AgriPost February 23 2018

The AgriPost

February 23, 2018

Trade Deal Nears Ratification

Slow Steady Growth in the Pig Industry

Andrew Dickson spoke about positive, enthusiasm from Manitoba producers at a large crowd in attendance at the recent Manitoba Swine Seminar held in Winnipeg.

Photo by Harry Siemens

By Harry Siemens The attitudes were positive, the enthusiasm high, and attendance even higher at the recent Manitoba Swine Seminar held in Winnipeg.

Following his address on the pork sector, Andrew Dickson, the General Manager of the

Manitoba Pork Council held a scrum with the farm media representatives.

Dickson referred to the growth in the pig industry as slow but steady growth rather than rapid expansion. “If we can get two or three percent, slow but a steady increase of

the capacity of producing a finished pig, we’ll, over time, be able to make better use of our processing capacity,” he said.

“One company, for example, has received approval to construct two finishing barns in southwest Manitoba, working to get approval for four addi-

tional sites. These additional barns will bring them to a total of sixty thousand finisher places if they can get that achieved,” said Dickson.

“They are at a comparable level with similar size plants in the US regarding cost structure, if you’re able to spread your fixed cost over Continued on page 2...

By Les Kletke Canadian farmers are relegated to the “planning time” of their year but things are moving ahead at trade talks that could have a dramatic impact on sales of Canadian commodities as early as the crop that is about to go into the ground.

Canadian Agri Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA) reported that things are happening at the highest levels of the TPP talks. Talks resumed in Japan in January and the 11 members announced that they had successfully competed negotiations and an agreement would be signed in March.

The agreement includes already important markets like Japan but developing markets like Vietnam and Malaysia are also part of the agreement and could provide valuable growing markets for Canadian products.

The US was obvious by its absence after withdrawing from the negotiations early last year after the election of President Donald Trump.

The agreement will come into effect 60 days after 50% of the signatory countries have signed ad will have dramatic effects for the 2018 crop as tariffs are reduced and markets grow.

The government also stated that the expected GDP gains would total $3.4 billion under the renamed Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), compared with $2.8 billion under the older version of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). This is because without the US in the agreement, Canadian business will gain a competitive advantage in key CPTPP markets such as Japan. However, it is critical that Canada is among the first countries to ratify the agreement to gain the first mover’s advantage and access to the market. The signing ceremony will take place March 8 in Chile. After signing, each CPTPP country will undertake to ratify the agreement domestically.

“This is fantastic news,” said CAFTA President Brian Innes. “The future for Canada’s globally competitive agrifood exporters looks a lot brighter now that we will have competitive access to key markets in the Asia-Pacific and especially Japan.”

Japan is Canada’s third largest export market for agrifood, accounting for $4 billion in 2016 and has remained a strong advocate for the agreement. The CPTPP will not only provide the sector with unprecedented access to the high-value Japanese market and rapidly growing markets like Vietnam and Malaysia, it will also provide Canada with a competitive advantage over the US. “This is an historic moment for the hundreds of thouContinued on page 2...

February 23, 2018

The AgriPost Slow Steady Growth in the Pig Industry...

Continued from page 1... more animals going through the processing plant.”

Dickson said that current infrastructure within existing operations has its own challenges and is slowing down expansion. “Producers are coming to Manitoba Pork Council with problems with their existing barns because of what’s happened over the last fifteen years as the pigs got bigger. Twenty years ago, average weight of a pig going to market weighed 240250 pounds and barns designed for that size,” he said.

“Well, when you go to 285 pounds, the same number of pigs, you can’t fit them all in meaning fewer pigs in your barn.

Now, sows are producing more baby pigs increasing efficiency from say twenty weaned pigs per sow. Now, guys are thinking twenty-five, twenty-six weaned pigs per sow, you’ve got an additional six pigs per sow per year going into barns designed to run the numbers from twenty years ago,” he said. “This leaves the producers short on capacity on their farms, needing to build additional nursery and finishing capacity to properly use sow barns with current sow numbers. In fact, in some operations, they’ve cut back from five hundred sows farrow to finish to 400 sows farrow to finish. So they don’t have too many pigs produced from their sows to fill their other barns; losing efficiency,” reported Dickson. “Let’s phrase this as slow growth, an existing operation put-

ting on a small finisher barn just to use capacity is not dramatic growth, but is significant when you add it up over everybody building a little capacity.”

He acknowledged that the slow growth would continue for a while until aging barns are replaced, some pig farmers have facilities approaching 30 to 40 years old.

“Am I going to rebuild, of course, he’s going to rebuild, he wants to be in the pig business. Do I go with my current size or do I increase just a little bit while I’m at it? While I’m at it, I may as well build a little extra capacity and so on,” Dickson said.

Dickson does not see a problem with increasing growth since there are two markets, a finisher pig business, and a weanling pig business for Manitoba hog producers. “Those who want to produce weanlings, they’ll ship them to Manitoba producers, or they’ll ship them to US producers; whoever gives them the best price in the long run,” he said.

“We’re seeing more and more of those guys looking at contract production, they don’t get the high price, but then they don’t get the low prices, and they’ve got some certainty regarding markets. But right now, it’s desirable, to ship weanlings to the US, which poses a problem for guys here, who just want to build a finisher barn. There are discussions ongoing between who wants to finish pigs and the weanling producers about longer term contracts,” he summed up.

Trade Deal Nears Ratification...

Continued from page 1... sands of Canadians who depend on agrifood exports,” said Innes. “Whether you are a farm family who depends on world markets, a processor, an exporter, or someone who lives in a community supported by the sector, this agreement will mean more stability and prosperity.”

Now it is a matter of growing the crop to fill the demands of a new emerging market of the 10 other countries that make up the CPTPP, Australia, Brunei, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

Once fully implemented the CPTPP

will provide duty free access to markets for a wide range of Canadian agricultural products such as meat, grains, pulses, maple syrup, wines and spirits, and processed food. In return, Canada will provide permanent CPTPP-wide tariff rate quotas covering dairy, poultry and egg products. Market access will be phased in over a five-year period, followed by a smaller growth of the quota volume until year 13 and represents a small portion of Canada’s current annual production. Imports beyond these volumes will be subject to Canada’s usual mostfavoured-nation (MFN) tariffs of up to 313.5%.

KAP Calls for Fairness in Provincial Educational Funding Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) is pleased with the recommitment from the province to undertake a comprehensive review of the K to 12 education system in 2019, including funding.

“In fact, I would say we’re more than pleased, this is something we’ve requested for decades,” said KAP President Dan Mazier. “Farmers pay a disproportionate amount of education taxes because they are billed on their land, and an average size farm these days is about 1,200 acres.

Our current system of education funding was developed in an era when the average farm size was 160 acres and there were one-room schoolhouses,” said Mazier.

“In this system, unless school divisions significantly reduce their mill rates, farmers’ education tax bills would continue to rise. We’re already in a crisis situation, and I don’t see how we can absorb anymore,” noted Mazier.

For example, Mazier said the education taxes from a KAP member he recently spoke with have risen from $4.35 per acre in 2010 to $11.53 per acre in 2017. Applying that to the average farm size, the

tax bill would have increased by $8,616 in seven years.

KAP has outlined for the government a number of important principles that should guide the review, including that the review panel consist of people who represent multiple interests. As well, KAP wants a variety of consultation formats so that all stakeholders have adequate opportunity to contribute. This would include one-on-one meetings with key stakeholders, public townhall meetings and opportunities for online or written submissions.

KAP also asks that the review panel consider fairness in a funding system so that all Manitobans are proportionately contributing to the cost of education, as well as flexibility so that school divisions can address local needs.

“We realize this is a tall order, and it can’t happen over night,” said Mazier.

“However, if the review is to take place in 2019 after this fall’s school board elections, the plan and the framework must be put in place now, so it’s ready to go.”

He urges the government to start work on this immediately.

The AgriPost

Hylife Shuts RWA Program and Clearwater Colony Stays Put

The Clearwater Colony near Baldur is staying in the RWA, antibiotic free program despite some considerable struggles over the past year.

By Harry Siemens Back in February 2017, Garry Wollmann shared his story with fellow producers and industry representatives at the Manitoba Swine Seminar in Winnipeg.

Wollmann is the Barn Manager at Clearwater Hutterite Colony near Balmoral, Manitoba where they operate a 700 sow farrow to finish operation producing up to 17,000 pigs which went under a special contract and premium to HyLife at Neepawa.

In October 2015, the colony began raising pigs without antibiotics, [RWA] program and began shipping RWA pigs in April 2016 taking three years to get there.

The reason the colony decided to go RWA was due to changes coming in antibiotic free feed. The colony set this as a goal, making it desirable to wean their operation off antibiotics as quickly as possible.

Recently Wollmann talked about how things are going.

“Very well up to a certain point last May when the new strain of PRRS [Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory

Syndrome] that’s in Manitoba and it set us back quite a bit,” he said. “We just tried to manage to it the best we could. We lost a lot of pigs because of it. The productivity in the sow herd went down tremendously for a couple of months, and its back to normal now. But there’s a hole in there. In November and December, we only shipped half the pigs that we normally would.”

Wollmann said they didn’t change anything but decided to wait it out and hope that it gets better every week. After the first few weeks, it did get better. The sows began feeling better and eating.

“And then it slowly rolled through the rest of the barn, through the nursery and the finishing pigs. The finishing pigs were running a temperature; they weren’t hungry for a couple of days, not eating what they should so our days to market went up.

But overall, the mortality went up but not as much as it could have,” said Wollmann.

“Some of the herds that have experienced that PRRS strain had higher mortality than we did. We were able to manage

through it and come out the other side, and the light that we saw at the end of the tunnel wasn’t a freight train; it was just a small, little minibike that was coming our way.”

The most crucial factor is that the colony did not have to resort to using antibiotics, but simply managed through it. “We maintained our RWA status, but we did use a lot of aspirin which you’re allowed to do, to try to control the temperatures on the sows just to get them to feel better so that they started eating again,” Wollmann said.

During this stressful time, HyLife at Neepawa, the processor taking all those RWA pigs under a special premium decided to end their RWA program giving them the one-year notice. “Two of their flows that were producing their RWA pigs got hit with the same strand of PRRS that we had, and they felt that they couldn’t manage through it without going back to empty the barns that housed the pigs. And they had been struggling with raising pigs without antibiotics for a bit as it was before

that, so they just decided it’s not worth their time and effort to try and maintain that program,” he said. “We gave them notice on May 2, 2017; we would like to get out of our supply contract. They gave us an offer that we could go out and look for a different processor that puts a contract in front of us; they would allow us to leave our supply contract which you have to give notice for a year.”

Thunder Creek Pork in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan came back with an offer, which the colony presented to HyLife. But Hylife decided they would see a shortage of pigs and did not release them from the contract. The contract automatically expires on April 30 of 2018.

The colony is still producing RWA pigs for HyLife but not at a premium. Their decision is to stay with the RWA program because the contract from Thunder Creek Pork is still in effect. The new contract calls for RWS pigs, and the company will pay a premium as soon as HyLife allows them out of their supply contract.

February 23, 2018

The AgriPost

February 23, 2018

I’ve Only Got So Many Pockets

The current administration has announced a review for the system that funds our schools and many are saying it is long over due. It has been a long time since the system that paid for education was set up and based on land tax. By the same token, it has been a while since Income Tax was established as a temporary burden to pay for the war effort of WWI and we don’t see it going away any time soon.

Things were different when most of our province earned their livings on farms that were four to the square mile and students learned their 3-R’s in a one room building just up the hill. Yes, it was uphill both ways when those kids walked to school. It was probably a logical way to fund the education program at the time as a much smaller part of a much smaller budget.

Escalating land values of have contributed to budgets in recent years as land values have climbed and municipalities have decided not to change their mill rates, the resultant amount of money in coffers has been nothing short of a mini lottery win. Previous provincial administrations have made efforts to lessen the burden by providing a School Tax Rebate, and it has been an example of what can be done with minimal red tape. I have tested the program and it is indeed one of the government programs that requires the death of fewest trees.

What can we hope for in a review of the funding process? Let’s say in a perfect world it was decided that owing land and paying for the education of the next generation were not related, and the funding for schools should not be based on farmland at all. What if it was determined that everyone would benefit from the advantage of the next generation being able to read and do arithmetic, since writing already seems to have become obsolete?

Suppose that a new system was found to pay for schools, some new way of taxing the people of this province, like a sales tax? Oh sorry we already have that, what about a tax on earnings? Oh, we already have that and one of the highest in the country. Maybe a flat tax on every person in the province, oh, that would be unfair to the less fortunate who already earn less than some others, and usually those others have more education. Now we have opened a new can of worms in post secondary education funding, but that is for another column.

The intent of the study is good but, in the end, I only have that many pockets for the government to reach into and I find they are reaching quite deep enough already. We expect a lot from our Big Brother and there is indeed a cost to having him.

Canada’s New and Growing Market: Nigeria

By Greg Porozni The 2017 New Crop Mission’s Team Canadian Wheat visited Canada’s top customers and provided them with technical data and support. Who are Canada’s top customers? Some of the answers, like Japan will be no surprise to anyone, but many would not expect to see one of our newest top customers, Nigeria on the list.

Fifteen to twenty years ago, I would never have guessed that I would be in Nigeria, on a Canadian New Crop Mission.

Nigeria has become one of the top customers for Canadian wheat and this is the second year we have visited the country as part of the new crop missions.

Why visit Nigeria? The Canadian industry is moving beyond the traditional markets that were a focus fifteen to twenty years ago. Nigeria has a young population of over 200 million people with an annual population growth rate of three per cent, meaning that there will be more demand for wheat imports in the future. Our commitment to providing technical support and data through new crop missions is essential to maintaining our export relationship.

As an emerging country, Nigeria is concerned with food safety and getting quality wheat, consistently. Because the Canadian team included the entire value chain, we were able to work with customers to help ensure they could access the Canadian quality they have come to expect while meeting their country’s grain safety regulations.

Nigeria is also very price sensitive. Purchasing CWRS – in place of US exports – allows them to minimize costs while still delivering higher quality flour through a blend of Canadian and Black Sea wheat.

How important is the Nigerian market becoming? In 2007, Canada exported

24,600 tonnes of wheat, growing to 728,419 tonnes in 2017. Canada’s five-year-average is 623,125 tonnes.

Some farmers wonder if there is any value in having a producer as part of these customer support missions.

Before I was part of the missions, I was one of those people. But participating in the missions has made it clear to me that it is critical to have farmers as part of “Team Canada Wheat”. When customers have questions on Canadian production practices, I was in the room to answer. I was there to talk about the sustainability of Canadian farming and to explain why we use crop protection products. I was able to deliver the message about Canadian clean air, clean water and clean land, an increasingly important part of the Canadian brand.

Most of our major competitors carry out similar mission.

But the Canadian approach to customer support is unique.

We take the entire value chain with us to talk to customers.

When there were questions on supply or logistics an exporter was there to provide the right information.

Cigi and CGC provided unbiased technical information on the grade factors and the technical milling, baking, and noodle making properties. This collaborative effort demonstrated Canadian

commitment to supporting our customers and providing them with the opportunity to optimize the value and performance of Canadian wheat.

The Canadian missions are about a lot more than industry representatives talking to international buyers. We are also there to listen directly to our customers’ needs and concerns. Bringing these needs and concerns back to Canada is one of the key objectives and values of the missions.

This feedback allows Canada to adjust our grading and classification systems to give buyers what they want and to focus research goals on the traits and qualities that will get the highest return from the market. Another reason for these types of customer relations is it is critical to build relationships and trust in a competitive wheat export environment.

As a farmer who has had to opportunity to sit on the Boards of Alberta Wheat Commission as well as Cereals Canada, I have seen firsthand the value of our industry working together to support my customers. I am proud to see that the reach for Canadian wheat is expanding.

Providing technical expertise and information on quality and functionality, the New Crop Missions facilitate new customer dependence on Canadian wheat.

The Cost of Free Speech There was a time when climatologist Dr. Tim Ball would speak 150 times a year, being paid to do so, telling farmers and others about what was happening in the world of weather and climate change.

Then he wrote his book, Human Caused Global Warming: The Biggest Deception in History an abbreviated, illustrated, version for those overwhelmed by the science and the knives came out.

Today because of an international smear campaign by those feeling threatened by Dr. Ball’s book, he doesn’t speak at all unless voluntarily.

Recently I reached out to him for an explanation on his most recent court battle.

“Miraculously, I just won a court battle when a defamation lawsuit brought by MLA and BC Green Party leader, Andrew Weaver, was dismissed.

He quoted, Voltaire, “It is dangerous to be right in matters where men in authority are wrong.” Dr. Ball explained that, “He knew because he challenged authority when the consequences were deadlier. Until you have experienced it, you cannot imagine or explain the degree of pushback and nastiness. You can get a small taste from many if you tell them you don’t believe that humans are causing global warming. People who know nothing about the topic will become quite excited.

He went on to explain, “Over 40 years I researched, studied, wrote books and academic articles, on climate

change. This was after four years flying anti-submarine patrols over the Atlantic and five years of search and rescue in northern and Arctic Canada. I experienced how bad weather forecasts were.

I went back to university to study why and learned that they were never any good and one of the reasons was the lack of long-term datasets.

I worked with the father of modern climatology Hubert Lamb because he discovered the same problem as a forecaster for the aircraft flying over Europe in World War II. He helped with my doctoral thesis that reconstructed weather records of central Canada using the journals of the Hudson Bay Company to create a 250-year record.

I knew when I began, that climate changes rapidly and greater than most people un-

derstood. It made me laugh when later they called me a climate change denier. My entire post-military career involved explaining to people how much and quickly the climate changes. I was the antithesis of a denier.

When I began climate studies in the late 1960s, the consensus was global cooling. Lowell Ponte wrote The Cooling in 1976, and it said on the cover, It is a cold fact, the global cooling present’s humankind with the most critical social, political, and adaptive challenge we have had to deal with for ten thousand years. Your stake in the decisions we make concerning it is of ultimate importance; the survival of ourselves, our children, our species.

Notice you can change the seventh word to warming and it is precisely the threats

made about warming today.

The difference is that global warming became the basis for a political agenda. The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) created the science to identify human produced CO2 as the culprit. The Weaver lawsuit was one of three I received from the same lawyer all for members of the IPCC. Each was a defamation suit for articles I wrote designed to silence me; a category of lawsuit called a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP). They won the first lawsuit because I withdrew the article. I won the second lawsuit and now prepare for the third. What is the price of free speech in Canada? My legal bills to date are $600,000, and that’s at the halfway point,” concluded Dr. Ball in the interview.

The AgriPost

A Farmer’s Parable Stories aren’t always just for fun. Their utility may vary, but if they get you to think they can be useful. Sometimes, when they contain valuable lessons, we call them parables. The following story, originating in India, fits that bill.

A certain farmer had become old and ready to pass his farm down to one of his two sons. When he brought his sons together to speak about it, he told them the farm would go to the younger son. The older son was furious! “What are you talking about?” he fumed.

The father sat patiently, thinking. “Okay,” the father told him. “I need you to do something for me. We need more livestock. Will you go to Cibi’s farm and see if he has any cows for sale?”

The older son did that, returned in a short time and reported, “Father, Cibi has 6 cows for sale.”

The father graciously thanked the older son for his work. He then turned to the younger son and said, “I need you to do something for me. We need more livestock. Will you go to Cibi’s farm and see if he has any cows for sale?”

The younger son did as he was asked. A while later, he returned and reported, “Father, Cibi has 6 cows for sale. Each cow will cost 2,000 rupees. If we are thinking about buying more than 6 cows, Cibi said he would be willing to reduce the price by 100 rupees. Cibi also said they are getting special Jersey cows next week. If we aren’t in a hurry, it may be good to wait. However, if we need the cows urgently, Cibi said he could deliver the cows tomorrow.”

The father graciously thanked the younger son for his work. Then he turned to the older son and said, “That’s why your younger brother is getting the farm.”

This parable contains a number of lessons that apply to yourself, your family or even whoever is working for you. Some see the main lesson as the value of taking the initiative. This is certainly true; those who do more than simply just what they’re told tend to be more successful.

The parable also contains some very specific ideas on how to take the initiative, such as reaching out to other people, asking questions, making recommendations, offering to help, and pitching your ideas.

All of these lessons are good ones, but we should also remember that sometimes you need people to simply follow orders. If everyone is getting creative all of the time, the work doesn’t always get done. It’s sometimes easy to get lost in the weeds at the edge of a field rather than concentrating on the field itself when it may very well need that.

Or perhaps that initiative still needs a little direction. Maybe you’re better off trying to make a buck rather than just saving a nickel. Which direction one chooses can be very important and it’s not always clear

AAFC Sees Price and Moisture Crucial in Spring Seeding Decisions

By Elmer Heinrichs Expected prices, input costs, delivery opportunities and moisture conditions are expected to play a crucial role in determining actual seeding decisions in the spring. However, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, in its February 2018 outlook, predicts that the area seeded to field crops in Canada will increase slightly compared to last year’s crop.

Partly because of reduced slough areas due to the drought last year in the southern Prairies, the area seeded to grains and oilseeds is expected to increase slightly, while the total area seeded to pulses and special crops drops significantly.

In general, average yields are forecast to decrease marginally compared to 2017-18 but, for some crops, average yields are expected to increase because excessive moisture conditions in some areas reduced yields last year.

The production of grains and oilseeds is forecast to increase by two per cent while the output of pulses and special crops is expected to decrease by 20 per cent. Total field crop production is expected to increase slightly to 93.3 metric tonnes (Mt).

For 2018, Canadian seeded canola area is forecast to increase to 9.7 million hectares (Mha) this spring because few other crops hold out the promise of the margins that the oilseed can provide.

Due to attractive returns in comparison to alternate crops, soybean planted area this spring is expected to rise by two per cent to a record 3.0 Mha. Last year Canadian farmers increased the production of canola, soybeans, oats and corn but decreased the output of wheat and barley.

In general, world grain prices are expected to be pressured by abundant world grain supplies but a lower Canadian dollar will support the value of crops on the world market.

Penner’s Points

what it is.

The truth By Rolf is really Penner that you need the ability to do both.

Sometimes you should strictly follow orders and sometimes you should take more initiative. The real trick is to know when to do which one of these. And the best way to figure that out is through experience and a certain amount of trial and error. Sometimes there just aren’t any shortcuts.

Back to the father-and-son scenario. When kids first get involved, they have zero knowledge and experience. So when they start helping out, it’s good if they can simply do what you tell them to do. Only later on, down the road, when they have some idea about what’s going on and what’s needed, can they provide meaningful input. But if such initiative is not cultivated and encouraged, it might never happen. As parents, sometimes we get into the habit of doing all the thinking when the kids are young and kind of forget that at some point they grow up and have minds of their own.

Also, remember that not all stories are parables.

They can be just for fun: “There once was a man from Nantucket…”

February 23, 2018

February 23, 2018

The AgriPost

Applications for Federal Agri-Partnership Programs Now Open Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector is a key driver of economic growth, innovation and trade. Economic indicators show a strong and dynamic Canadian agricultural sector, with a growing global middle class looking for our world-class products.

Federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister, Lawrence MacAulay, celebrated Canada’s Agriculture Day recently alongside farmers, ranchers, food processors, industry leaders and youth in Ottawa, where he officially launched the six Federal programs under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

The Partnership is a progressive $3-billion, Federal-Provincial-Territorial agreement that will help chart the course for government investments in the sector over the next five years.

Developed with input from provincial and territorial partners, as well as industry, Federal programs and activities under the Partnership will focus on three key areas.

The first is growing trade and expanding markets with $297 million targeting core industry services, such as timely market information and sector expertise to help improve the sector’s competitiveness, growth and adaptability. Advancing and defending international trade interests, as well as improving market development and market access activities to address emerging needs of the sector, and of small and medium enterprises (SME). This will help expand markets and trading opportunities for the sector.

Second is innovative and sustainable growth of the sector using $690 million to enhance the competitiveness of the sector through research,

science and innovation, and adoption of innovative products and practices, with an emphasis on the environment and clean growth. The Government will help support the resiliency and sustainability of the sector, helping farmers adapt to climate change, conserve water and soil resources and grow their businesses sustainably to meet increasing global food demand.

The third area is supporting diversity and a dynamic, evolving sector with $166.5 million. The focus will be to strengthen the sector by better reflecting the diversity of Canadian communities, enhancing collaboration across different jurisdictions through a new Regional Collaborative Partnerships Program, securing and supporting public trust in the sector, and improving client services.

These three key areas include $686.5 million over five years in Federal programs, and $467 million of Federally funded activities that benefit producers and processors and address priorities identified by the agricultural sector during consultations in the development of the framework. The funding will support trade policy and market access, trade commissioners, market development, market information, value chain roundtables, foundational science led by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and support for regulatory systems and regional collaboration.

Program details and applications are now available online for the six Federal programs AgriMarketing, AgriCompetitiveness, AgriScience, AgriInnovate, AgriDiversity and AgriAssurance.

The AgriPost

Diploma in Agriculture Program Responds to Future Opportunities The School of Agriculture at the University of Manitoba has announced a redesign of its flagship Diploma in Agriculture academic program, which offers training for those seeking to manage a farm operation or pursue careers in the agricultural and value added sectors.

The two-year Diploma in Agriculture program has a long and rich tradition, dating back to 1906 as the first program offered by the Manitoba Agricultural College. Since its beginning more than a century ago, the program has changed dramatically, shifting its emphasis from technical training toward a broader education in the scientific principles that underlie modern farm production and agribusiness management practices. Graduates are eligible for professional membership in the Manitoba Institute of Agrologists as Technical Agrologists.

An intensive review began in January 2015 to ensure future Diploma in Agriculture graduates have the skills to serve and enhance the agri-food industry in Manitoba. Stakeholders were involved in the review, and an advisory committee made up of producers, industry members, graduates and academics helped guide the process. Through focus groups, interviews and surveys, the review identified learning outcomes that graduates of the program would require to meet the needs of the agricultural and food sector in 2020 and beyond.

“The feedback we gathered has helped us redesign the program to be responsive to the needs of and opportunities for agriculture, today and into the future,” said Michele Rogalsky, Director of the School of Agriculture. “The program has been modified to strengthen higher-level decision-making skills and to assess the impact of current agricultural issues at the farm and industry level.”

One course change, Precision Agriculture - Technological Tools for Decision Making will provide all students in the program with increased knowledge and skills in technology applications and capacity. A new course on Integrated Sustainable Agri-Food Systems will expand the focus from the farm gate to the consumer’s plate and incorporate sustainable agri-food system models. Students will also have a strengthened foundation in courses in agronomy, soil science and plant science.

Students will also be allowed more elective course options, providing them with more diversity in their course selection including the ability to take degree level courses. One new elective course entitled Exploring New Opportunities in Adding On-farm Value explores innovative approaches to production, processing and marketing.

Marg Rempel, Steinbach-area producer and member of the Diploma program advisory committee, said it was a privilege to participate in the review process and sees incredible potential for the future of agriculture in Manitoba. “Graduating students who have developed skills and attitudes of strength, adaptability, resilience and collaboration means that their participation at an individual level as well as at a sector level will serve all aspects of agriculture well. Respect for the many diverse options in food production is the basis for sustainability and innovation in agriculture. This is the exciting task of the University of Manitoba’s Diploma in Agriculture program,” said Rempel.

Brian Archibald graduated with a Diploma in Agriculture in 2017 and said the program has been critical to his future as an industry professional, providing him with the necessary technical skills and valuable network connections. “I believe the revisions to the program will even better prepare the next generation of students to join the agri-food sector and gives them credibility with employers and industry partners alike knowing that they possess the knowledge and ability to continuously learn, which are essential for success,” said Archibald.

“We are very grateful to our industry and alumni partners in helping us shape this new curriculum,” said Rogalsky. “It has been a privilege to tap into their knowledge and expertise, and we are confident that future graduates, and the Manitoba agrifood community, will benefit from the new program.”

The School will launch the program modifications in Fall 2018. Full details of the changes can be reviewed at umanitoba.ca/afs/school/agdiploma2020.

February 23, 2018

Former 4-H Canada President Named Senator Robert Black, 4-H alumnus and former 4-H Canada president, board member, and staff member at the national level, has been appointed to the Senate of Canada.

Black is a longtime supporter and advocate for youth and is especially passionate about Canadian agriculture. With over 40 years contributing to the 4-H movement in Canada, Black understands the power of 4-H in building leaders and has spent his entire career as a leader in the Ontario agricultural community supporting 4-H’s positive youth development mission.

“Rob Black has always been an enthusiastic supporter of youth and agriculture throughout his career,” said David Hovell, Chair of the 4-H Canada Board of Directors. “4-H Canada is proud to have a champion for those causes in the Senate and looks forward to working alongside him as we advance the development of youth leaders committed to positively impacting their communities across Canada.”

Robert Black

February 23, 2018

The AgriPost

The AgriPost

Mycoplasma Pneumonia Strikes Down Baby Dairy Calves I haven’t seen a case of mycoplasma pneumonia in dairy calves for many years and then a similar case popped up on a farm visit in the last couple of months in which several calves had perished. I am not a veterinarian, so I told this dairy producer that he should call his vet and get a proper diagnosis as well as send away cultures for mycoplasma conformation. Regardless of its outcome, it was a good lesson for the both of us that a few measures on the dairy farm should be put in place to prevent devastating mycoplasma infections in baby calves.

The calf barn that I visited years ago failed to take such precautions. It was a 1,000-head lactation operation located stateside and they nearly lost all of their 200 pre-weaned dairy calves due to mycoplasma pneumonia. I’ll never forget it; I was invited by a local feed dealer to help him drop off a couple of tons of baby calf starter into a large metal hangar that housed these calves. When we went inside, I saw several rows of plastic or wooden hutches with an individual calf inside each of them.

Housing conditions for these calves were deplorable. It was wintertime and because the hangar was not insulated, there was a fine rain that literarily fell from the high ceiling, causing most of the calves and their bedding to be constantly wet. A deep hacking cough resounded by many calves within these metal walls and I remember many sick calves with yellow discharge from their nose as well as swollen knees, encrusted droopy ears with a definite tilt to their head.

My experience was confirmed by a few veterinary books that I had on hand. Their fine print states that three types can cause disease in cattle. Mycoplasma bovis (m. bovis) being the most common mycoplasma pathogen in pre-weaned Mycoplasma bovis (m. bovis) dairy calves. Subsequent university research adds that 4-day to 10-week old animals are the most susceptible group to mycoplasma infections, which causes respiratory lung lesions (pneumonia – coughing and nasal discharge), arthritis (swollen knees) and ear infections (tilted head). It is also my understanding that dairy calves diagnosed with m. bovis suffer about a 50 - 80% mortality rate, and even those dairy calves treated early on by intense drug-therapy have a 50 – 75% relapse rate.

Such high mortality and relapse rates caused by mycoplasma pneumonia in baby calves are shocking to me. However, given its biology, I can understand how it can quickly invade a calf barn. Once it enters the calf’s body (through respiratory and digestive mucosal linings), the disease is easily transported via the bloodstream and onto other tissues, all the while releasing its poisonous toxins.

Given that a calf is diagnosed with mycoplasma pneumonia, typical antibiotics used to treat other common bacterial diseases are highly ineffective. That’s because antibiotics often work on the premise that they adversely alter the pathogen’s cell wall protection. Since mycoplasma has no cell wall, but is a drop of cytoplasm encased within a thin membrane, antibiotics such as penicillin are ineffective treatments. Furthermore, vaccines against m. bovis are available, but are also not particularly effective, since the mycoplasma has the unique ability to alter the chemical structure of its cell membrane, which evade the calf’s natural and illicit immune responses.

These disease characteristics make mycoplasma hard to control. However, we often make it easy for mycoplasma to get established, since the greatest source of mycoplasma infection originates from either feeding calves contaminated colostrum or waste milk produced from lactating cows infected with mycoplasma-type mastitis. These cows may transfer the pathogen to only a few calves, which in turn spread it further by nose-to nose contact to the rest of the calf barn members.

Due to its insidious nature and lack of therapeutic treatment, I believe that the best offense against mycoplasma infections in dairy calves is to implement a good prevention program.

Consider three practical methods of preventing mycoplasma infections: - Do not feed waste milk. – It is a common practice amongst dairy producers to feed preweaned calves unsalable milk from the lactation herd. For example, in a 2004 study involving 14 large California dairy herds; it was found most mycoplasma-identified calves either were fed non-treated whole milk (50%) or pasteurized hospital milk (36%). To prevent a major mycoplasma opportunity, do not feeding any waste milk to calves less than four weeks of age.

- Pasteurize waste milk – If waste milk must be used, it is essential that it be properly pasteurized. There are two major methods to kill mycoplasma in waste milk; a continuous flow system which heats waste milk to 72 °C for 15 seconds, or a batch system that can heat smaller volumes of milk (re: 500 litres) at 63 °C for 30 minutes. If waste milk is too heavily contaminated with other bacteria, this pasteurized milk may still be unsafe for pre-weaned calves to drink and should disposed.

- Feed a high quality commercial milk replacer – All the major ingredients found in most commercial milk replacers are either processed milk or milk-by-products of the cheese industry.

Calf milk replacers should contain homogenous, free-flowing, non-caking powders, which are formulated (with a mineral and vitamin pack) to meet dietary nutrient requirements for good calf health and growth.

This is good advice since many dairy producers have the potential for a mycoplasma outbreak in their dairy calves and may not even realize it. It’s a highly contagious disease among dairy calves that enter the calf barn (or calf hutch) through unwarranted feeding practices.

Therefore, it is important to close these loopholes by preventing mycoplasma disease from striking baby calves in the first place.

February 23, 2018

Supporting the Growth of Canada’s Organic Sector The Canadian organic industry is one of Canada’s fastest growing agricultural sectors, thanks to Canada’s hardworking organic farmers and food processors who are respected around the world for supplying nutritious, sustainable, and high-quality organic products.

With more than $5.4 billion in retail sales in 2017, growing the Canadian organic sector will contribute to the Federal government’s ambitious goal of reaching $75 billion in annual agrifood exports by 2025.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lawrence MacAulay announced the Government of Canada is providing $72,500 for the Canadian Organic Growers for the development of a userfriendly guide to the Canadian Organic Standards. This guide will provide organic producers, processors, handlers and manufacturers in Canada as well as those wishing to enter it, a clear understanding of what is required to become a certified organic producer in Canada.

As well, the Canada Organic Trade Association (COTA) has received an additional $95,114 through the AgriMarketing Program, towards their international market development strategy.

The funding will enable COTA to attend international conferences and trade shows and lead outgoing missions to raise awareness of Canadian organic products in key markets in Europe, US, Asia and South America.

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February 23, 2018

The AgriPost

The AgriPost

February 23, 2018

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Bring Together Good Cow Nutrition in the Post-Calving Season

By Peter Vitti When talking to cow-calf producers, one of the first questions that I like to ask is, “When are your cows calving?” It gives me an excellent idea as to what stage of nutrition their cowherd needs so that I can recommend the best diet during their postcalving season.

To design a good postcalving diet, I often take into account the premise that the dietary requirements of the cowherd increases at a modest rate at the beginning of the winter; the average beef cow is in mid-gestation and the cold weather has yet to make a big impact upon her body condition. Her diet of fair-to-good quality forages often supports her requirements for energy and protein as well as those of her small fetus. The cow’s need for essential mineral and vitamin are also nominal.

All changes overnight!

This is when their need for energy, protein, minerals and vitamins dramatically increase as the average cow

enters her last 45-60 days of pregnancy and they continue to skyrocket for the next couple of months after calving.

That’s because pre-calving nutrients are utilized in order to support her accelerated fetal growth and colostrum (antibody-enriched first milk) production, while a significant amount of nutrients that she consumes immediately after calving is transported to her udder to produce 5 – 10 kg of regular milk each day for her newborn calf. In such transition, the cow’s reproductive system is also preparing itself to resume estrus for the subsequent breeding season and cold weather could still have a negative impact during those mid-winter calving days.

Of the four essential nutrients consumed by beef cows, energy is needed in the greatest amounts during the immediate months of the post-calving season.

It is expressed throughout beef science literature in

two different ways, namely: TDN (total digestible nutrients) or NEm/NEp (net energy maintenance/production).

Although, I have used both methods in formulation of my beef feeding programs, I still prefer to design beef diets using older TDN energy values, because I can simply envision TDN values in different feeds in absolute amounts. For example, 10 kg of medium quality hay containing 55% TDN equals 5.5 kg of TDN energy for beef cows.

TDN values also give me a clear comparison of specific energy values found in different feedstuffs; forages = 40 – 60% TDN and energy, enriched grains = 70 – 75% TDN. It also gives me an idea of forage quality; low quality forage = 40 – 45% TDN such as found in straw, 50 – 55% TDN medium-quality grass hay and high-quality alfalfa = 55 – 65% TDN. With such TDN-feed reference in hand, I start to design a post-calving cow feeding program by looking up the

respective TDN requirements and related information of the beef cow that will be nursing a newborn calf after calving. So, if a mature post-partum beef cow (525 kg, BW) has a feed intake of about 13 kg (2.5 % of BW) according to NRC BEEF (2016) she requires about 7.5 kg TDN (re: 58%, dmi) to support about 10 kg of milk production and maintain an optimum 2.8 – 3.0 body condition score until the start of the breeding season.

Consequently, these dietary energy requirements can be managed by a post-calving diet made up of about 11.0 kg of a 55% TDN forage and supplemented with 2.0 kg of grain/barley (75% TDN).

Note: My calculation are [11 x .55] + [2 x .75] = 7.5 kg TDN. If cold weather becomes a factor during the calving season and the few weeks beyond; the cows may require extra kilos of TDN and then an additional 1.0 – 2.0 kg of barley (75% TDN) per cow could be fed to increase its energy density.

After supplying enough energy, I want my feeding program/diets to supply enough protein that meets the respective requirements (NRC BEEF, 2016) of calved-out beef cows. However, unlike energy, protein requirements are usually not impacted by cold winter, but may be challenged by forage quality.

Post-calving protein requirements for 525 kg beef cows are about 1.2 – 1.4 kg per day, depending on postpartum milk production. If the producer feeds 13 kg of 9.0% protein green-feed and some grain, it should meet the protein requirement of cows up to calving.

However, we should realize that without protein supplementation of 1.0 – 1.5 kg of DDGS or 0.5 – 1.0 kg of a 20% protein low-moisture block that - protein requirements may not be fully satisfied for the recent fresh cow.

In a similar fashion, I usually recommend to beef producers to feed about 70 – 100 g per post-partum cow per day of a well-balanced com-

mercial beef mineral that compliments the mineral and vitamin profile of the forages and grains being fed.

On a practical basis, most people that I know often fill up mineral feeders every few days to one week’s time.

So, if a producer operates a 200-cow operation and has about 8 mineral feeders (one per 25 cows), they should put out ½ of bag of mineral per feeder per week. Calculations are: (i) 200 cows x 70 g x 7 days = 98 kg, (ii) 98/25 kg = 4 bags of mineral and (iii) 4/8 = ½ bag of mineral per feeder. Adjustments can be made if a significant amount of mineral is leftover or wasted.

Pulling together cattle mineral and the other essential nutrients into a comprehensive feeding program for beef cows after calving helps, them nurse well-growing and healthy newborn calves.

As a result, such good postcalving nutrition promotes producer financial success in one of the most important times of the year.

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February 23, 2018

The AgriPost

The AgriPost

Homemade Cheese a Growing Trend in Southeastern Manitoba

Participants at the cheese workshop with Instructor Jim Appleby in the home of Andy and Jenafor Siemens near Woodmore.

February 23, 2018

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Jim Appleby, owner of Stoney Brook Creamery near Steinbach, led a fascinating 3 hour cheese making workshop demonstration to a full room of eager participants at Andy and Jenafor Siemens off-grid home near Woodmore.

This was the third time Appleby has responded to an invitation by the Woodmore Women’s Institute Food Security Initiative to give a demonstration on cheese making. His knowledge, sense of humour, and go- withthe-flow style are repeatable.

This Food Security Initiative has been going on for a number of years, offering re-skilling workshops to help families young and old take back more control of their food sources and quality in an age when the industrial food system does not always have our or the land’s best interest in mind.

In his own family, Jim and his wife Angie have made changes. “We try to support local farmers, to support the ecology of our land, feed our family real food,” said Appleby. “We get our dairy here, and we fill our fridges and cupboards with food from local, organic sources, too. We understand the challenge. We all have a story about how our food matters.”

Appleby demonstrated the making of four different cheeses. An age-old cheese favourite many in attendance had grown up with is cottage cheese. He explained the nuances of making it dryer or moister depending on the end use, and how to keep the culture intact for best flavour.

He also demonstrated the simplicity of making cream cheese and explained how his wife Angie has baked cheese cakes that need no fancy additions. The cheese on its own is so delicious it does not compare to store bought.

A repeat of previous workshops, Appleby demonstrated the simple, fresh, farmers cheese by walking participants through the basics of culturing the milk and then using rennet and gentle low heat to separate the curds from the whey. He then gave everyone an opportunity to sample this squeaky, ready to eat, cheese. Making curds is the first step to many other kinds of cheeses. He then introduced everyone to more advanced steps like demonstrating the cheddaring technique.

Finally, he explained the ripening/aging process of Camembert cheese. He gave instructions on how to Continued on page 22...

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February 23, 2018

The AgriPost Homemade Cheese a Growing Trend...

Continued from page 21...

Susi Teichrob (right) along with her husband Matt (pictured above making sausage with his daughter) from Roseau River will be demonstrating sausage making in a butchering workshop scheduled for March 6 that takes the mystery out of how it all comes together.

manage temperature and humidity giving many of the participants the confidence to try this at home.

The Woodmore Women’s Institute’s next hands-on workshop is butchering, with a focus on making your own sausage. Susi and Matt Teichroeb from Roseau River will demonstrate making

salami; explain the smoking process and possibly curing.

At the workshop, there will be time for participants to make their own sausage. The Teichroeb’s will provide the hog casings and stuffer. Participants, if they want, can bring up to 4 lbs of seasoned meat. You can check out recipes in advance to determine

how you want to season your meat. In addition, sausage will be available for tasting.

This workshop is March 6 at the Roseau Valley School from 6 - 8:30 pm. The registration Fee is $10. To register, contact Evan at redriverrec@emersonfranklin.com or call 204-373-2002.

The AgriPost

February 23, 2018

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February 23, 2018

The AgriPost

Making Those Crop Changes Count

By Les Kletke “Things have changed,” said Jeff Phillips. “We used think that that corn and

beans were crops for Iowa but now they are crops that are a part of our rotation and will be for the next couple

of years.” Phillips who farms with his father offers a philosophical view well beyond his 20 something

years when talking about new crops.

“Dad’s generation had canola,” he said. “Rapeseed had been around since WWII but they changed the composition of the oil to make it a new crop and found a fit for the oil in the grocery store.”

Phillips shows more that a cursory knowledge of crop history and the development of new crops that fit into the rotation of their western Manitoba farm. “My generation already had corn and soybeans and we don’t know what is next, there are a lot of things in the pipeline that I am sure we don’t know about.” He acknowledged that rapeseed underwent a structural change when corn and soybeans were the benefactors of breeding

programs that shortened the time to maturity.

The early maturity has dramatically expanded acres of the two crops and he sees the movement as far from over.

“We have expanded our acres of those two crops to about half of our land base in just the last three years, and it might continue on our farm but the acreage in Saskatchewan could explode.”

His interest in history leads him to ask questions about the possible expansion of the acres and he hopes that lessons have been learned.

“We overbuilt a crushing industry for canola at that time, and while it looks like the market for corn or soybeans is endless, I hope we don’t do the same thing with crush plants for soybeans this time around,” he said.

While he has a cautionary view to expansion and creation of new plants to process, Manitoba’s growing soybean crop he does welcome the possibility of a plant being established in western Manitoba. “We are always dealing with transportation costs and both of these are high volume crops that carry a substantial transportation cost, so if we can process them in Manitoba that is an advantage,” said Phillips.

For this year, their plans are to seed about half of their 4,000 acres in the two crops and the remainder in cereals. “Things are changing,” he said with a smile. “But you don’t want to change too fast.” Again showing wisdom beyond his years.

The Advantage of Keeping Sunflowers in Rotation

By Les Kletke Neil van Buren has his crop plans all ready to go for 2018 and his plan is bucking the trend of Manitoba cropping intentions.

“We have success with sunflowers and they remain a major part of our rotation,” he said. “They work in our plans and we have the equipment to handle the crop.

They will be our mainstay for at least another year.”

Van Buren farms with his

brother at Pierson and said that the crop proved itself over the recent drier years and they are not ready to give up the crop yet. He said the 3,000-acre farm would again have 1,000 acres seeded in sunflowers.

The amount of acreage is limited by available crop rotation acres and time in the fall. “How much does a guy want to combine in November?”

he asked half jokingly.

The farm is set up to dry the crop and he also relies on some chemical help but the late harvest can be a problem. “We have done some things to make sure we get them off in good time, and equipment has changed a lot since we started growing them but, in the end, you have to work with nature and she is not always that cooperative.”

The rest of the farm will be in barley and wheat. “We used to grow malt barley but with the past couple of years that has become more of a challenge so we have shifted to the highest yielding varieties possible in our cereals,” he said. The proximity to cattle feeders provides some of the market for their cereals. They now commit their wheat acres to high yielding soft wheat rather than high protein spring wheat.

Van Buren works with contracts on as many crops as possible. “It is our approach to risk management,” he said. “We try to lock in as much of our crop as possible so that we can at least cover costs.

We have enough challenges with what is going on day-to-day through the summer, so if we can reduce some risk by locking in a price that gives us some peace of mind.”

He acknowledged that soybeans have been taking a bigger acreage in his area and have done well by coming through some challenging conditions. “They seemed to handle stress and still produce,” he noted. “Sunflowers earned their place by coming through the droughts we had a few years ago, and we know that long term that is reality, those times will come back.”

America First, Could Put Canada First

By Les Kletke

President Trump’s America First Campaign could be good news for Canada, particularly in agricultural trade, as America continues to break trade alliances the opportunity for Canadian goods continues to grow.

Denton Hayes is a Professor of Economics at Iowa State University and was in Winnipeg to speak to Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) annual meeting in late January. “In DC it’s chaotic. It’s the craziest situation I’ve ever seen, we’re shooting ourselves in the foot … I do think the US is behaving so badly that it’s going to create opportunities for Canadian agriculture,” said Hays.

He suspects Trump’s actions have already burned some bridges that might not be mend able. The withdrawal from the TTP early in the administration’s term is something that cannot be undone in his mind.

“It would be to Canada’s advantage to allow the US back into the TPP,” said Hays.

The other remaining nations have announced they have reached an agreement and will formalize the signing in March.

“That will give Canada a leg up for the foreseeable future even if the US has a change of heart,” he said. Looking further afield to the NAFTA agreement

Hays said that failure to reach an agreement there might be another good news story for Canada. “It would give Canada preferential trade positions with Mexico,” he said. “That could be beneficial to Canadian agricultural producers.”

He said other factors are coming together to make a bright future for Canadian agriculture.

He said China is changing the way it produces pork from small back yard producers to modern units that are more economically feasible, and they are finding that small-scale agricultural production on a mountainside is not efficient. “If [Canada] can get rid of those duties going into China and especially if other countries do not have that access it could revolutionize [Canada]. I’ve seen it in Australia. I’ve seen it in New Zealand.

When China starts to buy your product you become prosperous,” he said.

If Canada does continue to take advantage of these trade opportunities in a few years, it will give the agriculture industry a leg up against its American counterparts, according to Hayes. “I think the US will recognize eventually that not participating in these agreements is against its long run best interest, but that’s not the case right now,” he said.

Plenty of Feed Provides Flexibility for Cattle Rancher

By Les Kletke

Peter Fehr saw a good hay crop last year, which has allowed him to delay decision making on when the right time will be to market his cattle.

“We were fortunate to get an above average crop of hay last year,” he said. “Not all of it is good quality but the volume was there, so we fed that to our cows early in the cycle. We have some good hay for them as they go to calving and we will supplement that.”

Fehr calves out 200-head commercial cows that are mostly Angus cross. He has also finished some of his cattle with the extra hay. “We have a fair bit of extra hay and with our corn silage we have a good feed supply, so we might take the animals to market weight ourselves,” he said.

Fehr said that flexibility has become the key to surviving in the cattle business. “You don’t always read it right, but you have to be more flexible than in the past, perhaps not changing your entire operation but at least the numbers of cattle that go into each segment.”

He said that on his operation,

he varies the number of cattle that will be sold each fall, but the determining factor depends on the feed available. “The bigger operations can not do that, they have to be set up for what they do and work on the margins of their operation,” he said. “They can do some things to adjust their margins.”

He has thought about expanding and concentrating on a single sector. “Just about the time I was ready to expand my cow herd was when cow prices went up, so the numbers did not make sense for me. It would have taken a long time to pay off those cows.

If I bought them at the high in the market, I couldn’t find the efficiencies in my operation. So, I stay at this size and move a bit of my marketing around and feed a few more cattle a little longer.”

Looking ahead into 2018, he plans to continue feeding his cattle, take time for decisions and keep his options open. “The grassland went into winter in good shape so I am hoping we get a good spring and some grass early, last year it was late to get animals on pasture. Each year is different,” he said.

The AgriPost

February 23, 2018

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Supporting a Strong and Competitive Canadian Dairy Sector The dairy sector is an important contributor to Canada’s economy. The dairy sector drives our economy with nearly $24 billion in sales by farmers and food processors. Canada’s dairy farmers’ prosperity helps ensure Canadian families continue to benefit from high-quality products, and helps create good, well-paying jobs for Canadians.

Speaking at the Dairy Farmers of Canada annual policy conference, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Lawrence MacAulay, highlighted the importance of a strong and competitive dairy industry and provided participants an update on the Dairy Farm Investment Program (DFIP), the $250 million Federal program announced on August 1, 2017.

The Minister announced that to date, over 500 dairy producers have been approved for funding support valued at over $23.5 million, in a wide array of projects from small investments in cow comfort equipment to large ones for automated milking systems.

“The fact that a majority of applicants will have at least one of their projects supported under the Dairy Farm Investment Program is great news for Canada’s dairy producers right across the country. These investments are just one of the many ways the Government continues to support the dairy sector to ensure it remains strong,” said MacAulay.

Applications under the associated $100 million Dairy Processing Investment Fund is under review and projects under this program will be announced shortly.

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February 23, 2018

The AgriPost

Attitude and the Senior Farmer

Don’t let your legacy be injured because of a poor attitude towards farm safety.

Senior farmers have experience in spades. You have seen it all. Good years, great yields, good(ish) prices. Bad years, terrible yields, awful prices. You can probably fix it all. (Almost – that newfangled equipment has a lot of computer components.) You know your land like the back of your hand.

What about physical capability? Is your back as strong as it once was? How about your eyes? Those reading glasses sure come in handy sometimes. Are you as quick as you used to be? How about your hearing? Those physical capabilities diminish with age. Our eyes grow a little dimmer, our hearing a little less sharp, and our backs a little stiffer.

Our mental capabilities may have grown. With age comes gifts. We often become more patient, make wiser decisions and are better at asking for help – alongside age comes emotional maturity. (Usually, there’s always exceptions to the rule!)

What governs our behaviour and helps us better understand our capabilities? What helps

us make good decisions about safety? Attitude. A good attitude about farm safety is what leads to a safe farm. There is a saying: A bad attitude is like a flat tire, you cannot get very far until you change it. It is not uncommon to hear a teacher or a coach telling their charges to “change your attitude”!

These teachers and coaches know that the success of their pupils depends on a good attitude. Solving complicated math problems, throwing the perfect pitch, and staying safe on the farm is a result of the same combination of experience, capability, and attitude.

It starts with taking an assessment. A safety audit of your farm is a great step to determine the current situation on your farm. By doing an audit, you can take action to control hazards and prevent injuries. It also gives you an opportunity to discover what you’re doing well on your farm. The next assessment is on yourself. Ask yourself if there are tasks that are beyond your physical capabilities.

Take a close look at farming tasks, break down the steps and determine if you can

do the job safely. Be honest with yourself. It’s not weak or shameful to acknowledge limitations.

Think about and make adjustments as needed. A hired worker can help out with particularly physical tasks.

A new (or new to you) piece of equipment can make life easier. Reorganize your workspace for efficiency and safety. Or maybe it’s time for you to take on a new farming role.

After all your legacy is your family and your farm, you want both to be successful for generations to come.

Mature individuals generally are guided by their lifetime of experience. You may remember being able to perform certain tasks, but the reality is your capabilities may have changed and having a good attitude about this will help you stay safe and keep your farm successful. The bottom line is that regardless of age, people can and do get hurt farming. Don’t let your legacy be injured because of a poor attitude towards farm safety.

Article courtesy of Canadian

Agricultural Safety Association.

Making Farming Safer for Senior Producers In Canada, the face of farming is changing. More primary agricultural producers are women, and for the first time since 1991, the proportion of farmers under the age of 35 rose. However, the 2016 Agriculture Census also found that there were more farmers over age 70 than under 35.

The reality of Canadian agriculture is that older farmers are farming more acres and often farming well into their 70s and 80s.

These older farmers are vital to Canadian agriculture. With years of successful farming under their belts, older farmers offer wisdom, knowledge, and experience.

However, older farmers are also at risk for injury. Canadian Agricultural Injury Reporting statistics show that farmers over the age of 60 have a higher than average fatality rate, in fact, farmers 80 years of age and older have the highest fatality rate of any other age group.

As we age, our bodies change. Our sense of smell, vision, hearing, and touch are likely to experience some decrease in sensitivity. Health concerns like arthritis, low back pain, and respiratory conditions can affect a person’s ability to farm safely.

Aging is not the only factor that can have an impact

– other factors like disease, lifestyle and medication use can also influence a person’s capability to farm safely.

However, these factors don’t mean that a senior farmer is destined for a farm injury. Working smarter, not harder, is a key factor in keeping seniors safe. At any age, whether a young worker, an experienced producer or a senior farmer, working safely means identifying risks and potential hazards and developing a plan to lessen the risk of injury.

Before undertaking a task, use a critical eye and take a Continued on Page 27...

The AgriPost

Keep Your Grandchildren Safe on the Farm If you talk to any grandparent, they say that having children was wonderful, but having grandchildren is pure joy. There’s nothing better than having a grandchild throw their arms around your neck and whisper “I love you”. These young people are a farm’s future and a grandparent’s legacy. It’s important that grandparents understand their role in keeping kids safe on the farm.

The farm is an incredible place for kids to grow up or visit. Nothing is better than being the one to introduce your grandchild to a baby chick, or show them how to successfully pull a carrot on the first try. The farm is a great place to learn about the value of hard work and nothing is more wonderful than experiencing the joys of farming life alongside a grandchild.

Talking about children and farming can be an emotional experience. There is one

thing that we can all agree on – the death of even just one child is a horrible tragedy.

Grandparents are vital to the success and safety of their grandchildren. Of course it’s hard to say no when grandchildren jump up and down and plead “Oh please Grandpa! Just one ride in the tractor!” However, your legacy depends on keeping these young people safe from harm. So what can you do as a grandparent to keep your grandchildren safe?

First of all, children aren’t miniature adults. Even the most advanced eight-yearold is still a child. Children don’t have the experience, physical strength or understanding to always make the right choice, handle large equipment or be entrusted with farming jobs. If you’d like to introduce your grandchildren to farming, there are tasks that can teach the fundamentals without endangering their lives. The

North American Guidelines for Children’s Agricultural Tasks (NAGCAT) is a great tool to determine such tasks.

Establishing boundaries is essential in making sure that children understand that farming is an occupation and can be hazardous. It’s not “mean” to tell children that certain areas of the farm are off-limits. Talk to your grandchildren about hazards around the farm, it’s a great learning opportunity for the children and a good reminder for you.

Supervision is key in preventing injuries. Even if you have an established play area for your grandchildren, it is no substitute for supervision.

A watchful eye can prevent a tragedy.

Children model the behaviour that they see around them. Often grandchildren want to do things just like grandma or grandpa. It’s important that they see you perform tasks safely. If you

model safe behaviour, your grandchildren are more likely to behave in safe ways too.

Rethink your traditions.

If they’re risky, build new traditions. Talk about farm equipment, show them safety gear, explore the farm together in a safe and controlled way. You don’t have to put a child in a potentially hazardous situation in order to establish traditions with your grandchildren.

Grandchildren are one of life’s greatest joys. Being able to see your grandchildren grow and thrive and enjoy the farm is incredibly satisfying. Take the time to teach age-appropriate tasks, establish boundaries, provide supervision, model safe behaviour and build safe traditions. These steps will not only help keep your grandchildren safe, but will help safeguard your legacy.

Making Farming Safer...

have the ability to lift the required weight without risking injury? (Remember, there are often considerable differences among individuals.

Each individual should assess their capabilities based on their own circumstances.)

Be realistic about your capabilities, working within your abilities will set you up for success. Trying to do more than you’re able is setting yourself up for failure, or worse, injury.

Other factors to take into consideration include environmental conditions. A safe work situation can be hazardous depending on environmental factors. Factors like ice, noise, dust, and lighting can all impact the environment. Consider not just the

environment, but also how it can affect your abilities to work safely.

Not all changes associated with aging will have a significant impact on a person’s capacity to perform farming tasks. But it’s important to

assess what tasks become more challenging as we age.

Planning work activities to compensate for any limitations will set a senior farmer up for continued success.

Continued from Page 26... close a close look at the job.

Break down the job into each of the tasks required and determine the potential hazards and risks associated with each of these tasks. Determine what it would take to eliminate or control the hazards and make the changes.

It could be a simple as using Personal Protective Equipment or finding the proper tool for the job.

Next, think about the minimum ability to safely perform the task, do you have the ability to do the task?

Also, think about your risk factors. For example, if the task requires lifting, do you

Article courtesy of Canadian Agricultural Safety Association.

Article courtesy of Canadian Agricultural Safety Association.

Older farmers offer wisdom, knowledge, and experience.

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The AgriPost

Hawaiian Ranchers Have a Storied History

By Joan Airey The Hawaiian Islands at sea level enjoy consistent temperatures of 29 °C (85 °F) in the summer while the average winter temperature is 25 °C (78 °F). Tourists visiting the big island to travel upcountry can learn about ranching hosted by Parker Ranch or Kahua Ranch.

At Parker Ranch, you can stroll around the headquarters called Puuopelu and through one of the original homes founded by the Parker family members. There is no charge for the historical tour but if you want to see the herds and learn about ranching in Hawaii tourist can pay for a guided tour with one of the ranch employees.

Twelve cowboys look after nine thousand cows with each having their own horse when needed or the use of their own half ton or crew cab. Leon our tour guide, has been at Parker Ranch since he left the navy when stationed in Hawaii thirty years ago. He explained that each cowboy is responsible for a certain herd of cattle, which is checked twice a week to make sure they have a good water supply and the minerals they need. When extra hands are needed the cowboys all work together to wean, vaccinate, do AI or any other care

Pregnant cows on pasture in Hawaii in January. We were up high in the second photograph and the clouds in the background made it impossible to see the mountain in the distance.

Photo by Joan Airey

the cattle herds require.

Some of the calves are grass feed and slaughtered on the island. While the rest are weaned at, four hundred to less than five hundred pounds and then shipped to the mainland for finishing and marketing. This contrasts with our Canadian practice of heavy weaning weights.

These ranchers do not want heavy cattle because of the cost of freight to get them to

An Angus herd grazing at Parker Ranch in January.

the mainland.

Ranchers split calving between the summer and the winter months. While walking through the purebred herd some cows had calves at their side and number of the cows were calving as we spoke with Brian and Leon our guides. Their philosophy is that as long as the calf looked healthy and got up to suck they was no need for intensive labour unlike what we have in Manitoba during January making sure our calves are warm and healthy.

In addition, with a year round supply of grass, there is no need for growing hay and baling it. September and October are the driest months in Hawaii. Ranchers depend on the winter rains for most of their moisture.

When Brian read some of the literature on our Canadian, genetics he pointed out that that some of the bulls we

were using worked for him in Hawaii also. It was apparent that he was familiar with some of the blood lines used in Canada.

Originally, the ranch had Hereford then it had Brangus, Hereford, and Angus cross. Now they concentrate on purebred Angus. To further increase marketability, the ranch added Charolais as a terminal cross for about one third or five thousand cows in the 1990s. Now they have a purebred Charolais herd and a purebred Angus herd to raise their own bulls.

“We like to raise bulls that provide us with cows with good feet and legs, neat udders and easy calving. We use semen we purchase from the mainland making sure the bloodlines provide us with the type of cattle that work for us in the conditions here on the island,” said Brian the purebred herd manager.

Parker Ranch goes back to 1809 when it’s nineteenyear-old founder John Palmer Parker, jumped ship on to the shores of the Big Island.

Parker was befriended by Hawaii’s King Kamchameha I, who was impressed with his enthusiasm and vision so much that the King later allowed Parker to hunt the herds of maverick cattle that had over populated the island.

These cattle were progeny of five head, a gift given to Kamehameha I in the late 1790s

by British Captain George Vancouver in 1788.

Parker participated in the War of 1812 and when he returned to Hawaii, he brought a new state of the art American musket. The King gave Parker exclusive permission not only to shoot the wild cattle but to market them.

With the King’s permission Parker traded beef, tallow and hides to visiting ships and lo-

cal people. Parker married the King’s granddaughter; purchased two acres of royal land and eventually the ranch became the largest in Hawaii.

Our guide Leon showed us the pasture where Parker had corralled the wild cattle into a naturally occurring large depression that was sloped on all sides. In the same pasture, we also viewed the gravestones of each Parker including the very last Parker.

In 1992, Richard Smart, the great-great- grandson of John Palmer Parker and the sole owner of the ranch died leaving ownership to the Parker Ranch Foundation Trust.

Smart created the trust to benefit health care, education and charitable organizations in the community of Waimea/ Kamuela.

The Ranch has the latest equipment for processing cattle whether A.I. or vaccination although horses are still used while treating calves in pasture.

The AgriPost

New Coordinator at Helm as Foodgrains Bank Gets Set for 2018

Gordon Janzen is looking forward to the challenges of 2018 as the new co-ordinator for the Manitoba food grains projects.

By Elmer Heinrichs With a new coordinator at the helm, Manitoba supporters of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank are looking for another good year of growing crops for world food aid.

Gordon Janzen, of Winnipeg, started his new position in mid-November, taking over for Harold Penner, of Arnaud, who held the position for more than 14 years.

Penner has taken on a new role as Regional Representative Coordinator.

The Foodgrains Bank’s new representative for Manitoba has been busy attending Ag

Days in Brandon, meeting with farmers and other stakeholders and preparing for another year of Grow projects.

Janzen, who grew up in India, the child of missionary parents, has served as a pastor in Saskatchewan and Manitoba and has worked overseas with the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC). “For the past 16 years I worked with Mennonite Church Canada and with mission workers and global church partners internationally.”

In a recent interview, Janzen reported that he along with Harold Penner and a dozen other Canadian supporters including Jerry and Linda Waldner of the Crystal Springs Hutterite Colony, in Manitoba, participated in a Learning Tour of Ethiopia.

Here, said Janzen, “We saw a number of agriculture and livelihood irrigation projects with people working for grain or cash, to improve the local diets and to sell surplus grain when crops are good.”

Janzen sees his role as working with community growing projects across the province.

“I’ve been really impressed with the enthusiasm and the support of the farming community,” Janzen commented.

PAMI Tackles Technology Integration in Farm Machinery In response to concerns raised by producers, Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute (PAMI) is taking steps to ensure precision agriculture technology can be used to its fullest advantage regardless of the make or age of machinery.

David Yee, with PAMI, told the audience at CropConnect 2018 conference in Winnipeg that technology like GPS, sensors and telemetry can make farming efficient and precise, but only if that technology is integrated in the equipment a producer owns, tractors, air drills, sprayers, combines and even on-farm storage bins. “There are real tensions that are occurring right now,” he said. “Real difficulties getting one machine to talk to another machine.”

The solution may be opensource software that can manage the technology regardless of the age or brand of machinery. Producers should not have to purchase a new tractor to make effective use of a technologically advanced sprayer, he said. “We need to remove obsolescence and make legacy machinery valid in the current farming cycle.”

Yee also spoke about the connectivity within a particular piece of farming machinery, from the software, to the firm-

ware, and to the hardware. “We hear from frustrated farmers who are experiencing a sensor or software failure on one small component in their tractor or combine that leads to a complete shut-down, leaving the farmer with compromised productivity,” said Yee. These issues are priorities for PAMI, and the organization is well positioned to take them on, Yee said. The organization’s unique blend of knowledge and skills by employing experts in virtually every engineering discipline, design, software development and fabrication, “And with more than 40 years of really listening to our customers, we’re willing to take on the impossible projects.”

Yee said other stakeholders, including educational institutions, governments and vendors, are also looking for a solution. PAMI has connected with them, Yee said, “To create an atmosphere for dialogue (because) we want to be part of the growth of a technical cluster here in western Canada.”

Fully integrated precision technology, which could eventually incorporate other tools like drones and autonomous vehicles, has the potential for applications in other industrial and production sectors.

“It’s really quite phenomenal.”

A typical community growing project often involves a group of farmers, fuel dealers, equipment dealers, local small businesses, grain elevator staff, church congregations gathering together to farm a plot of land. But grow projects, suggested Janzen, can also take other forms.

The Grow Hope project near Niverville and Landmark invites non-farm sponsorships and in the fall, net proceeds from the crop and sponsorships are donated to the Foodgrains Bank for food aid.

Recently Janzen met with long-running CHUM project group in Plum Coulee, which is looking forward to growing grain on a quarter section of land this year, and, “I also met with organizers of the Singing in the Grain group which is planning two October music concerts as fund-raisers for The Food Bank.”

Janzen is optimistic as he looks forward to the summer anticipating that there might be as many as 40 community projects. Last year about 6,000 acres were dedicated to the Foodgrains Bank.

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The AgriPost

Making Those Meals Count on a Busy Farm

By Joan Airey The busiest season on a farm can be April until November or if you are a cattle rancher this can include January to March when calving takes priority.

Special consideration should be given in the spring or fall when it often means packing meals to the field more than once a day. Sometimes farm families are working sixteen plus hours a day.

Take the time and do it right, said Kaitlyn Cuvlier a Registered Dietitian from Killarney splits her time between working for Agriculture and AgriFood Canada as a Research Dietitian researching various Canadian commodities and their health promoting attributes as well as running a private practice in her hometown at the Mary Ann Moore Wellness Centre.

“Often meals aren’t typically consumed in the home so there is lack of fridge, sink and oven for food hygiene. You must beware of cross contamination between chemicals, fertilizer, treated seed, any combination of these items which are easily spread to hands and potentially your food. Have hand sanitizer, wet wipes handy to clean off when handling or eating your food. If delivering the meals to the field you can take a pail of warm soapy water with you and paper towels to make sure hands are clean before handling food,” said Cuvelier.

Cuvelier suggested re-evaluating your stock of Tupperware, coolers, and thermos before the busy season. It is important that cold foods stay cold and hot foods stay hot to prevent food borne illness especially when packing two plus meals for the entire day. Old containers sometimes lose their ability to keep temperatures where they should be.

She said to make sure ice packs and insulators help your food stay fresh. Also to check seals to prevent leaking and messes. To save time she suggests utilizing foil containers to make ahead freezer meals for the field or to eat at home in a pinch or batch cook in slower seasons in order to stock up on foods when needed. She noted that it does not need to be strictly main courses; it includes muffins, cookies, breads and sauces. Cuvelier recommends keeping ingredients on hand for slow cooker meals that can be put in the crockpot in the morning and

Kaitlyn Cuvelier is a Registered Dietitian and researcher who recently addressed farm women on saving time, and money and keeping food safe for meal times on busy farms.

ready for supper to deliver to the field. She mentioned that an Instant Pot could reduce cooking time up to six times faster.

“Getting the most out of our food is important with a never ending work day in mind.

How do the foods we eat affect our work? The three main areas relevant to the farm family environment are energy, fatigue and concentration. When we think about staying alert often we think of caffeine and particularly coffee which may enhance alertness, increase reaction time and relieve drowsiness.

It’s acceptable up to three cups per day but be mindful of what is going into coffee.

Keep in mind other foods you might consume may contain caffeine too, such as energy drinks, coke, Pepsi and chocolate,” said Cuvelier.

She went on to explain that the foods we need in our diet for general energy levels and alertness are iron and Vitamin B12. Iron containing foods are beef, pork, beans, broccoli, asparagus, parsley, sea food, nuts and seeds.

Foods with B vitamins are milk, dairy, fortified cereals products and meats.

Coffee is not a substitute for sleep she said. Your pattern and schedule of eating is important and consistence is key to a healthy lifestyle.

“What you’re eating can be just as important as when you’re eating. Over loading on meals can produce feelings of drowsiness especially at mid-afternoon. Waiting too long to eat may cause lack of energy and even light headedness. Avoid high sugar foods to prevent the sugar crash in your day opt for longer lasting slower digesting foods such as protein and fiber. Try not to rely on concentrated sugar to boast your energy they are a short term energy source. Protein at every meal lasts much longer through your day,” said Cuvelier.

“Breakfast and lunch tend to be lighter high sugar meals lower in protein. By the time, we get our supper meal we often are feeling hungry and tired all afternoon. We can balance this out with protein at all meals,” she said.

Cuvelier suggested keeping certain foods on hand such as hard-boiled eggs, canned flavoured tuna, trail mix/snack nuts, fresh fruits, cut up vegetables and Greek yogurt.

“The key to maintaining concentration is including breakfast, maintaining energy and having some healthy fats,” she said. “Breakfast helps set you up for the day.

Always try to include a protein for long lasting energy such eggs, cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, or porridge. Fiber like protein digests more slowly in our bodies and can help to keep a stable energy in the day. Fibre rich foods are fruit and vegetables, whole grains and pulses.”

“Organization is a key for being prepared for your food week and can save you time and money. Give yourself time to form new habits and be food safe while eating away from home. Try to keep meals consistent in your day with fibre and protein. Don’t forget to enjoy the foods you eat otherwise we won’t continue on with whatever plan you try. When in doubt keep it simple! Stick to your gut feelings and avoid extreme trends,” she stressed.

“One of my favourite aspects of my role as a dietitian is working on the forefront of Canadian agricultural research, and being able to directly incorporate this knowledge into real usable advice for my clients. I’m passionate about talking to people about the foods they love and trying to connect consumer with producer in the food conversation,” said Cuvelier.

You can connect with her at cuveliek@gmail.com or on her Facebook page.

The AgriPost

Manitoba’s Best in the Agri-Retail Industry Recognized Two Manitoba agri-retailers were recognized nationally for their achievements at the 11th annual Canadian Association of Agri Retailer’s (CAAR) Choice Awards Banquet recently held in Saskatoon.

“It is an honour and a privilege for CAAR to recognize our members’ outstanding commitment to business excellence, their communities and sustainability,” said Mitch Rezansoff, Executive Director of CAAR. “Putting competition aside for one night and coming together as an industry to celebrate our winners is extremely valuable. Their contributions to the agriculture industry give us all something to be proud of.”

Agronomist of the Year award was presented to Manitoban Barry Mankewich

who, according to CAAR, consistently exceeds expectations through dedication to his field and his agronomic knowledge. Mankewich has worked in a variety of roles including agri-retailer manager in his 40-year career, but he has always been happier in the field than anywhere else. In his 12 years at GJ Chemical Company Co., Mankewich has been a highly trusted advisor, dedicated to helping his customers grow the best crop possible.

Known for his impressive ability to recall detailed product information, Mankewich is nicknamed “Google” by his coworkers.

Retailer of the Year is Redfern Farm Services in Virden. The Retailer of the Year Award was established in 2008 and recognizes one CAAR member that went

Barry Mankewich accepts the J.R. Simplot AgriBusiness Agronomist of the Year Award.

(Left to right: Barry Mankewich, Luke Burton)

above and beyond to serve its customers.

Redfern Farm Services is known as a leader in adopting new technology. Whether it is the newest hybrid seed technology, or adoption of variable rate, mapping and data management, they can offer it. The Virden location offers their customers’ access to Farmers Edge and Decisive Farming VRA Services as part of their agronomy package.

Since joining Redfern Farm Services in 2015, Manager Lane Wanless has seen his location grow rapidly adding both staff and physical space to the Virden location and 2018 will be no exception.

This summer, the team is looking forward to upgrades to the fertilizer plant, which will increase both capacity and speed of loading.

Ray Redfern and Lane Wanless accept the Bayer CropScience Retailer of the Year Award. (Left to right: Ray Redfern, Lionel Lamont, Lane Wanless, Bob Sharanowski)

Manitoba Growers Consider Their Options for Edible Bean Crops

By Elmer Heinrichs Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers and industry partners helped to organize two successful meeting days for Manitoba growers recently. Both days had a large turnout of edible bean growers that was co-hosted by Manitoba agriculture in Altona and Portage la Prairie.

Provincial Pulse Specialist Dennis Lange, obviously pleased with the turnout, said about 260 people took in the two meetings and received a lot of information about growing beans successfully.

Guest speaker Chris Gillard, from the University of Guelph, Ontario gave Manitoba growers a good perspective on growing edible beans, compared problems growers face, and suggested a few Ontario varieties, which might do well here.

Gillard has seen his role at the university as being one to shape the management techniques for dry beans, a niche crop in Ontario. In order to provide the greatest returns for the grower.

Lange said the presenters covered various topics and dealt with issues such as maximum residue limits (MRLs) in dry beans. Pratisara Bajracharya an industry Development Specialist with Manitoba Agriculture spoke on registered herbicides in dry beans. One of the speakers spoke about some of the various edible bean varieties that are coming up from North Dakota and what is available for growers in Manitoba. Another presenter from Ontario focused on the varieties grown in Ontario, and suggested some of these varieties are available and will perform well here in Manitoba.

Other topics addressed were various disease issues, such as bacterial blight and white mould. The day concluded with a view from the field, with an outlook on what was seen for Manitoba this year.

Lange said Manitoba farmers grew about 122,000 acres of edible beans last year, and expects that they will grow a similar acreage or a bit more this year. Growers

were encouraged by good yields, which ranged from 1,900 - 2,100 pounds an acre in 2017. Edible beans prefer well-drained soils and prime growing areas for beans are in the Altona-Winkler, Carmanto-Portage la Prairie areas and pockets of western Manitoba near Boissevain.

Lange also had some advice for growers for this upcoming season. “Keep in mind that soybeans and dry beans aren’t a good mix in the same rotation. Soybeans can volunteer.

I’ve seen them volunteer two years after in an edible bean crop,” he said. “That’s a real concern for some of the end users since soybeans, being Roundup-Ready, like most of the soybeans grown in Manitoba, can cause a food allergen issue in edible beans,” said Lange.

Lange recommended that edible beans not be grown on soybean land for two years, and seeding edible beans in the third year. Even better, suggested Lange, keep soybean and edible bean acreages entirely separate.

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