AgriPost August 28 2015

The Agri Post

August 28, 2015

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Jump Aboard the Soybean Research Tour

Setting World Records and Raising Money to End Hunger

The Agassiz Soil & Crop Improvement Association (ASCIA) is hosting a Soybean Research Tour in Beausejour on Thursday, September 3 starting at 9:30 am.

The Beausejour Soybean Research Site is located from junction of Hwys 44 and 12N, travel four miles West on Hwy 44, then turn south on Rd 38E, travel a ¼ mile to trials located on west side of Rd 38E. Topics include a Mini Soybean Diagnostic Field School, Conventional Short Season Soybean MCVET, Soybean Phosphorus Rate and Placement Trial, Industry Soybean Variety Demonstrations and Short Season Roundup Ready Soybean MCVET. At the end of the tour there will be a free lunch provided by Crop Production Services with guest speakers Kristen Podolsky – MPSG Production Specialist, Dennis Lange- MAFRD FPA – Crops/Provincial Pulse Specialist, John Heard – MAFRD Provincial Crop Nutrition Specialist and Terry Buss- MAFRD FPA – Crops.

If you are interested in optimizing soybean production, this morning tour promises to be time very well spent.

Take Care Around Harvesting Equipment on Rural Roads

Lisa Roy and Erron Leafloor demonstrate at a recent event to promote the potential world record goal using 112 plus threshing machines to harvest a field of wheat in July 2016.

By Harry Siemens Setting a world record, involving many volunteers from different and far-reaching communities and clubs, bringing out the old, and raising money for good causes is a giant formula for success.

While still almost a year away, set for July 31, 2016 over 112 old-fashioned farm threshing machines will come from all

over and hook up to tractors with large belts to break a world record with proceeds to help end global hunger.

Harvesting Hope, will host over 500 volunteers from 100 communities across Canada as they operate vintage threshing machines from the early 20th century to harvest a crop of wheat. The equipment will require over four football fields of space.

Continued on page 3

Manitoba’s harvest has begun and will soon be in full swing as farmers work to bring in the 2015 crop.

Farmers must use roads and highways to get large farm equipment to their fields, and Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) urges motorists to take precautions when approaching such equipment.

Slow down to determine how fast the equipment is going, then follow at a safe distance until you can pass.

Also, ensure the equipment is not turning or changing lanes before you pass and make a wide pass only when it is safe to do so.

KAP also urges farmers to clearly mark their equipment and use appropriate lighting to alert motorists.

“Safe driving, consideration and patience by all will avoid accidents,” said KAP President Dan Mazier.

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August 28, 2015

The Agri Post

The Agri Post

World Record continued...

August 28, 2015

National Election Ag Debate Focuses on Your Food, Your Farmer The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) representing farmers and farm organizations will be reaching out to candidates across the country. In September, the CFA will also be hosting a televised all-party National Agriculture Debate in the weeks leading up to the election.

“We urge all parties to show Canadians the importance they place on investing in Canada’s food and farm future by reflecting Canadian farmers’ priorities in their platforms. We encourage candidates to meet with farmers and hear about the realities in the food and agriculture industry first hand,” said Ron Bonnett, CFA President.

“While the farmer constituency is relatively small, the economic activity they generate is significant, approximately $106.9 billion annually and not to mention, they are largely responsible for putting food on Canadians’ plates each day. Our issues are not just farmer issues. What affects our industry, affects all of Canada,” Bonnett added.

CFA has three main policy areas it would like to see addressed by all political parties.

The first priority is maintaining a skilled and adequate workforce to keep operations running has been identified as chronic problem and critical labour shortages is one of the most pressing risks facing agriculture. The lack of workers is a major constraint on both agricultural growth and global competitiveness. The agriculture industry faces unique workforce challenges due to rural depopulation and seasonal production of highly perishable products. In response to these challenges, the Canadian agriculture and agri-food industries have come together as a complete value chain to develop a permanent solution to this pervasive and urgent challenge under the Canadian Agriculture and Agri- Food Workforce Action Plan.

Managing risks in agriculture is unique in the set of high risks it faces with volatile prices, unpredictable weather, and a global market influenced by government supports to producers in competing countries. For risks that cannot be addressed through onfarm management practices, producers require access to effective risk management programs to limit fluctuations in income that limit their ability to further invest in their farms and grow the Canadian brand at home and abroad.

Problems and the issues surrounding trade negotiations is also a priority amongst all farm organizations and farmers. Clear and effective rules governing international trade will result in better functioning international and domestic markets, a win-win situation for our economy, producers and communities across the country, and an increasing global population. The Canadian government must approach all trade negotiations, including the current Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations, with the objective of achieving positive results for Canada’s farm and food future.

Specifically, the CFA has outlined that considerations under three main areas, market access, supply management and non-tariff barriers should be part of all trade negotiations.

To hear what Canada’s political decision makers have to say about these issues and more, tune in to the Agriculture Leaders Debate on September 30, to be held at the Chateau Laurier in Ottawa and webcast nation-wide.

Colin Farquhar, a steam engine operator, stokes the firebox to demonstrate the technology that will be used to attempt a world record next year.

Continued from page 1 Ayn Wilcox, a volunteer spokesperson with the Manitoba Agricultural Threshermen’s Museum at Austin said the volunteers would be operating over 112 vintage threshing machines to harvest that crop of wheat. “The machines need to operate continuously for at least 15 minutes powered by steam engines, tractors and stationary engines built between 1890 and 1950,” said Wilcox. “We are confident this will happen.”

She said the idea came from a world record set in Saskatchewan in a similar partnership with the Canadian FoodGrains Bank operating 41 threshing machines. They felt they could smash that record given the extensive collection at the museum at Austin as well as the collectors and other museums they could partner with.

On August 15, the goal changed slightly because of a similar event with 111 threshing machines dating between the 1920s and 1950s which had lined up in a field at the St. Albert Curd Festival in Ontario, each with an accompanying tractor setting the new world record.

“We need to step it up just a little bit but our goal was already set at just over 100 machines and so we need to get out there and get a few more operating and we will be good to go,” said Wilcox.

She said machines will definitely be coming from all over the place and anticipates using 25 to 30 from the museum’s collection at Austin. There are a number of other museums that have offered to loan their machines to this event. “We also have a number of private collectors looking all across Canada and into the US. Even people from Minneapolis to bring theirs in also,” said Wilcox.

All of the money raised will go to preserving their local heritage and the Canadian FoodGrains Bank she explained. One example of a Canadian Foodgrains Bank-supported project is in Zimbabwe, where 17,000 children between the ages of five and 12 are receiving a nutritious school meal five days a week. “The outpouring of support for this event is overwhelming,” said Wilcox. “Even though it’s almost a year before our record attempt, volunteers, contributors and threshing equipment owners are already registering from as far away as Edmonton and Southern Ontario to be part of this special event.”

John Longhurst, who directs communications and marketing for the Foodgrains Bank said it is exciting to partner with the Museum. “As an organization with deep roots in rural Canada, we are pleased to be part of an event that celebrates farming history and generosity.”

Beef PProducers roducers Outline Election PPriorities riorities The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) has released its Federal Election Priorities document with information for all candidates running for Parliament in the upcoming 42nd General Election on October 19.

Generating $9.7 billion in farm cash receipts, the sale of cattle and calves was the largest single sector in Canadian agriculture in 2014. With 68,500 beef farms in the 2011 census, beef producers are both major drivers of the rural economy and can have a significant influence on the outcome on the election of Members to the 42nd Parliament.

“Cattle producers continue to receive excellent prices for their cattle due to a tight global beef supplies and open markets,” said CCA President Dave Solverson. “As much as producers would like to respond to this clear market signal and expand their herds and take advantage of these current market opportunities, other factors can negatively impact their ability to do so. This underscores the importance of a competitive industry supported by a science-based regulatory environment for Canada’s beef cattle sector.”

The election priorities document outlines a number of issues that can help create the operating environment for beef cattle herd expansion in Canada, such as fully funding programs that help producers manage risk and investing in infrastructure.

Once expansion takes place, secure access to high value and growing markets and policies that ensure the competitiveness of Canadian producers are the key to keeping the good times rolling. Investment in research and sustainable practices are major priorities for the Canadian beef sector.

Access to sufficient labour to work on farms and to process the meat is a critical issue that needs to be alleviated. With insufficient numbers of Canadians willing to take these jobs and insufficient access to immigration, increasing numbers of live cattle will leave for processing in the US and Canada will need to import more food.

The CCA will be sending its election priorities to all the national parties along with a questionnaire seeking feedback on how they intend to address the various challenges for beef producers. As the responses are received, the CCA will post them, verbatim, on its website, cattle.ca, for cattle producers to assess for themselves.

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The Agri Post

August 28, 2015

Tackling the Superweeds

Penners Points

by Rolf Penner

Chicken Little isn’t dead, he’s just changed his clothes.

In his last incarnation, the public panic he generated in rolfpenner@agripost.ca the farming industry had to do with “Frankenfoods”, genetically modified crops (GMOs) posed a threat to human health. Despite all of the evidence from many learned societies to the contrary, millions of people protested in hundreds of cities, anarchist vigilantes trashed GMO labs and the whole continent of Europe refused to import the slandered food.

The usual suspects have also mounted a scare campaign about “superweeds,” plant species that have developed resistance to the most successful herbicide, glysophate. It’s really nothing more than a back-door attack on GMOs. The narrative goes something like this, if we hadn’t created crops that would tolerate herbicides, then we wouldn’t have used so many chemical strategies to control weeds, and “superweeds” would never have existed. And maybe the built-in resistance in GMOs has magically hopped over to weeds, didn’t you know?

Are the scaremongers preparing their pitchforks for another assault on companies like Monsanto and Dow, easy targets in their perpetual campaign against progress? Let’s hope not. The voices of common sense are responding to this wave of panic, notable among them the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA), which late last fall published a great fact sheet on “superweeds.”

First, the claim that herbicide resistance has jumped from GMOs to common weeds like Palmer amaranth pigweed. “There is no evidence,” reads the fact sheet. “That gene transfer is a major factor in the development of herbicide resistance. . . The transfer of resistance traits from genetically modified crops to weeds growing in the field is rare, and the occurrences observed and reported to date have had minimal impact.”

In fact, as farmers are well aware of the adaptability of weeds. It’s old news to them, as are the competitive characteristics of weeds. Although the number of acres affected by resistant weeds has increased over the last decade as more growers have come to rely solely on herbicides with a single mechanism of action for weed control, weeds have exhibited resistance to many types of herbicides over the past 40 years.”

Therein lies the real problem, says the WSSA, the sole reliance on herbicides with a single mechanism of action. “What’s going on is natural selection,” explained Justin Gardner, a professor of agribusiness at Middle Tennessee State University, in a report aired by NBC News. “Weeds were resistant before GMOs. The best way around this is to use different weed killers instead of the same one all the time.”

“Herbicide resistance is an important, costly and escalating issue, especially as growers have come to rely more than ever on a single class of herbicides that targets weeds in the same way, concludes the WSSA. “It is more critical than ever for a variety of carefully integrated weed management strategies to be used so weeds resistant to one method can be controlled in other ways before they have an opportunity to spread. This includes nonchemical means of weed control, such as crop rotation, tillage, cultivation, hand hoeing, seed capture, etc.”

In short, farmers can beat the danger posed by superweeds with simple common sense. Just use smarter, less lazy strategies than simply spraying Roundup year after year. Rotate your herbicides the same way you do your crops and it’s really not much of an issue at all. Maybe they need to be reminded of that from time to time but that’s a more reasonable position than the one mounted by the anti-GMO scaremongers. The sky is not falling, folks.

Where is the Roller Coaster Economy Headed?

The dollar sliding, crops shrinking a little in western Canada, oil prices tanking and the Chinese stock market making a correction is all in a day’s action, or is it?

Errol Anderson, President of ProMarket Communications Inc. in Calgary said oil prices in the $50 to $55 range is a huge adjustment that’s not going particularly well in Alberta, and more specifically in Calgary. The key is that the oil sands are a high cost producing aspect of the oil market. The oil sands will have to cut their costs.

“What we are noticing is that a lot of the oil sand projects now have shut down and represent about a third of the global projects suspended or cancelled due to the low oil prices,” said Anderson.

“Really we do have a shock that is going through Alberta, into Saskatchewan and certainly it is affecting Canada sending our economy into a recession. Government data may not catch up for a few months yet, but it is clear to me we’ve gone into a recession.”

He believes the US economy is also slowing regardless of what the media is portraying for the American economy, aka the Fed-

The Tug Between Hearts or Minds It is decision time and this one is not going to be easy, beef producers need to decide whether to take advantage of the high cow prices and sell the herd, or buy some more cows and try to get another calf crop to market while the prices hold.

All indications are that the beef market will stay strong for at least a year probably two while the mother cowherd is being rebuilt although feed prices are strong as well and margins have improved.

But are they really that much better?

This is one of those times that some people are going to make decisions with their mind and pocket the money, others will decide with their heart and say, “We should’ve…”. That is the way our business is. Always has been, always will be.

I remember a decade or more ago when cow prices were strong and an experienced ‘cow man’ showed me a cheque on Farm Credit stock for a large amount of money. “Sold all my cows,” he said, “When the banks are loaning money to guys for cows, it is the time to sell.”

I was shocked; I could not imagine this gentleman without cows on his yard, in his pasture or on his truck. “You without cows?” I stuttered. “Is the world ending?”

“I’ve done it before, and I’ll do it again,” he said. “I will buy those cows back at half price in a year or two. I feel sorry for the guy, but I’m going to cash the cheque,” he chuckled. The chuckle of a man who had learned the lesson from both sides.

I have had the pleasure during a couple of visits to Alberta over the last month, and on one, sat beside a fellow from just south of Calgary on the plane ride home. He told me of his strategy.

“I have 650 cows and they will go to town this fall, at $3,500 a piece it is time to cash in,” he said. “I can fix up the place and get ready to buy some cows, but not at these prices.”

I also had the pleasure of meeting with a father and son team at Saddle Hills. “Don’t tell him to sell the cows,” said Dad, with the look of a father who wanted to farm with his son on an operation he had built. “I can’t see the cows making money at these prices especially feed,” said the son, who was holding the hand of his fiancée. Both were weathered and muscled, not afraid of a bit of cowboy work. I was careful not to step into the fray, and offer too much advice. I know that Dad will win that one, he controls the cheque book and will help that young couple get started with a load of debt that could last a decade or two.

Business decisions are tough, especially when our heart and family are involved but as a long time cow man told me, “They are making new cows everyday, I’m not married to those.”

eral Reserve’s hike in the interest rate. “Personally, I don’t believe them for one moment. I believe the US will show some cracks, and I don’t think there will be a rate hike in September. I’m certainly feeling that there maybe no rate hike in the US through 2015,” said Anderson.

When asked how this influences the farm commodity’s roller coaster ride, he said the big thing is China. The stock market correction in early July wiped out about 3 trillion dollars, although still up since January 10 to 14 percent. What occurred is many of the Chinese investors invested near the top creating some havoc in the Chinese market. The Chinese government has really moved in to try to support and stabilize it.

The reason he raises the Chinese action is that it has a direct impact on Canada, Australia and Brazil because these all feed directly into the Chinese pipeline. A shake in China will shake Canadians. The Bank of Canada dropping its rate recently a quarter percent down to a half percent surprised him, especially the timing. “That just goes to show the Canadian economy is slowing.

With China slowing down, the Globe slows down, including the US,” he said. “So we will go through some difficulties on these commodity markets I believe through 2016, into 2017. Oil prices will certainly stay in the range between $40 to $60 a barrel.”

The Calgary businessman feels there will be rallies in the grain markets, but it will not hold. “I’m really promoting the idea of a strong marketing plan and hit those targets and take those profits when you see them as a producer.”

He thinks the cattle market although red hot for some time now, beef prices are going to come down because the meat glut in the US is pushing the cattle market lower into the fall market.

The canola market has also shrunk. While the crop will be less due to the lack of moisture in Alberta and Saskatchewan, Anderson said the canola crop would be well down with the available crush capacity in western Canada. He believes the domestic market is going to buy the crop, leaving the export market with some difficulties. “China and Japan, I think their volumes for Canadian Canola will be well down,” said Anderson. “The bottom line is our production is coming down and our demand is coming down so the whole canola engine is coming down and shrinking in size overall.

This is the adjustment we will have.” He noted that while canola is well supported, the whole engine shrinks and there will be times the canola prices will drop even though the supplies are down, because the demand side is falling too.

In summary, Anderson said there is going to be more pressure on commodities based on the China fallout, the US will have to think twice about rate hikes, because they cannot swim in this global market on their own. The drop in the Canadian dollar is good news for Canadian commodities but strong demand must follow it.

“It is the case of where a commodity market price is only as good as its demand. In my view demand is king, not supply and as a result things will head lower and not necessarily translate into higher prices on the Canadian side,” he added.

The Agri Post

Agriculture Concerns for Election 2015 Trade Agreements – As encouraging as tariff reduction sounds. Recent Trade Agreements have also become an inroads for private corporate control. We need to fight against requirements that tie the hands of publicly elected governments.

- Pre-emptive Seizure – CETA (yet to be ratified) includes Section 22, Article 16 which allows a judge to order seizure of assets, equipment, inventory and freezing of bank accounts if a company believes you are - or may - abuse their Intellectual Property rights. Protected Seeds are one item that can allow a private entity this access BEFORE you are proven guilty.

By Dean Harder - Supply Management – Under TPP Major pressure has been placed on Canada to end Supply Management.

Canadians have benefited from quality food. Canadian milk products do not include rBST an artificial growth hormone included in American dairy. Even though the Conservatives have said they will keep this sustainable form of agriculture intact in recent years, they have been pressured through TPP to end or greatly curtail it. History gives cause to question their sincerity.

CWB – In the 2011 election, Conservative Ag Minister Gerry Ritz said he would respect a vote on whether to keep the CWB. When a vote was held and 62% voted in favour of keeping wheat under the CWB he ignored it. He also said he wanted to see a dual market (not possible), he tried to defame former farmer elected directors of the CWB and on Nov. 2, 2011 (Hansard) promised that farmers would “run it” after the privatization. A possible farmer run bid by Farmers of North America was rejected whole heartedly and in the end it was given away to a partnership between Bunge and a national Saudi Arabian owned SALIC with a 49.9% buy in potential for farmers who deliver to the company with no chance to gain “ownership” but a likeliness to be bought out in seven years. Democracies within our democracy need to be respected with issues addressed not dismantled.

Rail Transportation – On Nov 2, 2011 (Hansard) former CWB director Ian McCreary made it clear: without orderly marketing and logistics oversight (under CWB), when an abundance of grain exists across the prairies, railroads and terminals will get clogged up easily as shippers will want to get grain to the west coast all at once. Sadly in 2013 it happened. The Ag minister was short to react with an Order in Council to railroads in Feb. 2014. 6 months after the single-desk CWB would have recognized the problem. Policymakers who simply think the market in these instances will decide best are leaving it up to those with the most private power and not the greater good. We need to fix the mess.

Plant Breeders Rights – With the passing of UPOV’91 through an omnibus bill “The Agriculture Growth Act farmers and citizens need to be concerned with End Point Royalties (EPR’s) charged on their crops when hauling to the elevator. We know that over 110 MP’s (including Conservative ridings) registered petitions against the bill, but little change was made to the actual law which could prevent a seed from going into the public domain after its new 20 year registration period is up.

Public Plant Breeding – A 40% funding cut to our public plant breeding programs was substantial for research that has put our nation on the leading edge in plant research.

There is hope that private companies can take over what was lost but Federal research institutes in Brandon and Morden have made some amazing finds in their long history through collaborative efforts not restrictive ones. A loss of funds means less quality shared knowledge, which takes away a leading edge for our food production.

Growing Forward 2 & 3 – Agristability under growing Forward 2 (2012) has proven ineffective for most farmers. Currently a farm can receive program payments if they move beyond 70% of reference margins. In the original Growing Forward it was 85%. This 15% difference takes a major toll on profits margins before activating. It also does not account for mixed farming practices nor is it effective in helping those that have seen disasters in consecutive years.

New Farmers Policy – A staggering ag census statistic in 2011 exposed only 8.2% of farm operators were under the age of 35. Recently a study of 1300+ farmers done through the newly formed National New Farmers Coalition exposed that 68% of those surveyed desired to farm but currently are not farming. A renaissance in farmers markets, CSA’s and local food movements will help give new farmers a fighting chance but policy must be pursued that offers them a strong introductory playing field to multi-generational farms who have strong collateral. With high land prices and lack of political motivation several new farmers say the federally funded Farm Credit Corporation was unable to help them in their impassioned pursuit to become farmers.

Climate Change

– Manitoba acts as a giant drain for 2 major watersheds. Federal Governments must be willing to move fast in response to natural disasters. It also must help with substantial funding to help mitigate the risk via proper water diversion and retention. But above all we need policies that move us towards a green energy revolution quicker. More floods and droughts are likely and farmers shouldn’t be playing the lottery on who gets them by accepting the status quo of our pollution heavy climate change policy.

Dean Harder is a farmer and member of NFU-MB, KAP and an elected director on the MWBGA.

August 28, 2015

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Keep It Clean - Cereals Launched Canadian agriculture has a well deserved reputation for consistently delivering high quality safe food. Cereals Canada is proud to announce the launch of the Keep it Clean – Cereals campaign. Keep it Clean – Cereals is designed to preserve and build upon this strong brand.

“There is a growing focus, both within Canada as well as in key export markets, on grain safety”, noted Cam Dahl, President of Cereals Canada. “Canadian farmers consistently deliver high quality safe food to consumers around the world. There are a few steps that producers can take to ensure that Canada preserves and builds on this brand reputation.”

Keep it Clean – Cereals is an informational campaign aimed at reminding producers about the best management practices needed to

preserve Canada’s place in world markets. Key focal points for the campaign include: - Knowing the market implication of all crop production products; - Always following the label when applying crop production products; and - Following best practices to avoid mycotoxin growth.

“Harvest is a critically important time for these issues. Now is the time when producers are making decisions on preharvest applications and storage. Care and attention during fall will make a difference when it comes time to market Canada’s grain.”

Keep it Clean – Cereals builds upon ongoing efforts by the Canola Council of Canada.

“Rather than creating a stand-alone but similar brand, Cereals Canada has worked with the Canola Council of Canada to present a consistent message to producers

across commodities”, continued Dahl. “Cereals Canada thanks the Canola Council for their openness to the idea of a single platform for these key messages. This is an example of industry cooperation that benefits every part of the value chain,” concluded Dahl.

Boissevain to Host Plowing Days Manitoba Plowing Days is scheduled for October 34 this year in Boissevain, (2 miles south of town, then 5 miles east on highway #3).

10 am daily will feature Novice and Junior Classes, Horse Walking and Modern Sulky Class and a Special ‘how it’s done’ Class. From 12 noon daily there will be Senior Sulky and Tractor Classes. Spectators are free to attend.

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August 28, 2015

The Agri Post

Delicate Touch with the Chain Saw 16 Year Old Proves Young Age Shouldn’t Hinder Knowledge of Farm Operation

By Les Kletke Not many teenagers’ sights are set on carving an Angus bull with a chain saw to enter a national competition.

However, that is exactly what Chris Jeremy of Ashern did attaining second place in the artistic component of the Junior Angus Competition in Olds Alberta. “I had carved a sign last year and donated it to the auction,” he said. “It sold well so I thought I would carve a bull for the competition and it was well received.” He was also awarded the overall Reserve Champion in the Intermediate Class.

The 16 year old will be entering grade 12 this fall and already has plans to carry on in school after that. “My plans are to become a veterinarian,” he said. “So I plan on going to the U of M and eventually Saskatoon.”

Jeremy is involved in the day to day operation of Spruce Ridge Stock Farm at Ashern that keeps 100 purebred Angus cows. “We have been building the herd after BSE,” he said. “So we keep about 25 good heifers and we sell about 35 bulls each year. We sell the bulls as two year olds.”

He said that most of the bulls go to local producers and the rough terrain the bulls cover requires a more mature animal. Most are used by commercial cattle men who have the bulls on pasture and the high mileage they have to cover takes it’s toll. “We used to sell the bulls younger but found by the end of the breeding season they were worn out, so now we sell them at 2 years of age and they provide better service,” he said. The farm normally has a bull sale but the demand was strong this year and they marketed the bulls directly from the farm and through the Ashern Livestock Market.

Jeremy rates the hay crop as mixed. “Our tame hay was hurt by a late frost and then the dry conditions,” he said.

“The native hay was able to benefit from the rain later on and will make up for the shortage; the green feed was good so our hay supply is good.”

Chris Jermey of Ashern was Reserve Champion at the Junior Angus event in Olds, Alberta. The completion included 14 events and Chris entered a chain saw carving in the artistic competition.

No hint yet on what he plans to do for next year’s competition at the Junior Angus Show but you know that he will start planning soon for his first year in the senior category.

Canola Presscake and Expeller Viable Feed Alternative for Young Pigs

By Harry Siemens There is research from Swine Innovation Porc that shows with the inclusion of canola presscake or canola expeller in the diets of early-weaned pigs that it is an economically viable alternative for hog feeders.

Unlike canola meal, canola presscake and canola expeller occurs without the final step of solvent extraction of oil and desolventization toasting, resulting in much more residual oil remaining in these feedstuffs.

Dr. Ruurd Zijlstra, the Chair of the Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Sciences with the University of Alberta, explained how 15 to 20 percent of residual oil could remain in canola presscake or about 10 percent in canola expeller compared to about 2 percent in canola meal. The residual oils make these products particularly attractive for hog producers to include in the diets of young pigs with a high-energy demand.

“In the young pigs we’re quite surprised how well pigs can tolerate these novel feedstuffs.

We’ve gone as high as 20 percent in diets for pigs 1 or 2 weeks after weaning,” said Dr. Zijlstra. “I would not recommend to do this at weaning but, once the pigs eat, 1 or 2 weeks later, you could switch actually to substantial levels of these canola co-products and still maintain animal performance.”

He said in grown pigs, it is really the finances that will determine how much of these coproducts the producer will include. Generally, in the energy dependant phase of growth, up to 50 to 60 kilograms, it is likely cost advantageous to add more of these co-products into the diets because you provide a lot of energy.

According to his research, it depends on the price the producer pays for the products.

He recommends the use of these dietary co-products for latter stage nursery and finish pigs. Dr. Zijlstra said for markets that have concerns about the fat quality of the pork, a producer would not want to add a lot of plant based oils to the diets for finisher pigs.

The Agri Post

August 28, 2015

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August 28, 2015

The Agri Post

Flood Proofing Projects Get Green Light

By Harry Siemens Tom Teichroeb, Chair of the Manitoba Lake Rehabilitation Committee is confident this time both the Federal and Provincial governments will make sure this program happens despite which party comes into power.

The Federal and Provincial governments assured residents of five

Manitoba communities recently they can look forward to improved flood protection for their families and properties thanks to a joint funding program from the Community Dikes Initiative through the ProvincialTerritorial Base Fund.

The five projects include upgraded flood protection in the rural municipalities of Cartier,

Tache, WallaceWoodworth, DeloraineWinchester and Grahamdale. In total, these projects will help protect more than 280 properties in the five municipalities. Funding provided is up to $9.27 million and the municipality contribution for all five projects will amount to $1.03 million.

To facilitate the flood

mitigation around Lake Manitoba, the LMFRC proposed that municipalities surrounding Lake Manitoba form a unified voice by passing a resolution regarding flood mitigation works for Lake Manitoba, Lake St. Martin and the surrounding areas.

This he said is to endorse, the proposed conceptual design of the Assiniboine River and Lake Manitoba Basins Flood Mitigation Study, presented on December 10, 2014. The conceptual design details a Manitoba flood control system that includes flood mitigation works for Lake Manitoba, Lake St. Martin and the surrounding areas and protection works for the Lower Assiniboine River and the City of Winnipeg.

“That would be a tremendous contribution if we could get all those flood works implemented in due time,” said Teichroeb who is a cattle rancher and knows all too well the suffering the

people around Lake Manitoba have endured since the big flood in 2011.

While Teichroeb is positive, he is also a realist but he thinks this time around it will really happen. “I believe this has finally become a reality. I know we still have some challenges.

Just last week, the First Nations folks from Lake St. Martin say they still need some settlements to happen from their perspective,” he said.

“We need to do more work there and I think it’s relevant and needs to happen because they have suffered for a very, very long time.”

Teichroeb knows they are apprehensive about the project and can understand because of the previous 30 years of being flooded repeatedly.

The project needs to make sure everybody is looked after. “In this case, as far as it becoming a reality, I truly believe it will,” he said. “The Federal

government has come in, and they made that announcement, and from the province’s side, we have a very good feeling from both the opposition and NDP government. No matter who comes in, this will become a reality from the provincial side. I’m very, very optimistic.”

He said the status of the lake, of farmers in the area and the harvest is tolerable. Lake Manitoba is approximately 812.4 feet above sea level at the maximum level of the operating range, which is between 810.5 to 812.5 feet above sea level.

Being at the upper operating level, it has not affected the harvest, whatever farmers seeded after that one big wind event this spring, seems to have survived. “But there still remains a tremendous amount of reclamation work that needs to happen in the next four to five years,” said Teichroeb. “Especially where the conditions trapped the water forcing salinity to become the big issue.”

The Agri Post

Central, Eastern Crops Average to Above Average

By Elmer Heinrichs With above normal temperatures through the first half of August, Manitoba crops are maturing rapidly and farmers are moving combines about quickly to harvest this year’s bountiful crop.

Harvesting of winter wheat and rye began in the latter days of July, and weather conditions have allowed for excellent harvest progress with grain coming off in good condition.

According to the August 17 crop report, harvest of winter wheat is almost done, spring wheat, barley and oats continues, and in Central regions early canola yields range from 3050 bu. an acre.

Reported winter wheat yields range from 50-90 bu. per acre, red spring wheat yields 50-70 bu. per acre, general purpose and feed wheat yields 80-90 bu. an acre, and barley yields 7080 bu. per acre.

Spring wheat quality has been good to date, although smaller size seed has been noted. Pre-harvest applications and swathing of canola and other grain crops is nearing completion.

The Central region reported high humidex values approaching 40C as temperatures soared with little or no precipitation. However, most areas have adequate moisture.

Lodged cereal fields made for poor drying conditions on the clay soil types, and extremely hot weather created some challenges with several reports of equipment overheating.

Harvest of canola has started in central areas, with early yields ranging from 30-50 bu. an acre. Pea fields are maturing; some are ready to harvest, but being delayed by wet field conditions. Overall most fields look good.

Fusarium head blight levels appear to be much lower than last year in both winter and spring wheat, and early reports indicate red spring wheat proteins ranging from 12-15%.

Across Eastern regions, rainfall amounts ranged from 12-35 mm in the second full week of August with hot humid conditions and occasional rainfall and some isolated hail in the Vita and Menisino areas.

Three-quarters of winter wheat and at least 10% of

spring wheat was combined to August 17. About 30% of the canola is swathed, or received a preharvest spray application.

The dry edible bean crop in Manitoba is moving quickly. The crop is beginning to yellow over as it reaches maturity, and some producers have started undercutting and thinking about desiccation. Much of the remaining crop is being swathed as it’s maturing quickly, and harvesting is underway.

Altona Farm Production Advisor Dennis Lange said farmers are harvesting an average to above average crop this year, with a good harvest of soybeans likely around month-end. Reports of building soybean aphid populations continue, and some fields warranted

Harvesting winter wheat at the Steve Siemens farm near Altona on July 30.

Photo by Elmer Heinrichs

spraying.

Most Eastern pastures are in good condition with hay supply and quality rated good. In Central regions, the second cut of alfalfa hay is almost complete with good yield and quality.

Saskatchewan agriculture recently reported a small but quite significant improvement in crop conditions from recent rains. It said a majority of crops were now in good or excellent condition.

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August 28, 2015

New Partnerships Aligning in Seed Trade

By Les Kletke It sounds like an old time country dance, “Grab your partner” with the alignments in the Canadian seed trade that are much more seriously considered and intended to last a lot longer than a few turns on the dance floor.

Earlier this year Canterra Seeds announced a partnership with Limagrain, a France-based company, to establish a new independent company, Limagrain Cereals Research Canada (LCRC), which will be based in Saskatoon.

Erin Armstrong is the CEO of the new company and said the firm is actively seeking a senior breeder for the program that will be based in Saskatoon.

“Limagrain is the 4th largest wheat breeder in the world with breeding programs around the world,” said Armstrong. “LCRC will partner with the other Limagrain cereal breeding programs as well as with public and other private breeding programs.”

Armstrong said LCRC would concentrate on new wheat varieties initially, with a look to expand to other cereals in the future.

Armstrong herself has a background in the malt barley and seed industries.

The company will emphasize specific traits in their breeding programs she explained. “It is always a balancing act between the agronomy and disease packages that aid farmers and the traits that the endusers are looking for,” she said. “We will target development of varieties that will perform well for both farmers and end-users.”

She cites her background in malt barley as an example.

“There are certain varieties preferred by some companies and we see some of that in wheat as well, so we will be paying attention to both sides of the equation.”

She said that quality is always a consideration for any crop type and depending on the sector of the industry, quality is determined differently.

Canterra has also announced a partnership with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and the Alberta Wheat Commission, to support AAFC’s Canadian Prairie Spring Red (CPSR) breeding program based at the

Lethbridge Research Centre.

Armstrong, in her role as Director, Industry & Regulatory Affairs for Canterra Seeds, said the partnership is the first of its type for the Federal Department and allows each partner to bring their strength to the table. “The program is being headed by an Ag Canada breeder. The Alberta Wheat Commission is providing funding, and we [Canterra Seeds] are providing some funding, field testing in the eastern prairies and links to end-use markets, and will be involved with the commercialization of a stream of the resultant varieties. We already have trials in one of our major test sites in Manitoba.”

The Agri Post

The Agri Post

August 28, 2015

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Do Lactating Dairy International Farmer’s Cows Need B-vitamins Market in South Junction Supplements?

By Les Kletke

When I balance a lactating dairy TMR, I first use available forages as a base, then add grains and fats, then add in protein sources, macro-, trace minerals and fat-soluble vitamins. I might finish off with a small amount of pro-biotics and other specialty feed ingredients.

My final dairy diet should contain enough essential nutrients in the right proportions to meet the essential nutrient requirements of dairy cows that produce large volumes of milk and milk fat as well as maintain healthy body condition. Oddly enough, I ignore formulating B-vitamins such as choline (B4), niacin (B3), biotin (B8), and thiamine (B1) into lactation diets.

That’s because the National Research Council (2001) from which I draw information for lactating cow nutrient requirements, dictates: “B-Vitamins requirements of lactating dairy cows can be met through synthesis by ruminal microorganisms and escape of dietary sources from the rumen.” Furthermore, it has been my experience that aside from the occasionally polio case in bulls (caused by a B12 deficiency), actual B-vitamin are rare in dairy cattle.

Some university dairy nutritionists do not agree with NRC’s B-vitamin assessment.

They believe that the genetic pedigree of today’s high producing dairy cow calls for routine supplementation, because the modern cow’s requirement for B-vitamins exceeds what amounts that rumen microbes can normally supply. Here is a brief overview of their positive B-vitamin research: - Penn State fed 6 grams of supplemental niacin to early lactating dairy cows a typical lactation diet consisting of; either corn silage, or corn silage and hay, or pasture. The researchers found that cows producing at least 35 kg of milk produced about 2.5 kg more milk with supplemental niacin.

- University of Maryland study, the researchers infused choline directly into the small intestine of early lactating dairy cows and successfully exhibited a 1.9 kg per head per day increase in milk production. The general consensus among the studies is that a choline supplement needs to be “protected” to bypass the rumen to provide any benefit to the animal.

- University of Florida fed mature dairy cows 0 or 20 mg; 16 d pre-calving and 0 or 30 mg of biotin; 70 days post-calving. The researchers found that milk production increased about 1.0 kg per head per day on the biotin treatments.

- Dr. Randy Shaver from University of Wisconsin (2000) fed 150 – 300 mg per head per day of rumen-unprotected thiamine (B1) to lactating dairy cows fed low fibre/high NFC diets. The results showed a nominal increase in dry matter intake, milk production and milk components.

The biological mechanism for any of these positive B-vitamin responses is largely unknown, yet ruminant scientists believe that many B-vitamins such as niacin, biotin and thiamine play important roles as enzyme co-factors in turning gross feed nutrients of the lactating cow’s diet into useable energy at the cellular level to drive vital functions and performance. Choline, which is not part of any particular enzyme system, like these other B-vitamins also plays an active role in carbohydrate and fat metabolism.

For example, whether we are feeding health or metabolically challenged dairy cows, dietary carbohydrates (containing glucose) are often in short supply for early milk production. The dairy cow must then burn her own body fat to produce immediate energy or non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs), which are later transformed back into energy-rich glucose or provide fatty acids for butterfat. However, when too many NEFAs are produced for glucose transformation, a good portion of these NEFAs end up as poisonous ketones. It is these circulating ketone bodies that lead to toxicity associated with ketosis in early lactating dairy cows.

Since these B-vitamins are significantly involved in the bio-chemical reactions that drive efficient carbohydrate and fat metabolism, it is likely that they help drive the biochemical reactions that produce more energy (glucose), which is ultimately more available to the early lactation cow and thus help prevent such dangerous ketosis.

A common recommendation is to add each of these B-vitamins to a transition cow diet, which is fed three weeks before calving and three weeks into early lactation; 6 – 12 grams of niacin per head, or 60 grams of choline (in a rumen-protected form), and biotin added at 20 mg per head, daily.

The respective costs per head per day are also as follows: niacin at 8.5 – 17 cents, rumen-protected choline at 60 cents, and biotin at 3 cents. Lastly, I recommend adding thiamine at no more than 10 cents per head per day to help stimulate appetite. One should realize that there is no substantial proof that adding any of these B-vitamins together yields a cumulative response.

Nor is there any conclusive evidence that the entire lactating cow population needs added B-vitamins to all lactating dairy diets. Rather, existing research and my experience tells me that the best potential for dietary B-vitamin supplementation is: (1) pre-calving/ early lactation cows in negative energy balance, (2) 1st calf lactating heifers to stimulate feed intake and (3) cows suffering from significant digestive upsets. Otherwise, I formulate a well-balanced nutritious dairy diet that ultimately promotes good rumen function, in which the “rumen bugs” should produce sufficient B-vitamins for healthy and productive dairy cows.

Sandra Gobeil is a veteran of Farmer’s Markets and laughs when asked how long she has been coming to the South Junction Market.

“Oh, it has been a while,” she chuckled. “About 15 years.” Her table features vegetables and home baking, her counterpart at the other end of the table features wood work and some rugs.

“I do wood work as well,” said Gobeil. “I didn’t bring any today because I had too much with the vegetables and baking.”

She said that things have changed over the years that she has been attending the market on the north side of Highway 12 just before the resorts of Moose Lake and Buffalo Point.

“We used to get more people stopping for vegetables,” she said of the market held Friday afternoons, “Then sometimes we would not have anything left by the time the lake traffic came by, so they tend not to stop. Now we have more vegetables so it is building again.”

The Friday night lake traffic is stopping and people are buying Sandra’s homemade baking as well as a bag of vegetables. Even at the Farmer’s Market, eating is not all about healthy and her plates of doughnuts were popular. “I have some yeast and some cake doughnuts,” she said. “The yeast doughnuts are more of the traditional recipe that people remember from home.”

Gobiel said that recently American visitors have discovered the South Junction market and are making the trip from Rousseau and Warroad, Minnesota to do some shopping.

“We have had several people from Roseau but this last week we had a lady who had heard about the homemade baking and came from Warroad. She bought some vegetables to,” said Gobeil.

One booth further down, Mitch and Patty Gobeil features what Patty calls “magic beans”.

The beans in the plastic basket are a deep purple. “They turn green when cooked,” she said with a smile that tempts you to try them just to see if they do. Her table also features an array of pickles. She said people like the ease of selecting a jar of readymade pickles over home canning.

Patty is responsible for the vegetables, in the couples garden, Mitch said, “If I can’t do it with a tractor, I don’t do it. Patty does the vegetables.”

The couple moved back to South Junction after retirement and took over Mitch’s family home which is a four acre site. It allows not only a spacious vegetable garden but room for perennials as well. On her table, there is an order form for flowers. “I used to bring the pots but it was too much work, now people order and I get them ready for pick-up,” she added.

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August 28, 2015

The Agri Post

Concerned About Genetic Concentrations

Harrowsmith cover from 1986 predicting the merger of chemical and seed companies.

By Les Kletke If anyone has the right to say, “I told you so,” looking back on the last 40 years in agriculture it would be Pat Mooney, but the phrase never enters his conversation.

Instead, he quietly points to the concentration in companies that control the agriculture seed and chemical business and voices concern for the future.

A 1986 feature article in Harrowsmith magazine that was hardly viewed as serious by mainstream agriculture at the time, Mooney pointed to the possibilities of chemicals being developed that could be used on specific plant types, which carried the resistance genes in their seed.

Mooney predicted Roundup Ready crops a decade before they appeared on the market and twenty years before GMOs became common place.

His insight to predict the future was found during his many trips abroad. “I had just returned from backpacking around the world and had been told by a rice farmer in Sir Lanka that he could not access the old varieties he wished to use and a wheat farmer in Kenya told me that genetics from his country were being used in Canadian breeding programs. When I looked into it they were right,” said Mooney. At the time of his call to put a stop to plant breeder’s rights, he was based in Brandon.

“Eugene Whelan was the Minister of Agriculture and said he was going to introducer plant breeder’s rights to beautify the country side and feed the hungry. I could not see the two being furthered by legislation providing plant breeder’s rights.”

“We have 6 companies controlling about 75% of the world’s genetics...”

He said he and two of his counter parts in the US saw just the opposite. “The agricultural companies were smaller sisters of pharmaceutical companies and used to operating under patents. They knew how much money they could make with them,” said Mooney. “We saw that patents stifled innovation.”

He said conversations with Kerry Fowler and Hope Shandon both from the US led to conclusions that if

companies owned the seeds and the weed control products it would lead to them developing plant varieties that would be resistant to their products. “It was driven by economics,” he said. “It was cheaper to develop new seed varieties than a new agricultural chemical.”

That is still the case and he said a new seed variety could be developed for about $136 million US while a new pesticide costs in the range of $260 million dollars.

Mooney does not say he saw today’s market place coming 4 decades ago; rather he focuses his concern on the concentration that is going on in the industry. “We have 6 companies controlling about 75% of the world’s genetics and about 45% of that is in corn. My concern is the genetic band is getting to narrow and concentrating on too few crops.”

Mooney said work done by the FAO shows that there has been a 1/3 decline in the number of species used for crop production from 1961 to 2008. “We don’t know what climate change do, and what impact that will might have on the type of crops we can produce,” said Mooney. “That is my Pat Mooney fears a concentration of seed companies will mean concern today.” higher costs and fewer choices for farmers.

The Agri Post

August 28, 2015

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TPP Optimism Prevails Despite Several Key Issues at Stake

By Harry Siemens With so much of what Canadian farmers, produce going for export, trade agreements become more and more vital to the long-term viability for those who directly make their living off the farm whether it is livestock or grain and special products.

George Matheson, Chair of Manitoba Pork remains confident Canada will be a full participant in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Despite representatives of the 12 nations involved in negotiations aimed at securing a TransPacific Partnership Free Trade Agreement in Hawaii several weeks ago, failing to finalize a deal. The countries are expected to meet again this fall.

Matheson said the stakes for Manitoba’s pork industry are high, and given the progress they made, he remains confident.

While one sector of the livestock industry looks forward to this trade agreement, those in the dairy and poultry industry are adamant that the Federal government should not place the supply management system on the altar of so-called free trade. These producers have questioned whether the government will continue its support through the longer than normal election campaign because the pressure is on from other countries for Canada to give them up.

“I think we’re still fully optimistic that our Trade Minister Ed Fast will make sure that we’re fully participating members in this deal, just because we know that the Canadian government has worked very hard so far to get us this far.

So I don’t think they’ll be taking the foot off the gas yet,” he said. “They’ll make sure that they’re fully participating and that, when this deal is finished, they will be on the inside.”

Matheson said they would like to see the discussions completed but, at the same time, are fully cognizant it is more important they complete the negotiations satisfactorily. “In the end, really what we want, at the very least, are the same tariffs on our exports that the US has,” he said.

“The US is the world’s largest pork exporter. We’re number three behind the European Union, so we do not want to be in any way disadvantaged in regards to these other main exporters.”

Martin Rice, the Executive Director of the Canadian Pork Council is confident completion of a Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement is close at hand. Rice, in Maui

during the most recent discussions, remains optimistic. “It was disappointing to not see the agreement completed last week,” he said. “Clearly the negotiators and the ministers came with the idea of bringing it to a close. It is not a case though of us being left out of a deal that others were going to join and that was something that many participants in the agri-food exporters sector were concerned about.”

Rice said, while not in the negotiating rooms, he had a

sense the people involved were quite confident that it was going to finish.” Certainly, they would have finished the deal in Hawaii, had there not been some opposition to our supply management system, he explained.

Rice felt that Canada was ready to end the negotiations and sign the trade deal. “I think there were some other countries that didn’t seem to have the mandate for the negotiators to finish up in some key areas,” he said.

CF esults CFAA Disappointed with TPP Meeting RResults Following the conclusion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Ministerial meeting recently, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) finds it unfortunate the countries were unable to reach an agreement, leaving many countries and sectors without a clear roadmap forward.

“We hope negotiators return to the table quickly and can continue to negotiate a trade agreement that recognizes the needs of all Canadian farmers,” said CFA President Ron Bonnett.

The CFA believes a delayed conclusion leads to uncertainty for all Canadian farmers. For the supply managed sector, farmers face uncertainty surrounding business decisions on their farms. For the export-oriented farmers, it leaves them facing inequity of rules and treatment between ourselves and our competitors.

There are several outstanding issues including intellectual property rights and market access issues for agriculture and several other industries. Within agriculture, there seems to be a stalemate between a number of countries.

CFA’s delegation in Hawaii met regularly with Canadian officials. Canada’s negotiating team continued to emphasized they were seeking aggressive market access for export dependent commodities, while protecting the supply managed sectors.

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August 28, 2015

The Agri Post

The Agri Post

August 28, 2015

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Great Turnout for Threshermen’s Reunion The 2015 Threshermen’s Reunion and Stampede has ended with Georgette Hutlet, the Chief Museum Officer, reporting that the event saw very good attendance by visitors. Saturday saw a particularly heavy turnout with the grandstand being full for the machinery parade and afternoon arena events. The evening rodeo not only saw the grandstand filled but the bleachers as well.

Glen Lennox, Museum Director in charge of the Cockshutt Expo reports that the Expo was well attended by collectors who brought many Cockshutt items to add to the Museum collection.

On behalf of the Museum Lennox would like to thank the Cockshutt collectors as the number and quality of the outside items added greatly to the Expo.

With the Museum’s grain crop not being ripe, the machinery displays did not include demonstrations of grain binding however, demonstrations of horse and tractor plowing along with the horse sweep in operation powering a stationary baler did take place.

A special treat was the Museum’s Marshall Model F Colonial tractor plowing with the Avery power lift engine gang plow, which was purchased along with the Model F

in 1914 by the Bain Family of Grosse Isle, Manitoba.

The people carts were back in use with the horse drawn riding plows resulting in visitors lining up to take a ride behind the plows. The sawmill was operating and powered by a Garr Scott steam engine. In addition, various tractors tried out the dynamometer.

The threshing competition was a particularly hard fought competition this year with both the steam and gas outfits having their outfits in top-notch condition resulting in no breakdowns marring the competition. A young team of horses pulling one of the sheaf racks provided some excitement as they caught the spirit of the competition, providing an extra turn of speed, which almost upset a loaded rack in the arena.

For many threshing outfits the need for teams was so great that horses that had done nothing since last threshing season were pressed into service along with partially trained horses which resulted in teams running away, racks being smashed, winding up in creeks and sloughs, and fences being torn down as the crew got teams used to working around machinery again.

A perennial crowd favorite at the afternoon grandstand

The Marshall and Sons Model F Colonial tractor teamed up with its old running mate the Avery power lift engine gang plow. Both the plow and tractor were originally purchased together in 1914 by the Bain Family of Grosse Isle, Manitoba. The tractor was given a complete overhaul several years ago.

show, the tug of war between the steam engine and the crowd, ran again with the crowd winning on Friday with the help of members of the Canadian Horse Artillery gun crew who were at the Reunion displaying their equipment.

According to the military representatives, they enjoyed the 2014 Reunion very much and returned for a second year. The Royal Canadian Artillery Museum brought to the Reunion a display of artifacts including a WWII vintage 25-pounder artillery piece along with its tow tractor.

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August 28, 2015

The Agri Post

Consider Secure, Strategic and Cost Effective Bipole III Route

By Les Kletke Pam Pugh wants the Manitoba government to change the route of Bipole III. “We would like to see the route changed or the line put underground,” she said. Pam along with her husband operates Pugh Seed Farms at Portage la Prairie. She raises the point that the line current comes dangerously close to facilities that have been noted as possible terrorist threats.

“No one has made the point about these facilities and that they have been designated as possible terrorist threats,” she said. “The hospital at Portage has also said they could not handle the number of people who might be injured if something were to go wrong.”

The first facility that she sites is the Agrium fertilizer site at Blum, the second is the CWB, now the G3 elevator that is under construction and the third is the mail rail line, which is critical to the operation of the other two facilities.

“These have all been designated as possible terrorist threat by CSIS but yet the Manitoba government pays no attention to the concerns. There is also a communication tower in the area that could be impacted if a tower was to go down and the lines come in contact with the tower,” said Pugh.

While some may dismiss her concerns as over zealous she makes her point with pictures of leaning hydro poles carrying live wires through a busy harvest season.

“We had to deal with these conditions from a previous flood,” she said. “We know that these things can happen. All we are asking is the government pay attention to the concerns of CSIS. On a practical note, she said that farmers in the area are aware that the towers will mean aerial application of pesticides will not be possible. “We know that the aerial applicators will not fly close to these towers and that puts more pressure on us as farmers to deal with the issues in the field.” Said Pugh.

While she is hoping to get the route changed, she also prepares for the inevitable. “The government is not recognizing the value of the land they are expropriating for these towers,” said Pugh. “They don’t recognize any of the extra value that we as pedigree seed growers put into our land.”

She estimates that the years of inspec-

tion and weed control add $1,000 to $2,000 an acre to the value of the land they farm. “We are not seeing that in the offer to purchase, they don’t recognize the value of the land and what we as seed growers go through to produce a crop.”

Farmers in the Portage area say they were forced to harvest around dangerously leaning live wires after the last flood and don’t want Bipole III to endanger their operators.

The Agri Post

Alfalfa’s Critical Harvest Period

By John McGregor This year across Manitoba and Saskatchewan, we are looking at areas that have a shortage of forage and areas that have the opportunity to sell surplus. Given these two scenarios, many alfalfa growers may be looking at taking a final cut this fall to maximize the amount of forage they will have on hand.

Depending on the amount of growth we see this fall it may be tempting to take a final cut but growers need to consider the possible affect this may have on the plant’s natural winterization process and survival. Traditionally, the recommendation has been not to harvest alfalfa 4-6 weeks before the first killing frost. For alfalfa a killing frost is -5C and that is still very safe advice.

This is known as the Critical Harvest Period, generally starts in the 3rd week of August, and runs until close to the end of September. This period is necessary for the alfalfa to store adequate energy in the crown and roots to survive winter and initiate growth in the spring until the new growth takes over and starts to feed the plant.

This past spring we had a number of reports of alfalfa fields where an early fall cutting resulted in slow growth this spring. Not having a history on these fields makes it hard to determine the reason for the slow start in the spring but knowing that alfalfa requires between 450 and 500 growing degree days (GDD) in the fall after the last cut to fully charge its roots can sometimes help us understand why some fields do better than others in the spring. Interrupting this process by cutting carries the risk of the plants having inadequate energy and protein reserves to make it through the winter and for initiating vigorous re-growth next spring. It also may interrupt the cold acclimation process.

However, poor hay making weather throughout the year, hay shortages and or the opportunity to market surplus forage may have some producers rethinking this old advice. Perhaps the risk of a cutting during that “critical period” is outweighed by potential increased profits.

If you are considering an early fall cutting, look at your harvesting frequency. In other words, the cutting frequency during the growing season can affect the energy status of the plant going into the fall. Frequent cutting (30-day intervals or less) results in the plant never reaching full energy reserve status during the growing season. This makes the critical fall rest period more necessary for plants to accumulate adequate reserves before winter.

Looking at the graph below you can see that for this location (St. Adolphe) to reach 450 GDD’s (blue line), you would normally need to take your last cut by August 19 so that the crop can have time to accumulate adequate stores in its roots and crown. Of course every year is different, such as in 2014 (red line), and this is the risk.

One final note, if you are considering taking a final cut during this critical period and it is young stand, be sure it has been allowed to flower at least once during the season and has adequate fertility, P and K. Taking a cut when there is the possibility of less than 200 GDD’s accumulating lessen the risk of the alfalfa drawing down the root reserves, may help reduce the risk of winterkill and helps maintain some of the spring vigor.

John McGregor is with the Manitoba Forage & Grasslands Association.

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Crop Residue Burning Authorization Required Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (MAFRD) reminds producers who choose to burn crop residue that authorization is required from now until November 15. Authorizations are issued daily by 11 am based on weather, moisture and favourable smoke dispersion conditions. Night burning is banned year-round.

Producers may also require a burning permit, if located within the City of Winnipeg or in a burning permit area.

Permit application forms and information are available by calling the toll-free information line at 1-800-265-1233. Information is also available from MAFRD GO offices and online at gov.mb.ca/agriculture under Quick Links.

Manitoba’s controlled burning program is part of the Burning of Crop Residue and Non-crop Herbage Regulation. The program was introduced to protect public health and safety while allowing farmers to deal with difficult straw management problems.

Stubble burning regulations are enforced by environment officers and the RCMP. Failure to follow the regulations could result in fines of up to $50,000.

Many producers use alternative methods of dealing with crop residue such as chopping and spreading the straw or listing straw they have for sale on the Manitoba Hay Listing Service. More information on these and other alternative methods of dealing with crop residue is available on MAFRD’s website.

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August 28, 2015

The Agri Post

Advantages of Wide Swathing

It is impossible to preserve all the quality found in a standing hay crop.

The impact of metabolic and weathering losses can significantly affect crop quality. The faster hay can be cured and put up, the higher the quality. One of the most recent quality haymaking developments has been the study of swath width and crop drying rates.

The hay crop drying process has three phases. In the first phase, moisture loss is through open stomata (little cells that act as doors). The second drying phase is moisture loss from plant surfaces. At this point, plant moisture is at or below 60% and the stomata have closed.

The third and most critical drying stage is the loss of tightly-held moisture, trapped in the stems and plant structures.

Wide swathing exposes the maximum surface area of a hay crop to the sun to speed up these three drying phases. The quality of hay and silage crops is determined by what happens immediately after cutting.

Harvesting for Food Aid Projects Off to a Good Start

By Elmer Heinrichs Just as with other crops, the harvests of crops grown for the Canadian Foodgrains projects across the province are coming off steadily.

Harold Penner, Regional Coordinator for Manitoba, reported most crops look quite good, though some areas in the northwest have not received as much rain as needed and crops did suffer.

Overall, said Penner, things look positive, with acreage similar to last year when some 5,000 acres were harvested with proceeds donated to the Foodgrains Bank. “A lot of the crops are doing very well, while those at Roblin and Swan River were a bit too dry, and at Morden and elsewhere some crops were affected by hail.

The Foodgrains Bank projects have several crop types planted in Manitoba, including barley, spring and winter wheat, canola, soybeans and corn.

Fields harvested in August included 80 acres of winter wheat at Swan River, with spring wheat being combined at Domain (Chip-In), for Gardenland at Winkler, for HELP at St. Pierre-Jolys, and for HOPE at Ste. Elizabeth.

The Common Ground project at Rosenfeld, CHUM near Plum Coulee, and Louise along with a BBQ were planning harvests in the latter half of August.

Penner has also been busy with preparations for a Harvesting Hope event at Austin next year when volunteers will attempt to set a world record with the most-ever antique threshing machines harvesting a crop of wheat.

The Agri Post

August 28, 2015

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Neepawa’s Manitoba Youth Beef Roundup Fifty-five enthusiastic Manitoba and Saskatchewan Junior Cattle Producers attended the 8th annual Manitoba Youth Beef Roundup July 31 - August 2 in Neepawa. Excitement in the cattle industry brought out a top notch group of interested cattle producers and 88 head of cattle.

This is not just a cattle show, it is an all around event to promote and educate youth to continue in the livestock industry.

The show would not happen without dedicated sponsors who have stood behind this Junior All Breeds show and helped to make it a success said a Manitoba Youth Beef Roundup spokesperson.

The weekend started with the Ag Challenge, which is a timed competition with some hands on knowledge of the Livestock industry. The Juniors enjoyed the challenges and tasks they were given like halter making, verified beef, parts of the animal and tattooing an animal.

The winning team was Raina Syrnyk, Nolan Glover, Harleigh Carlson, Emily Speers, Sierra Inglis and Cody Carson.

Team Grooming at the Beef Roundup.

T Bar C Invitational Showmanship - Judges Cody Allison, Chad Haaland.

Kolton McIntosh, Justin Kristjansson, Naomi Best, Justin Carvey, Wyatt Inglis, Colter Sprung, Katie Falconer and Carson Baker.

Ag Challenge Winners- Emily Speers,Cody Carson, Harleigh Carlson, Nolan Glover and Raina Syrnyk.

Agribition Judging Team - L to R; Taylor Carvey, Raina Syrnyk, Laura Tolton and committee member Andrea Bertholet.

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August 28, 2015

The Agri Post

Losing an Industry Before it Develops

By Les Kletke Manitoba may be set to lose a demand industry it never really fully developed.

Jan Slaski is with Alberta Innovates and he sees real potential of hemp production in Alberta, and is aware of the fledgling industry in Manitoba. “I have worked with both of the processors in Manitoba and we know that they have developed a market for the product,” he said. “But we see the potential for growth of the industry and the production in Alberta.”

Slaski has demonstration plots in Mackenzie County in Northern Alberta with good potential. “The long daylight hours here make it quiet feasible,” he said. “There is a great deal of interest in the crop and growers are trying it.”

He noted one of the reasons that areas like Mackenzie County are attractive for production is the amount of soil that would qualify for organic production. “There is a demand for organic production and much of the soil in this area qualifies because it has never been used for commercial production,” said Slaski. “There is virgin soil and new land being broken that would be excellent for organic hemp production.”

He said that his trials showed promise this year but the devastating drought took its toll on all crops. While hemp is a deep rooted plant and can last through dry spells there is a limit to what any plant can handle.

Slaski said there are groups looking to establish a fibre industry in the southern part of the province as well as a seed industry processor in the north. The organic production is a much greater concern for seed processors that fibre production.

He said that while the working relationship is good with Manitoba processors the cost of moving seed from northern Alberta to Manitoba becomes a factor. “Everything

Jan Slaski says northern Alberta is the idea place to produce organic because much of the land has never been sprayed or commercially fertilized. This year’s drought took its toll on all crops.

has to be moved out by truck,” he said. “It makes more sense to process the seed here and move a high value product from the area.”

He voices cautious optimism about the crop, not touting

Wheat Growers Supports Wheat Re-classification The Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association supports the move by the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) to tighten the quality parameters of the Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) and Canada Prairie Spring Red (CPSR) wheat classes.

“The Wheat Growers support the move by the Commission to restore the quality and integrity of the top milling classes of wheat,” said Levi Wood, President of the Wheat Growers. “This move should address concerns expressed by customers in the past several years regarding the low gluten strength in Canadian wheat shipments.”

The Wheat Growers base their decision on the principle that farmers should be paid for their wheat according to its intrinsic value. Varieties with high gluten-strength are more valued in the marketplace and the price farmers receive for deliveries of these varieties should reflect that.

“Ideally, there would be a driveway test that could test the gluten strength of each wheat delivery and farmers would be paid on that basis,” said Wood. “However such a test is not yet available on a cost-effective basis and so segregating value on the basis of variety is the only feasible alternative.”

The Wheat Growers also support the establishment of the new interim milling wheat class and recommend that it become a permanent class. The strong growth in the past three years in the acreage of varieties Faller and Prosper suggests there is strong demand from farmers and customers for this type of wheat. It is expected that all 29 varieties removed from the CWRS and CPSR on account of low gluten strength would fit into this new milling class. The Wheat Growers note that any company not wanting to buy or sell these low gluten strength varieties on the basis of this new class will be under no obligation to do so. If they wish instead to buy or sell these (or any other) varieties on the basis of specs, they are perfectly free to do so.

The Wheat Growers are also satisfied with the proposal by the CGC to extend the transition date by one year, to August 1, 2017, to give sufficient time for farmers and the trade to adjust to the new market reality.

“The Wheat Growers recognize that segregating on the basis of variety is not ideal,” said Wood. We support efforts that are geared toward buying grain on the basis of specs, so that visual grading or valuing on the basis of variety is no longer the norm.”

As much as possible, the Wheat Growers encourage farmers to obtain independent tests on their samples, so they have a better understanding of the quality of grain they have, and can market it to maximize its value.

it as the next Cinderella crop. “We need to continue trials with the crop and have producers familiar with it,” he emphasized. “There is a lot of work being done with varieties and producers need to learn how to grow the crop first.”

Manitoba Canola Grower Scholarship Winners

Top Row Left to Right: Kalen Dunn, (Hartney), Tara Frisch (Manitou), Nikoda Holopina (Rivers), Bottom Row Left to Right: Renate Jochum (St. Francois Xavier), Halle Thomas, (Hartney).

Manitoba Canola Growers is proud to announce their 2015 scholarship winners.

Five $1,000 scholarships have been awarded to deserving high school students across Manitoba.

This year’s provincial recipients are Kalen Dunn, (Hartney) plans to attend the University of Saskatchewan, Agriculture and Bioresources, Tara Frisch (Manitou), is planning to attend the University of Manitoba to take Pre-Veterinary Studies, Nikoda Holopina (Rivers) will attend the University of Manitoba, the Asper School Commerce Program, Renate Jochum (St. Francois Xavier), is planning to attend the University of Manitoba to take Agriculture and Halle Thomas, (Hartney), plans to attend the University of British Columbia Okanagan to take Nursing.

The $1,000 scholarships are available to students who are from a farm that is a member of the Manitoba Canola Growers and are planning to attend post secondary education in any field within two years of graduating. Students submitted their applications, which were judged by an independent panel, based on academic standing, canola connection, references, essay submission and school and community involvement.

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“Farm at Hand” a One-Stop Service App for Farmers “It lets you track all field activities like planting, spraying, scouting and harvesting with your smartphone, tablet device or computer.”

By Caitlin Carver Did you hear the one about the farmer who drove three hours for a part, only to forget the serial number? It might sound like a joke, but for Kim Keller, co-founder of Farm at Hand, it was real; as in, real opportunity.

“Farm At Hand is a farm management platform that keeps you organized, efficient and productive by capturing key field data,” said Anastasia Hambali, Head of Community for the company. “It lets you track all field activities like planting, spraying, scouting and harvesting with your smartphone, tablet device or computer.”

Most importantly, Farm at Hand never sells or shares user data, so ownership remains with the customer.

They say the best things in life are free, but they also say you get what you pay for, so what do “they” know? According to Hambali, Farm at Hand is that rare breed, free, yet priceless. “We believe that every farmer should have access to the best farm management tools regardless of their operation size.”

If you’d rather avoid your own version of the fruitless three hour drive, Farm at Hand has you covered.

“You can track your equipment, serial/part numbers, purchase price and maintenance records in case you re-sell items in the future.”

Since they’re all about helping you mind your business, they offer a hand in that regard. “If you’ve contracted to provide ‘x’ amount of barley or wheat by a certain date at a certain price, you can keep that information in one place and access it anytime.”

A big focus for co-founder Kim Keller and partner Himanshu Singh is listening to their users, so when customers wanted a website, they got it.

“It lets clients access their information, download reports and check their inventory on a bigger screen than an iPhone or android,” said Hambali. “The data you enter is automatically synced across your computer, smartphone and tablet.”

The site also houses their blog and “meet the farmer” campaign that puts a face to farming and gives producers a “megaphone to tell their stories”.

More than 21,000 farmers across North America have used Farm At Hand since the company started in 2012.

You can sign up for Farm At Hand on their website farmathand.com or download the app from the App Store or Google Play. You can contact them via Twitter @FarmAtHand or email Anastasia@farmathand.com.

No doubt the guy at the desk had a chuckle when Kim showed up without the part number. But given the impact of Farm At Hand on all aspects of farm management, it may be her fellow producers who have the last laugh.

Founders of Farm at Hand app - Saskatchewan Farmer Kim Keller (right) and Himanshu Singh.

Lower Harvest Losses Start with a Drop Pan We know canola losses occur out the back of the combine. The question that you should ask, are the losses high enough to warrant the time spent to reduce them.

They certainly will be for some combines and in some conditions. “Combines could be throwing over 5 bu. /ac. and growers may not even

realize it because those seeds are so difficult to see once they hit the ground,” said Angela Brackenreed, Agronomy Specialist for the Canola Council of Canada. “A pan is the best way to see these losses.”

Growers have a few options with pros and cons to every style, but any one of them is better than not measuring at all.

Some of the options include building a onefoot-square pan to mount on a stick held under the back of the combine.

Deep sides will limit seed bounce out of the pan.

Another option is to toss a wide flat pan under the combine as it goes by. Or they can buy a more elaborate pan that attaches to the belly of the combine and can be

dropped from the cab.

The advantage with this pan is that the combine operator can also measure harvest losses.

Brackenreed bought one of these to try out this fall. “It works off an electromagnet bolted to the underside of the combine. It runs off the cigarette lighter receptacle in the cab, and to drop the pan you just unplug the cord,” she said.

The first step when using any style of pan is to disengage the chaff spreader and straw chopper and move them out of the way. This allows straw, chaff and thrown-over seeds to drop straight down over the pan.

Once the combine is fully engaged and working through a typical

stretch of crop, drop the pan. When using the pan on a stick, move the pan into position upside down so it doesn’t gather any losses ahead of time. Then quickly flip it over and stop walking. This procedure provides the same result as throwing the pan.

Remove straw and chaff from the sample, preserving only the seed. Measure the seed in the pan by weight or volume.

Calculate the loss based on one square foot. If the pan is two square feet, for example, divide the weight or volume by two to get the total for one square foot.

Here are a few scenarios: - If the cut width (straight cut or swathed) is 30 ft.,

the combine’s discharge width is 5 ft., and the canola seed loss per square foot is 5 grams, the yield loss out the back of the combine is 1.5-2 bu. /ac.

- If the loss for that same

combine is 10 grams per sq. ft., the yield loss is over 3 bu. /ac.

- If the same combine has a 40 ft. header and the drop pan has 10 grams per sq. ft., the yield loss is closer to 2.5 bu. /ac.

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CWB and G3 Finalize Commercialization

By Harry Siemens In late July, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz announced that the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) commercialization deal with G3 Global Grain Group has been completed.

In an earlier interview, Ritz said the deal was out of their hands, but government had made the deal possible by clearing the way, removing the CWB monopoly and introducing the Marketing Freedom legislation.

The commercialization of CWB is part of the Federal government’s broader modernization of Canada’s grain sector to stimulate investment, create jobs and economic growth for farmers and Canadians. It includes an aggressive trade and market access agenda, grain transportation and supply chain improvements and investments in science and research.

On April 15, the Government of Canada had approved the deal reached between the CWB and G3 Global Grain Group, which included a G3 investment of $250 million in the CWB, subject to closing adjustments. Since 70%e of western Canadian grain exports flow through the west coast G3 Global Holdings, an affiliate of G3 Global Grain Group, is also examining the feasibility of developing a new port facility in Vancouver that would greatly increase Canada’s export capacity. This would be the first new port facility for grain in Canada’s busiest port in nearly 50 years.

“Canada’s farmers depend on an efficient gateway to get their top quality products to the world. Today, we see how Marketing Freedom continues to open the way for investments in the grain industry leading to jobs and growth for farmers and Canadians,” said Ritz.

“In Altona, the company has spent upwards of $250 million on a new canola crushing plant,” said Altona Mayor Mel Klassen. “A great addition I might add to the immediate community, and that of the farmers who benefit greatly from this great new plant.”

Provincial Exhibition Partners Donate to Westman Food banks For the fifth year in a row, the Provincial Exhibition has partnered with six Manitoba Co-op’s and five local meat processors to deliver 2,000 lbs of pork from the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair to several Westman food banks.

Provincial Exhibition volunteer Chris Arthur and his family at Gentrice Farms of Brandon, volunteered to care for the pigs from the pig scrambles at the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair using feed donated by Co-op Feeds including Heritage Co-op Brandon, Neepawa Gladstone Co-op, Valleyview Co-op, Kenton Consumers Co-op and Boundary Co-op. The Arthur family had 12 school groups tour their farm and learn about farming and raising pigs.

This week, the pigs were delivered to Renard’s Meat Services at Virden, Prairie Rose Meats at Souris, Henry Meats in Brandon, Jarvis Meats at Gladstone, and DAL Meats in Killarney. These local meat processors have donated all the processing costs and make sure the meat is delivered to food banks in their own area.

“We have made an effort to donate meat in the areas where the feed and processing sponsors are located to create a direct connection between the feed suppliers, meat processors and the area where the meat is donated,” said Ron Kristjansson, General Manager at the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba. “We have been able to support food banks from Portage la Prairie up through Minnedosa, Souris, Brandon, Killarney, Boissevain, Virden and right out towards Moosomin, Saskatchewan.”

The Provincial Exhibition is proud to give back to the community in this manner. Support from partners that includes the Co-ops, the Spruce Woods Colony for offering a very reasonable price for the pigs and all the meat processors, allow them the opportunity to use the pigs during the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair and for agricultural education, as well as give a valuable food donation to the Westman area.

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Measuring Soil Moisture From Space The Canadian Space Agency has announced the selection of the University of Manitoba as one of five Canadian universities to receive a total of $1.4 million to participate in the scientific validation of NASA’s Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission.

Soil sciences professor and head, Paul Bullock, in the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences is heading the U of M project titled Manitoba Validation of Satellite-derived Soil Moisture Products for Operational Use. The U of M project will receive $161,584.

“The project will use ground measurements to validate the data produced by the SMAP satellite,” said Bullock. “We will undertake a field campaign in southeastern Manitoba in 2016 (SMAPVEX16) to collect soil moisture observations by hand as well as readings from nine permanent soil sites in the Elm Creek-Carmen area of Manitoba.”

“This is an exciting announcement for us here at the University of Manitoba,” said Digvir Jayas, Vice-President, Research and International. “We have more than 200 industry sponsored research collaborations underway at the present time. This collaboration through the Canadian Space Agency and NASA, expands our reach around the globe, literally.”

Although the soil holds only a small percentage of the total global water supply, soil moistures plays an important role in the global water cycle. Soil moisture affects field access for farmers, crop yield, quality, and insect and disease risk. As soil moisture increases, so does the amount of rainfall that runs off that surface.

High soil moisture is associated with increased flood risk.

“Information on the current state of soil moisture is limited,” said Bullock. “The data we will gather on the ground will be used to validate the sensor readings from the SMAP satellite.”

These projects serve to validate measurements of the soil moisture and seasonal freeze/thaw cycle, with the use of instruments collecting data on the ground, in the air and in space. This is an important step towards SMAP’s objective to provide high fidelity measurements and high-resolution global maps of the Earth’s soil moisture and freeze/thaw state.

As part of a complex but essential validation campaign, the field data of each site are compared with measurements obtained by an aircraft instrument and by the SMAP satellite. This is an immensely complex endeavor since the measurements must be validated in accordance with the very diverse soil types, land cover, topography, weather and other atmospheric conditions that occur over our vast country and which are subject to changes over the seasons.

Potential Hay Crops Wonderful if You Can Get Them Off The Field “We have some fields where we are looking at a third cut and we have some in the first year that because of the rain we are going to get the first cut off in late August.”

By Les Kletke Chris Kletke terms the weather of 2015 as, “Good for growing hay and that is not always the best for making hay,” he noted. “The adequate moisture made for good growth but there was not enough time in between rains to put up quality hay.

Kletke makes hay on 800 acres at Brunkild and said that the age of the field and the rain made for a mixture of cropping this year. “We have some fields where we are looking at a third cut and we have some in the first year that because of the rain we are going to get the first cut off in late August,” said Kletke.

He targets the Wisconsin dairy market and prices it accordingly so it is competitive on the farm in Wisconsin and there will be benefit from the hay shortage in western Canada. “We have some hay that is not the quality needed for the dairy industry and it will fit in the Alberta market,” he said. “I had a lot of enquiries early and things have slowed down a bit. Fellows are looking to see what kind of production, they get and if they might be cutting down on the herd.

He said cattle men who acted early will not be stuck paying the high prices rumoured coming this fall. Predictions are that hay could hit $350 a tonne in northern Alberta this fall. “Some producers might end up paying that, but the good managers saw the shortage coming in May and priced a lot of their hay in June,” he said. “Some of the fellows who did not act soon enough will pay those prices.”

When asked if he will have hay to sell at those prices he said, “Sure we will have some. It is like grain, farmers sell corn at $4 a bushel and they find more at $7. When it hits $8, they sweep out the corners of the bin. The hay market is the same thing some of our not as good a quality hay will find its way west.”

Kletke said that while the above normal precipitation added challenges to his haying operation it did produce a good cereal crop. “We had some high yielding winter wheat and some good spring wheat,” he said. “We will see how the beans do. They looked good all summer but are starting to go down now.”

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Building Trace Mineral Status in Beef Calves for Better Immunity

By Peter Vitti Recently, I drove down some back roads and took a picture of this herd of Black Angus cattle with a few of the cows and calves with a rough red hair coat or a red sheen to them. I was taught in university that a red coat color was a classic sign of a copper deficiency.

Whether, any of these cattle suffer from poor copper status or something else like sunburn is hard to say, yet an actual copper deficiency might explain several incidences of poor health and inadequate vaccination in many spring calves that some producers have expressed to me since the calving season, ending months ago.

In this regard, we should move forward and make sure that spring calves are fed a good beef mineral (and vitamins) program (along with the cowherd) in order to build up their good mineral status for better immunity against disease.

That’s because good mineral status primarily underlies all weaning and pre-conditioning programs coming up this fall, because a deficiency of one (or more) essential trace minerals in pre-weaned calves derails otherwise good immune function. This phenomenon occurs even before calf growth is affected and well before any visible signs such as a red coats on black calves appear. Furthermore, much of this impending damage to their immunity is often hidden, where calves may not reveal that anything is wrong with their health and/or performance at the moment.

For example, a Colorado study showed that about one-third of pre-conditioned calves that received vaccinations as part of their prime saleability were still getting sick after they were shipped to feedlots, which the researchers speculated was due to a poor mineral supplementation starting with their originating cow-calf herds.

I speculate that these calves had poor “vaccination take” (antibody titers) against disease, because under adequate mineral supplementation, essential minerals work “behind the scenes” where normal immune function/response is triggered either by an invading disease or by vaccination. One scientific theory suggest that such essential trace minerals act as “on/off switches” in metabolic enzymes that drive biochemical reactions working within the immune system. Specifically, a good balanced pre-weaned or pre-conditioned diet should contain adequate levels of biologically available copper, zinc and selenium, which leads to good health.

Luckily, we still have about 60 – 90 days to build up spring calves’ mineral status off copper, zinc, and selenium (and vitamin E), before they are weaned and some animals are moved onto further pre-conditioning/vaccination programs in autumn and early winter.

Subsequently, I advocate feeding them commercial cattle mineral at the rate of 70 – 112 g per head per day (3 – 4 ounces), either fed loose (accessible to the cows) or mixed into an available calf creep diet.

The actual formulation of such a well-balanced cattle mineral should first contain complimentary levels (to forages, grains and other feedstuffs) of macro-minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, salt (sodium chloride), magnesium and potassium. Then, it should contain adequate levels of copper, zinc, manganese, cobalt, iodine and selenium based upon NRC cattle requirements (2001), which prevents basic or “primary trace mineral deficiencies”. Some of these trace mineral levels should be fortified even further, such as copper to correct possible “secondary” mineral deficiencies caused by a host of antagonistic dietary factors. Case-in-point: high levels of molybdenum and/or sulphur bind copper in forages and grains, which makes it metabolically unavailable to beef calves.

As further assurance against these trace mineral deficiencies, some research suggests pre-weaned and pre-conditioned calves be fed “organic or chelated” trace minerals (i.e. mineral-proteins), which respond more favourably to disease challenges or stressful conditions due to assured good trace mineral status of a strong immune system. This class of specialized trace minerals offer the advantages of superior absorption, retention and metabolism in the cow’s body compared to respective inorganic trace minerals.

Aside from the above trace minerals put into the feeding programs Vitamins A, D and E are often included to meet the calves’ own respective requirements. In particular, Vitamin A is involved in the immune response against pathogens, where it is required for the production of white blood cells to fight disease. Vitamin E (along with selenium) plays an anti-oxidant role in animal cells, which again is associated with a strong immune system.

Whether inorganic or organic zinc, copper, and selenium (along with vitamin E) are routinely fed, the current immunological proof points out that no immune function in beef calves exists or no vaccine works if their trace mineral nutrition is poor. It is a fundamental and repetitive rule of all successful beef calf feeding and management programs that help keep cow-calf revenues out of the red and into the black.

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