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NEWS
NOVEMBER 15, 2012 | WWW.PRODUCER.COM | THE WESTERN PRODUCER
INSIDE THIS WEEK
FARMFAIR | FROM PAGE ONE
Farmfair offers exposure Breeders brought 22 animals to Farmfair, enough for a small show and a display of the breed, he said. This year about 675 show cattle were brought to Edmonton for the event held Nov. 4 - 11, down slightly from last year. Show manager Dave Fiddler said while number of cattle are down, the number of exhibitors is up to 150 from 135. “We have more exhibitors showing fewer cattle. I don’t think the number of cattle is a measurement of success,” he said. With less farm help, it’s not always easy to find staff to come to the show. For the first time Farmfair has offered an event called Cattle Drive, where exhibitors can buy stall space for an animal without having to show it in the show ring. “We’re trying to create an environment where the different types of marketing are available.” Leonard Poholka of Breton West
Herefords said he could point to the Hereford Genes promotional event as the reason for keeping Hereford numbers high at Farmfair. “It’s what brought the population back up,” said Poholka, of Breton. About 90 Herefords were brought to the show. Holding Farmfair in conjunction with the Heritage Ranch Rodeo and the Canadian Finals Rodeo also helps bring traffic into the cattle barns, said Poholka. “I’m here because I’m trying to attract potential customers and let them know I have bulls for sale.” Russ Horvey of Big Deal Galloway in Delburne, Alta., said Farmfair is the only cattle show he attends. It’s a venue where he can scratch his showmanship itch. Farmfair is one of the few shows that holds a multibreed show for breeds like Galloway, which have too few cattle to host their own shows.
Prairie farmers show one good turn deserves another with hay campaign BY BARRY WILSON OTTAWA BUREAU
Prairie farmers who remember the generosity of eastern Canadian farmers who sent hay west during the 2002 drought to feed cattle see this as payback time. Hundreds of western farmers have pledged to send hay east to help eastern Canadian farmers feed their animals this winter after a 2012 drought sharply reduced feed there. Many Ontario farmers began to feed winter hay to their livestock in the summer because pastures were bare. Ontario Federation of Agriculture president Mark Wales says without help, many Ontario farmers will have to sell cattle. Last week, federal and Ontario governments promised $500,000 to cover the costs of feed moving from the Prairies as part of HayEast. The two levels of government also pledged to match donations up to a total of $2.5 million. It was a slow government response compared to a fast promise of transportation funds in 2002 but farm leaders welcomed the Nov. 3 announcement. For Wynyard, Sask., farmer and
Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan president Norm Hall, it is time for prairie farmers to repay a debt. Hay from his own farm will be heading east. He said the addition of government support for transporting the feed east will be an important incentive. “We have been pushing hard to get Saskatchewan farmers to contribute and now that money is there to help with transport, we will be pushing harder,” Hall said Nov. 8. In a news release about the campaign to pay for feed moving east, Alberta farm leader Lynn Jacobson, president of Wild Rose Agricultural Producers, noted support from corporations including Calgary-based Agrium and Regina-based crown corporation Farm Credit Canada. “We will continue to appeal to corporations, western Canadian farmers and ranchers and individual citizens for donations to help us access that additional matching funds from our government partners,” he said. Donations to HayEast 2012 can be made through ScotiaBank branches across Canada.
The Big Four: The Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute recognizes innovations in farm equipment. See page 17. | WILLIAM DEKAY PHOTO
NEWS
» WORK TOGETHER: Farmfair »
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International and Canadian Western Agribition plan to work together next year. 5 THUNDER BAY: Grain shipments at Thunder Bay this fall were the highest in 15 years. 16 PURSE & BOOTS: Previously owned cowboy boots are given a makeover and turned into purses. 20 GROWING HEMP: Strong prices and demand make hemp an attractive option for many farmers. 28
CONTACTS
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Joanne Paulson, Editor Ph: 306-665-3537 newsroom@producer.com
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want to be in control of any new brand inspection system in Saskatchewan. 30 HEMP IN ORBIT: A Canadian hemp cereal will soon be served on the International Space Station. 31 PREMISES ID: Disagreements continue in Saskatchewan over mandatory premises identification. 34 AG INTERFERENCE: North Dakota voters approve a resolution protecting agriculture from activists. 80
» WHEAT DELIVERIES: Farmers are holding »
back 65 to 80 percent of their wheat. 6 LENTIL SALES: Pest troubles in India may support lentil and yellow pea exports. 7
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» SCHOOL REVIVAL: A closed school thrives
again, thanks to enterprising volunteers. 21 ON THE FARM: Three brothers make their farm partnership work in Alberta. 22
PRODUCTION 82
» DEPTH CONTROL: Sugar beet growers get a »
new automatic depth control monitor. 82 REMOTE CONTROL: A remote manure pump control doesn’t need cellphone coverage. 85
LIVESTOCK 86
» WOOING BUYERS: International buyers
pack a big punch at cattle shows. 86 SCIENCE OF DNA: Genotyping allows breeders to invest in younger animals. 87
AGFINANCE 92
A headline for a story on page 28 of the Nov. 8 issue left an incorrect impression that milk trucks are a problem in the milk distribution system. The intent of the story was to point out that milk truck drivers contend with traffic, weather, road issues and other difficulties, and farmers should take appropriate measures to ensure their yards are suitable to accommodate these trucks.
» TERMINAL TAKEOVER: Have farmer-owned »
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Michael Raine, Managing Editor Ph: 306-665-3592 michael.raine@producer.com Terry Fries, News Editor Ph: 306-665-3538 newsroom@producer.com Newsroom inquiries: 306-665-3544 Newsroom fax: 306-934-2401 Paul Yanko, Website Ph: 306-665-3591 paul.yanko@producer.com Barbara Duckworth, Calgary Ph: 403-291-2990 barbara.duckworth@producer.com Mary MacArthur, Camrose Ph: 780-672-8589 mary.macarthur@producer.com
FARM LIVING 21
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Barry Wilson Editorial Notebook Hursh on Ag Market Watch Perspectives on Management Cowboy Logic TEAM Living Tips
» BRAND CHANGE: Producers
MARKETS 6
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Clarification
Ag Stock Prices Classifieds Events, Mailbox Livestock Report Market Charts Opinion Open Forum On The Farm Weather
COLUMNS
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DROUGHT | HAYEAST CAMPAIGN
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terminals become takeover targets? 92 POTASH DROP: Fertilizer sales fall as contract talks stall with China and India. 93
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