AgriPost August 30 2019

The AgriPost

August 30, 2019

Dairy Farm in Ruins Crop Producers Granted Extension to Repay Cash Advances The Pennwood Dairy northeast of Steinbach, Manitoba started the clean up immediately after a fire destroyed 800 cows and four barns that housed 1,000 cows.

Photos by Matt Wiebe of Steinbach, MB

By Harry Siemens A horrific fire killed 800 dairy cows, destroyed not only the four barns housing those cows, but the income for the Pennwood Dairy farm family for at least a year if not two before milk production will be back on par.

It took about 60 firefighters from surrounding municipalities to tame the blaze. Only 200 of the 1,000 animals in the buildings survived.

While a small group of animal rights activists brought flowers and held up signs along a gravel road near the farm, northeast of Steinbach in memory of the animals, the dairy industry hurt for the humans involved that suffered this terrible loss.

David Wiens, a fellow dairy producer and Chair of the Dairy Farmers of Manitoba, said how the entire dairy industry family hurt with the Penner family. “Well, I was shocked when I first heard the news. I mean it’s been a devastating loss to the industry, but particularly for the Penner family. I can’t imag-

ine how difficult that must be for them to experience something like that,” said Wiens.

“They were one of the larger dairy farms representing 2.6 per cent of the total production in the province, so obviously it’ll have an impact on the overall milk production in the province. We will continue to meet all the markets, meet all the demands of the processors. Our first focus here is on the family first, but it has an impact on all the other dairy farmers in the province. That’s for sure.”

Cleanup and rebuilding this dairy farm will take some doing and some time. Wiens said many things have to happen here, step by step. The family right now is focused on the fire. The Office of the Fire Commissioner is doing the investigation as it does after every fire. Next is cleaning up the carcasses and the entire yard site.

“Then they have to start planning for a new facility. So, it’ll be months before they’re under construction.

And then, of course, these

All four barns housing the dairy cows were completely destroyed.

barns are not put up overnight either. So yeah, I would fully expect that there’d be at least a year, probably closer to two years, before they’re actually in full production again.”

He said in terms of income loss or production insurance, that is all handled through insurance companies. “I can’t speak for this particular farm, but for the most part, dairy farms would have insurance that also covers loss of income.

Because this is very real that they’re no longer selling any milk and shipping any milk to the processing plants,” said Wiens. “That’s just going to take a while. But we certainly from all dairy farms in Manitoba, we look to support the family in whatever way we can. So, we will coordinate the milk pickups to the farm that the surviving cows went to.

And of course, we’ll be working closely with them as they plan for the future.”

When the people who seemed to have more concern for animals than for the intrusion they caused by protesting to the family and cleanup ef-

forts, Wiens had this response.

“First of all, I think it’s much too soon to be putting out those kinds of accusatory statements about regulations or the family.

And in fact, there’s been some things being said that are patently false,” he said. “For one, the latest revision in the fire code for dairy barns was in 2017.

And so, that is an ongoing process where to experience; they continue to review the code and make changes as required. And right now, it’s important for the investigation to happen, to see exactly how and why it happened. I’m sure there are many questions. From all concerned and the families would have a lot of questions. But certainly, it’s much too soon to start making those kinds of comments or accusations.”

Wiens finds it incredibly insensitive on the part of the demonstrators to even be going there. “They don’t seem to realize the loss that this farm family experienced. They looked after all of these cattle that died in the fire. So obviously that in itself is quite a difficult blow for them,” said Wiens.

Crop producers impacted by recent market disruptions may now be eligible for an additional six months to repay 2018 cash advances under the Advance Payments Program (APP).

The Stay of Default, which covers advances on grains, oilseeds and pulses, will provide additional flexibility to repay advances for farmers that may be facing lower prices, reduced marketing opportunities or a decrease in farm cash income.

The decision comes following recent changes made by the Government of Canada to strengthen the APP by increasing the maximum loan limit for all farmers to $1 million and the interest-free portion to $500,000 for canola.

The six-month Stay of Default to March 31, 2020, will provide producers with more time to repay their 2018 outstanding advances. The Stay of Default was granted at the request of nine program administrators. The Government of Canada will also continue to pay interest on the interest-free portion of farmers’ outstanding advances until March 31, 2020, for those commodities.

Producers who received a 2018 APP advance from any of the nine participating administrators could be eligible for the Stay of Default and are encouraged to contact their respective administrator for more details.

Participating administrators include the Agri-Commodity Management Association, Canadian Canola Growers Association, Manitoba Corn Growers Association Inc., Manitoba Livestock Cash Advance Inc. and Western Cash Advance Program Inc. The Advance Payments Program is a financial loan guarantee program that provides producers easy access to credit through cash advances. There were over 21,000 producers who participated in the program in 2018, and the average advance was approximately $118,000.

For the 2018 program year, 12,902 grains, oilseed and pulse producers took more than $1.68 billion in advances, representing a 3% increase in the number of grains, oilseed and pulse producers taking advances under the program, and a 6% increase in the value of advances taken in 2017.

As of July 31, there has been close to 1,100 new producers who have joined the program in 2019 and there have been approximately 360 producers who have returned to the program after not participating in the last three years.

August 30, 2019

The AgriPost

A New Generation Competes at Ploughing Championships

By Les Kletke For some the mention of a World Ploughing Championship brings snickers or sideways glance. There are some bold enough to ask, “Why?” Many people including some farmers think of the plough as a piece of history, something that falls between Mandrils and Scoop Shovels in the antique farm dictionary but that is not the case for competitors at the World Ploughing Championship to be held at Baudette Minnesota at the end of August.

Luca Deistng and Matthias Stongelin are the German ploughmen that will be competing and both are young by competitor standards.

Deistng is for Orfgen, Germany and has an engineering background, he got involved in ploughing because his grandfather ploughed and he would go to competitions with his father when he was a young boy. “Dad did lots of ploughing and I grew up around it,” he said while checking the pre-practice field near Baudette. “It just seemed natural to get involved.”

Stongelin is from Lake Constance, Germany and is part of a dairy farm that sill use a plough on some of its land. This will be his 4th competition for him and he said that in Kenya 2 years ago he placed 7th place.

The pair arrived about a week before the official practice started for the match to take a look at the soil type they would be ploughing.

Both had their ploughs equipped with plastic mould boards to prevent the soil

Luca Deistng and Matthias Stongelin are the German ploughmen that will be competing and both are young by competitor standards.

Photo by Les Kletke

from sticking. “This type of soil will stick to the mouldboard,” said Deistng. “We will have steel shears but the mouldboards will be plastic to help the soil roll over.”

The competition ploughs are a far cry from the implements that made John Deere famous and were a standard on Canadian farms till the 1970s when conservation tillage became the norm.

“We only have an 11 inch shear,” said Deistng. “That makes a much nicer furrow and turns over the furrow more evenly.”

Ploughing competitors will have two fields they are judged on, stubble and grassland. The overall winner will be declared by the total points earned in each competition.

Judging is done on the evenness of the depth of the furrow as well has how even the field is after plowing.

For these two young men the future of competition looks bright and they have received considerable corporate backing to make the competition possible. Not yet at the level of NASCAR but their tractors do have some stickers on board.

AAFC Forecasts Bigger Wheat Crop

By Elmer Heinrichs Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, in its August crop outlook, projects a slightly larger crop based on a midsummer improvement in growing conditions as scattered rains improved moisture conditions in western Canada, while eastern Canada dried up due to warmer temperatures.

Total Canadian wheat production for 2019-20 is now forecast at 32.5 million tonnes, which compares with the July forecast of 32 million and the year-ago level of 31.769 million tonnes. If realized, that would mark the second-largest Canadian wheat crop on record.

Canadian wheat produc-

tion in 2019-20 is forecast to come in at 500,000 tonnes above an earlier forecast.

Wheat ending stocks were also raised, while adjustments to the canola tables led a slight reduction to the still record-large carryout forecast.

Of the total, durum production for 2019-20 was raised to 5.1 million tonnes, from 5.0 million in July. That compares with the 5.745 million tonnes grown the previous year.

Total Canadian wheat ending stocks for 2019-20 were raised to 5.5 million tonnes, which compares with the July forecast of 5.1 million and the 2018/19 carryout of an estimated 5.2 million.

While durum production is forecast to decrease by 11 per cent, other wheat production is projected to rise by five per cent to 27.4 Mt, as a higher seeded area is partly offset by higher abandonment of winter wheat because of winter damage.

Agriculture Canada left its canola production estimate for 2019-20 unchanged at 18.575 million tonnes, but raised its crop export forecast slightly.

As a result, ending stocks for both 2018-19 and 201920 were tightened to 3.7 million and 3.775 million tonnes respectively. Both would still be record large, comparing to the previous record of 3.008 million set in 2013-14.

The AgriPost

Uncertainty Continues in Hog Industry as with Most Commodities

By Harry Siemens Tyler Fulton, the Director of Risk Management with Hams Marketing Services, said the trade situation with China continues to add a higher level of uncertainty to a volatile North American hog market.

Live hog prices have remained extremely volatile throughout 2019. Fulton said with abundant US hog supplies and increasing production, the value of any hogs not under contract is dropping rapidly, while pork has added support within the last two weeks.

This volatility in the US cash hog market requires some explanation he said. “There’s a divergence in the value that producers and packers are negotiating. Anything that is not on a contract and negotiated weekly or daily is dropping quite quickly. There is a ton of hog supplies out there, and packers don’t need them,” he said. “We see a ramping up of production; on the cusp of what we would call a fall run seeing a 10 per cent increase in supply over the next month and a half or so. The market knows a ton of hogs is coming. But on the pork side, there is the support which is great to hear.”

Fulton said for much of the summer, ham and belly prices were under pressure. In the last two weeks, there is some strong support leading to a divergence in cash hog pricing because some producers are referencing that pork price that packers are selling for, the wholesale pork cut out value. While others without a secured contract which does not clearly define a reference to the core values, those values are dropping very sharply. This creates a great deal of uncertainty and it’s a unique circumstance to see these markets moving in opposite directions.

The international trade struggles involving the US,

China and Canada adds another level of uncertainty for the pork market.

Most traders would view the Chinese situation as being the only way to avoid significant losses in pig prices because of the abundant supply of hogs in particular in the US,” said Fulton. “So with uncertainty, with these barriers to capturing those opportunities in China due to African Swine Fever, we find ourselves in a position where we know there are opportunities, but a huge amount of uncertainty exists. As to when or if the North American hog industry will capture that and secure some of those extra sales because of that uncertainty on the trade agreements with China.”

When asked what is the difference between the two countries and China, and how does this change for Canadian hog producers, Fulton said, “Because the Canadian price that producers receive is a function of the US price, it is in the short term scenario,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what the relationship is with Canada from a producer standpoint because they have a fixed formula price and it’s referencing that US market, and that’s just generally where his compensation comes from. However, if we see a scenario where the trade disruption with Canada and China goes on for eight, 10, 12 months and years, then that changes the ballgame.

It changes the relative relationship that Canadian prices may have to American prices and by the basis level and consequently would no doubt start to be a consideration in some of the longer-term pricing agreements that packers and producers have.”

Fulton said producers are still in a spot with great potential, but the real fundamentals on the ground are not encouraging. Some of the prices that are out there,

for example, into 2020 probably are close to levels that producers should be looking at securing. But thankfully, there is a considerable portion of independent hog producers in western Canada that have already covered a large part of their production. And so they should be confident in some of those values for 2019. For that critical fourth quarter, it almost always comes under pressure because of it being the peak season for hog production.

“I think producers are generally well-positioned to move into this timeframe and hopefully we can get a resolution to the Chinese trade disruption, and we can actually start to access that market in a way where we can fill some of that demand that is building due to the losses in Chinese domestic production,” he said. “So no concrete action I think to take pricing action today.

But if we were to see, for example, even a 10 per cent move in some of the 2020 contracts, that would be a threshold that I would be willing to put some protection on the books.”

Fulton went on to say that hogs are just one of the commodities experiencing volatility. It seems that similar commodities are experiencing uncertainty, whether it is related to weather or risk, to how much crop supply is available and poor planting conditions. The beef industry is reeling from a processing plant partially destroyed by a fire cutting slaughter capacity in that way.

“So all of these factors are combining to make a very volatile environment for commodities in general.

And it should serve as a reminder that risk management should play an important role in every farmer’s daily routine.”

Aerial photos of hog barns taken while flying with retired farmer and pilot Don Schellenberg of Myrtle.

Photos by Harry Siemens

Host Sites Prepare Their Open Farm Day for September Every year Open Farm Day is held in Manitoba on the third Sunday in September. This year’s event takes place on Sunday, September 15.

Farms and others in the industry open up their farms/ venues for you to meet a

farmer and others who work in agriculture and agri-tourism. Event goers may ask questions, take a tour, try some food, participate in various activities, learn more about Manitoba farm operations, products produced, how and why our

food is grown, environmental stewardship and history.

Open Farm Day Host Sites and Map can be found at openfarmday.ca by clicking on the upper tool bar “Regions”. The Host Sites are divided into Regions, North, West, Brandon, Central,

Portage La Prairie, Interlake and East.

On the website Open Farm Day Host Sites in each Region will be listed with full descriptions, opening times, what is happening and directions on how to get to the Host site.

August 30, 2019

The AgriPost

August 30, 2019

Data Since the dawn of history, our neighbours, old wives tales, the farmer’s almanac, and then coffee shops have informed our opinions.

But these days we all want to see some kind of data to back up an argument or suggestion. From seeding rates, to time of planting, to the selection of crop varieties or animal breeds, or which piece of equipment to buy, data is now the cornerstone of our decisionmaking. But we still need to be careful. “Data” doesn’t necessarily equal “truth”.

That’s the message from Andrea Jones-Rooy, an American thinker, writer and performer, in a recent article titled, “I’m a data scientist who is sceptical about data.” She makes a lot of sense.

What probably annoys Rooy the most is people who ask, “What does the data say?” “Data doesn’t

say anything,” she explains.

“Humans say things. They say what they notice or look for in data - data that only exists in the first place because humans chose to collect it, and they collected it using human-made tools.

Data can’t say anything about an issue any more than a hammer can build a house. Data is a necessary ingredient in discovery, but you need a human to select it, shape it, and then turn it into an insight.”

Backing up a bit, she answers a basic question: What is data? “Data is an imperfect approximation of some aspect of the world at a certain time and place. It’s what results when humans want to know something about something, try to

measure it, and then combine those measurements in particular ways.”

There are all sorts of ways this process can backfire. The most common are random errors, systematic errors, errors of choosing what to measure, and errors of exclusion. There are, of course, many more ways to fail in analyzing facts, but these are the main ones.

Random errors can be as simple as writing something down wrong, or not calibrating a measuring device properly. Systematic errors would be ones where you collect more of a particular kind of data at the expense of other data. The most famous recent example of this was how we were told that Hillary Clinton was going to be the President of the United States.

Choosing what to measure is a bit more obvious.

A crop’s yield is important, for instance, but overall profitability is far more important to decision-making.

One doesn’t always lead to the other. Similarly, errors of exclusion can lead to problems. We may not always be keeping track of all of the important variables in a multivariate process or system where they all interact with each other.

This is not to say that we can never know anything, far from it. But we need to think constantly about all of these things when we’re collecting data and trying to figure out what it means, or what someone else is telling us, based on their data and analysis. It’s a good habit to ask ourselves, “What’s missing?” or “What didn’t we get right?”

Nowadays, a knee-jerk reaction to all this is to say that it’s “anti-science” or

maybe “anti-data.”

Rooy points out the opposite, “The strength of both comes from being transparent about the

By Rolf limitations of our Penner work. Being aware of possible errors can make our inferences stronger.”

Data is very important, greater clarity and underbut with all of the fake standing. Not just “What news, junk science and mis- does the data say?” but also information out there, it’s “Who put this together?” more important than ever to “How did they do it?” be able separate the wheat and “How did all those from the chaff ourselves decisions affect the end than always relying on results?” someone else to do it.

As Dr. Jones-Rooy says, Everyone makes mis“We need to question data takes. Sometimes they’re rather than assuming that innocent errors, sometimes just because we’ve assigned it’s because of an agenda. a number to something that Sometimes we honestly just it’s suddenly the cold, hard don’t have enough data to truth.” That’s how we get a really know for sure. better understanding of the Asking a few simple actual world we inhabit. questions can give us

Penner’s Points

Telling the Story of Harvest Duane Thiessen who lives in Morden, farms at Crystal City where he also runs Thiessen Ag and Flaman Rentals tweeted recently that for him the 2019 harvest is underway.

“Whatever we do, find the positives and be proactive, keep chasing the progress.

For me, it was working Thiessen Ag Rentals in the morning and harvesting in the afternoon and evening.”

In their case farming mostly wheat and canola and being a later harvest, they’ve only just begun doing Redberry spring wheat. And the combining is progressing with a good to average yield on a 110 to the 115-acre field. “It’ll be more wheat, I guess, but yeah, we’re just doing some early stuff right now.

Nothing else is quite ready yet,” he said. “That’s been steady all summer here.”

While helping with the harvest in the afternoon, the machinery rental business keeps him quite busy, too. “Yup. Well, we have lots of tillage equipment here ready to go for any-

body looking for highspeed disks, heavy disks, and light rippers, and yeah. I love rentals, and I love farming, so that’s all good.”

Speaking of the harvest in southern Manitoba, things are moving along pretty well.

With early field peas coming off, fall-seeded rye and winter wheat, while many farmers are into canola, and maybe even some dried-offtoo-quickly soybeans.

While farmers in southeastern Manitoba are reporting better yields because of more timely moisture, many in southern Manitoba are talking of returns more like 60 to 70 per cent of what they received the past several years.

In a recent appearance on an urban radio station, the host Clay Young said this while introducing me as an on-air guest with him about driving in the countryside - and I think it sums it up so nicely. “You’ll see farm machinery; you’ll see Manitoba farmers hard at work.

Harvest operations are in full swing, and it’s a beautiful sight to see. That song

by Sting that we just heard a little bit of right now, Fields of Gold and they are fields of gold, because agriculture is such a huge boost to our economy, right Harry?”

“That’s awesome. I do a

lot of driving just for that reason, to look at fields and right now the harvest. We used to have one combine on a field; now sometimes you get three, four, five, and even six combines on a field taking off that crop. I spent from yesterday morning until now talking to farmers on Twitter. It’s always interesting how many responses I get from the followers I have,” I told him in response. “And where there was enough rain, whether in Alberta, Saskatchewan, or Manitoba, the crops are a little bit behind. But right in southern Manitoba, farmers have been taking off wheat, canola, winter wheat, rye, those winter fall crops, and the reports I’m getting, the yields are not as good as what they’ve been, but at the same time, the quality of the crop is good.”

It is interesting how a person who spends most of his time in the big cities gets to appreciate what the farmers do; how important it is for them to get good crops, and then share with me that information with those people who never set foot on a wheat or canola field.

When he asked me to confirm what he is hearing about the crop being average and maybe below average, I said it is the latter in many cases.

Combining a field during harvest.

Photo courtesy of Duane Thiessen

I hear that it’s probably more the latter, below average. Because I listen to producers talk, see them tweet about how they had 80, 90 bushels an acre last year on winter wheat and some red spring wheat too, this year it’s 50, 40, and 60 depending, again, on what crops.

So the jury is still out on the canola. I’m not sure what the yields have been like on canola, but when it’s drier, the quality is always better.

And that’s one good thing.

But even field peas that generally don’t come off until this time, some came off in late July, and that just showed that the rains had

stopped and dried off the peas, and when they’re dry you get in there and combine.

Summing up the harvest so far and why the crops are what they are it has to do with the lack of moisture, not only this year but the last several years. Despite adequate snowfall previous winter, it disappeared so fast with next to no runoff.

The crops developed and survived on whatever little bit of rain they received. It’s always a testament to the plant breeders and the techniques that farmers use that we even get as good a crop as we do.

The AgriPost

Federal Government Compensates Supply-Managed Dairy Producers The Federal government will make available $1.75 billion over eight years to Canada’s nearly 11,000 dairy farmers.

Of this amount, $345 million will be paid in the first year, in the form of direct payments and will benefit all dairy producers in proportion to their quota held.

For example, the owner of a farm with 80 dairy cows will

be awarded compensation in the form of a direct payment of $28,000 in the first year.

The intent is to mandate the Canadian Dairy Commission to make these payments. The Federal government will continue to work with the Dairy Farmers of Canada to determine terms and conditions for future years.

This announcement follows

ratification of the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

The $1.75 billion made available would be in addition to the $250 million investment program that already benefits more than 3,300

dairy producers across the country. This amounts to a total of $2 billion in Federal support to dairy producers. In addition, the Federal government is committed to fully and fairly supporting dairy producers for the new free trade agreement with the United States and Mexico once it comes into force.

Dairy Compensation Welcomed While Other Sectors Seek Equal Treatment The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement to provide $1.75 billion in compensation to dairy producers for lost market share due to the CETA and CPTPP trade agreements.

Dairy Farmers of Canada has estimated that the market access granted under these agreements represents an annual loss equivalent to 8.4% of Canada’s milk production.

The CFA commended the government’s recognition that trade agreements have negative consequences to some Canadian farmers and has followed through with its commitment to mitigate damages to the supply-managed sectors.

However, other sectors in Canadian agriculture, such as pork, beef and canola, have been equally negatively im-

pacted by recent aggressive trade actions. As examples canola seed exports in 2018 were $2.7 billion, with China representing 40% of those sales. In 2018, pork exports were $4 billion, with China purchasing $514 million of that, making them the 3rd largest export market.

These markets are now effectively closed to Canadian farmers. The impacted sectors require the same kind of government support that supply-managed sectors have received, whether through direct compensation or improved Business Risk Management programming.

Currently, canola and pork producers face a huge amount of uncertainty in their business as they grow and raise products that may have no opportunity to be sold due to Chinese trade actions against

Canadian agricultural products. This disruption was not created by farmers, and instead is the result of geopolitical actions where the Canadian agriculture sector has become collateral damage.

“Farmers are under an immense amount of stress and anxiety as their livelihoods are being threatened by factors that are completely out of their control, with seemingly no end in sight. Without quick support, there will be long-term consequences to Canadian agriculture.” said Mary Robinson, President of CFA. Without markets to sell their products, Canadian farmers run the risk of losing their operations. While Canadian agriculture has been identified as one of the sectors with the most potential for growth by the Barton Report, Canada

AGgrowth Coalition: Enough Stalling Immediate Support Needed for Canada’s Export-Oriented Farmers

On the heels of the government of Canada’s announcement of trade support for market losses for 11,000 Canadian dairy farmers, AGgrowth, the coalition representing farmers from across the country, demands support for its export-oriented farmers facing significant market disruptions as a result of global trade action.

Despite attempts by the AGgrowth Coalition, the government of Canada is ignoring the significant challenges currently facing Canada’s largest agriculture sector. Over 100,000 export dependent farmers producing $62 billion in farm cash receipts are facing the impacts from key international market closures and yet the government’s support is currently limited to only one sector. Agriculture as a

whole requires the support of government when faced with risks caused by political decisions outside of their control.

“Enough stalling, the government of Canada needs to provide support to farmers facing the impact of escalating global trade volatility,” said Markus Haerle, AGgrowth Co-Chair. “Equitable treatment is expected and reasonable. This isn’t about dividing farmers, this is about consistency in policy and the need to protect and support agriculture as a whole.”

“Urgent action is needed, BRM programming needs to be reinstated to its former levels immediately for all farmers across Canada,” said Chris van den Heuvel, AGgrowth Co-chair.

“The government of Canada needs to stand up for farmers

facing this critical situation created by geopolitical decisions and market risks outside of their control,” said AGgrowth Co-chair, Jeff Nielsen.

The AGgrowth Coalition will be seeking meetings in the immediate future with representatives from the Canadian government and the Official Opposition including Minister of Agriculture and Agri-food, Marie Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Trade Diversification, Jim Carr, and the Leader of the Opposition, Andrew Scheer, to raise the need for a commitment of support for all the farmers represented by the Coalition.

For details of the AGgrowth Coalition four-point plan for addressing the shortfalls in the BRM suite go to http:// aggrowthcoalition.ca.

risks losing that opportunity if it cannot help farmers weather the current storm caused by these trade disruptions.

“In this current global environment, being prepared for the type of trade disputes that we are seeing today is crucial. Canadian farmers need the government to be proactive in providing reliable tools and compensation to get us through these dire situations,” said Mary Robinson, President of CFA. When industries such as Canadian steel and automotive sectors were hit with tariffs, the government’s reaction was swift and decisive in providing support.

While the dairy compensation is a positive step forward, CFA hopes that the Federal Government recognizes the detrimental consequences other commodities are facing through trade actions and steps up and develops equivalent support.

August 30, 2019

Who’s Right?

I’m sure you have all seen the sentence where a change on the placement of the comma, changes the meaning of the sentence. It is meant to be tribute to English teachers or editors of newspapers. I feel a lot like that as I sit down to pen this column.

Let’s begin with the title, is a question of who is right, or is a question of who has the right to decide.

The question of which I speak is about land ownership and the growing of a particular plant, no not that plant but a Lily. You see there is a particularly rare Lily that exists in the southeast part of the province and land owners are being told they cannot till the field or even over graze it because the Lily is part of the existing plant structure from the original tall grass prairie.

Now on one had I can understand how the good of society over rules the right of one individual, but on the other hand I can understand if a land owner is short of feed and wants to graze his pasture.

Farmers are the most conservative people I know. Conservative being the adjective for those who practice conservation. Not many people that as a group, do as much to save mother earth as farmers. After all that is how they make a living and they want to pass that opportunity on to the next generation.

But now a Conservation group comes by sees the afore mentioned Lily and comes up with a don’t work the field order.

Who’s right? Just like in the title who has the right to decide and who is right?

This is a complicated issue and things are only going to get more so as we become more concerned about conservation and more people are watching for the rare Lily. I cannot even use the name in this space for fear it will cause a stampede of Lily supporters to the field in an effort to protect it.

Now you make think that I am making light of this issue but I am not, this is a serious concern and it will continue to grow.

It could reach the proportions of global warming in a decade or two, but the Lily may have moved further north by them.

This is just one of so many issues that have changed in recent years, I remember when lilies were of little concern in a hay field and alfalfa was more of an issue.

August 30, 2019

The AgriPost

The AgriPost

Land Battle Over Where Endangered Orchid Grows

By Les Kletke “It is protected Federally and Provincially, it is against the law to work a field that has Western Prairie Fringed Orchids,” answered the official with Manitoba Conservation when asked for more information about the ongoing battle between the individual farmers, the RM of Stuartburn and Manitoba’s Conservation and Wildlife branch. He pointed out that he was not a quotable source and I could not use his name however he did offer the telephone number of the government’s communication branch who, “Would help me stick handle through the government bureaucracy on this one.”

A follow up call to the Communication’s branch resulted in another unquotable source that did provide a good deal of background on the orchid and where it grows.

While the approach did seem somewhat cut and dried from the Conservation and Wildlife Branch the negotiations have been on going with farmers in the RM of Stuartburn which is the only place in all of Canada

where the orchid is known to exist.

The unquotable source went on to say that there are several species that fall into this category and this was not an isolated case. He also said that it was not an entire quarter section that had been designated as protected and therefore not available to be harvested or tilled. He also acknowledged that he was not aware of the situation with the specific farmer and how much of the block of land had been designated.

The orchid does occur in Manitoba, south to Oklahoma, east to Iowa and west to Nebraska. Manitoba’s orchid population is located in the Tall Grass Prairie Preserve and is the largest population of the species anywhere in the range and the only Canadian site for the species.

The Canadian Nature Federation produced a recovery plan for the orchid in 1995 and a key component is the protection of critical habitat for the species. The Manitoba Tall Grass Prairie Preserve protects 2,000 hectares of habitat for native species such as the endangered West-

Western-prairie fringed orchids grow wild in the Rural Municipality of Stuartburn, and nowhere else in Canada.

Photo submitted by the Nature Conservancy of Canada

ern Prairie Fringed Orchid. The orchid can grow to a height of 40 to 88 mm (16-35 inches) and produces seed in August that will germinate the next spring however it takes several years to bloom. Threats to the species include conversion of native prairie habitat, draining, spraying of herbicides, overgrazing and annual haying before plants have produced seed.

While the Conservation Branch was less than co-operative about providing information on the dealings with farmers who have the orchid in their fields they were more than willing to share the information about the plant and what could be done to protect it, which is the aim of the Special Conservation Areas set aside to protect critical habitats for endangered species under the Endangered Species Act.

August 30, 2019

Municipality Sides with Farmers

By Les Kletke The RM of Stuartburn is siding with its farmers in an ongoing struggle with the province’s Conservation and Wildlife branch.

Lucy Maynard is the CAO of the RM of Stuartburn, which has asked that regulations be changed regarding the restrictions on endangered species. It has received letters of support from other Municipalities.

Farmers in the area say they fear losing their livelihood if there land is designated as having the flower. “There are some cases where limited grazing is allowed,” said Maynard. “But not everyone has their pastures divided to allow rotational grazing for the period that is allowed and there is always the interpretation of what is over grazing.”

The Western Prairie Fringed Orchid is the endangered plant that has been causing the concern and the battle began last fall when some farmers received orders that they could not work the fields where the orchid was found. At least one of the farmers ignored the order and continued regular practices on the field in question. “The orchid appears in ditches in the RM,” said Maynard. “And that has not been a problem but now it is on private land that has been protected and that is causing an issue.” The farmer in question is part of the Amish community that has moved into the area in recent years and was not available for an interview.

Maynard said the RM has been working with the farmer, named only as Tobias and was hopeful that a peaceful settlement could come about. She did acknowledge that he had received the order last fall and acted in noncompliance of the order.

A meeting last fall of farmers and KAP officials had farmers tight lipped on the issue and not offering much information on whether they had the rare flower on their land. Neither Maynard or the Conservation and Wildfire Branch would offer information on how large a block of land was covered by the order which was an entire quarter section or portions that contained the plant.

The flowers are not found anywhere else in Canada and are a part of the Tall Grass Prairie Preserve that protects over 2,000 hectares. The TallGrass prairie in Manitoba is only a fraction (less than 1%) of its former 6,000 square km.

Maynard is hopeful the Western Prairie Fringe Orchid issue in her RM can be resolved but is also hopeful that the larger issue of conservation versus individual rights can be dealt with.

August 30, 2019

The AgriPost

The AgriPost

August 30, 2019

Family-Run Pioneer Meat of Altona Changes Hands After Five Decades

By Harry Siemens A large company, the Progressive Group of Companies of Niverville, recently bought another family-run meat processing firm, Pioneer Meat of Altona effective July 26.

Founder Bernie Penner first began selling his homemade products door-to-door in 1968, eventually passing it on to the second generation.

However, after 51 years, the oldest of the family and then president of the company Steve Penner said was time to focus more on family and less on business, noting the decision to sell was not easy, but they believe it is the right one.

When the rumour hit the social media outlets, Steve tweeted this, “Against the advice of my smarter, betterlooking half, I feel the need to put this out there. We sold Pioneer Meat. For those that think Dad is rolling over in his grave, or that Mom is sad because of it, it is obvious you didn’t/don’t know them as well as you think you did/ do. An ownership change is coming for the home of “the

original farmer’s sausage”, Penner said.

Then in a subsequent interview and a family statement, “We are happy to say that mom is behind us 100 per cent and we know dad [Bernie who passed away in September 2017] would approve as well. Those two know better than anyone else of the challenges faced daily. We consider ourselves incredibly fortunate to be able to hand over the business while we still have both health and family.”

The Penner family said a collective public ‘thank you’ to everyone who had supported them over the years.

“We feel we’ve built a beautiful company and a wonderful brand, and are lucky enough to do it in a great community. We’ve enjoyed working alongside our employees, many of whom have become friends over the years.”

When deciding to let sell the family stated that it is good to know the company will be in good hands. The family is very confident it has found a Manitoba company with a similar business

style and ethics to take Pioneer Meat to the next level of growth which already took over another family run business several years back, Winkler Meats when that founder, Harry Dyck passed on suddenly.

“It was getting tiresome and not just that part of it, just the whole thing of the business,” said Penner. “Like we’re so hands-on that it felt like we were just running from one fire to the other for several years already.”

Despite being a provincial meat processing plant not able to sell beyond the provincial boundaries, Pioneer Meet did about 750,000 pounds of sausage a year to meet the consumer demand in Manitoba.

“There is no day that I don’t recall it, no time, because Pioneer Meat is 51 years old.

Therefore there is no time in my memory that I can recall Pioneer Meat not being a part of our family,” said Steve.

He did reflect on where they used to get their pigs for slaughter and how it evolved to today’s business.

“Well, lots of local produc-

ers. I mean it was weird 30 years ago there were lots of guys within a 10-mile radius where we got most of them from,” he said. “And we made a switch where we went to some of the bigger producers to get our animals.”

Of the three sisters and four brothers in the family, three remained as owners of Pioneer Meat, Steve, Scott, and Ron Friesen one of the sisters’ husband.

When a family begins a business and runs it for 51 years passing it to a second generation, the question that may be asked is how to take it to the next level and still maintain the brand. “I think so. Yeah. That’s what it looks like. I think the new owners have great plans for our brand. You know, like one of the biggest questions over the last week is, Boy, I sure hope they don’t change it.

Well, why would they? Why would somebody, in my opinion, buy the best sausage that they can buy and change the recipe? Do you know what I mean,” said Penner.

In a phone interview to the plant, Penner answered the

phone, a great example of just how hands-on the family was with the business and their 16 or so employees. “That’s one of the biggest things when we had the new group coming in here was trying to explain how hands-on we are. I think that is what has endeared our employees to us,” he said.

“It’s always a floating number, but I think there are 16.

But when you’re working, sweating beside a guy, it’s a lot easier for him to believe

in the goal. Because we don’t just walk through with dress pants and shiny shoes on and tell him or her, this is what we’re doing today and then walk away.”

In an official company statement, the team at Progressive Group of Companies said, “It is excited to become a part of the community and is committed to growing the business locally.” Progressive Group had also purchased Winkler Meats back in 2009.

A little something special rolled off the line today, something you’ll be able to ask your grocer about, Gluten Free pepperettes.

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The AgriPost

August 30, 2019

Collaboration is Key for Manitoba’s Favourite Food Series

Great Tastes of Manitoba hosts Dez Daniels, Susan Riese and Aaron Alblas.

By Joan Airey Thanks to the vision of Manitoba’s agricultural sector, Great Tastes of Manitoba has been sharing positive messages about food and farming with Manitoba consumers for 30 years.

A committee of marketing representatives from producer boards and associations conceptualized the television series in the spring of 1990.

After finalizing the concept and assembling a team of industry partners, the first show went to air on Videon Cable in November of 1990.

In 1995 Great Tastes moved to CKND (Global Television)

before making its way to CTV, its home since 2002.

Great Tastes will air the first episode of its 30th anniversary season on September 7.

Host, Dez Daniels, and food experts from seven organizations representing Manitoba farmers will once again prepare recipes featuring the nutritious, affordable, delicious foods grown by Manitoba’s farmers. This perennial favourite is Manitoba’s most watched cooking show, and the only collaboration of its kind in Canada. “I think Great Tastes of Manitoba was ahead of its time. It was trendy when local wasn’t trendy. Now with

Provided photos

social media, it’s so cool that Manitobans can connect with their local food expert and farmer to know more about the ingredients that they purchase in the grocery store,” said Ellen Pruden, Great Tastes of Manitoba contributor for the Manitoba Canola Growers.

Reaching an average of 27,800 adult viewers in Manitoba each week, Great Tastes is one of only 4 Canadian made television series to land in the top 40 television rankings with the female audience 35+ in Winnipeg. It’s watched by more Manitobans than anything on the Food Net-

work and even beat the Juno Awards in the spring rankings.

These are impressive numbers when you consider the list of big budget US network series it is up against. Ratings also show that the majority of Great Tastes viewers are the primary grocery shopper in the household, which means Great Tastes is reaching an audience that the agriculture industry often struggles to connect with.

“It’s not about pitting one production method against another, it’s not about choosing one ingredient over another it really is a high tides raise all boats type scenario, and every one of our partner organizations understands that if Manitoba’s are choosing local ingredients, and if they are supporting Manitoba farms, there will be benefits across the industry,” said series producer, Donalee Jones.

In celebration of the three decades the producers are taking the farm-to-table cooking series one step further by introducing viewers to Manitoba farm families through a series of exclusive online episodes. Farm families from throughout the province have contributed to the series by sharing their stories and their values with Great Tastes viewers.

“Food is the great unifier, everybody eats and I think if we can connect with consumers over those times around the table, the shared love of food, often it involves family tradition, I think we can really make an impact and in turn build their trust, and so we want our experts to be the resource for people when they have questions about how their food is produced,

Korean Chicken Wings.

Chickpea Crusted Pizza.

about the safety and sustainability of Manitoba farms, we want them to come to us as the Great Tastes brand and we can give them those answers.” explained Jones.

Great Tastes of Manitoba will air on CTV on Saturday evenings from 6:30 to 7:00 pm, from September 7 to December 14, 2019 and again February 1 through May 9, 2020.

The AgriPost

Wherefore Art Thou, Low Grain Prices?

It is the end of August, and throughout Manitoba the combines have been rolling in the southeast parts, while farmers are still waiting to get going in the further west parts. Being the third dry summer in a row, there were a lot of questions as to what yields may be this year.

The law of averages would suggest that the massive yields of 2017 and the almost as massive yields of 2018 were unlikely to be repeated, and that has followed with what we are seeing.

Winter crops (winter wheat and fall rye) didn’t fare that well, with yields below average. However, spring wheat and oats still managed to fill out and put in yields that range from just below average to just above, depending where the farm is located.

Canola is just getting underway in some areas, but the initial prospects also look good there.

So now the question is: what to do with this year’s crop in the current market environment? With the cash prices we see today, on the averages that have been finished, the margins

are thin at best, and negative in a lot of cases. Not a lot of incentive there to sell this production now. At IntelliFARM we did have a good amount of production forward sold, but we still have a lot more to sell also.

Let’s look at some different crops and what strategies there may be in your post-harvest marketing plan: Wheat – Minneapolis futures are now only about 18 cents/bu from the lowest price we’ve seen in 10 years. Let that sink in for just a minute. There is zero incentive to price wheat at these levels; however, basis has been steadily improving because elevators need the product.

When futures are low and basis is strong, basis contracts are the way to go. This is especially true if bin space is a concern.

Oats – prices are off the highs from last winter, but at $3.40 spot and $3.75/bu deferred, they represent good value on this year’s crop. Move what you need to for space; sell the rest into the winter timeframe.

Canola – futures look to be carving out a bottom in the $440 – $450/mt range. Basis has improved from earlier levels, and futures could have another $20/mt in them post-harvest. Look at the deferred bids to pick up the carry in the market and see where this year’s production and demand come in.

Soybeans – basis is poor, and so are futures. Nothing to do here until one of both of those improves.

Plan on holding beans into the winter timeframe. Don’t bank on a US/China trade resolution anytime soon, China doesn’t need the beans with ASF, and they can still buy cheaper South American beans versus US. Corn – hopefully you took the opportunity to sell the highest price corn we’ve seen since 2013 this summer, right now we are waiting on yields before doing anything further. There are still decent bids for both off the combine and deferred, however that market has lost everything it gained this summer, so no rush in pricing right now.

Regardless of what I say, make a plan based on your cost of production, cash flow requirements, and bin space limitations, and stick with it! Chasing markets rarely leads to success, but being a disciplined seller always pays off.

P.S. If you think the headline was a typo, look up the meaning of wherefore!

Brian Voth is the president of IntelliFARM Inc, working with farms to create customized grain marketing plans and carrying them out.

For more information visit intellifarm.ca or call 204-324-3669.

Essential Rental Protection for Your Harvest Machinery

With the excitement of harvest building, this is a good time to make sure you are properly prepared.

While your pre-harvest checklist probably includes things like stocking up on baking for harvest meals, downloading podcasts for the hours of cab-time coming up, or teaching your child to operate the grain cart, don’t forget to pull out your insurance policy for a quick review to make sure you are properly insured this harvest season.

One important insurance coverage for your farm to purchase is called loss of use for farm machinery. This coverage provides a limit of insurance which pays for the additional expense of renting a replacement unit for machinery damaged by an insured peril.

Loss of use coverage can be purchased to a level that you select,

often in increments of $10,000 in value. Some insurers will allocate a specific percentage of that limit for your daily maximum amount available. This is important to know when you are choosing your total limit of insurance. Let’s say you purchase a $30,000 loss of use limit, and your insurer has a daily limitation of 10% per day, you will have a maximum of $3,000 per day available. You may not need the entire $30,000 in a claim, but with costs of machinery increasing, daily rental costs are also increasing.

While there is a need for this coverage throughout the spring and summer months, the time that it is most valuable is during harvest. Whether it is an auger, conveyor, tractor, grain cart, swather, combine or even a header, there are multiple pieces of machinery required to keep your operations moving during harvest.

We have seen claims where the loss of use payment is larger than the repair or replacement of the piece of machinery.

Downtime during harvest can cause a significant loss of revenue unless a replacement machine is

found in a short period of time. It is also the time where service technicians are busy and aren’t always available for your call. In the event of a total loss to a piece of farm machinery, it can also be frustrating to try to acquire a new piece of machinery while you should be in the field, instead of searching the internet for a suitable replacement.

Before harvest starts, it is a good idea to review your loss of use limit, and make sure that your total limit of insurance, along with the daily maximum amount is sufficient to keep you moving during the best season of the year.

Be sure to seek advice and purchase insurance from those who understand your business!

David Schmidt is an Account Executive and Rempel Insurance Brokers in Morris, MB, specializing in insuring farms and businesses across Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

David is a member of the Canadian Association of Farm Advisors, Winnipeg Chapter. Office 204-7462320, Text 204-712-6618, email davids@rempelinsurance.com or visit rempelinsurance.com.

August 30, 2019

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Balancing Phosphorus Requirements in Grazing Beef Cows is Important

By Peter Vitti A long time ago in University, I came across a faded photography in our animal science book (Animal Nutrition, Maynard et al, 1979) that showed a poor Venezuelan cow chewing on a bone. Its caption read that she suffered from phosphorus deficiency. I thought at the time that this poor animal was so skinny and looked sick. Little did I know at the time, that this picture was my introduction to the importance of phosphorus in grazing beef cows.

Today, most phosphorus deficiencies in beef cows can largely be eliminated by supplementing a commercial loose cattle mineral throughout the entire grazing season. Yet, since phosphorus is one of the more expensive ingredients in cattle mineral, producers should choose an appropriate phosphorus-containing mineral that effectively compliments the natural phosphorus found in their cowherd’s grazing pastures.

Consequently, typical phosphorus requirements of beef cows ranges from about 18 - 25 grams per head per day to promote good health, feed digestion, general metabolism and reproduction, and it is usually tied-in with a dietary calcium/phosphorus ratio of 2:1.

Furthermore, this final phosphorus need of beef cows is impacted: by age, the size of the cow, her body condition, pregnancy status and her level of milk production after calving. For example, high-milk producing beef cows might need about 1 - 4 grams more phosphorus per day compared to the average- or to low-milking beef cows.

Subsequent amounts of phosphorus supplied by pasture grass to beef cows are largely based upon the type of forage grazed, time of season and environmental stressors that will reduce phosphorus availability in grass. As grass quality declines throughout the pasture season, so does its phosphorus content. Similarly, drought will also reduce its phosphorus content and thus total intake by beef cows, while timely rains often replenish phosphorus storage in the same forage.

In order to match the various levels of phosphorus found in grazing pastures, there is a host of commercial cattle minerals formulated with different phosphorus levels, namely from about 6 - 16%. So, when consumed at recommended rates, they should help match the beef cows’ essential NRC requirements of phosphorus. However, it should be noted that such beef cow requirements; from the spring calving stage to the end of post-calving/breeding season - dramatically increase, while, there is a general decline of phosphorus content in pastures throughout the grazing season (as mentioned above).

Case-in-point: a beef producer releases his cows in mid-May in order to allow his animals to calve out on lush pasture. Given, the cows need about 20 grams of phosphorus per head per day and that his lush pasture only supplies 16 grams of it (a cow eats about 2.3 – 2.5% of bodyweight in forage); 4 grams of phosphorus could be supplied by feeding an 8% phosphorus mineral, fed at 2 oz (56 g), daily.

By moving onto the next post-calving stage, the producer might switch to 12% phosphorus mineral and feed 3 oz (85 g) of it to meet significantly higher phosphorus needs and compliment lower phosphorus found in mid-summer grass.

It is most important that such cattle mineral intake is maintained at these recommended rates in order to assure all requirements for phosphorus are matched. That’s because when a cow eats about 3 ounces (85 grams) of a 12% P cattle mineral, it should consume about 10 grams of supplemental phosphorus. Therefore, if it is eating only 1.5 ounces (42 grams) of mineral, it is only consuming about 5 grams of extra phosphorus. The created phosphorus gap of 5 grams could mean the success or failure of getting a fertile cow bred during her post-calving stage.

In the end, we should keep in mind that beef cows need 15 or so other essential minerals (including vitamins) aside from phosphorus to calve out well, get ready for re-breeding and conceive. Beef cows have parallel requirements for calcium, magnesium, salt and trace minerals such as zinc, copper, manganese and selenium. Therefore, a well-balanced mineral - including phosphorus should always be provided (2 - 4 oz per head) to grazing cattle on a daily basis.

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August 30, 2019

The AgriPost

The AgriPost

August 30, 2019

Virden Draft Horse Show Raises Funds for Ronald McDonald House MFGA Launches Hay Relief Page on MFGA.NET

Charlsewood Percheron from Pilot Mound topped the 6 horse hitch class at Virden Draft Horse Show.

By Joan Airey Over seventy Draft horses competed in the Virden Draft Horse Show in July.

Exhibitor’s traveled from Unity and Canora Saskatchewan, as far east in Manitoba as Pilot Mound, Dauphin to the north, and Cartwright in the south.

“Local volunteers took the entries for the classes, prepared supper and breakfast for the exhibitors, did all the planning and prepping beforehand, acted as ring man, barn bosses making sure exhibitors were ready for the next class, making sure exhibitors had ice and water, plus looked after set up and clean out of the barns. “It seemed we were always busy,” said Crystal Horn one of the volunteers.

Chore teams owned by Michelle Newton, Moosomin, Saskatchewan, Twylla Newton, Yorkton, Saskatchewan and Jody Plett, Kola, Manitoba were kept busy watering down the show ring because of strong winds that weekend.

Omar Hanson of Virden provided live musical entertainment between classes at the Show, Judging was conducted by Mr. Wade Joorisity of Kipling, Saskatchewan and the announcer was Mr. Ivan Strain, Boissevain Manitoba.

One Chore Team member, Twyla Newton preformed dressage with her 4-year old filly “Brelee” to music. Brelee is in her second season of training in dressage.

Newton raises and trains show Clydesdales in the riding and chore disciplines. She maintains a herd of thirty-five Clydesdales near Yorkton, Saskatchewan. She also foals a dozen of her mares a year and sells her colts across North America.

“I focus on the riding discipline of dressage, but do other riding events as well such as English, Western, jumping, trail, cattle drives, swimming and endurance rides.

For driving I do chore-team events such as competitions, wagon and sleigh rides, parades and field work,” said Newton. “I like to focus on promoting the Clydesdales for use as pleasure riding and driving as they are such a great animal to work with, they truly like to pleasure their trainer.”

The six-horse hitch class was another highlight of the Sunday afternoon show which was won by the Kent Anderson family’s Charleswood Percherons of Pilot Mound.

“With great support and sponsorship from local and a few neighboring communities we were able to raise $1,952.50 for Ronald McDonald House. We are already planning our 2020 Virden Draft Horse Show. The future date will be announced on Facebook,” said Horn.

Photos by Joan Airey.

Twyla Newton performs dressage on her four-year old filly Brelee at the Virden Draft Horse Show that helped to raise funds for Ronald McDonald House.

Between classes at Virden Draft Horse Show volunteers kept the track watered down to control the dust.

Manitoba Forage & Grassland Association (MFGA) has launched a new Hay Relief page on mfga.net/hayrelief to help Manitoba forage and livestock producers find information and sources to help cope with and plan for challenging times on the livestock feed front.

With the launch of the web page, MFGA will be supporting Manitoba producers while showcasing a repository of the outreach from concerned Manitoba agricultural and conservation organizations providing news, tips and suggestions for producers to act and plan now to help alleviate the challenges of feed shortages and lower than normal hay supplies expected this fall as brought on by dry weather conditions in 2018 and 2019.

Last week, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) issued a joint release on the need for collaboration and cooperation among beef and grain producers to work together to help bridge feed shortages. The MBPKAP release, along with several other similarlyfocused releases on feed suggestions, the opening of Crown and conservation grazing lands and producer networks suggested for producers that have been issued over the spring and summer months

by MFGA, Manitoba Agriculture and conservation groups are on the MFGA site.

More information will be provided on the website on a priority basis and the site will be updated regularly with related information. MFGA will take a proactive role in gathering critical information and posting regular reports on prices, supplies and situations. MFGA will also support the website information via integration on the MFGA social media channels such as Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

All suggestions and feedback are welcome as this MFGA web page advances for the well-being and support of Manitoba producers.

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The AgriPost

August 30, 2019

Harvest Underway With Fairly Good Yields

By Elmer Heinrichs As we near the end of August, farmers continue to harvest canola, really get going on soybeans and dry beans are coming off in the Red River Valley.

With sporadic showers and an occasional rain Manitoba crops have grown well and farmers have begun to reap a reward as combines are again crisscrossing fields and recording average yields.

By early August, rye, some winter wheat and barley was ready to be harvested. Now in the third full week of August a traveller sees combines in all directions bringing in another good crop. Central region reports topsoil moisture is good in the areas that received recent rains but poor elsewhere hastening early maturing crops to ripen and dry down rapidly. Rain can still help late crops.

Crop specialist Dane Froese expects to see harvest really ramping up across most of Manitoba over the coming

week. Froese said yields on spring cereals have generally been average to below average, with good quality and mid-range protein levels.

While harvest is running behind last year’s pace, peas and spring wheat and the bulk of early crops are done, and the harvest of canola is now in full swing. Early reported yields are from 25-45 bu/ac.

Spring wheat yields in the Red River Valley are reported in the 50 to 80 bu/ac, with low fusarium damaged kernels (FDK). Harvested barley is yielding well in the 80 to 120 bu/ac range with low vomitoxin levels. Oat yields range from 100 to 135 bushels an acre.

Harvest progress was over 75 per cent complete for peas in central region, with the canola harvest just beginning showing rapid progress before the expected forecast of the July 24-25 rains.

Further west, over the escarpment, harvest of spring cereals, has begun, with cano-

la still a little ways off. Longseason soybeans can certainly use more moisture, as well as the corn, adds Froese.

Froese says rain north of Morris and east of the Red River last week was a welcome sight for producers.

Well over 100 mm of moisture fell between the two areas over the course of 24 to 48 hours. “This should result in some of the crops bouncing back, and bring some relief to forage and hay fields.�

Harvesting in Eastern regions began last week with rapid progress made to date.

Across the region about 40 per cent of spring wheat was harvested with an average yield of around 60 bu/ac. Quality was noted as good but protein levels were mixed, ranging from 11 to greater than 13 per cent.

Combining of oats was about 30 per cent complete with an average yield of around 70 bu/ac. Barley harvest was completed with an average yield of 70 bu/ac. Canola

swathing and pre-harvest applications began and harvesting of the crop is general with average yields expected.

Some yield potential is being lost in long season crops like soybeans due to moisture stress, while sunflowers were tolerating the dry conditions and remained in good condition.

Earlier bean varieties and dry edible beans are dropping leaves already and shutting down. Pre-harvest applications to edible beans is underway, and some producers are combining now. Overall, yields are down from previous years, but not far off the long-term averages.

Many producers are saying the yields are better than expected given the challenging moisture and insect problems this year, adds Froese.

Potato fields are looking good with tubers bulking well. Irrigation of potato and vegetable fields is occurring where needed to maintain soil moisture and support growth.

Harvest is underway. Here a farmer combines canola near Altona in Photos by Elmer Heinrichs August.

As the cereal crops are harvested, much of the straw is being baled to increase wintering feed supplies. Producers are considering having to

supplement cattle on pasture.

Ditches have been mowed to increase feed supplies and complement the poor hay crop.

Siemens Bros. combining canola near Altona.

The AgriPost

Corn for a Cause

By Les Kletke A late spring frost set the crop back a bit but 5 acres of corn near Anola is going to help some kids with diabetes go to camp next summer.

The project is the brain child of Dale Alderson, a member of the We Care Alliance, a western Canadian third-party partner of Diabetes Canada that screens for Diabetes and fundraises for Diabetes Canada.

The plot of sweet corn is intended for a profit sharing project of the We Care Alliance the money from the sale of the sweet corn will be shared by the Canadian Diabetes Society to help send kids to camp and the Friends of Refuge which is an outgrowth of the Universal Unitarian Church in Winnipeg.

“We have 5 acres this year and the plan is to expand to 10 acres next year and hopefully get closer to Winnipeg and in more of a corn growing area.” said Alderson. “This was not the best area and the spring frost did set us back, but it is what we had available.” It was available because he donated the space on his farm and purchased the seed for the project.

“There was some concern from the group that they wanted to keep the crop free of any pesticide,” he said. “So the weed control was done with hoes, we had volunteers come out and hoe the fields.”

He estimates that the plot had 550 hours of hoeing on it.

“Not including what I would

put in most mornings.”

The crop will be sold at various Farmers Markets and at a Winnipeg Goldeyes game at the end of August. “Next year we will try to get the crop in a bit earlier and get to market sooner, this is not the prime time,” he said. “We know that we could have done better with an earlier crop.” Getting the crop in earlier is not the only change he plans to make in the project for next year, he wants to increase the size of the plot to 10 acres and involve more organizations.

This year the benefactors are the Canadian Diabetes Association and and the Friends of Refuge, but Alderson would like to see that expanded to what he calls “secondary outcomes of diabetes.” He suggested Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) as one organization to include.

The Friends of Refuge is a group that sponsors one family a year to come to Canada and they have brought families from Syria and in most recent years Burundi. They are responsible for the family in their first year in Canada.

“The program requires that the sponsor be responsible for the first year, and said that month 13 in the country may be a challenge, but we have found the families are up and running well before that time,” he said.

Alderson himself is a diabetic and became involved with the We Care Alliance to help spread the message that the disease can be somewhat

Pork Donated to Westman Residents in Need For the 9th year in a row, the Provincial Exhibition has partnered with six Manitoba Coop’s and five local meat processors to deliver approximately 1500 lbs. of pork from the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair to several Westman food banks and soup kitchens.

Provincial Exhibition Honorary Director, Stan Cochrane and his family at Cochrane Stock Farms of Alexander, volunteered to care for the pigs from the pig scrambles at the 2019 Royal Manitoba Winter Fair. Feed for the animals were donated by Coop Feeds and western Manitoba Co-op retailers, including Heritage Co-op, Neepawa Gladstone Coop, Valleyview Co-op, and Boundary Co-op.

Oak River Quick Freeze, Prairie Rose Meats in Souris, Jarvis Meats in Gladstone, and Killarney Meats donated their processing costs and arranged for delivery to food banks and soup kitchens in their local areas.

“The direct connection between the meat processors and the organizations receiving the pork is a special part of this program,” said Ron Kristjansson, General Manager of the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba. “All of the processors have their own relationships with the groups in their area providing a direct connection between the feed suppliers, meat processors and the organizations where the meat is donated.”

Kristjansson noted that it takes multiple partners to make this program possible. “Support from partners like the Co-ops, the Deerboine Colony who sold us the pigs at a very reasonable price, and all the meat processors that allow us to use the pigs during the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair for agricultural education and then give back to the entire region that supports us and our events. Groups from Portage la Prairie up through Minnedosa, Souris, Brandon, Killarney, Boissevain, Virden, and right out towards Moosomin, Saskatchewan have benefitted from this program.”

controlled by proper diet and lifestyle decisions. He has been an advocate of early testing and raising the awareness of the disease.

A long time volunteer of with Canadian Diabetes Association he said that the money raised this year will help kids with the disease go to camp next year. “Some of these kids would not get the chance to go to camp without a project like this,” he said.

“And that makes it all worthwhile.” For Alderson that includes the early morning hoe sessions.

Dale in the hand-weeded corn field.

August 30, 2019

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Photo submitted by Dale Alderson

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The AgriPost

August 30, 2019

Sunblade Charolais Named Purebred Charolais Breeder of the Year

By Joan Airey Sunblade Charolais located near Foxwarren, Manitoba is now operated by a brother-sister team of Nicki and Tyler Stewart. Their parents Bill and Donna Stewart started the operation using Charolais genetics in a commercial herd.

“We purchased our first purebred Charolais in 1994 and officially established Sunblade Charolais in the fall of 1995. Tyler and I have been involved in Foxwarren-Solsgirth Beef Club for twenty-five years, the last ten I’ve been a leader,” said Nicki Stewart. “We have attended numerous Canadian Charolais Youth Association Conferences across Canada where we

McRae Family Hosts Manitoba Angus Summer Tour

learned showmanship, marketing, etc. I held a director position on the Manitoba Charolais Association Board for the CCYA Conferences in Dauphin and Portage as well as represented Manitoba on the National CCYA Board. Tyler is presently on the Manitoba Charolais Association Board and President of the Foxwarren Ag Society.”

The Stewart’s have grown their herd to sixty purebred cows and have a small commercial herd. They have taken part in several bull and female sales over the years. “We strive to get out to as many shows and Charolais events as possible to learn more about our breed and promote our breed.” said Stewart.

Brett McRae using the calf catcher he built.

Sunblade Charolais operated by Tyler and Nicki Stewart received the 2019 Purebred Breeder of the Year during the Manitoba Charolais Association AGM at Birtle. Jeff Cavers, MCA President made the presentation.

Photo by Tanya Airey

By Joan Airey Brett McRae of McRae Land and Livestock opened the tour with a welcome and demonstration of the calf catcher he built.

In the first pasture to tour, participants viewed his yearling bulls that will be sold as two-year olds in their 2020 Bull Sale. Other things of interest they toured were the water system; grazing techniques, such as inter seeding into corn crops for fall and winter grazing and the Black Angus

cowherd.

At Mar Mac Farms (Lois and Blair McRae) attendees toured six groups of Red and Black Angus bulls and females displayed in small pens around the farm yard.

Fitting for the occasion those attending were served a delicious roast beef supper. The new CEO of the Canadian Angus Association, Myles Immekar gave an informative talk on how he had grown up in Manitoba and told members about the new Angus EPD, Angus Now

Photograph taken by Lois McRae

computer registration program and Angus tags.

Ryan Boyd, Nuffield Scholarship winner did an informative presentation with a slide show on his travels around the world in 2018-19.

Over ninety people toured the sixty-two year old Angus operation south of Brandon. Visitors on the tour came from New Brunswick, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.

Brett and Melissa McRae brothersister team are the 4th generation very involved in the Angus Breed.

The AgriPost

Road Safety During Harvest As combines and other large farm equipment set out for harvest, motorists and farmers alike must safely share public roads. According to Manitoba Public Insurance, there is an average of 20 collisions each year involving agricultural equipment and passenger vehicles in Manitoba.

What are some of the factors that lead to collisions? Consider the following: Reduced visibility - It is good practice to try and make eye contact with other drivers prior to passing one another.

Combines are very wide vehicles, meaning there are larger blind spots and parts obstructing a driver’s view.

Always clean the windows and mirrors on your equipment before leaving the yard. In dry conditions, road dust is also a factor, so ensure that you are not passing or turning until dust clouds have settled.

More time is being spent on the road - Take the opportunity to talk to nonfarmers, young teenagers and workers about road safety. Producers now travel farther as their farmland is more spread out and farm more acres overall, meaning combines and grain trucks are travelling greater distances on pub-

lic roads. Never become complacent about the rules or your surroundings.

Less experienced operators - If you employ workers that have little or no farming background you must ensure they are trained thoroughly covering even the information that could be considered common sense. Expansion of individual operations means fewer people are growing up on farms, and many of those who do are opting for off-farm careers requiring producers to hire non-family workers.

Turning - Leading up to a left turn shut off your hazards briefly to get the attention of any followers, and then turn on the left signal. This helps drivers who have been following behind for a long distance and may have diverted attention away from flashing hazard lights.

Move over to straddle the centre line, only if there is no oncoming traffic, to make your intention clear. Impatient drivers following slow moving equipment can try to attempt an unsafe pass so doing this provides less space to go around.

When a situation requires you to swing out wide for a right turn, again shut off your hazards then turn on the

right turn signal. Double check all mirrors and slowly move your machine toward the center line before making the swinging turn.

Know traffic patterns - If you are required to travel on major highways/ roads, be aware of the local traffic patterns to avoid peak busy times if possible. Pull over for drivers following too close even when they have ample time to pass. Drivers following too closely only frustrate other traffic which can instigate dangerous situations. However, do not wave followers past - let them make the decision when it is safe to pass.

As a farm equipment operator it always helps to acknowledge motorists who do slow down or give way for them with a nod or a wave. This goes a long way in keeping motorists feeling better about sharing the road with farmers.

Farm equipment operators acknowledge those motorists who do slow down or give way for them, etc. A quick smile, nod of head or a wave goes a long way in keeping motorists feeling better about farmers being on the road and holding them up!

Soil Stewardship Topic of Foodgrains Bank Forum Represents Two Continents

By Elmer Heinrichs About 130 farmers, agronomists and the public from two continents participated in the Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFGB) global forum on soil stewardship held at the Glenlea Research Station near Carman July 2526.

Here, Canadian and African agronomists shared perspectives on conservation agriculture during two days of presentations and discussions about soil.

Gordon Janzen, Manitoba’s CFGB coordinator, was pleased with the conference and said the keynote speaker Dr. Fancis Zvumoya, of the University of Manitoba, who spoke about the state of global soils caught his attention when he said that “approximately 33% of the world’s soils are degraded, and healthy soil is key to feeding an expected 9 billion people in 2050”.

“This forum was an important event for the Foodgrains Bank as it brought together people with global diversity to learn about and discuss soil health and food security,” added Janzen.

The six conservation agriculture specialists described how the practice has changed the landscape in their countries, and how it has affected food security. These guests working with Foodgrains Bank conservation agriculture programs in East Africa provided a helpful global perspective.

The agronomists from East Africa spoke from their experience with conservation agriculture programs in Kenya and Ethiopia. Various Canadian agronomists and farmers spoke about their experiences in Canada, including Grant Dyck who spoke about the variety of agronomic and economic factors he considers while managing his farm soil near Niverville.

While most participants were from Manitoba, others came from Ontario, Alberta, and Saskatchewan to add a wider perspective. “We wanted to make sure to create a forum for people to learn about conservation agriculture, to hear more from African partners where the focus of our activities are but also that Canadian

farmers have a chance to both learn about it but also actually to contribute to it,” said James Kor¬nelsen, public engagement coordinator with the Foodgrains Bank.

Conservation agriculture has three pillars that include minimal soil disturbance through low- or no-till farming, permanent soil cover such as mulch and diverse crop rotations and intercropping.

The East African experts did infield demonstrations of conservation agriculture techniques and tools.

Canadians tried a hand-held planting tool, which is pressed into the soil to release one seed at a time. It turned out to be tough to coordinate. If opened or closed at the wrong time, a farmer could pick up the seed they just planted and remove it from the soil.

“It’s not every day that you have rich conversations about soil, but that’s what happened here, said Janzen, concluding by saying, “There was a lot of good conversation and discussion about soil health and farming practices.”

Beef Producers Set Priorities in Advance of Provincial and Federal Elections With both provincial and federal elections pending, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) has identified a number of priority areas on which it will advocate on behalf of the province’s cattle industry.

“Manitoba’s 6,500 beef producers play a critical role in the local and national economy, creating jobs and opportunities, as well as providing valuable ecological goods and services,” explained MBP President Tom Teichroeb. “It is important that there is a policy and regulatory environment in which the industry can thrive and we want to ensure candidates are aware of

the perspectives of beef producers on different matters.”

Some of the topics about which MBP will be advocating with both provincial and federal candidates include the need for equitable and effective business risk management programs; the importance of sound water management strategies, both for times of drought or excess moisture conditions; recognition of the ecosystem services provided by managing grasslands, such as carbon sequestration and preserving habitat for many different species; exploring new trade opportunities and full optimizing exist-

ing trade deals; strategies to tackle labor shortages; and, the benefits provided to the sector through investments in beef and forage research and innovation.

“As the two election campaigns unfold we strongly encourage our members to talk to their candidates about the value of the beef industry to Manitoba and to ask the candidates about their priorities when it comes to the cattle sector,” added Teichroeb. “It is important our voices are heard by the people who could be shaping policies and programs affecting agriculture for years to come.”

August 30, 2019

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Take Precautions When Feeding Pasteurized Milk to Dairy Calves Pasteurization of whole milk is common practice on many Canadian dairy farms. It’s because these dairy producers recognize the potential dangers of passing on transmissible disease by feeding contaminated milk to their pre-weaned calves. Despite such conscious efforts, buying and setting up a pasteurizer is only part of preventing disease; precautionary protocols should also be implemented. These precautions help assure that baby calves are provided with a consistent, safe and nutritious feed.

One of the precautions in feeding pasteurized milk is securing a viable source on the farm. On one end of the spectrum, it could mean any raw milk that is deemed unsaleable and cannot be put into the bulk tank. This type of milk is commonly referred to as waste milk; excess colostrumfirst milk, mastitis milk or antibiotic treated milk.

If this waste milk is not properly pasteurized, pre-weaned dairy calves are exposed to a number of deadly diseases including scour-causing E. coli species, mycoplasma, salmonella, mastitis-causing organisms and even those microbes that cause the wasting Johne’s disease. At the other end, the lactating cows are producing over quota milk and unless it is fed to calves, a good economic opportunity might be lost.

Fortunately, pasteurization of waste and over quota milk is a proven and viable solution of killing most harmful organisms. There are two major methods: (1) Continuous flow – heats waste milk for 72 C for 15 seconds and (2) Batch system – pasteurizes small volumes of milk at 62.7 C for 30 minutes. Much dairy research has consistently reported that pasteurization will not sterilize raw milk, but reduces existing bacterial loads by upwards to 99%.

In contrast, pasteurization does not breakdown many types of antibiotics present in waste milk that are originally administered to lactating dairy cows. This exposure of drug residues by feeding it to waste-fed calves may lead them in turn to shed antimicrobial-resistant pathogens.

Research in this area are mixed; one recent study demonstrated that calves fed whole milk spiked with graduated levels of penicillin exhibited shedding of penicillin-resistant bacteria, while a comparable study showed no signs of antibiotic resistance in calves’ intestinal tract.

As a dairy nutritionist, I know of many dairy producers that won’t feed waste milk to their calves due to the drug-residue issue, but others won’t feed it, because they struggle with supplying enough volume or the quality of waste milk is not consistent.

Case-in-point: I know a producer that operates a 250-dairy cow operation that fed pasteurized waste milk for years only to switch to a milk replacer program, a few summers ago. Securing enough waste milk to feed 50 calves was one issue, but their biggest concern was that whenever a large group of their first-calf heifers calved-out together, their first-milk was usually thinner than normal and when it was fed to baby calves, they scoured. Once, the calf barn was switched onto a good milk replacer, this periodic calf-scouring problem stopped.

As a matter of course, I realize that feeding some types of waste milk to baby calves has more challenges (antibiotic residues, volume and nutrition) when compared to dairy producers that simply feed pasteurized over quota milk. Yet, individuals of both groups have expressed to me that their greatest common fear of feeding whole milk to baby calves is the failure of the pasteurizer to work properly, which otherwise makes the milk safe to feed baby calves.

In order to reduce such failures, it’s important that dairy producers implement several precautionary protocols when pasteurizing waste or over quota milk as follows: - Routine maintenance of pasteurizer – Follow manufacturers operating manual to assure pasteurizer is in good working order.

- Clean equipment on a routine schedule – Use detergent and other rinse sanitizing procedures as recommended by the manufacturer.

- Avoid using extremely contaminated milk or abnormal looking milk – Heavy loads of bacteria tend to clump together and may not be pasteurized in batch systems.

- Check the temperature of incoming milk – Studies have shown that “cold” milk may not reach pasteurizing temperatures, especially in continuous-flow systems.

- Processed milk should be fed or cooled immediately - It should be stored in clean closed containers and refrigerated, accordingly. All calf feeding equipment from buckets or bottles should be clean after each use.

- Take culture samples of waste milk and have them analyzed – There is no way of knowing a pasteurizer is working, other than setting up a post-testing procedure. A bacterial count of less than 20,000 cfu/ml is acceptable.

These are a few highlights, which should encompass the actual standard operating procedure (SOP) of most commercial batch or continuous pasteurizers. Together, they should guide dairy producers when feeding waste or over quota milk as a viable feed to baby calves. In this way, success will be measure with the calves’ good health and optimum growth up to the day of weaning and beyond.

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August 30, 2019

The AgriPost

Rain Today Great for Gardens

By Joan Airey Through Manitoba Gardener’ Facebook page I learned from Linda Iwaszewski of Stony Mountain about two varieties of tomatoes that I plan to try in 2020. She has been growing

tomatoes for forty years and starts 30 - 40 varieties every year. In her area she can grow late season tomatoes which need 75-100 days to reach maturity with no problems. She donates the extra plants to charities and senior homes.

Notable are her ripe Italian heirloom tomatoes “Cour di Bire” weighing a pound. They are available from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds (rareseeds.com). She started them March 27 and planted them in her garden on June 3. These types of tomatoes appear to be great for making salsa and tomato sauce.

Another tomato from Linda Iwaszewski that looked delicious was called Carbon which is available from Heritage Harvest Seeds right here in Manitoba.

The description in the catalogue says it’s a black tomato which I asked Iwaszewski about. “Tomatoes that are actually deep purple or deep reddish brown, tomatoes like Black from Tula, Cherokee Purple, Black Krim and the Tula pear shapes’” said Iwaszewski. “Carbon is considered a black tomato and has become incredibly popular due to its amazing flavour, and very attractive interior. Krim and Tula have green shoulders and more green interiors which doesn’t look as appealing. I have grown other varieties but will be using Carbon because of its prize winning flavour. Commercial growers are attempting to cross-breed it with a more commercially appropriate plant to increase yields and ease the growth.”

Closer to home, my Monster Tomatoes

that I started from seed from T & T Seeds are not performing as well as my Big Beef sized tomatoes. I don’t know the problem; they have had fertilizer and water on a regular basis. The three large ones I picked recently had blossom end rot.

Part of the problem may be rainfall. Just read the amounts of rain received in Manitoba the past 24 hours they appear to be from 1.75 inches in southern Manitoba to a couple of millimetres near Neepawa.

I have been planting lettuce of a regular basis in my greenhouse, in planters outdoors and two plantings in my garden. We have lots to eat but by its taste, my Romaine doesn’t appear to like the heat this year.

This past year we I received seeds to start this month from Sage Garden club. Among the seeds was Lovelock lettuce which has a high bolt tolerance and thrives in cooler weather. I plan to plant it outdoors in a planter. Other seeds from Sage Garden Club were Eleanora Basil, Tat Soi Asian Green, Dragon Tongue Mustard, Hon Tsai Tai Flowering Broccoli, and Cilician Parsley all seeds to extend your greens supply.

All seeds come with detailed directions for the best production plus videos on Facebook. Being a salad lover this is a great variety of seeds for me to try.

The Cour di Bue (ox heart type) Italian heirloom tomato.

Photos by Linda Iwaszewski

Government of Canada Provides Funding in Support of Canadian Pulses The Federal government has announced funding of up to $1.6 million under the AgriAssurance Program to Pulse Canada to help maintain high value markets, and position Canada as a preferred supplier of pulse products.

With this funding, Pulse Canada will generate tools and data that highlight the consistent quality and nutritional density of Canadian pulses, and the environmental benefits of the industry to facilitate sustained demand for their products both here and abroad.

The funding will provide support for two main activities including the establishment of harmonized pulse ingredient standards, and the development of data and tools to build awareness about the sustainability benefits of Canadian pulses and cropping systems that include pulses.

Canada is the world’s largest exporter of pulse crops and the largest producer and exporter of peas and lentils globally.

The AgriPost

Research Partnership Formed to Help Canadian Pork Industry

By Harry Siemens A newly formed research alliance involving three of Canada’s swine research organizations is expected to create new synergies, improve the efficiency of resource and labour use, and streamline knowledge transfer.

The Prairie Swine Centre, the Centre de développement du porc du Québec and the Canadian Centre for Swine Improvement have formalized a swine research partnership.

Dr. Murray Pettitt, the CEO of the Prairie Swine Centre, said the overarching goal in this initiative is to bring value, service, and information to the Canadian pork sector that each could not achieve individually. “The goal here is to bring additional value to the Canadian pork industry that the three organizations cannot achieve on our own,” said Dr. Pettitt. “The reason this makes sense is our organizations regularly collaborate, serve the same industry, often working on related types of projects and interact with the same funding sources.”

He said the swine industry in Canada is consolidating and the fewer broader stakeholders expect that service organizations also collaborate. All three organizations work in applied research and knowledge and technology transfer. “And formalizing our partnership enables us to be more effective in bringing research and innovation to the industry,” said Pettitt. “Collectively, we will access better expertise across Canada and able to engage in comparable expertise to clients throughout Canada. Finally, we can be more effective in serving the Canadian swine industry if we could work better together.”

Dr. Murray Pettitt, the CEO of the Prairie Swine Dr. Pettitt said research in Centre, said the overarching goal in the swine regeneral is more collaborasearch partnership is to bring value, service, and multi-organizational information to the Canadian pork sector that the tive, three organizations could not achieve individually. and multi-disciplinary. “The

Canadian swine industry competes with the global swine industry. Together we hope that we can better serve our Canadian industry to be more profitable and sustainable,” said Pettitt.

Jacques Faucher, the General Manager of the Centre de développement du porc du Québec, said by working together the partnership can provide better service and reach more producers from all areas of Canada than any one of the organizations could do themselves. “It will be important to have a better representation of swine research, allowing universities and partners across Canada to work more closely together,” said Faucher. “We are expecting a better synergy between the expertise of each organization and the combination of their strengths. We also want better support in terms of money and positive responses from significant clients. They are expecting from us, CCSI, Prairie Swine Centre and CDPQ to be more collaborative and to have only one request for research projects from the Canadian market.”

He said it is already challenging to find suitable human resources in 2019 in order to develop their expertise.

Therefore it is even more important to maximize what is already there. “By sharing best practices we will strive towards finding new ways to operate even more efficiently with the potential to reduce costs, from the administration perspective, projects, servers, human resource sharing, etcetera,” said Faucher. “The goal is to get more information from multiple sources out to a wider audience and encourage faster adoption of promising research.”

The Gees Inducted Into Horseman Hall of Fame

By Joan Airey On Saturday August 17 Kim and Grant Gee were inducted into the Horseman Hall of Fame at Virden Indoor Rodeo and Wild West Daze.

Kim and Grant have both been involved with horses all their lives as they grew up in horse families. Kim’s family were the KJ5 Ranch (Ken and Janie Bridgeman) at Moline. Grant’s family were the Golden Sands Belgians (Don and Marg Gee). Together they were in PMU from 1991 -2005, raising registered Belgian horses for close to forty years.

Grant was on the NARIC board as a director for a number of years. For the last thirty-five years he has been involved with Manitoba Percheron Belgian Club, the Canadian Belgian Association, as director and now Vice-President, the Virden Ag Society, Virden Draft Horse Show and North American Belgian Show. He also helps put on the Virden Futurity Show that’s taking place in Virden in September. He has judged many horse events from British Columbia to Ontario.

Kim has shown horses since her youth. She has been involved with 4-H as a member and a leader. She worked for PFRA pasture as a rider, has been involved in rodeo and worked with Ducks Unlimited.

“The Gee family showed a six horse hitch as Roselea Belgium’s before working with Wayne Morsky for many years. We showed Morsky Roselea Belgians across western Canada including the Calgary Stampede. We participated in many parades and promotional over the years including taking a Belgian mare and foal into the lobby of a personal care home in Regina,” said Kim. “We brought the Grey Cup into Regina along with the winning Rough Riders team on the wagon, thus been shown on Sportsnet.”

For several years the Gee family showed Morsky Roselea Belgians to the public at Agribrition and a featured show performing different venues from a six horse hitch to their daughters riding their show Belgians.

“Our daughter Kelsey was involved in the High School Rodeo for four years. Her and her husband Farran Tutthill lives at Elkhorn and have two children, Madden and Emberley our pride and joy. Our daughter Kacee, our son Nic and his girlfriend Shelby Medd have all been part of the horse world along with us,” said Kim. “Nic has his Bachelor of Science degree and along with Shelby have recently bought a farm in Alberta where they are taking over the Belgian herd as N-er-Gee Belgians. Kacee has a business degree and has started her own business DCG Equine Therapy doing horse and dog chiropractic work. She is now training to become a massage therapist as well. Grant and Kacee are training horses and get great satisfaction taking a horse from start to finish.”

Kim and Grant are semi-retired from the horses. Kim is decorating weddings and Grant is working for Mainline Enterprises.

August 30, 2019

Space: the Newest Frontier in Agriculture When the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) launched its first Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite, RADARSAT-1, in 1995, they were not thinking about agriculture. But scientists at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) saw data streams from earth-orbiting satellites as an opportunity to look at agriculture from a stellar new vantage point.

Soon, they were using satellite data steams to run crop models and evaluate the ability of fields to drain.

Fast forward to June 2019 when the CSA launched its third generation of SAR satellites, the RADARSATConstellation, and agriculture is now one of the primary clients and end-users.

The RADARSAT-Constellation is a series of three SAR satellites. When linked together, they orbit the earth, providing more frequent coverage and more advanced imaging of our agricultural resources.

Dr. Andrew Davidson, manager of Earth Observation Operations at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), explained that there is no better way to obtain national-scale information on the state and trends of agriculture and resource use than from space. “Satellites can cover way more ground at a much faster pace than humans, drones or aircraft, and the data can be used to measure things such as crop type, vegetation cover and productivity and surface soil moisture conditions,” he said.

These data are correlated with data from aircrafts, drones, and ground collection networks to produce highly accurate measurements of crops and conditions, with the ability to detect changes quickly.

Davidson underlined that satellites provide the kind of timely, reliable and scientifically validated information that is necessary to help scientists, farmers, producer groups as well as policymakers make good evidencebased decisions to manage their operations while protecting our natural resources.

AAFC’s Earth Observation Operations is based at the Ottawa Research and Development Centre. They are small, but mighty and the amount of

data they manage is impressive. “Satellites provide imagery; but it is the scientists on the ground who turn it into something useful,” said Davidson.

With other AAFC research scientists, they also manage international collaborations and together, AAFC is acknowledged as global experts in optical as well as SAR satellite technology.

Much of what Dr. Davidson’s team produces are data sets, maps and forecasting tools that can be accessed online through various AAFC web portals.

There are also tools and applications for analysing these data so that decision makers can make informed agricultural management decisions.

The Annual Space-Based Crop Inventory, a product of AAFC research, annually maps the crop type of every field in Canada and is used to detect trends in crop planting practices. It is also critical for other applications, such as warning growers of possible threats such as crop diseases. The inventory is also being used by provinces, private sector and academia to determine how crop agriculture is affecting the surrounding environment including lake water quality and honeybee populations. “These data have opened up the possibility of enhanced decision making in the agriculture sector,” Davidson said.

“And it doesn’t stop there; our ability to help meet the informational needs of the sector is only expected to improve as new satellite sensor technologies are launched, brought online, and made available.”

All in all, earth observation research is helping the Canadian agricultural sector thrive and the launch of Canada’s new RADARSAT-Constellation satellites will continue to benefit future generations of Canadians by protecting food production systems and the environment.

More information on the RADARSAT-Constellation Mission can be found on the Canadian Space Agency website at asc-csa.gc.ca/ eng/satellites/radarsat/ what-is-rcm.aspwebpage.

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August 30, 2019

The AgriPost

Auctions Are Here to Stay

By Harry Siemens Monday, August 5 marked 32 years of the Consignment Auction with auctioneer Bill Klassen at the Helm. His first auction involved getting the community of Blumenfeld together for a pie auction to raise funds for the rink and equipment.

“It does very well. Not every piece of equipment sells high or to the owner’s expectations, but all in all the community receives the auction very well,” said Klassen days after the 2019 version had ended. “Excellent support, as you could tell, and yeah, it’s a good thing.”

When asked how much money the last sale generated he said, “Oh, it’s not that much, just a little bit over a million with about 2,500 to 3,000 items, which is about average.”

Klassen is always ready with another story. The one about how this community started is one of his favourites. “You know, in 1988 the local John Deere dealership sold out by Eric Radke, and the new buyers wanted to get rid of the used equipment,” said Klassen. “Eric probably allowed too much in trade or wanted too much money for his machinery, and this new dealership did not want his trades.

So we had an auction, and there weren’t many machines, I believe about 20 PTOdriven pull-type combines and stuff that Eric had taken in trade over the years and never sold.”

He said the sale needed to happen that weekend but because it was booked on a Saturday they chose to do it on Monday, the August long weekend holiday. “And we tried to get more items consigned, and I did get some, but for whatever reason people were shy to bring stuff in,” he said.

“So it was a smaller auction, but from that day on I continued it every Monday on the August long weekend for the last 32 years I have conducted a consignment auction.”

Klassen celebrated his 51st year as an auctioneer on July 23. As to why he was holding and auction on that date he said an inspiration came when he was younger. He explained that he liked it very much but the start came as a thought when his father who had a mixed farm would listen to a stock market report on a Fargo, ND radio station that began with an auctioneer’s chant. “And one day, I don’t know, I guess I probably was 10 or 12, and then that auctioneer, that chant would be on again. And then the program was off, and he’d turn off the radio. And one day when he did that, I said, when I grow up, I’ll be an auctioneer,” said Klassen. “And of course my sister, who is two years younger than me, she smiled, and just everybody at the table said, yeah.

You know, that’s about it. And what do you know? It happened.”

Klassen reflected on the many changes that have taken place from his first through the next 51 years. “Well, there’s been a lot of changes. When I first started, people expect you to beg for more money. And when I went to auction school, I learnt that you ask for money and when people quit bidding, bang. Sell it. Create an urgency that if you want to bid, you do it now,” he said.

For one year he worked for an auctioneer who had this style taking forever to sell an item, and the bidders knew it. “So they played with him, and he’d beg for more money, and then eventually he’d get it,” said Klassen. “Then I came along and when they quit bidding, then boom. It was gone, whether it was enough money

Monday, August 5 marked 32 years of the Consignment Auction with Auctioneer Bill Klassen at the Helm. His first auction involved getting the community of Blumenfeld together for a pie auction to raise funds for the rink and equipment. The rest is history.

Crowd viewing items before bidding.

Photos by Harry Siemens

or not, bang. And people like that because the auction flowed and it moved.”

There came a time where some people resented the fact he sold too quickly, and his father suggested maybe he should slow down. “I said if I have to slow down and sell like some others then I don’t want this auction business. That’s not the way to go. And so I started a trend there, I think, especially here in south central Manitoba, that we sell stuff, if it’s for sale, sell it,” said Klassen on his unique style. “There comes a time when you realize; I’m out of money. Nothing’s going to come anymore, and I’m out. There’s no sense wasting time here. Move on.”

He noted that this year’s sale, are items at the end of the line and are not current for today’s big farms. “Either it’s got too many hours, or it’s too small or stuff like that,” said Klassen.

“Like those combines, they do a good job, but a big modern farm of a couple of thousand acres doesn’t want to farm like that because they might break down. And so that stuff always sells and that’s the niche that we have here where you can put it up for sale and sell it,” he said. “Like those two swathers, they came from Little Morden Service. They’ve had them on their lot for a long time. I don’t know how long. Well, one of them stays locally. The other one goes to Paraguay. Yes, we had a buyer from Paraguay. And at least two of those combines are going to Mexico. And I had a call from a guy yesterday that has relatives in Paraguay, and he says, next year my brother, who farms in Paraguay, is coming to this auction.”

Klassen said selling by auction will always remain popular because the new stuff is so expensive and that the right used equipment sells very strong. “If it’s more used than what the average is, there is always some bargain hunter who will take it home and has an idea of how to repair it or keep it going and fix it up. Or he thinks he has, and it might not happen after all. But yeah, auctions, they’re here to stay,” he said.

In this particular community auction, Klassen likes to think of it as a cleanup auction, a place people can get rid of something they do not need anymore

The AgriPost

New Zealanders Aim to Win Against the Best

By Les Kletke Bob Mehrtens would rather be fine tuning his plow and getting some advice from team mate Alan Wills but the pair were measuring out the plots to be used for the pre-practice sessions at the World Ploughing Championship in Baudette, Minnesota.

It was 10 days before the competition and many of the competitors were in the field with their tractors and ploughs but a definite lack of volunteers for the event meant some of the competitors were busy marking out guidelines for the practice field.

Mehrtens and Wills handled it good naturedly and found getting involved did more than sitting around and complaining.

“We are not here to complain, we are here to compete,” said Wills with a smile as he handed a tape measure to Mehrtens. Mehrtens will be competing in the reversible plough completions as in his three previous times. His best finish was 2nd place in Kenya two years ago.

“That one was a bit of a challenge as well, there were not a lot of volunteers and it was a bit short on organization,” said Mehrtens. “But we got things done.”

Mehrtens operates a trucking company on New Zealand’s south island and said he was a farm boy and competitive so that is how he got into the ploughing competition. “Having my own trucks allows me to travel to competitions so I go anywhere in New Zealand to compete,” he said adding a chuckle. “We are the country that had to travel the farthest and we were the first ones here.

The five person delegation includes two plowmen, a delegate to the World Ploughing Organization, an official for the event

Bob Mehrtens of New Zealand will be competing for the 4th time at the World Ploughing Championship in Baudette, Minnesota. His best finish to date is a 2nd two years ago in Kenya.

and a coach. The pair expected about 30 people from their home country would make the trip to Baudette to watch the event.

Looking at the pre-practice field they said the soil was similar to some that they would find in New Zealand but nothing that they have competed on before. “The difference in soil type is the biggest difference you will find in competitions,” said Mehrtens. “But that is why we are here early to get our ploughs adjusted; it is not just about the day of the competition it is about the preparation and knowing how to make the adjustments.”

The pair were clearing long cut grass from the field and preparing to get started with practice. “A rain would help,” noted Mehrtens.

MBP and KAP Combine Efforts to Aid Livestock Producers

By Elmer Heinrichs The Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Keystone Agriculture Producers (KAP) said that the dry conditions have resulted in lower than expected yields of hay and forage, which typically feed cattle.

Hay and forage yields are “significantly below average” in nearly every corner of the province, Manitoba Agriculture said in its August crop report. Cattle herds are out on pastures that are showing the effects of a two-year drought. Conditions have cattle producers considering their options on how they will get through the fall and winter.

“Many beef producers have been hard hit by back-to-back dry conditions that have led to diminished pasture and forage yields and depleted their hay and straw reserves,” explained MBP President Tom Teichroeb. Faced with these conditions, they are looking to source both traditional and alternative sources of feed and bedding. We are encouraging producers with these kinds of resources available to consider listing them for sale.”

“Given dry conditions reported across much of the province, we feel that it is important to ensure producers to know what their options are when it comes to both buying and selling available hay and straw,” said KAP President Bill Campbell.

“As a grain farmer and a beef producer, I must utilize every option available to en-

sure the long-term viability of my operation.”

The first-cut hay crop is mostly complete with yields running 25 percent to 50 percent of normal. The most severely affected tame hay fields in the north are half a round bale/acre,” reported Manitoba Agriculture. “Almost all pastures have been grazed down and are rated in poor condition.

Topsoil moisture for hay and pasture is rated as 50 percent short and 50 percent very short.” The report noted that cereal straw may not be available because crops are shorter than usual.

Because of the situation KAP and MBP are encouraging producers to list available feed for purchase.

Meanwhile, Ducks Unlimited Manitoba has reached out a helping hand to livestock farmers, making available almost 15,000 acres of forage and grazing land to producers.

This includes opening up DUC lands for haying (6,000 acres) and grazing (4,000 acres) as well as increasing the forage incentive program acreage to over 4,000 acres. Most of this land is located around Killarney, Minnedosa and Shoal Lake areas. The forage program offsets the cost of planting perennial forages for producers in DUC target areas.

Some grain crops were being harvested as greenfeed, particularly those stands suffering from a lack of soil moisture. Growers, who have hay or other forages for sale, can post on a number of websites including the Manitoba Hay Listing Service. As well, KAP and MBP have created a fact sheet, detailing the tools available for selling and purchasing feed.

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Youth Show Their Skills at Manitoba’ Youth Beef Round-Up

Manitoba Youth Beef Roundup Group photo 2019.

The cattle industry is in good hands after watching the participants at Round Up. On August 2 - 4, 48 enthusiastic Manitoba and Saskatchewan Junior Cattle Producers attended the 12th Annual Manitoba Youth Beef Roundup in Neepawa. Excitement in the cattle industry brought out a top-notch group of interested cattle producers and 58 head of cattle. This year, 22 new members attended Roundup for the first time.

The Junior members worked together as teams and in individual competitions to learn the skills needed in the Livestock Industry. This is not just any cattle show, it is an all-around event to promote and educate youth to continue in the livestock industry.

The weekend started off Friday afternoon with a presentation on judging techniques, parts of the animal and explanations on judging terms with Bill Biglieni of WLB Livestock. Following the judging workshop, Megan Baron gave an overview on how to give oral reasons for the judging competitions.

During supper, Junior Director, Taylor Carlson, made a presentation on her trips to Iowa and Japan for the junior members to see the opportunities that are available for them. That evening all juniors participated in the Photo Bingo Contest, a fun, hands on challenge where teams work together to complete 10 stations related to the cattle industry. It is a great way for Juniors to work together, make new friendships, learn some new skills and have fun while doing it.

On Saturday, the Juniors were busy with many different events.

In the morning they participated in Public Speaking, how to do an Interview, Individual Judging and attended an informative workshop on the Verified Beef Program by Coordinator of VBP, Betty Green.

In the afternoon, the Juniors took part in Team Judging, Team Fitting, the Stockman’s Knowledge competition and the Pee Wee’s learned how to make rope halters and other activities.

New General Manager of the Manitoba Beef Producers, Carson Callum, was in attendance to see what the Junior Beef Producers are involved in and view their various skills. Saturday evening was wrapped up with the Cook-Off competition sponsored

by Enns Brothers Equipment and a slip n’ slide to cool off for the day.

Sunday was show day with judges Robin Hogberg, John Hogberg and Kolton McInstosh. Juniors participated in showmanship classes in the morning and then confirmation classes in the afternoon. They rounded the day off with a parade of champions and a parade of 4-H champions then concluded with awards.

HTA Charolais Named Aggregate Winner at Pen Show

By Joan Airey The Manitoba Charolais Association (MCA) annual meeting and pen show was held in Birtle recently in conjunction with Birtle Agricultural Fair.

At the meeting Jeff Cavers was elected President of the MCA board along with new directors Bert McDonald, Erin Jackson, and Mervin Nykoliation.

Those attending were impressed with the quality of cattle on display for the 2019 MCA Pen Show in Birtle on August 3rd.

At the competition, Happy Haven Charolais won the pair of bred heifer class and High Bluff Stock Farm with High Bluff Natasha 7E with WCR Commission 593P calf won the 2-year old heifer calf class.

HTA Charolais, with HTA Glitter 510C alongside her HVA Braveheart 482E calf at side won the mature cow with heifer calf class.

Sundblade Charolais won the commercial pair and High Bluff Stock Farm for High Bluff Carla 41E with her WCR Commissioner 593P calf won the 2-year old with bull calf at side class.

HTA Charolais with HTA Sweetheart 495B with her LT Ledger 0332P bull calf won the mature cow with bull calf at side.

In addition, HTA Charolais won the bull calf contest and named the Aggregate winner.

Manitoba Charolais Association Board of Directors back row (l-r) Rae Trimble-Olson (Secretary-Treasurer), Erin Jackson, Shawn Airey (CCA director), Jim Olson (CCA director), Kevin Stebeliski, Ron McDonald, Bert McDonald, Tyler Stewart and Mervin Nykoliation.

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August 30, 2019

Swiss Competitor Hopes to Win Furrow Championship

By Les Kletke Marco Angst smiles politely when asked about ploughing in the Alps, it is a joke you know he has heard too often at these competitions. He first competed in the world championship in 2017 in Germany and finished 3rd overall with a 2nd place in the stubble competition and 5th in grassland. He is in Minnesota to compete for Switzerland in the reversible plow competition.

He said this year’s event will be more of a challenge because the soil type varies from the pre-practice field to where the competition will be held.

“Normally it is on the same soil type,” he said. Then with a smile adds, “We practice on the land we get.”

While he lives in Zurich his family farms near the German border and grows sugar beets, corn rapeseed and wheat on their farm. His family was with him and made the trip over early to see some of the area as well as lend support.

Angst was working on a stubble field and had added a skimmer to his plough. “It breaks the soil surface ahead of the shear,” he said. “It makes for a more even furrow with the skimmer.” The additional equipment meant more adjustments with the coulter and moldboard but he was happy to have the time to try several adjustments.

Marco has added a skimmer to the front of his shearer to open up the furrow.

He said that he became interested in ploughing as a young boy watching the competitions. “Now I am a mechanic in the construction industry and work with equipment mechanics,” he said. “To me it is interesting to make the changes to the equipment to do a better job.”

He does acknowledge that he is more interested in making the final adjustments to his competition plough than actually ploughing a field on his family farm.

He arrived in the US almost two weeks before the competition to allow himself

Photo by Les Kletke

time to make the final adjustments and while he was working on his plough he did voice some concern for the delegation from Northern Ireland who had shipped their ploughs and tractors over but the container had not yet arrived.

Both competitors from that country are former world champions and were getting just a bit anxious as their equipment had not yet arrived. “Hopefully it gets here soon and they will have time to practice,” said Angst who wants to win the competition in the furrow not on the draw sheet.

Competitors Look for Early Advantage in Ploughing Competition

By Les Kletke At least one member of the team that will be carrying the Canadian colours in the World Ploughing Championship feels he might have a bit of an advantage because he is aware of the soil types that the competitors will be ploughing at Baudette, Minnesota. The competition rotates between the 30 member countries and this year the US is hosting the championship. This is likely as close as the championship will be for Manitobans to see what happens at a world championship.

“I have a friend from this area that told me about the kind of soil they have and what we will be ploughing,” said Tom Evans of Tiverton, Ontario who will be competing for Canada in the Reversible Plough Competition. That information had Evans adjusting mould boards and shaping them for a better turn of the furrow. Many competitors will be using plastic mouldboards but he has chosen the steel though he has the plastic with him.

“It is dry now, but that could change,” he said. “We could get a rain the night before the competition and things would be different. Evans was adjusting his plough in a field where the pre-practice activity took place. Competitors would move to the practice field for the August 26 - 28 official practice and then on the official competition site taking place August 30 - 31.

Evans has been a competitor before placing 8th overall in Kenya and finishing 2nd in the grass ploughing competition.

Canada’s other competitor is Bert Beynes from Strathroy, Ontario. He claims 56 years of ploughing experience

some of it in Holland before he immigrated to Canada to become a dairy farmer. This will be his 8th competition and his best placing was 4th at the event in Ireland. “I still learn something at each competition and the more you see the more you learn and that gets you ready for the changes you will see,” he said. “The biggest change from one competition to another is the soil type.”

He said competition ploughing is about learning the basics and then being able to make the small changes at

each event and he counts on something always coming along to change conditions before the event which was still 10 days away from pre-practice field session. While he has retired from the dairy farm he is a school bus driver and keeps active with ploughing completions, and “Keeps learning.”

Tom Evans has been reworking his steel mouldboards to the shape best suited for the soil type of this year’s competition.

Bert Beynes began ploughing 56 years ago in Holland and says he is still learning.

Churchill Ships Grain Once Again

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By Harry Siemens In 2017, spring flooding severely damaged the Hudson Bay Rail Line, Churchill’s only land link to the rest of Canada. Since then, people and freight could only access Churchill via air and sea. Prices on everything from fuel to groceries skyrocketed, creating an emergency. Tourism declined. It stranded local families, students, and business owners.

Still some did not lose hope while others moved away.

In July 2019 Joe, ‘The Shipper’ Stover now a working grain handler in terminal at the Port of Churchill commented on the first rail cars filled with wheat. “It’s huge to see the first drag of cars for the first time in four years. It seems like it’s righting a wrong, I guess. It’s a 25-car shipment, and to test the tracks, basically to make sure that they can handle the weight of grain cars. I mean, all the work done on it, I’m pretty sure it’s ready to handle a full 80-car drag, which is normal for our line. But the test shipment was what they wanted to do,” said Stover. “And from what I understand, it’s 25 cars of Amber Durham, and they were all unloaded successfully this afternoon.”

Fast forward to August 22. “On Sunday night, [August 25], our first ship of the season will be arriving, the Federal Satsuki,” said Stover. “The Federal Satsuki’s current position is 59.77875 N / 4.16223 W on August 13. [It] is a bulk carrier built in 2012 and currently sailing under the flag of Marshall Islands and the estimated time of arrival is August 25 at 18:00 hours.”

Stover said this vessel is taking on about 35,000 to 36,000 tonnes equivalent to about 400 rail cars of Amber Durum wheat, all grain that moved to Churchill this season. “It’s slowly but surely, it’s, more or less this year, it’s just to let the industry know that we’re back in business and we can handle cars, we can handle ships,” said Stover. “We’ve proven we can handle the cars already. Now we’re going to show the industry that we can ship, and that will start once we inspect everything and stuff, should be good to go on Monday morning.”

He said under normal circumstances they can usually get anywhere between a thousand to about 1,400 tonnes an hour. “It’s been a while since I’ve shipped anything out of that office. It’s been about four years, but we might go a little bit slower, at least with this first ship, to be cautious and make sure that the equipment is good because it’s been a while since a lot of it has run. But we’re very confident once it gets going, we’ll just kind of wrap it up to normal levels,” he said.

For Stover it is another personal milestone getting back to the work he loves dearly. “The last time that I pulled a lever for one of the grain bins was around October 30 of 2015. So I’m looking forward to opening those shipping bins again. And hopefully, I’m not too rusty, but I’m pretty sure it’ll take a little bit to get back into the swing of things,” he said. “I work in what we call the shipping office. My title is gallery shipper, which of course a gallery is a big long, for lack of a better word, and in layman’s terms, it’s that grain tunnel, right, that comes from the elevator that comes up and then makes a 90-degree turn once it hits the dock. And all the spouts come from there. Once the grain gets weighed up, and in the shipping bins, my job is to release it, monitor how much grain we’ve shipped at certain intervals and things like that. So basically making sure that our shipping rate is where it should be and calculating how much grain has gone onto the ship at certain intervals. And then, of course, monitoring the whole process and making sure that all the equipment is running well and shipping as efficient as possible. And it’ll be exciting to have that first ship back. But once we open the levers for the shipping bins, it’s back to business, and that’s where we want to be.”

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