices to slip from their highs of a year ago, chickpeas remain very attractive and pencil in very well in those areas best suited to growing the crop, said Potts. Bids for large-diameter kabuli chickpeas are currently as high as 41 cents per pound, according to the latest Prairie Ag Hotwire data, with desi varieties priced around 27 cents per pound. Potts said 200,000 acres could be planted this year if the weather co-operates — with 90 per cent likely to be kabuli varieties, used to make hummus, and the remainder in the smaller desi varieties, which are primarily sold to India.

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New Cargill executive winnipeg/reuters Canada’s third-largest grain handler Cargill Ltd. has named Jeff Vassart as president of its Canadian division, the company announced May 27. Vassart, who has worked for Cargill for 17 years, replaces Len Penner who retires May 31. Vassart takes over as Cargill builds a new canola-crushing plant in Camrose, Alberta, adds refining capacity to its canola plant in Clavet, Saskatchewan, and constructs a new flour mill with partner Horizon Milling G.P. in Guelph, Ontario.

Ottawa says EU trade close after 18 months of talks ottawa/reuters Canada is close to finalizing a long-delayed free trade deal with the European Union, says Trade Minister Ed Fast. Ottawa and Brussels began negotiations in 2009 and a deal was supposed to be concluded by the end of 2011. “Our negotiators... (are) bridging the very small remaining handful of issues,” said Fast. “These are difficult discussions but our negotiators are finding creative ways of bridging the outstanding gaps.” Among the sticking points are how much beef Canada can export and how much freedom EU companies will have to bid for Canadian government contracts.

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Animal cruelty video prompts Australia to suspend cattle exports to Egypt sydney / reuters Australian livestock exporters are suspending live cattle exports to Egypt after a graphic video purportedly showing animal cruelty in Egyptian abattoirs. The video, secretly shot at two abattoirs by animal rights group Animals Australia, showed “appalling practices during the slaughter process,” said Alison Penfold, chief executive officer of the Australian Livestock Exporters Council. “We are very genuine about the suspension,” she said. “There will be no animals going into those facilities until the standards are met.” Australia’s live export industry is worth hundreds of millions of dollars annually, and much of the trade is with Muslim countries, where they are slaughtered in accordance with Islamic requirements.

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • JUNE 10, 2013

SEED PLANT IN UKRAINE

Alberta researchers see a bright future for biochar in the province Biochar can increase soil fertility, capture carbon, fix nitrogen, control odours, and be used as a feed additive

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KIEV / REUTERS Monsanto Co., the world’s largest seed company, plans to launch a non-GM (genetically modified) corn seed plant in Ukraine, one of the world’s leading producers of the grain, the company said May 24. Ukraine, which harvested about three million tonnes of maize 10 years ago, threshed 20.9 million tonnes of the commodity in 2012 and might increase the output to 21.8 million tonnes this year, analysts say. Ukrainian laws bar local farmers from growing genetically modified crops.

BY TONY KRYZANOWSKI AF CONTRIBUTOR / VEGREVILLE

t’s the multi-tasking soil amendment, and Alberta farmers are going to hear a lot more about biochar thanks to the Alberta Biochar Initiative. This special type of charcoal — which can be made from a host of materials, including wheat and flax stalks and even cattle manure — can increase soil fertility, fix nitrogen, and sequester carbon. It can also be used as a greenhouse growing medium, to reclaim oilfield and mine sites, protect rivers from logging operations, and for odour control. It also has a potential as a feed additive for livestock, a substitute for peat, and as an additive to compost. Figuring out the best and most cost-effective use of the substance is one of the goals of the Alberta Biochar Initiative, which recently unveiled two pyrolysis units at the Alberta Innovates — Technology Futures (AITF) site in Vegreville. The devices convert agricultural wastes into biochar at very high temperatures in a very low-oxygen environment, and the agency will work with Lakeland College to study potential uses for the substance, including a feedstock, greenhouse growth media, and soil amendment. “What we are trying to do as part of this initiative is to get all the people who are interested in this and doing work on it, to hopefully get focused on what do we know now and what do we need to continue to develop,” said Mel Mathison, the college’s dean of environmental sciences and applied research.

Participants in the Alberta Biochar Initiative searched the world for the most advanced existing technology for producing biochar using pyrolysis. This unit was purchased from an Australian company.

Mel Mathison, dean of environmental sciences and applied research at Lakeland College is dwarfed by one of two pyrolysis units that will be used for both biochar research and for demonstrations with possible biochar producers. PHOTOS: TONY KRYZANOWSKI It’s hoped that co-ordinating research will speed the development of a commercial biochar industry — possibly in as little as four years, he said. “I think there is a lot of potential for this product in the horticultural industry, the greenhouse industry and in areas where there are high-value crops to enhance the soil growth medium that they are currently using,” said Mathison.

The two units, purchased with a $900,000 federal grant, convert feedstocks to biochar at temperatures in the 500 C to 700 C range, and are capable of producing two tonnes of the material daily. Depending on the feedstock — which includes crop waste, sawmill waste and pulp-and-paper sludge — it takes four to seven tonnes of material to make a tonne of biochar. “We’re trying to find areas where the companies could really benefit by adding that value,” said Mathison.

Feedlot manure may also work as a feedstock. “We think we can use it as a feedstock, but we haven’t tested it in these machines yet,” said Mathison. “The moisture content and just getting it to feed through would be two of the things that would have to be worked around.” The use of biochar as a soil conditioner dates back to the indigenous peoples living in the Amazon Basin who added wood charcoal to soil to make it more fertile. The Japanese have also used it for centuries as a soil conditioner. “Using charcoal as a soil amendment is not something new in certain parts of the world,” said Julie Major, an agronomist at McGill University, and an expert in the historical use of biochar. However, she said it is not commonly used in Canada because this country’s soils are already quite fertile.

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JUNE 10, 2013 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Project brings ranchers’ perspectives and history to city dwellers University of Lethbridge professor’s project collects oral histories of ranchers BY VICTORIA PATERSON AF STAFF / CALGARY

University of Lethbridge professor is hoping to narrow the rural-urban divide by capturing real-life stories from the country to city folk. Carol Williams and a team of students collected stories of ranchers from southern Alberta’s foothills thanks to a grant from the Alberta Rural Development Network. “I just wanted to make a modest attempt, an educational project, that I could take into schools, take to urban dwellers and have the perspectives of rural producers,” said Williams, an associate professor and chair of the women and gender studies department. Her team collected oral histories of nine ranchers, which were transcribed and are being donated to the Galt Museum and Archives in Lethbridge, as well as taking videos and photographs. The ranchers were asked about their family histories, environmental stewardship, urban expansion, and other topics. “It’s a really important tool for historians these days,” Williams said of oral history. “It’s a way of sort of taking a snapshot of individual histories that often don’t get told.” A questionnaire on topics such as succession planning and division of land, ranching skills, and the division of labour between genders was part of the project and Williams is hoping to have more ranchers fill one in. “I’m a women’s historian, so I’m interested in women’s labour and the fact that it’s often not recognized,” Williams said. The Southern Alberta Land Trust Society partnered in the project because the organization views conservation of western heritage as part of its mandate, said executive director Alan Gardner. “I think there is a need for a greater understanding between urban and rural people of the value that each bring to our landscape and to our society,” said Gardner. The society also wants to educate people about the effects of expansion of urban and suburban areas on to agricultural land. “That’s what reciprocity is all about – education,” he said. victoria.paterson@fbcpublishing.com

Carol Williams (back right) and undergraduate student research assistants Karissa Patton (front left) and Kenneth Amphiah (back left) interview Kelly Hall (front right) as part of the project.

Survey examines changing attitudes about GM crops amongst grain farmers A growing number of grain farmers in Quebec says they need GM crops to be profitable and that they are good for the environment BY VICTORIA PATERSON AF STAFF / RED DEER

uebec grain producers are becoming more reliant on genetically modified crops — and less worried about that. That’s one of the findings of a survey done by a Laval University professor. When Gail West first surveyed grain farmers in the province in 2003, two-thirds of them said they were dependent on GM crops. When she repeated the survey last year, that number had risen to 80 per cent. “They do feel a greater dependency on the GM crops than they ever did before,” said West, a professor of consumer sciences in the agriculture faculty. A decade ago, 22 per cent of respondents said they were com-

pletely opposed to any ban on GM crops, but that number doubled in her latest survey, West told attendees at Alberta Agricultural Economics Association’s annual Visions conference in Red Deer. A majority of respondents said GM crops were good for the environment, with 60 per cent reporting they had decreased herbicide use by growing them. But the response to questions on herbicide-resistant weeds was concerning, West said. Even though resistant weeds have been found in Quebec, most respondents said they didn’t believe the risk of resistance was high. “This was a shocking response to me,” said West. “I think it’s perhaps glib on the part of the farmers to think this is what the future holds.” While a majority agreed with

“They do feel a greater dependency on the GM crops than they ever did before.” GAIL WEST

the statement that GM technology doesn’t reduce the need to rotate crops, 42 per cent said they rotated crops less frequently since adopting the technology. The farmers surveyed also said they didn’t see it as a threat to organics. In 2012, there was significant agreement from the pro-

ducers surveyed that GM crops can be planted near organic crops and only six per cent had heard of any issues with coexistence. “So coexistence for them is not an issue whatsoever,” West said. When it comes to credible information about GM crops, there’s been a shift downward for trust in scientists since 2003. However, respondents said the media has improved when it comes to providing information to the general public, and environmental organizations’ credibility showed what West called an “interesting increase.” “Farmers are now saying those environmental organizations are somewhat credible,” West said, noting previously there was a lot of anger towards such organizations. victoria.paterson@fbcpublishing.com

Foliar Micro-nutrients offer Application and Production Benefits Soil fertility is like a bank account: you can’t expect to keep successfully withdrawing unless you occasionally top it up. While farmers have long been used to applying macro-nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, today’s successful producers also carefully manage their crop’s micro-nutrient requirements, such as boron, copper and zinc. If your crop is short one or more micro-nutrient, consider solving the problem with a convenient, effective and relatively inexpensive in-crop solution: foliar micronutrient application. “While in the past there hasn’t been a lot of micro-nutrient application except in irrigated lands, there is a lot more demand on our soil now. Where a micronutrient might have been marginally okay when we grew 35 or 40 bushels of wheat, now that we’re up to 60 and 70 bushels, we’ve gone from marginal to really deficient,” says Doug Penney, a senior coach with Agri-Trend Agrology Ltd.“ In cases where micro-nutrients are required, the cost of putting them on is more than covered by increased yield.”

Alberta Farmer 8.125 ‘’x 10.00 ‘’ Left

The leaves of crops deficient in certain micro-nutrients, including copper, manganese and zinc, often appear pale because the plants are not able to produce enough chlorophyll. Unfortunately, not all symptoms are obvious: for example, severe copper deficiency results in sterile pollen. “Producers should definitely be testing for micro-nutrient deficiency. Applying foliar micro-nutrients to correct any identified problems can be a very good solution. Fortunately, crops require micro-nutrients in much smaller amounts than they do for the macro-nutrients, so draw down is slower,” he adds. While many producers opt to broadcast or band their micro-nutrients at or before seeding, most micro-nutrients can be tank mixed with pesticides and foliar applied. Given the busyness of spring seeding, especially in a late spring like this year, delaying micro-nutrient application until into the growing season can be a major convenience. That said, the timing for a micro-nutrient application may not always coincide with

a required pesticide application, and the compatibility of the products should always be checked. Foliar application provides readily and immediately available micro-nutrients directly to growing plants, precisely when the plant requires that nutrient. In some cases, more than one application may be required. “Because most micro-nutrients are relatively immobile in the soil, the method of application is important. For example, copper is most effective when broadcast and thoroughly mixed into the topsoil. But, with the shift to zero-tillage, this is often not an option. If placed in a shallow band or seed-placed, copper may not be available when the crop needs it if the soil is dry. Therefore, foliar application at the early flag leaf stage is a good option,” says Penney. Finally, foliar application can save you money, as the minimized wastage and dilution means foliar micro-nutrients can be applied at a far lesser rate than would be needed in the soil.

UFA.com

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • JUNE 10, 2013

Peace officials considering massive pipeline project to fix water woes A 2008 plan put the costs of the pipeline to bring water from the Peace River to Grande Prairie and other communities at $280 million, but officials say action is needed By Helen Mcmenamin

af contributor / grande prairie

Flows in the Wapiti River are suffering from drought and high demand. Photo: supplied by county of Grande Prairie

t’s not the arid south, but the northwest of the province that’s currently facing the most serious water supply challenges, says former provincial agriculture minister Walter Paszkowski. “At one time we had abundant water, now it’s become a bit of a challenge,” said Paszkowski, now economic development manager for the County of Grande Prairie. “It could very quickly become a crisis.” While Peace Country has abundant water resources, population growth, changing weather patterns, and distribution issues

are prompting his county to consider a major pipeline project to get water to where it’s needed, he said. The city of Grande Prairie grew by 17 per cent between 2006 and 2011, the town of Sexsmith grew by 23 per cent, and it’s forecast the region’s population will double in the next 30 years. But water demand is expected to grow even more quickly — 40 per cent in the next 10 years. And it’s coming at a time when water supplies are diminishing due to a prolonged drought, said Paszkowski. “We’ve had only four years of higher-than-normal rainfall since 1991,” he said. The usual response, building a reservoir, isn’t an option

because the South Peace area has a layer of bentonite clay, which makes the subsoil unstable. Where engineers can find bedrock, it’s sandstone that’s not strong enough to anchor a dam. Meanwhile, water levels in wells have been dropping, many by as much as five metres, forcing people to drill deeper. Officials have considered tapping into deep aquifers, but their mineral levels are too high for potable water. Water shortages are also an issue for many livestock producers. Dugout levels have dropped considerably during the last two decades and officials are increasingly worried about fecal coliform contamination from

Boost your plant power! You’ve invested your time, effort and money to get your crop in and established. Now, talk to your local UFA Crop Representative about foliar micro-nutrient products and application tips to help you maximize your yield, and get the most out of your crop this season.

Product

Manufacturer

Micro-nutrients

Application timing

Application rate

Omex

Multiple

With Herbicide

1L/Acre

Super B

Omex

Boron

With Herbicide or fungicide

0.5-1L/acre

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Omex

Multiple

With Herbicide

2L/acre

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Omex

Multiple

With Herbicide

1-2L/acre

Magnify Canola

ATP Nutrition

Zn, Mn, Mo, B

With Herbicide

2L/acre

Magnify Cereals

ATP Nutrition

Zn, Mn, Mo, Cu

With Herbicide

1L/acre

42Phi Canola

ATP Nutrition

Calcium, Zinc, Boron

With Fungicide

0.5-1L/acre

42Phi Cereals

ATP Nutrition

Magnesium, Boron

With Fungicide

0.5-1L/acre

Golden Harvest

Stoller

Zn,Mn,Fe,Mo,Cu, B

With Herbicide

0.5L/acre

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Alberta Farmer 8.125 ‘’x 10.00 ‘’ Right

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migrating waterfowl and other wildlife. Many producers experiencing problems with dugouts have called the province’s emergency water pumping service to ask the agency for help in finding water, said Brent Paterson, executive director of Alberta Agriculture’s Irrigation and Farm Water Division. Typically, their efforts were fruitless, he said. “There was nothing there,” said Paterson. “It really hit home to us that longterm, dependence on dugouts is not sustainable.” Residents of Grande Prairie are also becoming increasingly concerned. In recent years, the Wapiti River, the city’s water source, has looked much like southern rivers in late summer, with sandbars and water flowing in only a small part of the riverbed. Winter flows are even lower, a concern for the health of the aquatic ecosystem. Farther east, the Smoky River has adequate water levels, but it shares its headwaters with the Wapiti and is seeing similar flow patterns. The limited availability of water has become an economic handicap for the region, said Paszkowski. In little more than a year, two major potential developments have located elsewhere, one outside Canada, because his region couldn’t assure investors of the water volume they wanted, he said. Action is needed, he said. “It’s time to plan, develop schedules, and look at financing,” said Paszkowski. “Water doesn’t flow the day after you decide to do this. We have to plan ahead.” The cost of developing a regional pipeline isn’t prohibitive, according to Paterson. The challenge to piping water from the Peace River is the 1,000-foot lift needed to get water to the level of the surrounding land. Paterson’s group is reviewing a 2008 plan for piping water from the Peace River to Grande Prairie and other communities in the area. “We have to look at all the potential requirements again to make sure we build in enough capacity into the system,” he said. “It’s a lot easier to build a system with extra capacity than add to it later.” The plan envisions a main line from Dunvegan Bridge over the Peace running south to Grande Prairie, with branch lines serving areas to the east and west, with water flowing by 2017. After use, treated water would be returned to smaller rivers in the region that eventually join the Peace. Paterson said the river could handle the water diversion. “Even a four-foot pipe pulling water out of the Peace would be insignificant compared to its flows,” he said. He’s optimistic too about the cost of the project. “Costs for the 2008 plan were around $280 million,” he said. “That price may still be in the ballpark, I’ve seen some very good construction deals lately.” A pipeline would also create “huge economic opportunities,” he added.

JUNE 10, 2013 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Robots to drones, Australia eyes high-tech farm help to grow food Australia is a world leader in developing robots in agriculture BY COLIN PACKHAM SYDNEY / REUTERS

oving carefully along a row of apple trees, two of Australia’s newest agricultural workers check if the fruit is ripe or the soil needs water or fertilizer. Meet “Mantis” and “Shrimp,” agricultural robots being tested to do these tasks and more in a bid to cut costs and improve productivity in Australia’s economically vital farm sector, which exported A$39.6 billion of produce in 2012. Australia is one of the leaders in the field and, with a minimum wage of A$15.96 per hour and a limited workforce, has a big incentive to use robots and other technology such as unmanned aircraft to improve efficiency.

It hopes to tap fast-growing Asian neighbours, where the swelling ranks of the middle class increasingly want more varied and betterquality food from blueberries to beef. “The adoption of new technology is going to be crucial for Australia to maintain its competitiveness in terms of the global agricultural sector,” said Luke Matthews, commodities strategist at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. “If we don’t adopt new technology, we can give up on these highflying ambitions of being the food bowl of Asia.” Agriculture now accounts for two per cent of Australia’s gross domestic product, but the government forecasts it could reach five per cent by 2050. Its growth is particularly important now the once-booming mining sector is slowing.

Australia is the world’s secondbiggest wheat exporter and arable farmers are already using specialized technology aimed at improving efficiency, including satellite positioning software to allow farmers to map out land and soil to determine optimal inputs. Using such technology to optimize the use of fertilizer can boost profitability at grain farms by 14 per cent, according to a study by Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization.

Colour receptors

A robot effortlessly plucking fruit is some way off, though a range of simpler tasks are within reach to add to existing technology such as automatic steering of harvesters. Salah Sukkarieh, professor of robotics and intelligent systems at

the University of Sydney and developer of Mantis and Shrimp, says the next phase aims for robots to do increasingly complex jobs such as watering and ultimately harvesting. “We have fitted them with a lot of sensors, vision, laser, radar and conductivity sensors — including GPS and thermal sensors,” said Sukkarieh, speaking at his laboratory housing a collection of both ground robots and unmanned air vehicles. The technology could have the biggest application in horticulture, Australia’s third-largest agricultural sector with exports of $1.71 billion in the last marketing year, since a fixed farm layout lends itself better to using robots. Robots and an unmanned air vehicle that are being developed at the University of Sydney had passed field tests at an almond farm

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in Mildura, Victoria state, said Sukkarieh. Propelled by sets of wheels and about the height of a man, the robots were named after the native Mantis shrimp because of the marine crustacean’s 16 different colour receptors, capable of detecting up to 12 colours. Humans only have four, three of which pick up colours. This capacity to recognize colour already allows the robots to sense whether fruit is ripe. The data can then be processed by computer algorithms to determine what action the robot should take. This could be to water or apply fertilizer or pesticides, or to sweep and prune vegetation, and eventually the aim is to harvest the crop. “The question is, can we make them more intelligent?” added Sukkarieh, who also sees the technology being attached to standard farm vehicles and foresees a fully automated horticulture farm within 10 years.

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Backsaver Auger 10/13/16

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Australian farmers, who depend on seasonal labour for jobs such as picking fruit and vegetables, said they would welcome hightech help. “Berry picking by a robot would be difficult but if they could produce a robot, I could make a significant saving,” said Allan Dixon, co-owner of the Clyde River Berry Farm in New South Wales, who typically takes on five people every year. To get enough agricultural workers, Australia allows in some labour from neighbouring Pacific island countries and East Timor, as well as using backpackers on temporary work visas. Some fruit farmers remain skeptical. “Apples will always need to be harvested by hand, due to their fragile nature. They bruise very easily,” said Lucinda Giblett, director at Newton Orchards in Western Australia.

Productivity

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Drive-over Hopper

Utility Auger / Unloading Auger

Rollermill / Hammermill

Grain Cleaner

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Further productivity gains will be needed if Australia is to reach its target of being the main food supplier to Asia. A 2011 study by the Australian Bureau of Agriculture and Resource Economics and Sciences said around two-thirds of the increase in the monetary value of agricultural production in the last 50 years in the country was down due to gains in productivity.

Salah Sukkarieh, professor of robotics and intelligent systems at the University of Sydney, Australian Centre for Field Robotics, stands next to one of his robotic aircraft in his laboratory in Sydney. Australian farmers are increasingly turning to science to maximize yields, with agricultural robots and existing technology a likely future for the average farm. PHOTO: REUTERS/DAVID GRAY

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • JUNE 10, 2013

Productivity increases with species diversity Research result proves Darwin prediction, 150 years later UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO RELEASE

nvironments containing species that are distantly related to one another are more productive than those containing closely related species, according to new research from the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC). The experimental result from Marc William Cadotte confirms a prediction made by Charles Darwin in On the Origin of Species, first published in 1859. Darwin had said that a plot of land growing distantly related grasses would be more productive than a plot with a single species of grass. Since then, many experiments have shown that multi-species plots are more productive. Cadotte’s experiment showed for the first time that species with the greatest evolutionary distance from one another have the greatest productivity gains. “If you have two species that can access different resources or do things in different ways, then having those two species together can enhance species function. What I’ve done is account for those differences by accounting for their evolutionary history,” Cadotte says. Cadotte grew 17 different plants in various combinations of one, two, or four species per plot. As in previous experiments, he found that multi-species plots produced more plant material. But when he analyzed the results he also found that combinations of plants that were distantly related to one another were more productive than combinations of plants that were closely related. So, for instance, a plot planted with goldenrod and the closely related black-eyed susan wasn’t as productive as a plot with goldenrod and the more distantly related bluestem grass. What’s going on isn’t mysterious, Cadotte says. Distantly related plants are more likely to require different resources and to fill different environmental niches — one might need more nitrogen, the other more phosphorus; one might have shallow roots, the other deep roots. So rather than competing with one another, they complement one another. What’s interesting about his result is that evolutionary distance is all you need to know to predict productivity. The result suggests that as plant species disappear the Earth will become less productive, and plants will draw even less carbon from the atmosphere, possibly increasing the rate of global warming. On the other hand, the results could give a valuable tool to conservation efforts. Environmentalists trying to restore damaged habitats could use the information to help them pick which combinations of species to introduce.

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JUNE 10, 2013 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

The only time you shouldn’t spray is when you have a poor looking crop and you are not in a fusarium head blight (FHB) area.

L AG

EAF TIM I

TO SPRAY

No visible disease present No visible disease present

If your crop doesn’t look good, but you are in an FHB area, a fungicide application can still pay for itself and safeguard the yield and quality of your grain. Do some calculations and if your potential disease risk and ROI exceed the cost of application – you should protect your crop with a fungicide.

If your crop looks good, you will definitely want to protect your investment with a fungicide application. Which product will provide the most bang for your buck? It depends on crop staging, current disease pressure and potential disease risks. Here is a quick chart to help make your fungicide decision easier.

No visible disease present

–

Leaf disease on upper leaves and/or flag leaf

–

Leaf disease only (lower to mid leaves)

To see how It Pays to Spray in your area visit BayerCropScience.ca/ItPaystoSpray

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

F:10.8”

No visible disease present

Leaf disease on upper leaves and/or flag leaf

Leaf disease only (lower to mid leaves)

FS:10.55”

AD TIMING E H

Leaf disease only

T:21

Albertafarmexpress.ca • june 10, 2013

NOT TO SPRAY FHB AREA

YES

WHAT SHOULD YOU SPRAY?

Even when you can’t see disease symptoms, there is no such thing as a disease-free crop. A good crop is worth protecting – consider spraying an application of Folicur® EW or Prosaro® applied at head timing to help ensure top grade, quality and yield. There is no such thing as a disease-free crop. Even in the absence of disease symptoms, the mere fact that you are in an FHB area means you need to protect your crop. Apply Prosaro at head timing.

YES

Spray Folicur EW and re-assess at head timing to determine whether a second fungicide application is required.

+ 4.6 bu./ac. Folicur EW 3/4 rate, flag leaf OR

+ 9.4 bu./ac. Prosaro, head

+ 1.8 bu./ac. Folicur EW full rate, head OR

+ 3.1 bu./ac. Prosaro, head

+ 9.8 bu./ac. Folicur EW 3/4 rate, flag leaf

+ 4.4 bu./ac. Folicur EW 3/4 rate, flag leaf OR

+ 8.5 bu./ac. Prosaro, head

+ 7 bu./ac.

When leaf disease is limited to lower/mid leaves at flag leaf timing, the damage is negligible. Re-assess at head timing and if you still only see leaf disease you can spray either Folicur EW or Prosaro.

Folicur EW 3/4 rate, flag leaf OR

+ 7 bu./ac.

Folicur EW full rate, head OR

+ 10 bu./ac.

Prosaro full rate, head

YES

Whenever you are in an FHB area, you should spray Prosaro. However, if leaf disease is limited to the lower/mid leaves you have the ability to make your Prosaro application at head timing to cover both leaf disease and FHB.

+ 5.8 bu./ac. Folicur EW full rate, head OR

+ 8.5 bu./ac. Prosaro, head

C-51-05/13-BCS13012-E

F:10.8”

T:15.5”

Leaf disease damage to upper leaves or the flag leaf can cause irreparable injury to your crop and immediate action is required. Spray Folicur EW and re-assess at head timing to determine whether a second fungicide application is required.

GAIN IN YIELD*

*Gain in yield based on multi-year wheat Demonstration Strip Trial (DST) results in Western Canada, 2008-2012. Results compared to yield of untreated check.

1.6”

JUNE 10, 2013 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Drug resistance in new China bird flu raises concern Officials say the ease with which resistance occurs is ‘concerning’ BY BEN HIRSCHLER LONDON/ REUTERS

he new bird flu strain that has killed 36 people in China has proved resistant to Tamiflu for the first time, development scientists said was “concerning.” The H7N9 virus was found to be resistant to Roche’s widely used flu drug in three out of 14 patients who were studied in detail by doctors from Shanghai and Hong Kong. Tamiflu, which is given as a pill, belongs to a group of medicines known as neuraminidase inhibitors that currently offer the only known treatment option for bird flu. GlaxoSmithKline’s inhaled medicine Relenza has the same mode of action. In one patient, the gene mutation responsible for resistance appears to have arisen after infection took hold, probably as a result of treatment with Tamiflu, leading

Thai sacred oxen predict big rice crop Government stocks are already exceeding available space BY APORNRATH PHOONPHONGPHIPHAT BANGKOK / REUTERS

acred white oxen at Thailand’s plowing ceremony May 13 predicted a big rice crop, an ominous sign for a government running out of space to store vast stocks after two years of buying at above market prices to help farmers. Thailand’s Agriculture Ministry forecasts paddy output of 27 million tonnes in the 2013-14 main crop in November, up from 26 million tonnes a year earlier, an official at the ceremony said. By choosing maize and grass over other delicacies, the oxen also signalled large harvests for the May-November season. A state policy of paying farmers some 50 per cent above market prices, and its unwillingness then to sell the rice at a loss, has already eaten up available storage space, heaping pressure on the government to decide what to do. A trial donation last month of 40 tonnes as humanitarian aid to poor villagers in Phitsanulok province, which a Commerce Ministry official said would be followed by a few million tonnes more, drew complaints it had been stored too long. Milled rice stocks have risen to 17 million tonnes, almost half of global trade of around 38 million tonnes. A big harvest could add around 10 million tonnes to stockpiles this year. Thai officials have suggested renting air force hangars for storage and the government is considering building more silos, although the cabinet would have to approve the extra spending.

to concerns that medication may be the trigger for resistance to develop. “The apparent ease with which antiviral resistance emerges in A/H7N9 viruses is concerning; it needs to be closely monitored and considered in future pandemic response plans,” the researchers wrote in an article published

Experts from the United Nations agency said last week the bird flu outbreak in China had caused some $6.5 billion in losses to the economy.

online by The Lancet medical journal May 28. Earlier genetic studies had raised worries about drug resistance but this is the first time that the problem has been documented in clinical cases. For most of the 14 patients studied, Tamiflu successfully reduced the amount of virus found in throat swabs and helped speed clinical recovery. But it had no impact on the amount of virus found in swabs from three patients who became severely ill. A spokeswoman for Swiss-based drugmaker Roche said rates of Tamiflu resistance remained low globally, but it took the issue of resistance “very seriously” and was collaborating with health authorities to monitor the situation. The H7N9 virus is known to have infected 131 people in China since February, but no new cases have been detected since early May, according to the World Health Organization.

Experts from the United Nations agency said last week the bird flu outbreak in China had caused some $6.5 billion in losses to the economy. Scientific studies of the virus have established it is being transmitted from birds — probably mostly chickens — to people. But experts have yet to identify the source of the circulating virus — the so-called “reservoir” — that is leading to chickens contracting it and sporadically passing it on to humans. As well, researchers say the virus can be transmitted between mammals not only via direct contact but also in airborne droplets, and may be capable of spreading from person to person, Chinese and American researchers have found. A study published in the journal Science and presented at a briefing in Hong Kong on Friday found that three ferrets — an animal often used for research on flu — that were in the same cage as ferrets infected with H7N9 had contracted the disease.

One of three ferrets kept in separate cages nearby also became infected, through airborne exposure. The World Health Organization (WHO) has previously said it has no evidence of “sustained human-to-human transmission” of the virus, which has killed 36 people in China. “The findings suggest that the possibility of this virus evolving further to form the basis of a future pandemic threat cannot be excluded,” said the research team, led by bird flu expert and microbiologist Yi Guan. The virus can also infect pigs, but could not be transmitted from pig to pig or from pigs to other animals, the study showed, although the team urged authorities to maintain surveillance to check whether the virus was mutating. The WHO said the findings were useful but warned that people “have to be very careful about what’s going on, on the ground.”

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • JUNE 10, 2013

It’s a matter of survival

Rats can keep an eye on different things at the same time STAFF

Rats process visual information from their eyes similar to other mammals. Nevertheless, their eyes move in a very different way. Unlike humans, their eyes can move in opposite directions. PHOTO: THINKSTOCK

cientists from the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics in Tübingen have found that rats can keep an eye on what’s going on above them at the same time as they can see around them. Each eye moves in a different direction, depending on the change in the animal’s head position. An analysis of both eyes’ field of view found that the eye movements exclude the possibility that rats fuse the visual information into a single image like humans do. Instead, the eyes move in such a way that enables the space above them to be permanently in view — presumably an adaptation to help them deal with the major threat from predatory birds that rodents face in their natural environment, an institute release says.

Like many mammals, rats have their eyes on the sides of their heads. This gives them a very wide visual field, useful when detecting predators. However, three-dimensional vision requires overlap of the visual fields of the two eyes. Thus, the visual system of these animals needs to meet two conflicting demands at the same time; on the one hand maximum surveillance and on the other hand detailed binocular vision. The research team fitted minuscule cameras weighing only about one gram to the animals’ heads, which could record the lightning-fast eye movements with great precision. The scientists also measured the position and direction of the head, enabling them to reconstruct the rats’ exact line of view at any given time. The Max Planck scientists were surprised by their findings. Although rats process visual information from their eyes through very similar brain pathways to other mammals, their eyes evidently move in a totally different way.

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Canada approves Dow’s new Enlist Duo herbicide U.S. regulators put the new products on hold, but Canada has given it the green light BY CAREY GILLAM / REUTERS

anadian regulators have given a green light to Dow AgroSciences, a unit of Dow Chemical Co., to introduce a controversial new herbicide meant to control spreading weed resistance, Dow said May 16. Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) approved “Enlist Duo” herbicide for use in Canada, making it the first country to authorize the new herbicide. U.S.-based Dow AgroSciences’ Enlist herbicide is designed to be used alongside new biotech crops for which Dow is seeking approval. These biotech crops are able to tolerate Enlist herbicide, which helps farmers more easily treat fields for problem weeds. Millions of acres of weeds throughout North America have become resistant to the popular Roundup herbicide, which is used in conjunction with “Roundup Ready” herbicide-tolerant crops. Dow sees its Enlist system as an alterative. “Managing hard-to-control and resistant weeds is one of the biggest problems farmers are facing, and Enlist is a solution they need to continue moving farming forward,” Stan Howell, vice-president, North America, Dow AgroSciences, said in a statement. Dow said the new crops and herbicide are safe and effective. But critics contend that Dow’s plans will only add to weed resistance problems, and the 2,4-D chemical component in the Enlist herbicide is unsafe for humans and animals as well as the environment. The U.S. Department of Agriculture surprised Dow AgroSciences May 10 when it said it wanted to further scrutinize Dow’s proposed new Enlist crops, a move that delays Dow’s commercialization plans in the United States. Canadian regulators have already approved Enlist corn and soybeans and Dow said it will speed up seed production for a commercial launch.

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JUNE 10, 2013 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Decline in biodiversity of farmed plants, animals gathering pace Just 30 crops account for 95 per cent of the energy in human food BY ALISTER DOYLE OSLO / REUTERS

Livestock is seen at Baylham House Rare Breeds Farm near Ipswich in eastern England.

decline in the diversity of farmed plants and livestock breeds is gathering pace, threatening future food supplies for the world’s growing population, the head of a new United Nations panel on biodiversity said May 27. Preserving neglected animal breeds and plants was necessary as they could have genes resistant to future diseases or to shifts in the climate to warmer temperatures, more droughts or downpours, Zakri Abdul Hamid said. “The loss of biodiversity is happening faster and everywhere, even among farm animals,” Zakri told a conference of 450 experts in Trondheim, central Norway, in his first speech as founding chair of the UN biodiversity panel. Many traditional breeds of cows, sheep or goats have fallen out of favour, often because they yield less meat or milk than new breeds. Globalization also means that people’s food preferences narrow down to fewer plants.

PHOTO: REUTERS/LUKE MACGREGOR

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“The loss of biodiversity is happening faster and everywhere, even among farm animals.”

Zakri said there were 30,000 edible plants but that just 30 crops accounted for 95 per cent of the energy in human food that is dominated by rice, wheat, maize, millet and sorghum. He said it was “more important than ever to have a large genetic pool to enable organisms to withstand and adapt to new conditions.” That would help to ensure food for a global population set to reach nine billion by 2050 from seven billion now. Zakri noted that the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization estimated last year that 22 per cent of the world’s livestock breeds were at risk of extinction. That means there are fewer than 1,000 animals in each breed. The extinctions of some domesticated animals and plants was happening in tandem with accelerating losses of wild species caused by factors such as deforestation, expansion of cities, pollution and climate change, he said. Irene Hoffmann, chief of the FAO’s animal genetic resources branch, told Reuters that eight per cent of livestock breeds had already become extinct. Many nations had started breeding programs for rare livestock, from llamas to pigs. Some were freezing embryos or even stem cells that might be used in cloning, she said. In 2010, governments set goals including halting extinction of known threatened species by 2020 and expanding the area set aside in parks or protected areas for wildlife to 17 per cent of the Earth’s land surface from about 13 per cent now.

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • JUNE 10, 2013

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JUNE 10, 2013 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Winter wheat crops thriving in Alberta Thousands of acres are being reseeded on the eastern Prairies BY STUART MCMILLAN

COMMODITY NEWS SERVICE CANADA

inter wheat crops are thriving across Alberta, contrasting multiple reports of challenges in the eastern Prairies. On May 27, Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives reported that reseeding of winter wheat is occurring throughout the province due to poor plant stands. On May 30, the Saskatchewan government reported that some winter wheat fields in southeastern Saskatchewan are being reseeded due to high levels of winterkill. Harry Brook, a crop specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development said, “We have not heard any reports of winter wheat being ripped up. There are no real issues at the moment.” Alberta received rain following seeding last fall, compared

to areas farther east. Southern Alberta received moderate rain in early October, allowing crops sufficient moisture for emergence and establishment. The majority of the winter wheat is grown in southern Alberta. Conditions remained good over the winter and spring, Brook said, adding, “We had really good snow cover, so we had good germination in the spring.” The favourable weather has continued for the southern Albertan growing areas, Lukas Matejovsky, a crop statistician with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development said. “The recent rainy weather was very helpful for southern and central regions that were becoming dry,” said Matejovsky. He added that he had not heard of any reports of problems with winter cereal crops. In the eastern Prairies the deep snow pack, combined with the

cool weather in March and April, slowed spring development of winter wheat. Concerns had been raised that the slow-growing winter cereals may be heading later in the season increasing the risk of fusarium. “Albertan winter wheat may be a little delayed, but not significantly,” said Brook. “At the moment the situation is cautiously optimistic.” While winter wheat crops are generally in excellent condition in Alberta, the acreage sown in the province was far less than in the East. Only 10 per cent of Prairie winter wheat was sown in Alberta last fall, below the recent average of 20 per cent. On April 24, 2013 Statistics Canada estimated the amount of winter wheat acres seeded in the fall of 2012 that remained after winterkill losses were factored in as 110,000 acres in Alberta, 370,000 in Saskatchewan and 595,000 in Manitoba.

Some winter wheat fields in southeastern Saskatchewan are being reseeded due to high levels of winterkill.

BRIEFS The 2013 Olds College

CONGRATS! To Olds College for 100 years of quality eduation. MacDon Industries Ltd. would like to send sincere congratulations to the faculty, students, and alumni of Olds College.

Global food prices trending up ROME / REUTERS Surging dairy prices pushed up global food prices in April for a third straight month, but increased cereal production may ease the pressure in coming months, according to the United Nations’ food agency. Prices have been up and down, rising because of drought woes last summer and falling in the new year before rising again. The Food and Agriculture Organization’s price index for a basket of cereals, oilseeds, dairy, meat and sugar, averaged 215.5 points in April, up one per cent from March. However, the agency forecasts global cereal production to rise six per cent to 2.7 billion tonnes this year, with U.S. corn leading the way.

U.S. meat plants want foreign workers year round

TAKE YOUR SWING

AT IMPROVING OLDS COLLEGE STUDENT ATHLETICS! REGISTER ONLINE: www.oldscollege.ca/golf PRESENTED BY OUR TITLE SPONSOR:

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2013 marks the 100th Anniversary of Olds College Join all of us at Alberta Farmer Express as we extend our most sincere congratulations to Olds College on 100 years of excellence in education.

For more information on how you can show your support in this space contact: Tiffiny Taylor tiffiny.taylor@fbcpublishing.com

WASHINGTON / REUTERS Foreign workers could gain visas for year-round work in U.S. meat-processing plants under a proposal by the meat industry aimed at creating a steady supply of workers for slaughterhouses. The proposal to allow three-year visas is expected to be part of the Senate Immigration Bill. Around 480,000 people work at 6,300 meat and poultry plants nationwide. “These are not seasonal jobs. Many of these jobs take a lot of training,” said Barry Carpenter of the Food Manufacturers Immigration Coalition of livestock producers and processors. “There’s a big safety-training factor as well.” Unions also support the plan. A large portion of beef and pork plants are unionized while poultry plants, concentrated in the southern United States, often are not.

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA â€˘ JUNE 10, 2013

PROUD SPONSORS PLATINUM SPONSORS $50,000

60TH WORLD PLOWING CHAMPIONSHIP Celebrating a century of advancement in agriculture and its integral role to farmers around the world. As a signature event marking the 100th anniversary of Olds College, the 2013 World Plowing Championship will be an international success. This event is scheduled for July 19 & 20, 2013 and will host competitors from over 30 countries being viewed by over 5,000 spectators each day! The variety of activities and experiences planned for the Championship in Olds are sure to leave an impression with competitors and with local and international guests attending any portion of the program.

GOLD SPONSORS $25,000

The proceeds generated by the World Plowing Championship at Olds College will be directly invested into student awards and programming, leaving an everlasting legacy. It truly will be an event to remember! FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, PLEASE CONTACT: Ken Risi, Director of Development - (403) 556-4641 or krisi@oldscollege.ca FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE WORLD PLOWING CHAMPIONSHIP, PLEASE CONTACT: Kerry Moynihan, Centennial General Manager - (403) 556-4762 or kmoynihan@oldscollege.ca

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ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • JUNE 10, 2013

FARM MACHINERY Grain Handling

AGRI-VACS

Tired of shovelling out your bins, unhealthy dust and awkward augers? Walinga manufactures a complete line of grain vacs to suit your every need. With no filters to plug and less damage done to your product than an auger, you’re sure to find the right system to suit you. Call now for a free demonstration or trade in your old vac towards a new WALINGA AGRI-VACS Fergus, ON: (519) 787-8227 Carman, MB: (204) 745-2951 Davidson, SK: (306) 567-3031

SEED/FEED MISCELLANEOUS Grain Wanted BUYING HEATED/DAMAGED PEAS, FLAX & GRAIN “On Farm Pickup” Westcan Feed & Grain 1-877-250-5252 BUYING SPRING THRASHED CANOLA & GRAIN “On Farm Pickup” Westcan Feed & Grain 1-877-250-5252

BOW VALLEY TRADING LTD.

WE BUY DAMAGED GRAIN Wheat, Barley, Oats, Peas, etc. Green or Heated Canola/Flax

1-877-641-2798

BUYING:

HEATED & GREEN CANOLA • Competitive Prices • Prompt Movement • Spring Thrashed “ON FARM PICK UP”

1-877-250-5252

CANOLA WANTED Buying Spring Thrashed, Heated, Green, Canola, Freight Options, Prompt Payment Bonded and Insured

BUSINESS SERVICES

Combine ACCessories

BUSINESS SERVICES Crop Consulting

FARM MACHINERY Combine – Accessories

FARM CHEMICAL SEED COMPLAINTS

CIH 1010 22-1/2FT, STRAIGHT cut header, w/pu reel, excellent condition, $7,000, OBO (403)784-3248, Clive, Ab.

We also specialize in: Crop Insurance appeals; Chemical drift; Residual herbicide; Custom operator issues; Equipment malfunction; Yield comparisons, Plus Private Investigations of any nature. With our assistance the majority of our clients have received compensation previously denied. Back-Track Investigations investigates, documents your loss and assists in settling your claim. Licensed Agrologist on Staff. For more information Please call 1-866-882-4779

ENGINES ASSORTED DEUTZ & OTHER Diesel engines. KMK Sales, (800)565-0500, Humboldt, SK.

FARM MACHINERY Grain Bins ROCKYFORD STEEL LTD. WWW.ROCKYFORDSTEEL.COM Phone:(403)533-2258. Upgrade lid openers, upgrade bin doors, OB1 temperature cables & cooling vent tubes.

FARM MACHINERY FARM MACHINERY Haying & Harvesting – Baling WANTED: JD 7810 c/w FEL & 3-PTH; sp or PTO bale wagon; JD or IHC end wheel drills. Small square baler. (877)330-4477

FARM MACHINERY Haying & Harvesting – Various FOR SALE: 1977 VERSATILE model 400 20-ft swather w/double swath, gas engine, working condition, $1,000. Walter Fossum Box 114 Consort, AB T0C 1B0, Phone:(403)577-2117.

Combines FARM MACHINERY Combine – Ford/New Holland CX840 NH COMBINE, 1593S-HRS, 2124E-hrs, 16ft rake-up PU; 30-ft NH Honey-Bee straight cut header also avail., VGC. Phone(403)391-6021, Red Deer, AB.

FARM MACHINERY Combine – Various

AUCTION SALES Auctions Various

AUCTION SERVICE LTD. General Auction Services since 1960

Spraying EquipmEnt FARM MACHINERY Sprayers MELROE 116 SPRA-COUPE 51FT w/15” spacings for better chemical coverage, floatation tires, economical VW engine w/4spd. trans. shedded, $6,250. (403)666-2111

FARM MACHINERY Tillage & Seeding – Tillage 33-1/2FT MF 820 DISC, medium duty, notched FT, 19in. smooth rear pans 20in. no welds. Tandem wheels on center section, $14,500. (403)666-2111

FARM MACHINERY Tillage & Seeding – Various

BUILDINGS

When you go with steel you get the right deals!

Pioneer One Steel Buildings

Call toll free 1 (877) 525-2004 or see us online at www.pioneeronesteel.com

FARM MACHINERY Tractors – Various

Double LL Industries 780.905.8565 Nisku, Alberta

1981 John Deere 1840

NEW John Deere 542

1990 Case IH 5140

John Deere 1630

60 HP, 3 Point Hitch

Loader

100 HP Turbo Diesel, 3 Point Hitch

55 HP Diesel, 3 Point Hitch

13,800

FARM MACHINERY Tractors – John Deere JD 1120 C/W JD 145 loader, bucket & pallet forks, 3-PTH, dual hyds, 540 PTO. Phone (780)968-7750, Stony Plain, AB.

JD 7200, Front Wheel Assist 3 pth Front End Loader JD 7800, Front Wheel Assist Complete with Loader JD 4440, 158 loader JD 4560, FWA, 280 loader JD 7410, FWA, C/W Loader JD 746 loader, new Mustang 2044 Skidsteer, 1300 Hrs. Clamp on Duals, 20.8x38-18.4x38 158 & 148, 265, 740.280, JD loaders FINANCE, TRADES WELCOME 780-696-3527, BRETON, AB

Big Tractor Parts, Inc. RED OR GREEN 1. 10-25% savings on new replacement parts for your Steiger drive train. 2. We rebuild axles, transmissions and dropboxes with ONE YEAR WARRANTY. 3. 50% savings on used parts.

FARM MACHINERY Machinery Miscellaneous 1993 960 JD COMBINE w/914 pick-up, Asking $68,000; JD 930D straight-cut header w/pick-up reel, $35,000; 2006 JD 4995 self-propelled swather, comes w/2 headers: 30-ft Honeybee & JD 5-m discbine, $110,000; 1997 9400 JD 4x4 tractor, $128,000; 2007 56-ft 5112 Conscerva-pak air drill w/440 tank, $150,000; 1997 JD 7810 front wheel assist w/740 SI front end loader, $60,000; 1999 JD 7410 front wheel assist w/740 SI front end loader, $58,000; 2005 JD 567 round baler w/net wrap, $25,000; Jiffy 712 12-wheel brake, $9,500; Ren 36in roller mill, $3,000; Crown hyd. 3 Batt rock picker, $3,750; 1987 freight liner Tandem dump truck, $20,000; 1997 freight liner semi-truck, $24,000; 2012 Wilson Tridem grian trailer, aluminum & airride, $55,000; 2001 IH 9200 semi-truck, $24,000; Doctor Tandem grain trailer, $17,500; Leon 4-way blade, 16-ft, $15,000. Call:(780)888-1278.

9,900

www.doublellindustries.com

3 BUNNING MANURE SPREADERS for rent, Custom corral cleaning, call Lawrence (403)588-4787; Bunning spreaders on trucks. Call Shane 403-588-1146

TracTors

17,500

4,800

48FT WILLRICH CHISEL PLOW, HD, 5plex w/mounted harrows. original harrow tines still measure 12in. walking tandems on centre section. heavy trip shanks on a very well built machine, no welds, $18,500. (403)666-2111

www.bigtractorparts.com

$28,418

Many Other 4WD’s Available!

48FT BOURGAULT PACKER BAR. series 4000 wing up model, heavy P30 packers. tandem wheels on centre section. very little use. like new condition. over $50,000 new. $17,500. (403)666-2111

1-800-982-1769 40’ X 60’ X 16’ RIGID FRAME STEEL BUILDING

GOOD SELECTION OF CASE QUAD TRACKS 500-550 & 600’’S

1999 CAT 460 1300 sep. hrs, rake up $89,000; 2006 JD 567 mega-wide, mesh wrap, 5453/bales, $19,500; 1998 AGCO 9755, 530/int electronic, 18spd p/s, 3096/hrs, 4 remotes, 540 front weights, duals, $49,500 (403)665-2341, Craigmyle, AB.

STEIGER TRACTOR SPECIALIST

Email: john@shieldsauctionservices.com • Phone: 403-464-0202

8100 Wilmar Sprayer JD 4710, 4720, 4730, 4830, 4920, 4930 SP sprayers JD 9770 & 9870 w/CM & duals CIH 3185, 3230, 3330, 4430, 4420 sprayers

JD 9430, 9530, 9630. JD 9410R, 9460R, 9560R JD 9400, 9420, 9520, 8970 JD 7810 & 7210, FWA JD 9860, 9760, 9750, 9650, 9600 JD 9430, 9530, 9630 CIH 8010 w/RWD, lateral tilt, duals 900 hrs. Case STX 375, 425, 430, 450, 480, 500, 530 CIH 8010-2388, 2188 combine CIH 435Q, 535Q, 450Q, 550Q, 600Q pto avail. 535 Quad track w/PTO 920 Fendt 3500Hrs, Excellent Condition

Tillage & Seeding

Geared For The Future

FARM, RANCH, REAL ESTATE & COMMERCIAL

BUILDINGS

NEW WOBBLE BOXES for JD, IH, MacDon headers. Made in Europe, factory quality. Get it direct from Western Canada’s sole distributor starting at $1,095. 1-800-667-4515. www.combineworld.com

FARM MACHINERY Tractors – Various

COMBINE WORLD located 20 min. E of Saskatoon, SK on Hwy. #16. 1 year warranty on all new, used, and rebuilt parts. Canada’s largest inventory of late model combines & swathers. 1-800-667-4515 www.combineworld.com

FARM MACHINERY Sprayers

“LIKE MANY BEFORE, WE’LL HAVE YOU SAYING THERE’S NO DEAL LIKE A KEN DEAL” •Phone: (403)526-9644 •Cell: (403)504-4929 •Greg Dorsett (403)952-6622 •Email: kendeal@shaw.ca

CUSTOM BIN MOVING AVAILABLE, 14-19ft bins, w/or without floor, hoppers, flat bottoms, also selling new or used bins, call Wayne anytime (780)632-0455

ANTIQUES

SHIELDS

FOR SALE: PARTS FOR IH TD40 track tractor, crankshaft & bearings, radiator, Diesel injector pump, All for $300. (403)729-2181

CONTRACTING Custom Work

www.milliganbiofuels.com

ANTIQUE 1944 CASE MODEL D tractor for sale. Good condition, $2,000 OBO Barry Phone:(403)703-3900.

FARM MACHINERY Parts & Accessories

CONTRACTING

CALL 1-866-388-6284

ANTIQUES Antique Vehicles

RECONDITIONED COMBINE HEADERS. RIGID & flex, most makes & sizes; also header transports. Ed Lorenz, (306)344-4811 or Website: www.straightcutheaders.com Paradise Hill, SK.

FARM MACHINERY Sprayers

RON SAUER

MACHINERY LTD. (403) 540-7691 ronsauer@shaw.ca

2005 STX CIH 450 Tractor, P/S, deluxe cab, triples, 520x85-46 good, Serviced and ready to go ........$185,000 Flexicoil 6 run seed treater ................................ $2,000 60’ Flexicoil S95 harrow packer draw bar, tandem wheels, P30 packers, fair shape ......................................... $6,500 134’ Flexicoil S68XL sprayer, 2007, suspended boom, auto rate, joystick, rinse tank, triple quick jets, auto boom height, electric end nozzle & foam marker............. $39,500 130’ Flexicoil 67XL PT sprayer, 2006,trail boom, auto rate, rinse tank, hyd. pump, combo jets, nice shape.... $26,500 30’ 8230 CIH PT swather, PU reel, nice shape,.. $10,000 25ft Hesston 1200 PT swather, Bat reel, nice shape .......................................................... $7,500 21’ 4600 Prairie Star PT swather, UII pu reel, nice shape .............................................................$5000 16’ NH 2300 hay header & conditioner from NH 2450 swather, nice cond. ......................... $5,000 1372 MF 13’ swing arm discbine 4yrs, like new$20,000 MATR 10 wheel V-Hayrake, hyd. fold, as new .... $5,250 New Sakundiak 10x1200 (39.97’) 36HP Kohler eng., E-Kay mover, Power steering, electric belt tightener, work lights, slimfi t, 12 gal. fuel tank ...................... $18,500 New Sakundiak 7x1200 (39.97’), 22HP Robin-Subaru eng.,w/Winter Kit, battery & fuel tank, new tires..... $7,500 New E-Kay 7”, 8”, 9” Bin Sweeps .........................Call Flexicoil 10”x 50’ Grain auger ......................... $2,500 7721 JD PT combine, decent cond. ....................... $5,000 7701 JD PT combine, new concaves & rub bars ..... $4,000 Jiffy feed wagon, like new, hardly used....................$9,250 18.4”x30” tractor grip tires on rims .......................... Call New Outback Max GPS Guidance Monitor Available................................................... Call New Outback MAX, STX, STS, E-Drive TC’s ................... Call New Outback STS, E drive TC’s ...............................In Stock New Outback E drive X c/w free E turns ..................... Call New Outback S-Lite................................................$900 Used Outback 360 mapping...................................$750 Used Outback S guidance .......................................$750 Used Outback S2 guidance ................................. $1,000 Used Outback E TC drive Hyd. Kits. (JD,Case, Cat & NH).................................................$500 WANTED: 8820 JD Combine, nice condition ** NuVision, Sakundiak & Farm King Augers, Outback GPS Systems, EK Auger Movers, Belt Tighteners, Sweeps, & Crop Dividers, Kohler Robin Subaru engines, Degelman, Headsight Harvesting Solutions**

ACREAGE EQUIPMENT: CULTIVATORS, DISCS, Plows, Blades, Post pounders, Haying Equipment, Etc. (780)892-3092, Wabamun, Ab. FOR SALE: GLEANER COMBINE G 575 NH tandem manure spreader; 1954 Ford 2-Ton flat head V8 c/w box & hoist; 730 JD DSL tractor c/w loader; 8-ft. 3-pt. disc; Three bottom 3-pth plow. (780)675-4569, (780)675-4602. RETIRED SALE: JD 702 10 wheel V-rake, $5,100; LZB JD hoe drill, 12-ft w/7-in spacing, fine seed & fertilizer box, stored inside, excellent condition $3,200; NH 575 small square baler, stored inside since overhaul, w/hyd toungue & bale tension, $9,500. Phone:(403)932-5522. Cochrane. SEED DRILLS 6200 24ft. rubber packers, fertilizer, factory transport shedded; IH 5100 end wheel drill, w/fertilizer attachment; IH #10 end wheel drill w/grass and fertilizer; hyd drill mover, 24ft; #10 deep tillage; IH 12ft deep tillage IH.; 12ft MF disc. with hyd. gas tanks and stands. (780)919-9985

FARM MACHINERY Machinery Wanted WANTED: NH 8500 ROUND bale wagon. Phone (406)883-2118 WANTED: NH BALE WAGONS & retrievers, any condition. Farm Equipment Finding Service, P.O. Box 1363, Polson, MT 59860. (406)883-2118

HEAT & AIR CONDITIONING

The Icynene Insulation System® • Sprayed foam insulation • Ideal for shops, barns or homes • Healthier, Quieter, More Energy Efficient®

www.penta.ca

1-800-587-4711

IRON & STEEL Oil Field Pipe: 2 3/8, 2 7/8 & 3 1/2 inch pipe for sale. Contact David at (250)308-4106 Round up the cash! Advertise your unwanted equipment in the Alberta Farmer Express classifieds.

LANDSCAPING Lawn & Garden

DEINES! 1st to Perfect The FLIP UP DECK To See What A DEINES Mower Can Do For You. Visit: lairdmowers.ca

DEAN EBBERT SALES 403-347-2797 Red Deer 1-800-886-9429

* Deines is a Zero-turn FRONT MOUNT mower first designed and built in 1970. * Deines mowers have a welded construction 11 guage steel, flotation design deck available in 50, 60 & 72” sizes. * Excepitonal maneuverability lets you trim right around trees, under shrubs and fence lines wih ease. Cut your mowing time in half. * Standard sizes belts, bearings, etc. Simple easy maintenance. * Kohler 18, 20 & 23 H.P.O.V.H. series engines. * Demos, delivery and referances avaiable.

Also Sell

*Smucker Foam Markers *NO-DRIFT Lawn Chemical Applicators

JUNE 10, 2013 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

LIVESTOCK Cattle – Hereford

REAL ESTATE Land For Sale

PB RED & BLACK Angus yearling bulls for sale. Canadian pedigrees, semen tested. Phone (780)336-4009, Kinsella, AB.

POLLED HEREFORD YEARLING BULLS for sale by private treaty. Moderate birth weights, ultrasound carcass data, docile, semen tested. CHESTERMERE HEREFORDS, D.J. Bricker & Sons Didsbury, AB. Home:(403)335-8571 Mobile: (403)815-9038

320 ACRES BORDERING THE town of Crossfield, huge development potential, half mile to golf course, 15 minutes to Balzac Racetrack and Ironcross mall, 20 minutes to Calgary airport. Would make great equestial centre with miles of dirt trails connected to property. $4,200,000. (403)224-2265

“PUREBRED- BLACK ANGUS AND Polled Hereford bulls. 2yr olds. Buyer’s choice $2,500. Double N Ranch Sundre. Gerald & Shelley 403-638-2356

Stretch your advertising dollars! Place an ad in the classifieds. Our friendly staff is waiting for your call. 1-888-413-3325.

RED ANGUS SIMMENTAL CROSS yearling & 2-yr old bulls, priced for the commercial Cattleman, guaranteed breeders, delivered. Phone (403)783-2745, cell (403)783-1936.

LIVESTOCK Cattle – Maine-Anjou

3/PARCELS LAND FOR sale, one 72/ac, one 71/ac, one 153/ac parcel, all seeded to hay, within 4 miles of Meadow Lake, call after 7PM (306)236-6746

LIVESTOCK LIVESTOCK Cattle – Angus

REGISTERED RED & BLACK ANGUS YEARLING bulls, quiet, various birthweights 70lb and up, semen tested, delivered, $2,500. Bellshill Angus, Lougheed Ab. (780)386-2150, 780-888-1374 UNREGISTERED RED ANGUS BULLS for sale, born April, Light birthweights, semen tested, $1800. Bellshill Angus (780)386-2150, (780)888-1087, Lougheed, Ab. YEARLING RED/BLACK ANGUS heifer bulls, light birth weight, $1,800. (780)888-2123, or (780)384-2354, (780)888-7585 Sedgewick, Alberta

LIVESTOCK Cattle – Red Angus 40 REGISTERED RED ANGUS bulls, (from 7 sires) quiet, easy calving, low to moderate birth weight, good growth, EPD’s, guaranteed breeders, exc. for heifers or cows. Cleveley Cattle Company (780)689-2754, Ellscott, AB.

LIVESTOCK Cattle – Hereford BULLS FOR SALE: HEREFORDS, mostly dehorned, great selection including “Surefire Heifer Bulls.” Dependable maternal genetics selected for 39-yrs. www.bretonwestherefords.com Phone: (780)696-3878. HEREFORD BULLS, YEARLINGS AND two year olds, dehorned, and polled, excellent quality, check out our catalogue of bulls for sale by private treaty at Coulee Crest Herefords, couleecrest.ca (403)227-2259 or (403)588-6160, Bowden, Ab.

MAINE ANJOU BULLS FOR sale. Yearling & 2-yr old solid reds & blacks. Semen tested, guaranteed. Phone:(403)368-2114 or (403)-742-9835, Cell. Rocky Lane Farms, Rumsey, AB.

LIVESTOCK Cattle – Shorthorn Thick, Easy Fleshing Shorthorn Cowmakers: Yearling & 2-yr old Shorthorn Bulls for Sale. Semen Tested, Delivery can be arranged.Monty Thomson, Hatfield Shorthorns Gladstone, MB. 204-870-0089

Specialty LIVESTOCK Livestock Equipment

SEED / FEED / GRAIN SEED/FEED MISCELLANEOUS Feed Grain BUYING ALL TYPES OF feed grain. Also have market for light offgrade or heated, picked up on the farm. Eisses Grain Marketing 1-888-882-7803, (403)350-8777 Lacombe. FEED GRAIN WANTED! ALSO buying; Light, tough, or offgrade grains. “On Farm Pickup” Westcan Feed & Grain 1-877-250-5252

NOW BUYING OATS!

ALL GRADES

TIRES

TRAVEL

FEDERATION TIRE: 1100X12, 2000X20, used aircraft. Toll free 1-888-452-3850

New 30.5L-32 16 ply, $2,195; 20.8-38 12 ply $866; 18.4-38 12 ply; $898; 24.5-32 14 ply, $1,749; 14.9-24 12 ply, $486; 16.9-28 12 ply $558, 18.4-26 10 ply, $890. Factory direct. More sizes available new and used. 1-800-667-4515. www.combineworld.com

*Portion of tours may be Tax Deductible

CAREERS

REAL ESTATE REAL ESTATE Mobile Homes CANADA SINGLE FAMILY HOME NEW 16 wide & 20 wide MODULAR HOMES at GREAT prices. (218)751-7720 frontierhomesonline.com

Select Holidays 1-800-661-4326 www.selectholidays.com

CAREERS Employment Wanted Agricultural Collateral Inspection and Appraisals Ag background required. Training course available. visit www.amagappraisers.com or Call 800-488-7570

We know that farming is enough of a gamble so if you want to sell it fast place your ad in the Alberta Farmer Express classifieds. It’s a Sure Thing. Call our toll-free number today. We have friendly staff ready to help. 1-888-413-3325.

Competitive Rates Prompt Payment

Prairie-Wide Display Classifieds

5’X10’ PORTABLE CORRAL PANELS, 6 bar. New improved design. Storage Containers, 20’ & 40’ 1-866-517-8335, (403)540-4164, (403)226-1722 GOLDENVIEW FEEDLOT PRO DELUXE hyd squeeze w/palpation cage, scale, crowding tub, transition tub, 4 alley sections, alley splitter & loading chute. Phone (403)391-6021, Red Deer AB.

Rural & Cultural Tours

International Plowing Match/Canadian Rockies ~ July 2013 Upper Mississippi Cruise ~ Oct 2013 Midwest USA ~ Oct 2013 Australia/New Zealand ~ Jan 2014 Kenya/Tanzania ~ Jan 2014 India ~ Feb 2014 South America ~ Feb 2014 Far East ~ Mar 2014 China ~ March 2014 Ireland & Scotland ~ June 2014 Ukraine Agriculture Tour ~ June 2014 NWT/Yukon/Alaska ~ July 2014 Russian River Cruise ~ Sept 2014

MORE OPTIONS TO SAVE YOU MONEY

PAUL MOWER 403-304-1496

Buy one province, buy two provinces or buy all three. Great rates whatever you choose

DAVE KOEHN 403-546-0060

LINDEN, ALBERTA CANADA SEED/FEED MISCELLANEOUS Hay & Straw Second-Cut Alfalfa Round Bales for Sale Dairy-Quality high-testing round bales for sale. Two semi loads available. Call: (204)268-5418 OR (204)268-2173 (msg-home)

Toll Free: 1-888-413-3325 Email: ads@fbcpublishing.com ALBERTA

SASKATCHEWAN

Watch your profits grow! Advertise with AFe Classifieds Place your ad today by call

1-888-413-3325

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • JUNE 10, 2013

Indonesia eases Australian beef imports

Pork virus found in Iowa

sydney/jakarta / reuters Australia’s beef industry will be able to lift sales to one of its biggest markets after Indonesia relaxed restrictions on some imports to contain local beef prices and prevent supply shortages under a policy aimed at increasing self-sufficiency. Indonesia has agreed to exempt “premium” Australian beef imports from quotas, Australian Trade Minister Craig Emerson said May 28. It will also allow live cattle exporters to start filling quotas intended for the final six months of the year ahead of schedule.

washington / reuters A potentially fatal hog virus, porcine epidemic diarrhea, has been found in the United States for the first time, government and private industry officials said May 17, posing a new threat for the country’s struggling pork producers. PEDV, an incurable condition that causes diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration in hogs, has been identified in Iowa, the largest producing state, and possibly beyond. The severity of the outbreak is not yet known. The virus exists in much of the world but has not previously occurred in the Western Hemisphere.

Researcher says there’s no silver bullet in the war on bacteria such as E. coli 157 Lethbridge researchers are looking for ways to reduce E. coli levels in cattle but warn ‘the risk is never zero’ By Alexis Kienlen af staff / edmonton

here’s no silver bullet that will completely protect us from foodborne bacteria such as E. coli 157, says a food safety expert. “We also need to be responsible at the retailer level and we need to take responsibility at the consumer level as well,” Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada researcher Tim McAllister said at the Alberta Innovates Bio Solutions Impact Innovation event. “We need to be vigilant all along (the supply-chain) pathway and have multiple control points. The more control points we have, the more we reduce the risk of encountering pathogens. But again, the risk is never zero.” McAllister and his team at the Lethbridge Research Centre are investigating microbes in the rumen of beef cattle. The rumen is an inhospitable environment as it contains no oxygen and high amounts of acid and the researchers want to make it even tougher for bacteria such as E. coli 157, which was responsible for last year’s outbreak at the XL Foods plant in Brooks. “When we’re talking about food safety, we’re talking about creating an environment where it is unfavour-

able for certain microbe populations to survive,” he said. “That’s what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to put the odds against them.” McAllister’s team is studying both good and bad bacteria, and how they’re affected by changes in diet. For example, the researchers have found diets high in forage lower the amount of E. coli 157. A seaweed product from Nova Scotia had a similar effect but it’s not yet known if distillers grains have any impact. Some researchers have found a control for E. coli 157. Bacterial viruses, known as phage, attach to the surface of the bacteria and replicate their own DNA in it, eventually causing the bacteria cells to break apart. Phage are very specific and certain ones will only affect E. coli 157, and not other kinds of the bacteria. A high presence of phage causes the number of the bacteria to decrease, while low levels of phage cause E. coli 157 to increase. American researchers have developed a phage product that can be sprayed on the hides of cattle before they go into the slaughterhouse. While this type of research is promising, it can only go so far, said McAllister. “We’re always talking about lowering, never complete elimination,” he said. akienlen@fbcpublishing.com

Dr. Tim McAllister holds up a T-shirt that was inside the rumen of a cow. Photo: Alexis Kienlen

China steps up inspection of meat trade after fake lamb scandal A series of scandals has prompted the government to step in with increased enforcement beijing / reuters

hina has begun a crackdown on the sales of fake, diseased and tainted meat products after a series of scandals that have further dented public confidence in the food industry, the official Xinhua news agency said May 16. It said the State Council, China’s cabinet, recently ordered local government departments to step

up checks on meat and processed meat products, and carry out detailed inspections of rural factories, workshops and warehouses as well as private slaughterhouses. “The current water-injected meat, fake beef and mutton, dead livestock and other types of toxic and hazardous meat has aroused widespread concern,” said the report. “Local governments at all levels should strengthen their organization and leadership, to severely

crack down on fake beef and mutton and other illegal and criminal activities.” Pork and poultry prices have suffered this year as a result of a series of food safety scandals, a bird flu outbreak and crackdown on expensive government banquets. China has long been plagued by poor food safety standards, but many of the recent scares have involved its meat trade. Earlier this month, the police

said it had uncovered a crime ring that passed off more than $1 million in rat and small-mammal meat as mutton. It came after pictures of thousands of dead pigs dumped in rivers supplying Shanghai caused widespread outrage. A media report last year uncovered excessive levels of hormones and antiviral drugs in chicken meat supplied to KFC, whose parent company is Yum Brands, and McDonald’s.

Beijing has repeatedly called for greater inspection of foodprocessing facilities to tackle food safety problems, but such actions appear to have done little to improve standards. The latest clampdown will encourage local governments to offer rewards to people who inform on illegal activities. The government also called for implementation of measures for the proper disposal of livestock that had died from disease.

JUNE 10, 2013 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Argentina an example of why good government is critical for agriculture When government interferes in the free market, farmers get hurt and the poor see no change in their fortunes BY BRENDA SCHOEPP

was recently travelling in Argentina, a land of intense possibilities. Running from the Tropic of Capricorn to the end of the earth, Argentina has soil and climate suitable for a wide variety of crops. In the subtropical northwest, cattle, goats, sugar cane, wine, avocados, tobacco, citrus fruits and olives are produced. The arid central Andes produces wine, olives, fruits and vegetables, while the massive northeast region features

subtropical forest, fruits, sugar cane, cotton, tea (yerba maté is the traditional drink), tobacco and subtropical livestock. Most of the exportable grains are grown in the pampa region. Argentina’s main export is soybeans, which are grown on 13 million hectares, followed by wheat (nearly seven million hectares). In addition to these two main exports, the black soil of the pampas grows corn, sunflowers, sorghum and supports a huge beef industry along with poultry, swine and fruit. The wilds of the Patagonia region house more beef cattle, sheep, fruit and vegetables.

Fishing and oil are also important industries for this area. Imagine the pampas with her vast properties of grass and grain combined with state-of-theart farming, world-class cattle (mostly Black Angus), beautiful equipment and storage facilities, excellent roads, free education and passionate farmers and you get a glimpse of what Argentina could be. Yet the grain from last year sits in the bin. Co-operatives struggle to get product sold so smaller farmers can survive. Large farms are fraught with tension and the harvest is now full on.

What happened here in this land of such immense opportunity? Government. Argentina has had a long history of political unrest and some pretty awful times in which many citizens lost their lives. They hurt a long and old hurt. They hurt for the crimes against the people, they hurt for the attacks from enemies and they hurt for their beloved agriculture. Just when Argentina was a world export contender, President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner changed the face of agricultural trade policy to a sovereign policy of feeding all her own people. With the average

Field School June 25th – 27th, 2013

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monthly wage at $500 and food prices continuing to rise, the move has done little to alleviate poverty. It has, however, caused commodity prices to tank for all agricultural crops, especially corn and beef. In another part of the world, Indonesia decided to do the same. The ruling government decided that food security lay in food sovereignty. The difference was that Indonesia cannot produce enough of many products, including beef to feed the population. The blow was felt on the economic side in Australia, which targets much of their beef export to Indonesia. But the poor continue to suffer and the ruling president has said, “Let them go without if they can’t afford it,” in reference to access to protein. Slashing the quota by 50 per cent to Australia doubled consumer prices, so beef now sells at $10 a kilogram in a country where the average monthly wage is $200 a month. The government argues it is not an issue of supply, but a technical problem of distribution. No effort, though, has been made to fix the so-called distribution problem. Even the U.S. was offended and laid a complaint at the feet of the WTO, but countries can enforce food sovereignty. When, how and why they do it is a critical piece of a successful balance. Indonesians will starve but Argentineans will not. The poor will just be forever poor and the rich will be stressed a little until policy changes. Regardless of the country, the people themselves feel forgotten and removed. Argentineans are proud of their agriculture; from city street to windy plain, agriculture is a passion and deeply respected. The folks I talked to were confused about how a leader could not know and respect the economic backbone of the country. With a population of nearly 41 million, Argentina has enough beef to support its current 125 pounds per capita (three times what we eat in Canada). The grass-fed and fire-roasted beef is delicious and ever present. But that’s not the point. The point is that the poor still can’t afford it and the farmer is losing traction. With 5,000-hectare blocks of land in the pampas, you can’t just pile it all on the ground, year after year. I watched the infamous livestock auction in Buenos Aires. The auction is done on catwalks from above and the auctioneer more or less tells the buyer what he will pay. It takes about 10 seconds to sell the whole pen. He then slams a bat on the steel and off to the next one. There is no real bidding. But it all happens here — in the heat, in the old way — regardless of what the farmer has done to improve his genetics or salability. It is a weak link in the system but not nearly as severe as the failings of overall agricultural policy. The importance of good government and of our full engagement was brought home to me in a statement made by a young farmer and cattleman when he said, “We have a good country, we are good people, just think of what we would be with good government.” Brenda Schoepp is a Nuffield Scholar who travels extensively exploring agriculture and meeting the people who feed, clothe and educate our world. A motivating speaker and mentor she works with young entrepreneurs across Canada and is the founder of Women in Search of Excellence. www.brendaschoepp.com.

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • JUNE 10, 2013

Scientist reviews 10 years of BSE research A new ‘atypical’ form of BSE develops more quickly than the classical type BY ALEXIS KIENLEN AF STAFF /EDMONTON

n May 2003, Dr. Stephanie Czub was looking through a microscope at the National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease at the CFIA in Winnipeg. What she saw turned into what she calls “a career- and life-changing experience for me and for the farmers.” Czub was looking at the slide that confirmed Canada’s first case of BSE in an Alberta cow. Czub, a doctor of veterinary medicine, now heads the prion, pathology, virology and wildlife disease units at the CFIA lab in Lethbridge. She recently spoke at Innovation Impact, a yearly event which showcases Alberta Innovates Bio Solutions projects.

Half of Smithfield’s U.S. pork will soon be off ractopamine Russia and China want meat certified to be free of the additive REUTERS

mithfield Foods Inc., the world’s largest pork producer, said May 14 it will soon raise half of its hogs on feed that does not contain the additive ractopamine, a lean muscle-promoting drug that has been banned in China and Russia. Two Smithfield plants, which handle 43,000 hogs a day or about 10 per cent of the U.S. industry, already are ractopamine free, chief executive Larry Pope said at the BMO Capital Markets Farm to Market Conference in New York. On June 1, the company will convert a third plant to be ractopamine free. When that happens “over 50 per cent of our operations will have no ractopamine as part of their feed rations,” Pope said. China, the world’s largest pork consumer and the third-largest market for U.S. pork with sales of over $800 million last year, wants pork from the United States to be verified by a third party from March 1 to be free of ractopamine, an additive that promotes lean muscle growth. Russia, which imported $550 million worth of U.S. beef, pork and turkey last year, has banned imports of meat from the United States due to the presence of the food additive. Smithfield, which was not immediately available for additional comment, in February said it was in the final stages of converting its plant in Tar Heel, North Carolina, the world’s largest pork-processing facility, to be ready to meet China’s new requirement before the March 1 deadline.

She also spoke at the Alberta Prion Institute’s commemoration of the 10-year anniversary of the discovery of BSE in Alberta, and has received a Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Award for her work in BSE. Czub said there has been a significant decrease in the number of cases of BSE over the last 10 years, with no new cases found in Alberta in 2012. However, she said the future isn’t completely rosy. Scientists have discovered a new form of BSE called “atypical BSE.” The disease behaves slightly differently from classical BSE. Scientists still don’t know how atypical BSE originates and are not sure if atypical BSE is related to feeding contaminated feed. Atypical BSE cases have been found around the world, including

“It was a career- and life-changing experience for me and for the farmers.” DR. STEPHANIE CZUB

Canada, the United States, France, Poland, Sweden and Japan. Czub and her research team at Lethbridge infected cattle with atypical BSE. The animals were monitored in a standardized and consistent way and were moved from pens, into barns and chutes.

“What we do is monitor their reaction to touch, mainly in the face and on the neck, which are the most sensitive areas in classical BSE,” said Czub. Researchers also monitor the animals’ reactions to light and sounds. Atypical BSE is transmissible to cattle and infects more quickly than classical BSE. “It takes only 11 to 12 months as opposed to 16 to 18 months,” she said. Czub said atypical BSE grows slowly, but continually. Classical BSE, linked to contaminated feedstock, grows slowly but intermittently. When an animal develops classical BSE, their movements seem stiff and affected and they often become downer animals. Classical BSE is also harder to identify, because animals fluctuate between appearing very stressed out and normal.

Dr. Stephanie Czub was the first person to identify BSE in a Canadian animal. PHOTO: ALEXIS KIENLEN Czub said scientists have broken atypical BSE into two types; L-type and H-type. Animals display different symptoms in all three types of BSE. Animals with H-type atypical BSE are extremely anxious. L-type animals appear very sleepy, fall down quickly and cannot rise by themselves. akienlen@fbcpublishing.com

BEEF INNOVATIONS JULY 15 & 16, 2013 CALGARY, AB Agenda will include leading genomic researchers from Canada, Australia, Ireland & the United States along with cutting-edge sector representatives who are utilizing genomic technologies in their business. For a complete agenda and further details please visit www.simmentalinnovations.com or www.simmental.com or call 403-250-7979

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JUNE 10, 2013 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Research aims to find alternatives to antimicrobial growth promoters Producer groups welcome research into how AGPs work and how to replace them By Victoria Paterson af staff / calgary

esearchers are hoping a new $300,000 research project will help find alternatives to antimicrobial growth promoters in livestock production. “The reason why we’re working on this topic is because of mounting public pressure regarding the use of antibiotics in livestock production,” said Douglas Inglis, a research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. The first step is getting a handle on why some, but not all, antibiotics enhance growth and feed efficiency in livestock when administered in low doses. Even though they’ve been used for about 60 years, “people have no idea how they work,” Inglis said.

What is known is that administering low doses of antibiotics for prolonged periods of time is “absolutely the worst scenario you can get for selecting for resistance in bacteria,” he said. Some bacteria associated with livestock are also pathogenic in humans, and there is growing concern — although no definitive proof — that antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria could be transmitted from livestock to people. Those concerns have prompted the European Union to ban the use of antimicrobial growth promoters in livestock production, and Inglis said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is giving strong signals it is considering a similar move, which would impact the Canadian market. The second phase of the project, which is being funded by the

“This could pay off in favourable response from consumers as industry is seen as producers of safe and environmentally responsible products.” Gordon Cove

Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency, will look for alternatives. Previous efforts to find alternatives have met with only limited success, but Inglis

said determining how antimicrobial growth promoters work will give them a better chance of success. “We’ve got scientific information that indicates they don’t work exclusively as antibacterial agents and that’s really critical,” he said. An alternative would be good news for livestock producers, said ALMA president and CEO Gordon Cove. “This could pay off in favourable response from consumers as industry is seen as producers of safe and environmentally responsible products,” he said. The research project was also welcomed by the Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) and other industry groups. “Although antibiotic resistance levels are low in beef cattle, and there is little scientific evidence to support antibiotic resistance transmission to humans from beef

cattle, ABP is always supportive of innovative research into alternative production practices that could benefit the industry,” said Karin Schmid, an ABP beef production specialist. Other groups echoed that view. “I think there’s been increasing pressure on the livestock industry … on the use of antimicrobials,” said Joyce Van Donkersgoed, a feedlot veterinarian and a technical adviser to both the Alberta Cattle Feeders’ Association and the National Cattle Feeders’ Association. “I’m a big supporter of research into things like this.” “If that’s what the consumers are wanting, that’s the way it should go,” added Aaron Brower, president of the Western Stock Growers’ Association. victoria.paterson@fbcpublishing.com

New safety rules for processed meats Staff

As of July 2, federally inspected meat plants in Canada will be required to label beef steaks or roasts that have been mechanically tenderized, the federal government announced May 17. The move is part of new mandatory federal requirements designed to strengthen control over E. coli. Contaminated needles used to mechanically tenderize meat were identified as one of the factors contributing to the recent E. coli outbreak at Alberta processor XL Foods Ltd. While these actions are specific to federally registered plants, Health Canada also intends to propose broader mandatory labels to identify beef that has been mechanically tenderized at retail outlets like supermarkets. This voluntary practice has been in place since 2012, a federal release says. The government rolled out a new Safe Food for Canadians Action Plan May 17 that Prime Minister Stephen Harper says will strengthen food safety rules, make inspections more effective and improve consumer service and information. “Canada has a world-class food safety system and our government is committed to taking real steps to make it even stronger,” said Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz in a release. Through the action plan, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) will launch a number of significant food safety enhancements over the next two years. Most notably, the CFIA will work with consumer groups and industry to develop new regulations that will bring into force the Safe Food for Canadians Act, passed in November 2012. This spring, the CFIA will launch a two-year-long review of the food regulations in Canada that will need to be revised in order to bring the Safe Food for Canadians Act into force.

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • JUNE 10, 2013

Using banked forage for early-season grazing Forage quality in banked forage is not as good as it was in the fall AGRI-NEWS RELEASE

ith the recent long winter, on some farms and ranches hay supplies are short or completely used up. In some areas of the province, purchasing hay is not an option, so some producers are turning cows out on banked grass that was not grazed last fall because of the early snowfall. “Forage quality in banked grass in the spring is not as good as it was last fall,” says Barry Yaremcio, beef and forage specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. “Weathering has reduced the amount of protein and energy present in the forage. It is possible

Cost of producing bison being studied BY VICTORIA PATERSON AF STAFF / CALGARY

he Bison Producers of Alberta has teamed up with its Saskatchewan counterpart to study the cost of bison production. “The overall goal is obviously to improve the economics in bison ranching by getting information out there a guy can use,” said Thomas Ackermann, chair of the Alberta organization. The goal is to benchmark a range of production costs, from feed to handling systems, so producers can compare their costs to the average in the sector. It’s hoped that 30 Alberta and Saskatchewan producers, and possibly some from Manitoba, will provide data from 2012 and 2013. The information being collected “goes really deep” but is anonymous so the producers’ privacy is protected, said Ackermann. “We’re not afraid to use modern tools and modern ways of doing business in improving our business case,” he said. The benchmark study is part of an initiative called ‘Keeping Up With the Herd’ that the Alberta group is undertaking to bolster the sector in this province. A bison investment strategy and a communication plan are also part of the $239,000 initiative, which is getting threequarters of its funding from the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency and the remainder from the Bison Producers of Alberta. “We’d love to see the industry grow,” said consultant Pierre Cormier. “We’re in a good position now where demand is outstripping our supply.” It’s also hoped the initiative will help in policy and program development and encourage further research, help attract new entrants, and improve extension services. victoria.paterson@fbcpublishing.com

for protein content to be two to three units lower (if 10 per cent last fall – could be eight per cent or less this spring) and energy could be down by five points or more (TDN of 62 last fall – could be 57 per cent or less this spring). Digestibility of the forage is usually lower in the spring as well.” Lactating cows require a ration that contains 65 per cent TDN and 11 per cent protein on a dry matter basis. If the forage is not meeting these requirements, it is necessary to feed grain and a protein source such as peas, canola meal or a pelleted supplement. “It is important to meet nutritional requirements of the lactating cow,” says Yaremcio. “A protein or energy deficiency that reduces the amount of milk pro-

duced at peak lactation (eight to 10 weeks after calving) lowers the total amount of milk produced over the entire lactation. If total milk yield is reduced by two to three pounds a day at peak lactation compared to the animals’ potential, the loss will continue on for the entire lactation. It takes seven pounds of milk to produce one pound of gain for a young calf. The lower milk production could reduce calf weaning weight by 30 to 40 pounds. “If energy in the forage does not meet requirements, a cow will mobilize fat from her body to produce milk, and weight loss will occur. Reproductive efficiency is reduced when cows lose weight after calving. An animal that is 100 pounds lighter at breeding com-

pared to at calving weight will take 15 to 30 days longer to come into heat and first-service conception rates are reduced by 25 to 30 per cent.” Next year, when calves are born in the second cycle compared to the first, the calf will be 21 days younger at weaning, and could be 40 pounds lighter. At today’s price of $1.25 per pound for a 700pound calf, that could result in a loss of $50 per calf. Combine the reduction of weight gain from a younger calf with the drop in milk production, income from each calf could be reduced by $100. “It is very difficult to see a small drop in cow body weight,” says Yaremcio. “To be noticeable to the eye, a 100- to 200-pound reduction in weight is needed. By the

time this happens, the damage is done and the problems mentioned above will probably occur.” If there are questions about the quality of the banked forage, supplement with four to five pounds of grain and a pound of protein supplement per cow every second day to improve the overall nutrition of the cow. Continue with this feeding practice until new grass is very visible through the carryover grass. These practices may cost $15 to $20 more in total to get the cows onto new pasture, but the return in the fall with heavier calves will be more than the feed costs. Another option to improve calf weight gain is to put out a selffeeder and let the calves consume creep feed free choice.

JUNE 10, 2013 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA

Is alfalfa weevil taking a bite out of your forage crop? Researchers are working on an interactive map to help producers assess potential for weevil infestations BY STUART MCMILLAN STAFF

any Saskatchewan forage growers dutifully waited for alfalfa to reach the 15 per cent bloom stage before cutting last year, but their patience went unrewarded. Thanks to the alfalfa weevil, a nasty little pest that has been gradually spreading across the southern Prairies since its arrival here in the 1950s, they were waiting for a bloom that was never going to happen. All they got from the delay was a higher infestation of weevils. Researchers and provincial entomologists say the alfalfa weevil is damaging Prairie alfalfa crops, yet the extent of the infestations are unknown because many farmers remain unaware it even exists. “The alfalfa weevil is not on all hay growers’ radar,” said John Gavloski, an entomologist with Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives. The adult weevils, which are five mm long and brown with a darkbrown stripe extending down their back, overwinter in crop debris or under alfalfa crowns. Each spring, they lay eggs on the alfalfa stems. In a few weeks, the newly hatched larvae start munching holes into leaves and new growth, which often results in the plant failing to flower. “Alfalfa weevil arrived in Utah around the turn of the century, likely in a load of Italian furniture that was packed with alfalfa for the long, bumpy journey,” said

Julie Soroka, an entomologist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. “By 1954 it has marched north and arrived in southeastern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan in the Milk River and Maple Creek regions.” For the first half of the century the pest was solely a western North American problem. “Then in the 1960s, a second introduction of alfalfa weevil occurred along the Eastern Seaboard of North America. That population stayed along the East, creating two distinct biotypes in North America,” she said. The two populations remained relatively stable and isolated geographically until the 1990s, when the western weevils started moving east south of the Trans-Canada Highway. By 2000, the pest had reached Manitoba and started moving north. Currently, only the northern-most agricultural regions of the three Prairie provinces remain free from the insect. The USDA has had success controlling the wasp by releasing parasitic wasps that lay eggs that grow inside of the weevil during its larval stage. “When the second biotype established in the East, the USDA released 11 different biological control agents,” Soroka said during an interview May 17. The program has kept the weevil populations below levels that cause economic loss in the eastern U.S. In 1954, the first year the pest was discovered in Canada, one type of parasitic wasp was found along with the pest in Alberta. But

subsequent biological control by the parasite has remained patchy. Given the success of biological control in eastern North America, entomologists are optimistic, however, that a biological solution exists for western North America. Soroka said in 2012 as many as 20 per cent of the alfalfa weevils were infected by parasitic wasps in some Saskatchewan fields. Gavloski said he is checking Manitoba fields for the parasitic wasp that has proved successful in the East. He wants to know if the wasp is already present at low levels and could be augmented with additional releases. If the parasite is absent in some regions but successful in others, then additional releases may help control the pest in those areas. “We don’t know enough about its limitations as to how far it could go,” he said. The presence of the parasites makes for a tricky decision over whether to try controlling the weevil with insecticides. Killing the weevil with insecticides also kills the parasites, which would have emerged, built up local populations and reduced the severity of future weevil populations. Currently, the most effective method for controlling weevil populations in alfalfa is to cut the crop. Cutting is especially effective if a grower uses an aggressive crimp on a mower conditioner, compared to a sickle or swather mower that gently lays the alfalfa. Controlling the weevil with cutting does not affect parasite levels the same way as insecticides, since

book your

WEEVILS

DISTRIBUTION IN 1971

AF graphic | AAFC

the infected weevils tend to drop off the plant, lay on the soil surface and are not damaged by mowing. That allows the parasitic wasps to complete their life cycle and build up local populations. Researchers plan this year to monitor the growth stages of the weevil along with temperatures to develop a growing degree day model. The hope is to develop an interactive map that provides producers with a tool that shows when the weevils might be present, based on temperatures. But they said it is also important for producers to monitor their fields. “Producers have to get out of their trucks, into the field and know what is going on,” Soroka said. Light damage can be detected by a ragged damage appearance on the leaves. When populations are high enough the entire field takes on a silvery hue from the skeletonized leaves, now absent of green foliage with only the leaf midribs remain-

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ing. The main feeding period is midJune to mid-July, so it is of primary concern for first-cut alfalfa. On a recent webinar Lorne Klein, regional forage specialist with the Saskatchewan government, said growers “should be checking the fields two times a week. If you have a high number of fields and find that it is taking too much time, then growers should focus on the fields with a high percentage of alfalfa and the fields that are three years and older.” There are a number of insecticides registered for alfalfa weevils that are listed in provincial crop protection guides, but growers must remain aware of the harvest intervals following product application. The economic threshold may be lower in 2013 with the high price of hay making the loss of production more critical. Getting an accurate understanding of pest populations is the first step to making an informed decision.

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higher yields

ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • JUNE 10, 2013

Rain reduces wheat quality

Record spring rain in Iowa

Ukraine’s exports of feed wheat are likely to jump in the 2013-14 season as weather conditions boost wheat production but diminish its quality, pushing the Black Sea producer back towards its position as a major feed grain exporter. A dry, short spring followed by a rainy June is expected to reduce the proportion of milling wheat in Ukraine’s overall wheat harvest to about 45-55 per cent from at least 80 per cent in 2012. The former Soviet republic harvested 15.8 million tonnes of wheat last year including about 12.5 million tonnes of milling wheat and 3.3 million tonnes of feed wheat, according to traders’ estimates.

Top U.S. corn- and soybean-producing state Iowa has received the most spring rainfall since records began 141 years ago, slowing crop plantings and threatening to reduce yields, an Iowa climatologist said May 31. “From March through May, which is our spring recordkeeping period, Iowa had received 17.48 inches of rain as of Thursday (May 30),” Iowa state climatologist Harry Hillaker said. He said the old record of 15.36 inches was set in 1892 but rainfall seen from March through to May is the most since records began. Hillaker said typical March-May rainfall in the state was 10.22 inches. — Reuters

The Alberta weather outlook for June and July Average temperatures in the south, above average in the north

by daniel bezte

hanks to continued budget cuts by our government, reliable weather data is getting harder and harder to get. At the beginning of each month I like to look back and see what the weather has been like across our part of the world, but to do this reliably I need to look at weather records from weather stations that have long-term records. Don’t get me wrong, I love all the home-based weather stations that are now reporting data and making that data available on the web. What I don’t like is the government deciding that this will be the new cheap way of obtaining weather data. If you are wondering what I am rambling about, take a look at Environment Canada’s weather website (http:// weather.gc.ca). Apparently they had money to update the look and workings of their main website, but if you click on the link for the past weather you will see that it is still the same old website. I have no problems with that, the website works just fine, but take a look at what has been happening with Edmonton’s weather history for May and you would see that there has been no data available since April 11. This is not just a “one off” issue, data has either been missing or inaccurate for different sites for a couple of years now. In a time when more and more weather data is available on the Internet and the data quality is increasing, it is interesting

This is not just a “one off” issue, data has either been missing or inaccurate for different sites for a couple of years now.

that our official data from Environment Canada is going in the opposite direction. OK, I’m done with my yearly rant. You just need to keep this in mind when I try to do my monthly roundup of weather across Alberta. I know I can use some of the agricultural and home-based stations, but sometimes these stations can have unusual or unreliable data as well, and without knowing how the stations are set up you don’t really know what kind of microclimate there might be around the stations without seeing longterm data. That said, it’s time to do a review of May’s weather and then look ahead to see what the different forecasters have to say about what June and July might have in store for us this year. Working with the weather data that I do have, May 2013 was overall warmer than average across most of Alberta. Looking at Calgary and a couple of other stations, I found that overall, most locations were between 1 C and 3 C above average for May. Precipitation during May was a two-sided issue. Those who lived in western and central regions saw nearto above-average amounts ofrain, while those in the Peace River and eastern regions saw near- to belowaverage amounts. So how does June and July look? According to the Old Farmers Almanac, they are predicting cold and wet conditions. The Canadian Farmers Almanac is calling for average to above-average temperatures during June and July as they mention hot weather several times. Precipitation also looks to be near to above average, with several mentions of stormy weather and thunderstorms. Environment Canada is a little more particular. It is calling for temperatures to start off below average in southeastern Alberta and near average elsewhere in June, and then transition to near average in all regions by July, with a good chance of northern regions

This issue’s map shows the total precipitation across Alberta compared to the long-term average during the 30-day period ending May 26. You can really see how the southwest and west-central regions saw above-average amounts of rain, while parts of the northern and Peace regions were drier than average.

seeing above-average temperatures. Precipitation looks to be around average for both months, with southeastern regions seeing the best chance of above-average amounts. Finally, my forecast is calling for near-average temper-

atures in southern regions along with above-average amounts of rain. Central and n o r t hern regions will see near- to above-average temperatures along with near- to below-average amounts of rain. Just remember, if I was

always right with my forecast I would be rich! In the next issue we’ll go back and continue our look at severe summer weather, something that has been making the news a fair bit lately, especially in Oklahoma!

JUNE 10, 2013 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA