AgriPost January 29 2016

The Agri Post

Older Tractors Hot Commodity at Auctions

January 29, 2016

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By Les Kletke This is the time to upgrade your horsepower according to Greg Peterson or Machinery Pete, as he is known to his Facebook and YouTube followers.

Peterson told an Ag Days audience that this is the time to upgrade tractors. “You may not want to buy horsepower at this time, but this is exactly the time,” he said. “When everyone else is buying is not the time to get into the market. We have seen the price on large late model equipment sliding since 2013 and it is not going to continue forever. If you need some extra power on your farm this is the time.”

Peterson said he has been getting a large number of calls from American buyers who are wondering about the depressed Canadian dollar and how they can take advantage of it. “I tell them the dollar gives them a big advantage but they still need to find the equipment that fits their needs,” he said. “There is no doubt the equipment is around, they just have to source it.”

Peterson said one market that has remained strong is good quality older equipment.

“We see those tractors that are 10-20 years old and have been shedded, selling for a premium at every auction we go to,” he said. “Farm auctions bring the best price and dealer or consignment sales

Greg Peterson or as most people know him… Machinery Pete.

“There is not an auctioneer that does not open the bidding with, ‘you know the price of a new one’ and then go into the bids.” are slightly lower.”

The value of older equipment does not surprise him.

“Not a bit. That equipment has always sold well and it is bringing more of a premium because of the price of the new stuff and the fact that it is not being made. I see guys paying a lot of money for 6 row planters because they are not being made and if they want one, they have to buy a used one, and they want a good one.”

He said auctioneers are well aware of the trend, “There is not an auctioneer that does not open the bidding with, ‘you know the price of a new one’ and then go into the bids.

That works,” he said.

Peterson said that for farmers selling equipment there are a few things they can do to get a better price. “Don’t have your sale when the calendar is crowded with sales and for heaven’s sake don’t be the last sale of the season,” he said. “Try to be early even if it is not the traditional sale time.”

He recommends pictures and more pictures for any equipment being listed for sale. “And a video telling the story of that piece of equipment, buyers want to know the story. Give them a video.

They don’t cost anything and they bring you a good return.”

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January 29, 2016

The Agri Post

Cattle Producer says his Cows are Good for Sustaining the Environment

By Harry Siemens When “experts” want to tell the cattle producers about sustaining the environment or that cattle producers and their commodity, cattle, is destroying the environment there is enough good evidence and research to show how good cattle really are for the environment.

Canada’s beef industry continues to improve efficiencies that lessen its environmental impacts, with production of one kilogram of Canadian beef creating 15 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions in 2011 compared to 1981, says a new study.

Continual improvements in production and feed efficiencies, crop yields and management strategies, resulting in reduced emissions and resource requirements, are largely responsible for the significant decrease in environmental impact, according to the first results of a comprehensive fiveyear (2013-2018) study examining the Canadian beef industry’s environmental footprint. The results are in the journal Animal Production Science.

Tom Teichroeb, a cattle producer at Langruth agrees that Clayton Robins is an expert on some of the research on sustainability and how using beef cattle on conventional grain land has improved topsoil conditions in almost every aspect.

Further research shows that with improved feeding and management techniques, the carbon footprint is virtually negligible.

Secondly, he says there is excellent research from the University of Manitoba, courtesy of Dr. Kim Ominski. The Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation has even recognized the benefits of sustainable production practices in their projects by including livestock on most of their projects.

“Why is this so important to myself as well as the beef industry?” he asks, “…growth of the beef industry. That is very hard to achieve long term when there is a

perception that the beef industry is harmful to the environment. And that is why the beef sector is in a win-win situation when there is research that supports beef cattle are NOT detrimental to the environment.”

Conducted by researchers at the University of Manitoba, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) Lethbridge and Environment Canada, the study found there is a 15 percent decrease in methane, 16 percent decrease in nitrous dioxide and 13 percent decrease in carbon dioxide from beef production in Canada over the past 30 years. Comparing the same time periods, it took 29 percent fewer cattle in the breeding herd and 24 per cent less land to produce the same amount of beef.

Funded by the Beef Cattle Industry Science Cluster, the study explored the entire production system – from cow-calf to feedlot. Future phases of the study will assess the impact of Canadian beef production in areas such as water use, biodiversity and provision of ecosystems services.

The results of this study speak to the industry’s commitment to continuous improvement and sustainability. It will also provide important historical information to the environmental component of the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB)’s first-ever National Beef Sustainability Assessment. The CRSB sustainability assessment will benchmark the industry’s social, economic and environmental impact using 2013 as the baseline. The assessment will be revisited, and progress evaluated every five years.

Results from the remaining phases of the industry environmental footprint study, including water use, biodiversity and provision of ecosystems services, are expected in 2018.

Teichroeb says he’s on the same page.

Cattle producer Tom Teichroeb says ranchers are doing their part to sustain the environment.

Redpath Awarded A.O. Henuset Memorial Distinguished Service for 2015

By Joan Airey Redpath Simmentals received the A.O. Henuset distinguished Service Award for 2015. Fraser Redpath commented that he was thrilled to receive the award, as he was just a guy who fed cattle and drove fence staples, the same as everyone else in the Simmental breed. Up until recently there have always been cows on their farm.

“In the early seventies, Dad, like all our neighbours had a British based cow herd. He loved the temperament and the hardiness of these cattle but it was pounds that brought rewards in the fall and his calves just failed in pushing down scales at the auction market. He did try a couple breeds before settling

into the Simmental breed. The first bull he bought came from Whitfield Farms in Souris for an exorbitant amount of $700.

He was hooked forever as the calves grew all summer and the calves in the fall were a huge hit at the auction barn,” said Fraser Redpath.

In 1979, they became lifetime members of the Canadian Simmental Association with membership number 14169 and at that time began registering some females. In 1991, they joined the Manitoba Simmental Association so they could show a pair at the summer show, Although AI and the embryo work was done on their farm it was not a major component of their operation. They used their herd bull on all cows on the farm.

“In 2001 we started talking with a local Hereford neighbour and Gordon Jones about the possibility of a bull sale. With tons of planning and a lot of work, we had our first sale at Guilford Hereford Ranch. With bulls from their farm, bulls from Gordon Jones Simmentals, Snowflake Ranch, and our Redpath Simmentals the Prairie Partners multi breed bull sale was reality. I’m proud to say the sale still runs today with the veterans Gordon and Lauren Jones as well as the young aggressive Silver Lake Farms Crew,” said Redpath.

“In the early 80s I was on the original Manitoba YCS organization. Over the next couple of years, we went on local breeder tours, helped at Ag-Ex and attended showmanship/ grooming/courses all under the supervision of Bev Beech, Bob Thompson, and Blair McRae. There was probably more than those three, but trust me after you spend a few weekends with at least two of those three people the rest, as they say is history. A highlight for my YCS encounters would be going to Nova Scotia for a two-week stint to help show cattle for Brian and Stephanie Forsyth. People I’m proud to say are friends to this day,” said Redpath.

In the late 1990s, he served on the board of the Pembina Triangle Association and was president for four years. He also was on the Manitoba Simmental Board for six years and spent six years on the Canadian Simmental Board, the last year as president.

“Being on these boards did take a certain amount of my time away from the farm. Our neighbours as well as my wife Kate and our son Corey stepped up and filled in while I was away. Two years ago, our cowherd went up for sale and was purchased by Clint and Andrea of Silver Lake Farms. I’m very pleased they are involved with the Jones’ in continuing on with the Prairie Partner Bull Sale name,” said Redpath.

The Agri Post

January 29, 2016

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Beef Producer Volunteers Help McDonald’s Pilot Verification Program

By Les Kletke The Canadian beef industry has a marketing opportunity that is almost too good to be true. Fast food giant McDonald’s is offering Canadian beef producers a program that will verify their sustainability. A marketing dream come true and a

message that that any farm group would have difficulty with on their own.

The fast food giant has not always been kind to Canadian farmers dropping GMO potatoes like the proverbial hot potato even when producers see it as a way to cut chemical applications to their field.

The restaurant could be

called heavy handed on the issue of eggs from chickens kept in cages, but it was making choices that were right for its marketing plan and now it sees that partnering with the Canadian beef industry could be a win/win situation. Although, the motivation is not all altruistic, McDonalds sees that it could gain a strong market position for its beef by developing a verification program for its beef producers.

Jeffry Fitzpatrick-Stilwell is with McDonald Canada and was part of the Beef and Forage Week Seminar travelling across the province. He said the program is in the pilot stages and hopes to have 220 producers signed up by late February.

The timing could not be better for beef producers who are beginning to see a down turn in record prices and upswing in production numbers. There was concern in the industry that record retail prices for beef would have consumers moving to other protein sources. There may be an advantage being part of a McDonalds advertising campaign that shows cattle production as environmentally sustainable. The hope is, it could keep beef consumption at current levels or even bring back some consumers who have shied away from the traditional red meat.

“There was a feeling that beef would be the new SUV,” said Stilwell. “And people would be shamed for barbecuing it just as they are shamed for driving monstrous SUVs.” The program is being tested in Canada but could be McDonald’s model for the rest of the world.

McDonald’s has 34,000 restaurants in 120 countries and serves 70 million customers a day. The Canadian numbers though smaller are equally impressive buying 65 million lbs of beef annually in this country.

Stilwell faced questions about the internet hoax that said the company did not buy all its beef for Canadian restaurants in this country. “We have seen the internet material and this is the second time it has come around, it even said we bought a company name ‘100% Canadian Beef’ so we could say we

“We believe that Canadian beef is sustainable and we want to be a part of the verification system that proves that and enables us to tell consumers the story.”

Jeffrey Fitzpatrick-Stilwell of McDonalds Canada is offering to tell the story of beef production in this country.

buy 100% Canadian Beef,” he said with chuckle. “We have gone to the registry to prove there is no company with that name and we buy our beef in this country.”

“We believe that Canadian beef is sustainable and we want to be a part of the verification system that proves that and enables us to tell consumers the story,” said Stilwell. “We have a chance to be a global pilot here.”

Fitzpatrick-Stillwell is asking Canadian beef farmers from every province to volunteer for the program to help shape the future of beef production and consumption. “We are not paying you, we want to help tell your story.”

The pilot, which has the backing of the Canadian Cattlemen,’s Association, is fully paid by McDonald’s.

The company pays for the third party onsite verification, provides participants with a report to confidentially benchmark their performance compared to that of their peers, helps with telling their sustainability story through its communications network and showcase the grassroots sustainability of the Canadian beef community.

The pilot will eventually transition to the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where the lessons learned will inform its work as it begins implementing a program for sustainable beef verification across Canada.

Program results will also be shared with the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (GRSB). The verification program uses more than 30 different indicators to

assess a cow-calf, fed cattle and primary processors, based on five principles for sustainable beef production developed by the GRSB. As part of McDonald’s pilot, the indicators have already been tested at the farm level and are now available for use by beef farms and processors across Canada.

According to McDonald’s nearly 100 Alberta ranchers have expressed interest in participating in the pilot, and more than 25 have already completed or have scheduled their verification.

For more information on volunteering for the pilot project visit vsbpilot.ca, contact mattsv@prasinogroup.com or call Matt SuttonVermeulen at 515-371-7914.

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January 29, 2016

The Agri Post

GM Salmon Gains Approval Near the close of 2015, big news on the genetically modified front. The first ever GM animal, a salmon, was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for sale to the public. A long overdue step – it took regulators 20 years to deem the fish safe – but a welcome one.

AquaBounty, the company that invented the fish, applied for FDA permission to sell them back in September 1995.

Think back to the new inventions that made their way to the marketplace that year. They included a Nokia cell phone that weighed almost a pound and had a black and white screen, a 28.8k dial-up modem and the first ever DVD players. Think about how much better those technologies are today.

Imagine how much better farmed fish and livestock might be if they’d been allowed to progress in the same manner.

The Toronto Star reports that research and

collaboration among GM scientists started in 1982.

First they mapped the genome of the Atlantic salmon and then made two changes: “They incorporated the growth hormone gene of the Chinook salmon into the Atlantic salmon genome.

Then they turned on a promoter to keep the growth hormone gene turned on year round.

Normally the growth hormone gene is turned off during the winter when food is scarce. The result is an Atlantic salmon that grows bigger and twice as quickly, maturing in two years as opposed to four.”

One of the scientists was Canadian Garth Fletcher, now 79. He didn’t believe approval would ever come in his lifetime. “In fact,” adds the Star, he didn’t think even his grandchildren would live to see the day when his creation, the world’s first genetically modified fish intended for the dinner table would be

approved for consumption.”

Nutritionally it is just the same as regular salmon, with the same fatty acid content and even the same taste. Now that it has been approved, the salmon has the potential to be a win-win for both fish farmers and consumers as it can be produced quicker and cheaper than other varieties. It is estimated that 25% less feed will be needed to bring these fish up to market weight.

The reason for all the delay in approval was quite obvious. Since their inception, these fish were met with intense antibiotech fear-mongering.

They were slurred as dangerous “Frankenfish” and subsequently bounced from administration to administration. No one wanted to make the final call. AquaBounty should be commended for sticking it out this long and not giving up on their creation.

But the fight may not be

over. Activists are still looking for ways to block the introduction of this exciting new breakthrough. Worse still is that the long delay in approving the salmon has put a chill over the research community in North America. The next breakthrough is more likely to come from China, India, New Zealand, or perhaps even Latin America or Cuba. All these countries are actively pursuing GM

Penners Points

by Rolf Penner

rolfpenner@agripost.ca research into animals.

One writer, people think of it.

Christopher Labos, also a Let’s hope it doesn’t Montreal doctor, cut take another 20 years for through all of the usual the next GM animal to bluster on both sides of work its way through the the GM debate with this regulatory maze and onto common sense statement our dinner plates. But we about the new salmon, probably shouldn’t hold “Some think this will lead our breath, either. Given to the salvation of the campaign of blarney humanity and others to its against GM crops, downfall. I think it’s just a gaining acceptance for fish.” Despite how it’s this new technology may sometimes reported, that’s require a long fight. probably how most

A GM salmon in the background compared to an Atlantic salmon the same age.

The Agri Post

Is a Clown Running Your Farm?

Who makes the decisions on your farm? The ones that really matter, even bigger than the variety of canola you grow or when you cut your alfalfa? Chances are you get to make those decisions but the really big ones get made some place else, someplace like Toronto or New York or California.

We have come a long way from the days of growing things on the farm and delivering them to the nearest town where they might be loaded on a train and transported to waiting markets.

Today that market is telling us what they want and in how many cases and in how they want it grown. If you doubt the transition, think of how Wal-Mart decided they would have an organic department and the produce would be the same price as conventional produce. Farmers were left with the choice of finding a way to do that and actually compete with each other to supply the Wild Oats brand, which is the organic in the big blue W. Need more examples? Remember genetically modified potatoes, our province was a leader in that area and a clown decided that his millions of customers would not like that and they were done away with. The fact that they required less chemical application had nothing to do with it Ronald said no, and the processors who supply him said no.

When Ronald thought that people would like eggs from chickens that were not in cages he told producers so, and methods of production in an industry changed.

I am not for a second saying that Ronald McDonald is making poor choices; he decided what was best for his business and what would allow him serve another billion or so meals. That is the order of magnitude of his buying, and the power that comes with it.

Recently I heard Harold Froese explaining the TPP and expanding markets for foreign eggs in our country. He pointed out that the trade agreement would allow some 19 million dozen eggs in 18 years and there was a plan to compensate farmers for the price drop that was expected. He brought the entire presentation into focus by saying that is roughly the same number of eggs McDonald buys annually in this country and they decided that they want eggs for chicken not in cages and it happens.

Now Ronald is offering to partner with beef producers in a verification program, and I can only hope that producers see the value and take advantage of the program.

This is not some clown making decisions on your farm, this is a marketing giant that wants to partner with Canadian beef producers, and given that opportunity I would say yes, all day long.

Selinger Government Steps Up BiPole III Bullying Dear Editor: It is hard to believe but the Selinger Government has stooped to new lows.

Under Mr. Selinger’s watch, Manitoba Hydro contractors are now being routinely dispatched to bully farm families who are standing up for their property rights in order to protect their farms from devastating crop and livestock diseases.

The Selinger-hijacked Hydro now appears to be adding religious discrimination to the list of civil rights and liberties it is prepared to violate as part of its effort to bulldoze all reasonable objections to its controversial BiPole III project.

The latest example was when representatives from Forbes Bros., one of Hydro’s many contractors, showed up on Ridgeland Colony’s farm on January 6, a day no, less when the entire Hutterite colony was quietly observing Epiphany.

Colonies are very strong in their Christian faith and to interrupt them on such an important date is simply outrageous. It is nothing short of discrimination and pretty soon Mr. Selinger will be telling us on which day we can and cannot observe our religious beliefs.

The colony is located east of Winnipeg, about seven miles north from the junction of Highway 12 and the TransCanada.

The colony, supported by the Manitoba BiPole Landowner Committee (MBLC) and the Canadian Association of Energy and Pipeline Landowner Associations (CAEPLA), respectfully asked the contractors to stay off their land until a biosecurity agreement is duly and properly negotiated.

Manitoba farm families directly impacted by BiPole III have formed an association with CAEPLA to represent them and negotiate a fair business agreement with Manitoba Hydro that addresses all our legitimate concerns, including biosecurity. We have been trying for well over 2 years now to engage Manitoba Hydro in such negotiations.

It is hard to believe that this type of behaviour, using contractors to bully farm families is going on in a province whose government proudly proclaims the Magna Carta being a cornerstone of the Human Rights Museum in Winnipeg.

Mr. Selinger, when will you take control of the situation and ask Manitoba Hydro to respect our property rights and religious beliefs? When will you let them negotiate with us? Why are you taking away our basic rights and freedoms to associate in order to bargain collectively? Why can hardworking farm families not have the ability to bargain collectively when that represents such a core value for your government?

Jürgen Kohler MBLC Chair Brunkild, MB

January 29, 2016

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Cuban Utopia Struggles with Drought and Change While Canada has mostly normal relations with Cuba, the US is only in the beginning stages of restoring relations with a country where the Castro government owns half of everything.

What prompts me to write about Cuba you may ask, well our daughter Lynn spent a week vacationing in Varadero with a population of about 27,170 just after Christmas.

While not ready to leave just after a week, she liked the laid-back atmosphere and the friendliness of local people. The sand and beaches were great and the temperature hot. Sometimes, it would get so windy, she felt chilly even at 37 degrees Celsius.

For the group she went with, most had vacationed there before, and this was the ‘one more time’ thingy before the US moves in and changes the country to as yet an unknown future. Lynn says most of the people there; youth included really don’t want to see the Americans coming to revamp what has existed under the Castro communist regime. For her it was like stepping back in time, much like what she would have imaged Florida to be back in ‘50s.

While finding the laid-back attitude relaxing, it also meant that places of business, especially the restaurants would open at different times, seldom on schedule. It will be interesting to see what will actually happen in Cuba as far as remodelling the old, upgrading the existing, and building new. Me thinks that just because there is a removal of the travel ban for US citizens and opening an American Embassy that things won’t change overnight.

But change they will.

An estimate from The Black Book of Communism is that throughout Cuba 15,000-17,000 people were executed after the 1959 communist takeover. Meanwhile, in nearly all areas of government, loyalty to the regime became the primary criterion for all appointments.

I’m not here to defend or criticize what will or will not happen in a communist government, but when someone tells me that local Cuban citizens want things to stay as they are, I look at the past executions, people who fought for freedom; obviously, you must say things should remain the same. And yet, a water shortage in the capital city of Havana, to the point of the ordinary citizen having access to clean water for a measly eight hours a week, can’t be all good either.

Here is part of an article that says the Cuban capital is facing its worst water shortage in the last 50 years due to the effects of the drought and the progressive deterioration of the fresh water supply network, according to the Communist Party daily Granma.

According to media reports, this is affecting more than a million people, and could become much worse if rains do not come. The paper says somewhat more than 100,000 Havana residents are only receiving their water from cistern trucks, a situation that imposes an “elevated cost” on the depressed national economy.

While the resort our daughter stayed at for a week had water all the time, sometimes it wasn’t hot, but a five minute walk to the building others from the group stayed at, did allow for hot showers.

In an online search for Cuban agriculture, I find out, it has played an important part in the economy for several hundred years. Yet, today, it contributes less than 10 percent to the gross domestic product (GDP), but it employs about 20 percent of the working population. About 30 percent of the country’s land is used for crop cultivation.

The inefficient agricultural industry in Cuba has led to the need to import large amounts of beef and lard.

Cuba now imports about 70 to 80% of all the food its people consumes and 80 to 84% of that food is provided via rations. The rationing program accounts for about a third of the food energy the average Cuban consumes.

Therefore, I find it interesting here is an island surrounded by water, a tropical climate with plenty of ground to cultivate crops, there is a water shortage and they import far too much food. How come? Is it a utopia? As the old saying goes, if the grass is so much greener on the other side of the fence, why do the cows keep trying to bust out all the time?

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January 29, 2016

The Agri Post

Prepare Your Beef Cows for a Successful Calving Season

By Peter Vitti Warm weather that we had a couple of months ago has given me a false sense of security. I somehow think that climate change lasts forever, yet one good arctic blast snaps me out of it. In the same way, producers should make sure that their pre-calving beef cows’ plane of nutrition is adequate during the last couple of months of gestation as well as combat inevitable frigid weather.

Such is the case as shown by the picture that I took last February. It shows a couple of cows from a well-managed 100 cow-calf operation. I’ve known this producer for many years and he has had many successful calving seasons in a row. His story is a testament of retaining the cowherd’s good body condition throughout winter until his last cow calves and then beyond toward the breeding season.

His experience is a mirror image of many university research studies, which prove that overwintered mature cows and replacement heifers that calve at an optimum body condition score (BCS) of 2.5 to 3.0 (scale of 1 = emaciation to 5 = obese) have a greater chance of a trouble-free calving season compared to skinny fresh cows. Clear advantages of such optimum BCS in beef cows at calving are: an easier birthing time, produce more colostrum of higher quality, nurse a vigorous calf, return to estrus/ quicker to be rebred and pregnant with the next year’s calf.

Although, there is no scientific method to judging BCS in beef cows, one can a take a practical approach to scoring cows that I learned a long time ago. To start, I look straight along the tail and then feel the fat cover on the tail-head, pin-bones, hipbones, hind backbone and finally the last couple of ribs.

It’s easy. To me, a really thin cow (BCS < 2.0) looks skinny while an overconditioned cow (BCS = 5), simply looks fat. In between, a cow with an optimum BCS of 2.5 – 3.0 should have a good overall appearance without the look of being “too gaunt or too fleshy”. Fat still covers her hips, but they are still visible and moderate pressure on them can still identify some bone structure.

Similarly, I formulate diets to parallel the overall optimum body condition of the main cowherd during the last 90 days of pregnancy. I then increase the dietary energy, protein, mineral and vitamins by about 20 – 25% depending on the BCS of the particular herd, which should take care of the dramatic unborn calf growth, placenta development and ammonic fluid accumulation. All of which allows the gestating cow to gain ½ - ¾ kilo per day.

In addition, my formulation accounts for colostrum being manufactured in the cow’s udder as well as prepares the cow to resume estrus once she calves.

I’ll also make further upward nutrient adjustments to the same diet as the weather gets colder based upon a cold-

weather rule of thumb, which dictates: For every 1 C drop in temperature below 0 C, the beef cows’ TDN energy maintenance requirements are increased by about 2%. Despite, natural metabolic triggers that simulate her feed intake by an additional 30%, I seem to be justified to boost the dietary energy by 25 – 40% at this time of year.

Luckily, I find that the practical overwinter diets of pre-calving mature beef cows and first-calf replacement heifers (plus thin mature cows) are not particularly difficult to formulate if producers have a good forage inventory, which can be easily supplemented with high-energy grain and other feeds.

Adequate quality grass hay or mixed grass-alfalfa mixtures make excellent precalving feeds often mixed with a little grain such as barley or grain by-products such as distillers’ grains.

Similarly, the use of lower quality forages such as poor quality hay or cereal straw can also be adequately fed to pre-calving, just as long as their feed intake by beef cows and nutrient limitations are recognized. In these cases, forages should be diluted with better quality forages or an extra compliment of grain or more protein might be needed.

In addition to assuring an adequate supply of energy and protein for precalving cows, meeting their mineral and vitamin requirements is also very important. Commercial minerals with complimentary levels of calcium and phosphorus to those found in the forages and with good levels of trace minerals (copper, zinc, manganese, cobalt, iodine and selenium) and vitamins A, D, and E should be provided at the rate of 50 – 85 grams per head, daily. Salt and a good source of free choice water should also be included in the feeding program for expecting cows.

Such feeding practices are followed by the beef producer that owns those cows in the picture. He maintains good body condition score of his late-trimester cows during the last few months of winter until the snows disappears by: (1) saving and feeding his better quality mixed grass hay during January to March (2) supplements a corn/barley mix with a mineral/vitamin premix and (3) has a well-bedded straw filled poll-barn and makes good use of windbreaks in the dry-lot.

As a result, his cows successfully give birth to healthy and profitable calves, year after year.

Tell Your Story to Tell Our Story

By Les Kletke Andrew Campbell did not set out to be a media darling by posting pictures of what was happening on the family farm at London, Ontario. He said the idea to post a picture a day was as much about self-discipline as anything else was.

“I wanted to take more pictures and tell people about what was happening on the farm,” Campbell told a Brandon audience during Ag Days. “Especially on slow days, so I made the decision to post a picture every day and it turned out to be a big hit.”

He said it was a concern about getting pictures of his farm to the public. “There are sources out there that are opposed to any type of animal agriculture,” he said. “They are not always truthful so I felt an obligation to tell the truth about what farming with animals is like and how they are treated.” Campbell farms with his wife and parents near London and have a 50 cow dairy and 500 acres of crop land in beans, corn and wheat.”

The project ran its course in 2015 and he has decided to slow down but he is still determined to tell the story of agriculture. “I am still amazed at the response I got,” he said. “Sometimes it was things like a picture of the kid’s boots beside mine that got the biggest response, but it did.” He was overwhelmed by the response to the program that began as freshairfarmer on twitter and now has a page on Facebook.

“I tried to answer the questions because people take the time to ask them so I try to bet back to them,” said Campbell who sits down twice a week to deal with the questions and comments that have grown to more than he can handle daily as a passing effort.

When asked if everyone should focus on a picture campaign, he said, “No. It is not for everyone, and everyone has their own skills, some farmers go to schools, some donate money to programs, some write letters to the editor and some go to booths at fairs. We all need to do what we can to get the story of our business out there, the stock brokers of downtown Toronto are not telling our story, and we need to do that.”

He said that while agriculture enjoys a good image in most people’s eyes it cannot be taken for granted, “We cannot expect that to go on, if we do not provide the information about what we are doing on our farms and that it is environmentally sound and that we treat our animals in a humane way.”

The Agri Post

January 29, 2016

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The Agri Post

January 29, 2016

Hudson Bay Railroad and Port of Church Deal Struck

Forage Fields Should be Tested at Least Once in a Rotation

First Nation groups dependent on the Hudson Bay rail line activity will take ownership of the Manitoba service from The Pas to Churchill Port and the port facility, owned for now by OmniTrax Canada.

By Harry Siemens Over the last several months, negotiations resulted in a signed deal between OmniTrax Canada and a group of First Nations led by Mathias Colomb Cree Nation to buy the Hudson Bay Railway and the Port of Churchill.

The First Nations people dependent on the Hudson Bay Railroad and the port welcome the deal. Arlen Dumas, Chief of the northern Mathias Colomb First Nation said his people are proud to champion this effort to reinvigorate the north in a meaningful way.

Dumas said support would come from various partners, but did not elaborate on the structure and the financing; however, he suggested it would reflect new realities, a historic transfer of land and infrastructure back to their rightful owners.

The Mathias Colomb Cree Nation and two other northern bands, have experience in the railroad business buying. They acquired the line from Pukatawagan to The Pas from Omnitrax in 2006 operating the Keewatin Railway Co. successfully since then.

Sinclair Harrison, President of the Hudson Bay Route Association, which promotes use of the rails and port, said the association would support whatever the ownership structure looked like, picking no favourites.

John Heard of MAFRD tells Beef and Forage week attendees to replace the nutrients their crop removes from the soil as a minimum and then consider adding to soil nutrients to improve it.

By Les Kletke John Heard knows that there is not much that can be done about forage stands in Manitoba during the month of February but he does believe it is a good time to design a plan for annual or longer management.

Heard is a Soil Fertility Specialist with Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (MAFRD) in Carman travelling across the province in mid-January part of the Beef and Forage Week Tour.

He advocates a much more detailed approach to forage management instead of, “We had a good crop, so let’s put on some fertilizer.” While the concept is correct, he advised producers to take stock of what they removed from the field in nutrients and at a minimum restore that amount and if at all possible, they should consider building up the bank of nutrients in the soil, particularly if

they have been drawing down on the soil levels.

Through his presentation, Heard asked producers about fertilizer methods they were using to try to determine the problems in the fields he pictured. Heard had also provided the audience with electronic voting machines so no one would be embarrassed by their methods or wrong answers on problem fields.

The response showed that about 1/3 of producers soil tested once in a rotation while nearly 20% tested annually. Over 40% did not test at all.

He does not say that annual testing is necessary but strongly suggests a test at least once in a rotation to establish the nutrient levels in the field. Then using information about the amount of forage removed from the field producers can determine how much fertilizer is needed to maintain soil nutrients or improve soils if they choose.

He said that a ton of alfalfa draws 60 lbs of nitrogen from the soil, as well as 15 lbs of potassium and another 60 lbs of potash. His results showed that by adding extra nitrogen there is a greater return on forage grass mixes. “But the determining factor is the moisture,” he said. “If we get the moisture, adequate nitrogen can double the yield.”

Heard’s suggestion for management of forage grass mixes, begins by calculating a grass field stand. “Establish the recommendations for a pure grass field and then back off it 1/3 of the stand as forages cut back your nitrogen by that amount,” said Heard.

Weed control, can also be aided by fertilizer. “Dandelions are an opportunistic weed,” he said. “They fill in any empty spaces in the soil when they have a chance. So you can give your crop an added advantage to fight them in June by the application of phosphate.”

He reminded producers that taking bales to the yard was removing the nutrients from the field unless manure is returned to the same field. “Each round bale takes 15 lbs of phosphate from the field,” he said. “That needs to be replaced.”

Organic Conference to Focus on Cutting Edge Prairie Organics is a two-day conference in Winnipeg February 18 and 19 with three separate streams for vegetable growers, livestock operators and grain producers.

The vegetable sessions target mainstream vegetable producers who are considering transitioning a few acres to organic. The grain and livestock streams are targeted to current organic producers who want to build their production skills. For each stream, the organizers have brought together some of the finest dedicated organic researchers on the continent, along with leading edge organic producers.

For those attending in person, there will be plenty of opportunity to network with other organic producers, input suppliers, equipment suppliers, buyers and certification bodies.

As an organic or transitioning producer, there are also opportunities to meet buyers face to face in 20 minute scheduled meetings. Most meetings are scheduled at the breaks so you may not have to miss a single talk. If you are interested in participating in the B2B sessions, email Laura.Telford@gov.mb.ca with the crops that you have in the bin or plan to plant in 2016.

For producers who cannot make it to Winnipeg there will be a live webcast of the sessions in the largest room (Richardson Auditorium) with access to 10 one-hour conference sessions over two days for $50.

Each conference session highlights practical research and the latest producer-tested practices to build soil fertility and manage weeds while keeping the profitability and sustainability of the whole farm in mind. For those attending the conference in person, there are 20 sessions to choose from (10 per day). Producers can also participate in a mini-trade show, Business-to-Business meetings and an evening networking session on February 18, from 7 - 11 pm. The cost per person for 2 days is $125 or one day at $80. Student rates also available.

The full conference program is available at umanitoba.ca/afs/prairieorganics/program.

The conference will take place in the Agriculture Building, University of Manitoba and to park on campus, participants will need to purchase daily parking passes for $12/day.

By mentioning Prairie Organics, special hotel conference rates are available through CanadInns Fort Garry on Pembina Highway.

The Agri Post

Field Peas...

Promising Crop for 2016

By Elmer Heinrichs It could be a big year for field peas in Manitoba according to Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development’s (MAFRD) Industry Development Specialist for pulses, Dennis Lange who spoke to over 100 farmers attending St. Jean Farm Days in January.

He suggested Manitoba’s acreage in field peas might be bumped up by as much as 35,000 acres, potentially going up as high as 100,000. Field pea acreage began rising last year and now is set to move again in 2016, the International Year of Pulses.

“Talking to a few growers at some of the shows this year, they’re real keen on bringing this crop back into southern Manitoba,” he said. “But they’re also cautious.”

“They’re growing acres they feel comfortable with.

They’re not going hog wild and growing thousands of acres. They’re incorporating [peas] into the rotation and seeing the benefits of growing another pulse,” said Lange.

While field peas are more common in western parts of the province, Lange, who is based out of MAFRD’s Altona office, said it’s a less common crop in more central and eastern areas of Manitoba, like the Red River Valley.

“Going back 15, 20 years, we used to grow quite a number of acres of field peas in the Red River Valley. We got into some wet cycle years, we ran into some disease issues, and we really didn’t have any good control measures for some of the diseases we were facing at that time,” added Lange.

However, times have changed, and “Now we have some fungicide options, and we also are out of that disease cycle because we haven’t been growing field peas for a number of years.”

According to market trend prices Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Agriculture, where field peas are more commonly grown prices per bushel for yellow field peas now are more than four dollars higher than they were this time last year, reaching $11.73/bu on January 6, 2016.

“With higher prices, we’re definitely going to see the acres kind of pushed to their extreme in Canada for those special crops,” said G3 Canada’s Director of Market Research Neil Townsend, noting Canadian pulses in general will be important this year due to problems in Indian pulse production.

“The problems in India are real,” said Townsend.

“We’ve seen a bad growing season in the summer where they just didn’t’’ have the moisture levels to produce as much crop as they need.

And on the chickpea, lentil or pea front, where those are big components of their diets there, this is going to have a real tangible effect, and already has.”

Farm Credit Canada’s (FCC) outlook for 2016 also reflects this drop in Indian production, forecasting the effects of El Nino to further cut into Indian chickpea production, which FCC’s Chief Agricultural Economist JP Gervais said would push demand for Canadian pulse production shoring up reduced supplies.

While overall Canadian pulse production could be in demand this year, Lange said growers are easing into field peas in Manitoba, putting the crop in some of the better-performing fields with good drainage, as field peas will not take heavy rain the way soybeans will.

When planting peas, he also said it is important to have a good germinating seed and to know what the seed moisture is like. “Ask a few questions, like how was [the seed] harvested last year and how was it handled?

That way you can make adjustments to your seeding rate,” Lange said.

He added that producers should properly inoculate as close to seeding as possible, which should happen around mid-April to mid-May. Lange said field peas are frost tolerant, withstanding up to minus six degrees Celsius for short periods of time, as the plant nodes grow just below soil surface.

Lange concludes that while Manitoba farmers averaged 44 bushels an acre last year, growers in the Red River Valley averaged in the 55-60 bushel range.

Task Force Completes Recommendations for Climate Risk Management Manitoba’s agriculture industry has made several recommendations on ways the industry can prepare for climate-related risks that will lay the foundation for future discussions on how climate change affects agriculture risk levels.

A provincially appointed task force, comprised of industry stakeholders, provided 25 recommendations on how agricultural risk management needs to evolve to grow a competi-

tive industry as it copes with a changing climate.

Over the past year, it has reviewed research and met with producers, scientists, insurance providers and others invested in agriculture and climate-change preparedness.

The recommendations put forward include promoting policies and programs that are responsive to climate-change impacts and encourage ag-

January 29, 2016 ricultural best practices.

The task force recommends a continuing with the development of Excess Moisture Insurance program, research into and development of new insurance tools such as weather derivatives and whole-farm revenue insurance.

The committee also calls for restoring federal funding to public research in climate change mitigation and adaptation for the agriculture sector, renewed funding in conservation districts to improve drainage or water storage, collaboration between the Manitoba government and other partners on advanced climate and weather forecast-

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ing programs.

The recommendations include predictable compensation for producer’s losses due to mitigation measures, the sharing of elevation and water-management data to benefit agro-environment policy, government programs and on-farm best practices and investing in education and extension programs.

The Manitoba Agriculture Risk Management Review Task Force was setup in January 2015 to evaluate existing programs and policies used to help farmers recover from climate-related challenges such as flooding and drought.

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Cattle Producers Good Stewards of Soil and Water

By Les Kletke

Krisitine Tapley says Beef Producers are doing a good job environmentally and the message needs to get out.

The Canadian Beef Industry has a good story to tell, and they need to do a better job of telling consumers and the entire population how good they are.

This advocacy role is not typically welcomed by people who are more concerned about the health of their cows than telling someone about the health of their cows or how much they care about the environment. In most cases, the practices they adopt are considered commons sense before they are called environmental concerns.

Kristine Tapley is a beef producer and involved with a project at the University of Manitoba that is studying the hoof print of the Canadian Beef Industry from 1981 to 2011. She told those attending Beef and Forage Week Seminars that the industry has done a

Beef Producers Eager to Export to the US

Heinz Reimer President of the Manitoba Beef Producers says that COOL is over and it is time to move on, the immediate impacts are not as dramatic as some expected but prices will improve.

By Les Kletke The same week as President Obama was delivering his final State of the Union Address Manitoba Beef Producers were hearing from their President that MCOOL is now officially history.

That does not remove the hurt the American legislation caused Canadian producers who were still dealing with the fallout from BSE when it came into force 8 years ago, but it is time to move on.

Heinz Reimer, President of the Manitoba Beef Producers delivered the Association’s annual update during January’s Beef and Forage Week across the province and touched on a number of activities the organization has been involved in but most dimmed in comparison to the news that COOL was no longer on the books.

Reimer said that even he was cautious when the announcement came in late December that COOL legislation was removed from the books. “I got a lot of

phone calls at that time, about the end of COOL,” he said. “But I remained cautious until the Bill was signed by President Obama.

Nothing was sure. It took that signature to make it official.”

Reimer said he had producers asking if the price of cattle would increase immediately or how soon it would happen. “Things don’t happen that quickly,” he said. “It will take a while to work through the system and we will see more demand and more slaughter in US plants that will translate to stronger prices but it will take a while to work through the system.”

He did not offer any projection on whether all plants would reopen and regain the capacity they once had. The plant closures that were deemed temporary at the time may give packers the opportunity to mothball plants that were not up to current standards or where labour shortages exist.

Reimer also reported that the Association has been working with the government on the Risk Management Review Task Force. On the practical side, he said negotiations were ongoing with the government on livestock predation, which remains a problem for many parts of the province. The increase in wolf population is a concern for many cow calf operators.

He offered a solution that had proven successful for one producer. “He has a fenced off area for calving, and hangs bacon from the electric fence around the area,” said Reimer. “He claims that one time of biting the bacon and ending up with the live wire in their mouth is enough to keep the wolves from coming back.” There was some question about whether cuts of beef would work as well but there was also a comment about it being too high value a commodity to use for bait.

Reimer also noted that negotiations were underway to allow for larger herds on Crown Land and that the current 4,800 AUM maximum did not reflect the size of today’s herds.

Community Pasture Associations have also established base rates across the province.

good job and that needs to be told to the rest of the country including the good story about their role in the environment.

She did not deal with the image issue of livestock production but was clear that when it came to the environment beef producers have a good message.

The beef industry in Canada is the 5th largest in the world and part of nearly 70.000 farms oper-

ating in Canada. It is based on 50 million acres of pasture that in many cases would be considered marginal land.

The forages produced on this land are also transformed to a high value product that is respected around the world.

In her presentation, Tapley provide a series of cartoons and articles from papers like the New York Times and less credible

sources. “The New York Times reaches a lot of people and when they say that the beef industry is contributing to greenhouse emissions a lot of people believe that,” she said.

“That has me concerned because there is no one who is disputing these kinds of things and yet we have an industry that is doing a good job and are responsible stewards of soil and water.”

Potato Processing Facility Receives Government Support for Equipment The Federal and Provincial governments have announced funding of nearly $380,000 for a potato processing plant in Carberry to increase efficiency, reduce waste and support the sustainable growth of Manitoba’s potato industry.

The funding, provided under Manitoba’s Growing Forward 2 - Growing Value program, will be used to install new and innovative equipment at the McCain Foods Canada facility in Carberry. The plant processes about 430 million pounds of Manitobagrown potatoes every year, mostly into french fries. The upgrades will reduce potato and canola oil waste by 900,000 pounds and 800,000 pounds per year, respectively.

The funds represent half of the total equipment cost. McCain Foods Canada has invested more than $30 million in other upgrades to the Carberry facility over the last 10 years, including a $23 million waste water upgrade. This potato processing plant employs about 220 people, with another 10 positions to be created over the next three years because of the new equipment.

Manitoba is Canada’s second-largest potato producer behind PEI, supporting 120 potato growers and employing 1,500 full-time and casual workers. In 2013, 70,000 acres of potatoes were grown in Manitoba valued at about $192 million. About 80% of potatoes processed in Manitoba are exported to the US, making this crop a valuable trade commodity.

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The Stewart Sheaf Loader Story After publication of the Manitoba Agricultural Museum press release “Steward Sheaf Loader”, further information on these machines came forward from Mrs. Bray, a relative of the Stewart family. Bray indicates the Museum misspelt the name in the original press release as the family name is properly spelt Stewart not Steward. Bray also passed along more information on the Stewart Sheaf Loader story. The Museum would like to thank Bray for providing this information as there a direct connection to the Neepawa area and is an interesting part of Manitoba’s agricultural history.

The idea for the Stewart Sheaf Loader originated with the Stewart Family of Molesworth, Ontario where the family was involved in farming. The eldest brother, Peter “M” Stewart, moved west in 1879, a common story with Ontario farming families as land was easier and cheaper to obtain in the west. He pioneered a farm in the Neepawa, Manitoba area. Dave Albert, Robert C. and John F. Stewart, all of whom were very fond of tinkering with machinery, remained in Molesworth, Ontario.

According to the Stewart Family history, Dave Albert and Robert C. were the inventive ones, while John F. did the farmwork and was an excellent blacksmith that brought the ideas to reality. Jennie Stewart, a sister, should also get credit in the Stewart Sheaf Loader story, as she was very good with numbers and aided in the calculations that helped produce the loader.

The Stewart brothers remaining in Ontario came up with the idea of a sheaf loader from their experience in threshing grain and thinking about how machinery could cut down the amount of manual labor involved.

Patents on the machine were taken out in 1902 and 1905. A prototype sheaf loader was built in their workshop in Molesworth then crated and shipped by rail in 1905 to Neepawa for trial

on the farm of their brother, Peter “M”.

The first trial, however, was not a success, owing to the heaviness of the oat crop being harvested.

Family history also indicates there were problems stemming from the fact the stooks of oat sheaves had stood in the field for a long time. The thought was that perhaps the oat had started regrowing from the root and a heavy growth of new oats was impeding the pickup. But whatever the cause the Stewart brothers decided, the loader was not heavy enough to do the job.

So, the loader was recrated and shipped back to Molesworth. Here, the brothers set about rebuilding it, adding larger gears and a larger “bull wheel”. With these improvements, the machine was successful.

The machine was then shown at the Winnipeg Industrial Exhibition, about 1910. The Stewart Sheaf Loader then went into production at 470 Martin Avenue, in the Elmwood area in Winnipeg, where the Stewart Brothers had obtained a manufacturing facility.

The sheaf loaders were excellent machines, well built and did a good job.

While late model Stewarts could be tractor drawn and PTO driven, initially the machines were drawn by four horses with a large bull wheel on the machine powering the pickup and elevator. The

machines were driven beside the rows of stooks, picked up the stooks and elevated them into sheaf wagons and taken to the thresher. The loader cut in half the number of men and teams needed by the outfit, which was a big saving to the farmer and more than likely a welcome relief to the farmer’s wife and daughters who had to prepare meals for a hungry crew.

The Stewart Sheaf loader or Harvester was used all over the western prairies and sold for about $400.

David A. Steward took out another patent on improvements to the sheaf loader in Winnipeg in 1912 and John F. Steward took out a duplicate one in Ontario in 1912. These patents were for a change in how the elevator was driven.

Originally, the elevator’s slatted chain was driven by sprockets at the bottom of the elevator on the right side of the machine (when you are standing at the back). The Stewarts determined that it was better if the slatted chain was powered by sprockets at the top of the elevator because the slatted chain, sheaves and all, were being pulled to the top of the elevator.

The old arrangement saw the chain being pulled all the way around the elevator, which required more power and resulted in slats being broken on the chain for some reason.

Testimonials from farmers who converted

An advertising image of upper drive attachment of the Stewart Sheaf Loader.

Stewart Sheaf loaders to the new drive arrangement indicate one less horse was required and the extra horses remained in better physical shape through the fall. The problem with broken slats disappeared as well.

A fellow by the name of Nelson Jackson used a Stewart Sheaf Loader on a Neepawa area farm in 1913 and decided he could improve on the machine by combining the rack and sheaf loader into one machine. He moved to Brandon and began manufacturing his machine. The Jackson Sheaf Loader featured an elevator that directly picked up the sheaf, elevated them and dumped them into a carrier at the back of the machine. When the carrier was full, the machine was taken over to the thresher and the sheaf dumped beside the feeder. While

the sheaf was forked into the thresher, the Jackson loader returned to the field for another load.

The downfall of the Jackson appears to have been the weight of the machine, particularly when loaded. Another problem was breakdowns.

With the Stewart if the loader broke, the farmer could revert to forking sheaves into the wagons and so limp along until repairs were made. If a Jackson broke down, then everything came to a halt until repairs were made.

Sometime around the end of WWI, Jackson moved his company to Saskatoon and resumed manufacturing the loaders. However, business soon dried up and the company pursued other ideas.

The Sheaf Loader was only one of many machines the Stewart family designed and

patented over the years.

The right’s to one of their ideas, a straw cutter on the threshing machine, was later sold to the George White Company, which built threshers.

David Albert Stewart who operated the Stewart operation in Winnipeg eventually returned to Molesworth and three of the brothers are buried there.

The Museum would like to thank Bray for providing this information as there is a direct connection to the Neepawa area and is an interesting part of Manitoba’s agricultural history.

The Manitoba Agricultural Museum is open year round and operates a website at agmuseum.mb.ca that provides visitors with information including location and hours of operation.

HTA Charolais Recipient of the 2015 Purebred Charolais Breeder of the Year Award

By Joan Airey

Jim Olson MCA Director presents the Airey family, Tanya, Shawn, Chase and Blake with the 2015 Purebred Charolais Breeder Award.

Shawn and Tanya Airey and family received The Purebred Charolais Breeder of the Year Award at the All Breeds Banquet in Brandon recently.

They own HTA Charolais Farms near Rivers, Manitoba and have one hundred and fifty purebred cows.

Shawn is serving his fourth term as Manitoba Charolais Association President and is breed representative with the Ag-Ex Board. The Airey family shows cattle at Ag-Ex, local fairs and Agribrition at Regina. Their son Chase and daughter Blake participate in the Rivers 4-H Pee Wee Club.

“We hosted the Manitoba Charolais Association Pen Show and Picnic on our farm the past two years.

In 2015, it was held in conjunction with the Canadian Charolais Association Annual meeting and people attended from across Canada. We are happy to see the pen show grow in numbers every year,” said Shawn Airey.

The Aireys keep extensive cattle records and the entire herd is enrolled on Whole Herd. “Our commitment to quality is number one. Strong cow families combined with top genetics, strict quality control program and good cow sense are used to produce a no nonsense product with the commercial man in mind,” commented Shawn.

“Our bull sale is held annually the last Wednesday in March at Neepawa with Rammer Charolais as our guest consigner. All bulls are semen tested and health checked before the sale by a certified veterinarian,” said Tanya.

Shawn and Tanya have been involved with cattle all their lives and are passionate about the livestock business.

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Maple Leaf CEO Challenges Pork Industry

By Harry Siemens The 45th annual Banff Pork Seminar at the Banff Springs Hotel and Conference Centre proved a huge success with over 700 people in attendance.

Up as one of the keynote speakers, Michael McCain, the President and CEO of Maple Leaf stated that all segments of the industry have a role to play in providing consumers accurate transparent information on what is being done to ensure the sustainability of food production.

McCain said society’s interest in responsible consumption has changed markedly in the past 5 years and consumers want to spend their food dollars on products that not just provide sustenance and nutrition but are also provided in responsible ways for the care of the environment and society. “Consumers today particularly the millennial generation derive most of their information

from social media and digital media content,” he said.

“That’s not a bad thing but it is subject to some variation in the accuracy of the information. That’s not just a factor for our industry.

That’s all industry and all circumstances.”

McCain said the challenge is always to do a great job in doing the best to correct the record, making sure that even in the presence of misinformation do the level best to provide accurate information and make good judgments based on that. “I think all segments of the industry, in all levels in the industry from our retail food service customer base through to processors, producers, suppliers and indeed the government need to collaborate on providing a coordinated response, in one hand a challenge but even more importantly is a great opportunity because Canada has demonstrated leadership in these areas,” he said. “To date we are rec-

ognized as North American leaders and we can take what might appear to be a challenge and convert it into a tremendous opportunity for growth being leaders in sustainable meat production in Canada.”

McCain said dealing with social and digital media today is just part of the new reality in every part of life.

He outlined three different areas of concern for industry. “As an industry we must be vigilant, robust, and proactive in replying to this challenge for example, what is scientific evidence,” he questioned.

“If you eat 2 hot dogs a day for the rest of your life, you have 6 out of 100 chances of getting rectal cancer. If you eat none, 5 out of 100 chance. What is reality versus the perception?”

McCain focused on animal welfare and antibiotics.

Maple Leaf owned farms and contracted farms would be 100% loose housing by 2022. The company will use independent audi-

tors at all farms and is currently the largest single producer of raised without antibiotics animals in North America. He stressed that Maple Leaf is committed to constructive relations with animal welfare activists.

When asked his opinion during an exclusive interview about the effects of the repeal of COOL, McCain said the changes would happen right away.

“I suspect immediately. I don’t see any reason why it shouldn’t have a positive effect immediately. It opens up a valuable market,” he said. “And I think throughout the period of COOL we’ve always sought to pay a competitive price in the Canadian marketplace.

Maple Leaf Foods President and CEO Michael McCain said while the COOL repeal will have immediate impact adding multiple market options, his company paid competitive prices throughout the ordeal.

So, I would like to think it would have limited or no effect because we are already paying a competitive price in this country.”

McCain said that at the end of the day it is important to the whole process to discover multiple marketing options and prices.

Three Decades of Better Management Translates to Cattle Profits

By Les Kletke Getahun Legesse knows that beef producers in Canada have become better managers in the last 30 years, and he knows they can continue to improve but he does not know just how good they can get.

Legesse is part of a beef industry study conducted by the University of Manitoba looking at management practices from 1981 to 2011. His findings show that the level of management has increased.

He reported to the Beef and Forage Week on the advances made and while he said, he was confident that improvements would continue he stopped short of saying that the improvements would continue in a straight line.

The study found that in the 30-year period, 1981 to 2011, it took 27% fewer cattle to produce the same amount of pounds of beef. This

Getahun Legesse says beef producers have improved their production by nearly 30% in the last 30 years.

finding translates to 29% fewer animals in the breeding herd and 24% less land is required to produce the feed for those animals.

To account for the increase in production from fewer animals there has been a 15% increase in reproductive capacity, a 20 % increase in weaning weight and 29% increase in steer slaughter weight. The most dramatic jump came in heifer weights with an increase of 45%, a number that did not entirely surprise the beef producers in the audience, some of which have been in business during those 30 years.

“The heavier weights at weaning have contributed to the improvement but so has the improvement in field crop production,” said Legesse. “We have seen corn yield increase by 61% in that time.”

He reported that while the numbers are not as clear on the story of water, similar improvements were noted when producers improved water quality for their cattle. At the same time by making improvements to their watering system, there is a decrease in the environmental impacts from cattle operations. “We have seen improved selection of animals for improved productivity,” he said. “But I don’t need to tell you that story; you have seen the improvements on your farm.”

On the question can the improvements continue Legesse said, “Yes.” “I am sure they can and will. I am not sure that they will continue in a straight line. We have seen dramatic improvements and the rate may taper off somewhat.”

The study stopped short on the quality of beef produced which many would say would offer proof that better management practices has improved the product offered to consumers.

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Kristjanson’s Named Manitoba Charolais Commercial Breeder of the Year

By Joan Airey In a recent ceremony, the Kristjanson family’s hard work was recognized with the Charolais Commercial Breeder of the Year for 2015 award.

The Kristjanson family farm was established in 1988 when Finley, Dyanne, and their son Kris moved back to their hometown of Ochre River.

At the time, they had onequarter section of land and four cow-calf pairs. They decided to use Charolais bulls as they saw it worked for other family members in the livestock business. In 1995, Kris’s wife Louise joined the operation.

“We purchased Charolais purebreds in 2000 with the intention of raising a few bulls for our commercial herd and to sell by private treaty. The name FDKL Charolais was created representing the four family members involved at the time. Over time, we decided we could buy better bull genetics without investing the time to develop them ourselves,” said Kris Kristjanson.

When BSE hit the industry in 2003, they were not immune to the struggles it presented. By 2006, circumstances prompted the decision to begin a custom spraying business to offset production costs. As market trends improved the cattle industry turned around and helped the farm to expand to its present size of four hundred cows, fifteen quarters of land, with another sixteen quarters rented. Some of the rented quarter are now 5th generation as their son Trevor farms alongside. They were finally able retire the spraying business in 2015.

Never TToo oo Young to Promote Cattle Young Wyatt Rossnagel from Plumas, Manitoba enjoyed passing out business cards to promote WRAZ Angus at Ag-Days where there was a steady stream of interested people through the cattle barn.

Photo by Joan Airey

Steinbach Crop Day is All About Innovation This year ’s annual Steinbach Crop Day is packed with information and innovative leading experts aimed to help Manitoba crop producers best manage their crop inputs.

The one-day seminar to be held on February 18 from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm at the Steinbach Legion Hall, 294 Lumber Avenue with feature presenters on the latest news in crop research,

Shawn Airey, Manitoba Charolais Association President (left) presents the Kristjanson family with the Manitoba Charolais Commercial Breeder of the Year Award 2015. (2nd from the left to right) Trevor Kristjanson, his girlfriend Kayla, Kris Kristjanson, his wife Louise and Jim Olson MCA director.

Photo by Joan Airey

Kris recalled the family’s efforts and recent successes as Manitoban cattle producers. “In the early years we primarily fed hay but since 2001 we started chopping silage on the advice of our brother-in-law.

Now we chop 275 to 320 acres of corn and cereal crops.

We also wrapped approximately a thousand hay silage bales and will continue this practice in years to come. We baled another fifteen hundred bales of dry hay.

In 2016, we will be seeding close to seven hundred acres of crop, some for silage and the remainder for harvest.

Our breeding program starts our calving season around the 20th of January until the end of March. We

primarily purchase all our replacement females and use Charolais bulls in our herd as I think the breed is designed for a terminal sire.

Our cowherd is primarily all Simmental and Simmental/ Angus crossbred to Charolais bulls. The only time our calves are sired by a different breed is when the heifers are bred Angus.

The heifers we generally keep have Simmental dams and we have purchased Angus heifers. We sell all our char sired calves in October through the Ste. Rose Auction Mart. One package of steers this fall was 828 pounds. The Angus sired calves off of our first calf heifers are generally weaned and sold at a later date,” said Kris Kristjanson.

In 2014, the Kristjanson’s

entered two cow-calf pairs for the first time in the Manitoba Charolais Association Pen Show. They placed first and third in the cow/calf pair with Charolais influence category. They repeated the placings in the 2015 MCA Pen Show.

One of the calves they showed was born on January 19 and weighed 530 lbs on June 12. By sale day October 22, 2015, he weighed in at 945 lbs. This calf was sired by a HTA Senator son and like all their calves raised only on momma’s milk.

“That is one of many proven reasons why using select Charolais bulls in our commercial herd is the obvious choice. We look forward to the future the cattle industry has to offer,” said Kristjanson.

production and marketing.

Sessions include Soybean Wrap-up for 2015 and What’s New in 2016, Insect Update for Cutworms, Flea Beetles, Soybean Aphid, European Corn Borer, monitoring and management tips, Emerging Disease Issues and Management Strategies, Weeds, what to watch for in 2016, Tile Drainage on Red River Clay Soils and what we know about the heavy clays and the Grain Market Update.

In addition there will be agribusiness displays, coffee, donuts and lunch.

Registration is $5 per person.

For more information, call Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (MAFRD) Steinbach GO Office at 204-346-6080.

Network of Ag W eather Weather Stations Expands The Canada and Manitoba governments are expanding the province’s network of automated weather stations after installing 17 new stations in 2015.

Manitoba has a total of 61 automated weather stations operated by the provincial government that provide timely, detailed information useful to Manitoba farmers, free of charge. By 2018, the agro-meteorology program will expand to 84 stations.

These automated stations are located in areas that best represent the climate of the region. They are solar-powered and communicate wirelessly, allowing them to be set up in remote and rural areas. Measurements of air temperature, relative humidity, rainfall, wind speed and direction and soil temperature are collected, verified and posted to the provincial website hourly. Data from these weather stations will also be used to enhance flood and drought forecasting, precipitation maps, and monitoring severe weather.

The Agri Post

Dirt is the Root of Our Existence

By Harry Siemens David R. Montgomery is a Professor of Earth and Space Sciences at the University of Washington in Seattle, where he leads the Geomorphological Research Group and is a member of the Quaternary Research Center.

Recently, he was the keynote speaker at the National Soil Health Summit in Calgary. Ten years ago, he wrote the book, Dirt: The Erosion of Civilizations.

During his research, he realized good soil is disappearing, but humankind can restore it within years, not centuries.

“Dirt, soil, call it what you want, it’s everywhere we go. It is the root of our existence, supporting our feet, our farms, our cities,” cites the forward of his book. This fascinating yet disquieting book finds that planet Earth is running out of dirt, and it is no laughing matter.

Once bear of protective vegetation and exposed to wind and rain, cultivated soils erode bit by bit, slowly enough to be ignored in a single lifetime but fast enough over centuries to limit the lifespan of civilizations.

Montgomery sees in the recent rise of organic and no-till farming the hope for a new agricultural revolution that might help us avoid the fate of previous civilizations.

In an interview following his keynote address, he said removing the trees, is the first step, but it was not the axe so much, as the plow that followed, that kept the trees off and actually kept the ground bare and vulnerable to erosion.

“If you look at most natural grasslands or foresting systems, you don’t see a whole lot of bare ground,” said the geologist. “You have to go above timberline to find that and then you are in a whole different game.”

Montgomery thinks it was the invention of the plow, and agricultural practices that allowed the expansion of human societies, which in the end held the seeds of decline. “It did two things in effect. It allowed the acceleration of the erosion above the rate at which soils formed and anytime you are losing something faster than you replace it, you run out of it,” he said. “So, there is the physical loss of the soil, and that plagued certain places more than others.

There is also the point it accelerated the degrada-

January 29, 2016

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Grow Projects and Donations Boost Work of Canadian Foodgrains Bank

By Elmer Heinrichs

David R. Montgomery, a Professor of Earth and Space Sciences at the University of Washington in Seattle said done right, we can restore depleted soil within years, not centuries.

tion of soil organic matter, and helped to oxidize the carbon, the organic matter in the soil. If that organic matter was one of the main sources of fertility with microbes breaking it down and slowly pulling all the things other than the carbon and nitrogen that plants need, out of that organic matter, there was a store of it. Think of that as nature’s storehouse. Rocks aren’t really that full of nutrition. We don’t eat them.

We need microbes to digest them for us and so do plants in many cases.”

Montgomery said that organic matter is what fed the microbes that pre-digested the sources of the nutrition. This is why a field with an organic rich soil, does not need fertilizer.

“There is plenty of fertility actually in it,” he said. “We only started to need fertilizers after we degraded our

soils’ organic matter.”

When asked whether society has stopped the loss, and come to the point where it is turning around, he does not think the world is at that point globally.

“But we are at the point where we know we can do it because there are farms that have done it, and there are individuals doing it,” said Montgomery. “I spent the last six months visiting farmers around the world who were doing exactly that. They not only turned it around, but also figured out how to make money doing it. They’d figured out how to do it profitably and which will help with the adoption of the methods they are coming up with.”

What is amazing to him and to the people in the audience is that if done right, people can restore soil, and actually do it faster than initially thought.

Know Your Canola Manitoba canoLAB 2016 is a one-day interactive workshop that looks at timely considerations in canola production. Knowing what is going on in your field is paramount to achieving optimal canola yields.

This year, Manitoba canoLAB 2016 will include sessions on canola rotations and on maximizing synergies with other crops. Organizers invite attendees to take advantage of the soil testing session by bringing in soil test results for discussion. The event is cohosted by the Canola Council of Canada and Manitoba Canola Growers Association.

Participants will be divided into small groups and rotate through a series of concurrent stations all led by industry experts and will cover a wide range of agronomic topics. There will be live plants with live issues. This forum is a great opportunity for producers and agronomists to sharpen their diagnostic skills and to strengthen their knowledge base.

The workshops will be held on Wednesday, March 9 and Thursday, March 10 in Brandon at the Assiniboine Community College.

Each day will be identical in format and content and includes lunch. Attendance is limited to optimize the canoLAB experience, so please be sure to register early at canolagrowers.com.

Jim Cornelius the Executive Director of Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFGB) said there were well over 250 grow projects across the country in 2015 and he expects donations to be similar to 2014, which saw them raise about $14 million.

He said there are a number of key areas they are focusing on right now. “We have a very large program right now in response to the crisis in Syria,” explained Cornelius. “Both inside Syria where millions of people are displaced, as well as with refugees in the neighbouring countries.”

“We’re working with a lot of displaced people in South Sudan, where the civil war continues. And we’re just starting up a major response to a widespread and very severe drought that’s hit Ethiopia. It’s their worst drought in 30 years and it’s affecting the whole eastern part of the country.”

Cornelius noted that the Government of Canada also provides CFGB with 25 million dollars a year on a matching basis plus additional grants. He added they are currently working out a new deal with the recently elected Liberal government.

Last year Canadian Foodgrains Bank lent support to over 1.2 million people around the world. Manitoba’s Pembina Valley continues to be a major supporter of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. But growing projects are spread out across the province and further from farms in Swan River acres in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Harold Penner, CFGB Regional Coordinator, said the strip down Highways 14 and Hwy 3 is a crucial area for growing projects in recent years. “It’s really grown; our largest projects are in this area.”

“And the crops have just been fantastic, so it’s been a very important part of our fundraising.” The CFGB raised over $3 million last year in Manitoba and northwestern Ontario, approximately $1.8 million from growing projects.

Supporters donate the use of farmland and plant a crop, the proceeds from which are donated to the Foodgrains Bank. The year’s crops included corn, soybeans, wheat, pinto beans, canola and others.

Penner said numbers for 2015 are still coming in, though he projects another successful year. “We had 5,800 acres this year which is a little higher than last year and yields were good,” reported Penner. “So I’m expecting it to be a good year.”

Along with growing projects, concerts, auctions and other fundraising events provide more ways to get involved, Penner said. The CFGB recently hosted a trio of banquets in the region to thank supporters and provide an update on their work around the world.

Two speakers from Kenya shared their first-hand experiences of how the Foodgrains Bank is making a difference during a meeting at the Pembina Threshermen’s Museum near Morden and Winkler. Paul Galmagar and Martha Bone run a program for vulnerable people including widows and young girls. Bone explained the money from CFGB is used to buy livestock, which are given to widows on loan. During her trip to Canada she was struck by the CFGB supporter’s giving hearts. “We learned that... people love to give and they work hard so that they can give,” she said. “We shall go back and tell good things about Canadians.” She said the support is changing the lives of people in Northern Kenya.

Penner also thanked the many who support the Foodgrains Bank year after year. “We have so much grassroots supporters, especially in rural Manitoba,” Penner said. “And we just really appreciate everyone who comes out to be a part of the cause.”

Canadian Foodgrains Bank is a partnership of 15 Canadian churches and church-based agencies working together to end global hunger.

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The Agri Post

January 29, 2016

Showing Initiative and Doing the Unusual Research

Carollyne Kehler says the Brandon Beef Research Farm is looking for projects outside of the box.

By Les Kletke Imagine a job where your boss told you to do things out of the box, do the unusual and what people might not think is normal.

That is the assignment given to Manitoba Beef and Forage Initiative for the Brandon Research Projects.

Carollyne Kehler told those attending the Beef and Forage Week Seminar provincial tour in mid January the directive for the

Centre, “Is to try the impossible”. The mandate may sound a bit out of character for one of the most traditional sectors in Canadian agriculture but beef producers want to find new ways of producing feed that can make them more efficient and are funding the research.

The Brandon facility is spread over three sites, one at Brookdale that has 640 acres and two near the city of Brandon. The Johnson site has 320 acres and the First Street site has 600 acres. The project is relatively new and establishing the study took much of the effort in the first year, but

the program has 2, 50-cowherds and 55 cow-calf pairs.

“We had to establish handling facilities and that took a lot of time and effort,” said Kehler. “We also did some work with annual forages at Beausejour and Carberry sites. We will have more projects to evaluate these.”

Jaunita Kopp reported on some of the studies that the project includes and said that while Chicory provided purple flowers, the cows did not like it. “The Chicory was very productive but also very bitter and the cows did not eat it.”

The study looked at more than taste of forages it also provided information on cost and Kopp said that rye grass showed up as a cost.

“The rye grass was the lost cost feed, and that was due mainly to the lower seed costs resulting from the lower seed rates,” said Kopp.

Kopp also reported that one project studied rodent control and with a smile noted that the rodents trapped cost nearly $20 each per capture. “I think we can do better than that but in the first year and with getting a late start that is what the results showed,” said Kopp. “We will have better results with an earlier start, this year the program did not get going until July.”

The Research Farm is looking for suggestions from producers in terms of work they would like to see done and is open to discuss current or future projects.

Support for Projects and Research Using Biomass Energy The Canada and Manitoba governments are providing up to $500,000 for 12 projects that will increase the use and development of biomass fuels.

Biomass refers to biological or renewable materials from agriculture, marine or forestry resources. Common biomass fuel sources in Manitoba are flax shives, sunflower hulls and waste wood. The Manitoba Biomass Energy Support Program (MBESP) was established in 2011 to support current coal users transitioning to renewable biomass fuels. In 2014, the program was expanded to also provide support for research and development activities targeted at advancing use and processing of biomass fuels.

MBESP also supports processors looking to sell biomass in new markets.

Examples of approved projects this year include converting a coal-fired central heating system to a biomass boiler in Willow Creek Colony, near Cartwright, funding for new equipment allowing Southeast Pallet and Wood Products in Blumenort to double their annual biomass processing capacity, replacing an existing coal boiler for a biomass heating system for an individual in Carman and improving on-site storage of finished biomass fuels to Spruce Products Ltd. in Swan River.

Harvesting Has Got to Make “Cents”

By Les Kletke Angela Brackenreed has a clear message for canola growers.

“If it is not making economic sense you should not be doing it,” said Brackenreed who addressed the Canola Day at this year’s Ag Days in Brandon. There are enough things to do that result in profits for producers rather than doing things that do not.

Brackenreed said that work done by the Canola Council of Canada shows that producers could see a good return by letting their crop ripen, standing and then using straight cut harvesting. “We see farmers swathing fields that are not nearly mature,” she said. “Our results show that by waiting to swath until 50-70% of the crop has changed colour rather than the 3040% colour change that many use as a guide could give them an extra 8 % yield.”

She acknowledged that there is increased risk of shattering but said that may not be as big an issue as producers fear. “We have seen a great improvement in varieties and some do have better shatter tolerance but we see these results with any of the common varieties on the market,” she said.

“Many farmers use the early swathing as a time management tool and we are suggesting they use straight cutting as a time management tool.”

As farms have grown along with

Angela Brackenreed stresses that there enough things for a producer out there that make money, don’t waste time on the ones that don’t.

acreages that need to be cut, farmers have spread the workload by cutting earlier. Even though farmers’ may be are aware of the reduced yield there is a willingness to make that sacrifice to spread the workload. “We are suggesting going the other way, and leaving the crop stand and harvest some of it straight,” said Brackenreed.

The straight cut approach is just one of the practices the Canola Council of Canada is evaluating on the path of reaching an average yield of 52 bushels an acre. The current five-year average is 34 bushels an acre.

When asked about a contest that is targeting 100 bushels of canola, she said the genetic potential is there but she was concerned that the yield was attained with sustainable practices and good economic management. She stopped short of providing a benchmark that farmers could use when deciding the economic returns that they get on crop inputs. “That depends on the individual and the risk on return they are comfortable with,” she said. “Some may require a 2:1 return and others may not require that much. That is up to the individual.”

Pork Exports to Rise with India Under a New Market Access Agreement Canada, whose overall agrifood exports to India are mainly in pulse crops such as lentils and peas but also include oilseeds, canola oil, cereal grains, dairy goods, apples and cattle, expects to move $2 million in pork to the country in its first year of access.

That’s well below Canada’s 2014 pork exports to the U.S. ($1.45 billion) or Japan ($951 million), but future growth is expected as demand for value-added products is expected to increase, the government said in a release.

“We have been working with the government of Canada for many years to gain access to this market, which offers great potential for the export of a wide range of pork products,” said Jacques Pomerleau, President of export development and trade promotion agency Canada Pork International. “Canadian producers that manufacture value-added pork products will also benefit from this new market in the future,” he added.

According to the release, our combined agrifood and seafood exports to India have risen steadily over the last decade, nearing $915 million in value in 2014, noting India’s agrifood and seafood imports overall rose by a compound annual growth rate of 12.3 per cent between 2012 and 2014.

“Canadian pork producers can immediately benefit from this new opportunity, exporting their product into this emerging market and increasing their export returns,” Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay said.

Access to India’s pork market is also expected to, “Further facilitate Canada’s position as a long-term, reliable partner in meeting India’s food security objectives,” the government release said.

India’s grocery food market is worth more than $332 billion and projected to be the world’s fourth largest such market by 2020, the government said in a separate report.

India, the government said, “Remains focused on food security and marketing initiatives such as ‘nutritional security,’ which is a tag line used to increase health-conscious product consumption.”

India’s hospitality sector also offers high-value opportunities for Canadian companies to provide “niche products” including meats, the government added.

The Agri Post

Firdale Polled Herefords Named Commercial Breeder of the Year

Steven Manns presenting Hereford Commercial Breeder of the Year 2015 to Firdale Polled Herefords family run farm, Bernard (Bernie), Colton, James, and Ruth Dueck, Morgan, Emily and Allan Voisin.

Photo by Joan Airey

By Joan Airey Bernard and Ruth Dueck farm northwest of Austin, in the Firdale district where their farm got its name. They were named 2015 Commercial Hereford Breeder.

After finishing school, Bernie started farming with his parents and purchased his own quarter section shortly after. His parents had around fifty Hereford influence cows.

“I began to buy Hereford females for my own herd, since I was impressed with the positive maternal strengths of the breed. When purchasing Hereford bulls I put emphasis on the maternal side of the bulls’ pedigree to improve the quality of females I retained in my herd,” said Bernie Dueck.

The couple married in July 1982 and have three children James, Colton, and Morgan.

All their family was involved

with the cattle and were members of Sidney 4-H club for many years. They showed Hereford influence cattle which are the basis for the cows they still own.

James works for Lewis and Sons and farms with his parents while building his own herd of cattle. Colton lives at Portage. Morgan is married to Allan Voisin and they have a daughter Emily.

“All the family do their best to participate in the important cattle days on the farm whether at home or at the neighbours who works together with the family during cattle processing. I work at MacGregor Credit Union. Bernie has been a school bus driver for the Pine Creek School division for the past eighteen years,” said Ruth.

“The majority of the hundred thirty cow herd has always been Herford, with the balance being Herford influence. Charolais bulls

were used on a portion of the herd since the mid 90s to 2010. Black Angus bulls were used since then. Half our herd has always been bred Hereford. The majority of the crossbred calves are sold along with the Hereford steer calves. Most of the replacement heifers that we retain are Hereford.

Herefords have always proven to be ideal cross with most breeds,” said Bernie.

Like most cattle producers, BSE created a major dip in the cash flow. It encouraged a closer look at the expense side of the equation and led to examining other possibilities to reduce costs. Planned grazing through fenced paddocks for the home herd has doubled the carrying capacity over time. The Dueck’s herd has been corn grazing from December to March for almost 10 years.

Bale grazing is also part of the rotation, as well as

foraging crop residue after combining and grazing second cut on some hay stands.

Stockpiled grass paddocks, provide fresh ground and shelter, and are utilized for new cow calf pairs by the beginning of April. They are fed, but can also begin grazing as weather permits.

Their cows have adapted well to what is mostly a year round grazing system. “We have worked off farm while raising cattle and grain farming. The size of the herd has increased in the last number of years. We still enjoy the time spent with ‘the girls’ be it calving in the spring or doing pasture checking during the grazing season. Moving fences every couple of days in winter time for corn grazing is as close to a good exercise program as Bernie and James get, if nothing else,” said Ruth.

January 29, 2016

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Western Winter Wheat Initiative Welcomes New Partner Winter wheat in western Canada is receiving a huge boost as a crop with the recent addition of partner, The Mosaic Company Foundation, the newest member of the Western Winter Wheat Initiative (WWWI). The Mosaic Company Foundation is now helping to fund the WWWI with an investment of $1 million over the next three years.

“We are fortunate to have such great industry support for winter wheat as a crop here on the Prairies,” said Paul Thoroughgood, with the WWWI. “Now that The Mosaic Company Foundation is on board, we are able to continue supporting the growth of winter wheat across Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, and have professional agronomists available to help farmers improve their bottom lines.”

An excellent fit in crop rotations, winter wheat complements all the WWWI partners’ visions for a sustainable agricultural landscape. Not only is winter wheat one of, if not the most, high-yielding and profitable crops grown on the Prairies, it also has a more efficient use of crop inputs, uses reduced tillage, and provides wildlife habitat, making it one of the most environmentally and conservation-friendly crops around.

“As global demand for food increases, farmers are working to sustainably intensify the amount of food they grow while enhancing environmental protection. Winter wheat is a great example of this in action,” said Mark Kaplan, Board President of The Mosaic Company Foundation and Senior Vice President of Public Affairs at The Mosaic Company. “We are pleased to support the Western Winter Wheat Initiative as it helps farmers optimize yields and improves nutrient stewardship and water quality outcomes.”

The WWWI is a strong advocate for responsible farm management practices and the 4Rs for Nutrient Stewardship and recognizes The Mosaic Company Foundation as the perfect addition to its efforts.

Promoting winter wheat as a great sustainable crop option for farmers in Prairie Canada, the WWWI offers expert agronomic support and funds breeding and agronomy research programs thanks to like-minded industry partners Bayer CropScience, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Richardson International Limited, and now, The Mosaic Company Foundation.

For further information, visit growwinterwheat.ca or follow the WWWI on Twitter @growwinterwheat.

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January 29, 2016

The Agri Post

Teaching and Training Biosecurity is Vital ...then add innovation!

By Harry Siemens Started in 1987 by a young entrepreneur, Steve Brandt, with a single truck and trailer, Steve’s Livestock Transport today is the largest commercial livestock carrier in North

America and a leader in the transportation industry.

Each week, their fleet of 130 power units is out on the road, transporting more than 2,500 head of cattle and 150,000 pigs throughout Canada and the US. They have locations in

Steve’s Livestock Transport’s new Hydraulic Lift Deck Trailer for which they received the Frank. X. Aherne award in Banff, Alberta.

Egypt Largest Wheat Importer Says No Tolerance for Ergot In January, Egypt’s supply ministry moved to clarify rules on wheat imports saying it would allow shipments with traces of the grain fungus ergot to enter the country.

Recently wheat traders have expressed growing concern that uncertainty over payment and inspection terms in Egypt, the world’s biggest wheat im-

porter, would dampen demand.

The problem surfaced when a cargo of French wheat was rejected last month due to traces of the infection. Sparking the uncertainty was the Egyptian agricultural quarantine authority that said according to its rules all incoming shipments above zero would be barred from entry.

Clarifying the rules, the Egyptian General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC), said it would allow shipments of imported wheat with up to 0.05 per cent level of ergot countering the initial statement that said any level of infection was not acceptable.

After series of meetings between Egyptian and European officials wheat traders said they were waiting to hear the agriculture ministry’s response to be sure the problem had been resolved.

Blumenort and Brandon, Manitoba and in Acme and Red Deer, Alberta. Their operations are also home to a commercial washing and large equipment repair service facilities.

Steve’s Livestock Transport is one of two winners that shared the 2016 Frank X. Aherne prize for Innovative Pork Production on January 14 at the Banff Pork Seminar.

Sam Gelowitz of the Prairie Swine Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan received the award for an innovative carcass removal cart and Steve’s Livestock Transport received the award for a new hydraulic lift deck trailer.

The all-aluminum deck system has a powerful hydraulic lift cylinder and stainless steel cable system that raises two fulllength decks into locked position. It acts as an elevator to lift livestock into different deck levels, which eliminates ramp usage to enter or exit the trailer. That reduces animal fatigue, stress, and injury during movement and improves meat quality.

Other features include superior ventilation through the trailer and the common contamination areas are easier to wash out enhancing biosecurity.

Heavy-duty gates contain and separate loads. The design is also physically easier on drivers.

“We’ve been blessed with opportunity ahead of us in the transportation industry particularly if we’re willing to do what our clientele is asking us to do when it comes to biosecurity,” said Brandt in an interview at the Banff Pork Seminar. “That has definitely helped us grow in our business.”

When people spoke about biosecurity years back, it almost sounded like something high tech. “If you don’’ do it right, you don’t have a business,” he affirmed. “Our herd health that we have here in Canada is something that we need to protect. You look at our friends to the south, they have many more challenges when it comes to diseases.

Thanks to our industry, they care about biosecurity and that is what has helped us lead on that front.”

With the hog industry coming through tough times financially and PED virus, Steve’s kept transporting even when hog farmers had difficulty paying. “Yes, it was a difficult time and saw a lot of our really good customers and clientele go through really difficult times, and that is

Steve Brandt of Steve’s Livestock Transport with the 2016 F. X. Aherne Award for Innovative Pork Production.

no fun,” Brandt said. “We walked alongside of them, and for the most part saw them come through the other side. So that was rewarding at the end of the day.”

He said there is a key to solid biosecurity. “I think understanding and training so people understand why they’re doing what they are doing,” he said. “There are so many drivers out there I think if they understood, they would actually follow the biosecurity more closely. But if you don’t train them and teach the people, they don’t understand what to do. So training is the biggest aspect of it, if you want to have solid

biosecurity.”

It is one thing to train the driver as an employee, but his company deals with the producer too. “The training starts in our office with a policy, that everyone has to go on a ride-along once a year with a truck,” said Brandt. “That is where it starts, teaching people right in the office so they understand why biosecurity is so important and what actually happens at the farm gate. From there to teach our mechanics, our wash bay staff, and our drivers and then go back to our customer and ask them how can we work together on this and making it better.”

The Agri Post

New Regulations Prompts Hog Barn Construction Estimates

By Harry Siemens Late in 2015, the Manitoba government introduced a new special pilot project permit evaluation protocol designed to allow the construction of swine barns in the province to resume under 11 new conditions.

Mike Teillet of Manitoba Pork (MP) said the special pilot project permit evaluation protocol would allow new construction under 11 new conditions. “One of the key ones is there has been a 200 percent reduction in soil phosphorus limits,” said Teillet. “Right now the regulation allows for 180 parts per million of soil phosphorus build up in soil.

This new protocol will lower that to 60 parts per million for new barns, a significant reduction.”

The second new requirement is that all new hog operations must inject their manure or incorporate it within 48 hours. Thirdly, there will be additional manure sampling and testing requirements over and above what is required now. The fourth requirement is that significantly more land will be needed for manure spreading. “We estimate up to or even more than twice as much land for spread fields as in the past. They will have to have enough land to spread at a one times phosphorus application rate. Even though they won’t be required to spread at that rate they will have to have enough land to be able to spread at that rate,” he said.

In view of the 11 new requirements, MP has detailed estimates for building new finishing spaces to give pork producers an idea of what they can expect in terms of cost.

According to DGH Engineering’s detailed budget estimate to construct new hog finisher facilities under current market conditions, using typical 2,000 and 4,000 head finisher barns as models the cost of the 2,000 head finisher barn including all services, materials, equipment, labour, site development works and contingency is $1,242,444.

This total cost translates into $621/per pig place. Separating out site development, earthworks utilities and contingency the nominal construction cost of the facility is $51.55 per square foot for $480.90 per pig place.

For both estimates the project budgets do not include any cost for land instead the estimates consider the construction on an existing farm.

The total estimated cost of a 4,000 head finisher barn including all services, materials, equipment, labour, site development works and contingency is $1,983,810. This total cost translates into $495.95/per pig place. Separating out site development, earthworks utilities and contingency the nominal construction cost of the facility is $48.86 per square foot or $398.29 per pig place.

MP’s General Manager, Andrew Dickson said the goal of the project is to provide a detailed cost estimate that pork producers could use as a starting point when considering the construction of finishing spaces.

Dickson said that producers considering a new hog barn should contact DGH Engineering for assistance in navigating the permitting process. The documents provide producers a starting point from which they can estimate the real cost of building a hog barn.

He asks those interested to read the posted documents on Manitoba Pork’s web site and he encourages anyone interested in constructing a new barn to contact Manitoba Pork for information and assistance.

Wheat & Barley Growers to Hold AGM with CropConnect Conference The Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association (MWBGA) is hosting its AGM on February 11 at 12:20 pm at the CropConnect Conference in Winnipeg.

The AGM will include updates and the election of three directors.

“We will (also) be seeking approval from the membership for bylaw changes allowing advance absentee ballots for future elections,” said board chair Fred Greig. “…we will be asking for approval to complete the regulatory changes required to assume the authority and responsibilities of the Western Canada Deduction for July 31, 2017.”

“We chose to hold the AGM at the CropConnect Conference to encourage as much participation as possible in the AGM,” explained Vice Chair Robert Misko. If a producer just wants to attend the AGM, they can request an AGM Only pass at the CropConnect registration table.

January 29, 2016

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Faced with Perception Problems Outside the Cattle Pen “People like Carrie Underwood saying they are not eating meat because they cannot stand the thought of hearing calves crying for their mothers is having a huge impact on our industry.”

Dr. Wayne Tomlinson says Carrie Underwood maybe one of the biggest challenge beef producers face.

By Les Kletke The provincial extension veterinarian told beef producers that the biggest problems they face might be outside of the pen and away from their yards.

Dr. Wayne Tomlinson told the Beef and Forage Week Seminar that celebrities like Carrie Underwood cause him the greatest concern. “People like Carrie Underwood saying they are not eating meat because they cannot stand the thought of hearing calves crying for their mothers is having a huge impact on our industry,” he said. Underwood was born and raised on a farm in Muskogee, Oklahoma before skyrocketing to fame on American Idol.

“People that you think would be supportive of our industry and they come out speaking against eating meat,” said Tomlinson. “That is the challenge of our industry.

Those calves are not crying they are telling their mother where they are, but those are the issues today.”

While he addressed the image issue he also got down to the economics of calf production telling producers that it was a matter of how much beef they marketed in the fall that affected their bottom line.

“That is a result of the percentage of cows that are bred, the number of live calves that result and ultimately the weight of those calves when they go to market,” he said. In an example, he explained that in a cowherd of 75 with a conception rate of 93% the result would be 70 bred cows.

Those 70 cows would yield 69 live calves of which a 3% death rate would take two more and the resultant 67 calves would require a weight of 560 lbs to attain the goal of 500 lbs of beef for each cow.

He stressed that reproduction was the single largest factor in managing a beef herd and these variables could affect the bottom line. “If you have late calves weighing 300 lbs at market time, in our example you are going to need some 700 lb calves to make up for that,” said Tomlinson. “It is easier to get a consistent earlier breeding program and have consistent early calves.”

He faced a question about choosing genetics from a producer that had late calves with favourable genetics. “Should you push that heifer and breed her young or wait till she is a year older?” was the question.

His answer was clear, buy heifers from producers that calve earlier and have heifers that are ready to breed. He said a consistent herd with consistent breeding cycles also allowed producers to mix off low quality feed in their rations. “You don’t want to be feeding that poor hay when the cow is making a calf or recovering from a difficult birth,” he said.

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January 29, 2016

Canada Re-establishes Market Access for Beef and Veal to South Korea South Korea has lifted its temporary ban on imports of beef and veal from Canada. Imports of Canadian beef and veal were temporarily suspended in response to the February 2015 detection of an isolated case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Canada.

“Resumption of access to South Korea is important for Canada’s beef producers,” said Canadian Cattlemen’s Association President Dave Solverson.

“South Korea holds huge potential for beef and especially cuts and offals that are underutilized here at home.

Korea is a market that will pay more for those select items and that helps to increase the overall value of the animal for producers.”

In 2014, prior to the suspension of trade, South Korea was Canada’s sixth-largest market for beef with exports valued at $26 million. Access to this market will help Canadian beef and veal exporters expand their sales, while also benefiting Korean consumers who will have greater access to Canada’s safe, high-quality meat products.

Canada Gains Expanded Market Access for Beef and Pork to Ukraine Ukraine has approved beef and pork exports from any Canadian federally registered establishment that meets certification requirements. Following a successful inspection last September by Ukrainian authorities, 15 additional Canadian beef and pork establishments are now eli-

gible to export, bringing the current total to 27.

Industry estimates access to the Ukrainian market for Canadian beef and pork to be worth up to $50 million annually.

In July 2015, Canada and Ukraine successfully concluded negotiations toward the Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (CUFTA).

Canada and Ukraine are currently undertaking the legal review of the negotiated text, and once signed, the Parties can undertake their respective domestic implementation processes.

Once fully implemented, the agreement will result in the elimination of all non-agricultural tariffs and the vast majority of Ukraine’s agricultural tariffs, including on Canadian beef, certain pork, pulses, grains, fish and seafood, canola oil, processed foods and animal feed.

The Agri Post

Sunset Ridge Red Angus Manitoba Angus Purebred Breeder for 2015

By Joan Airey Sunset Ridge Angus’ home quarter which was purchased in 2000, is located six miles south of Manitou raiding cattle, growing hay and corn silage. They additionally rent three quarters of valley land for pasture.

“Choosing the Angus breed was a very easy decision, with Angus being low maintenance, moderate framed, highly maternal and calving ease cows.

Calves are born unassisted and vigorous, this was very important due to constantly juggling kids, cows, and off farm jobs,” said Nancy Howatt owner of the family farm Sunset Ridge Angus.

“In 1998 our first two foundation females were acquired from Tag-A-long, and then additional ones were purchased at the Cowmaker Classic, Keystone Klassic and from select sales across the Prairie Provinces. Improving these with AI by both proven older genetics and fresh new outcross sires.

Eventually building our purebred cows up to sixty head and around thirty commercials.

Naomi, Lenina, Rachel and Bennett were active members in 4H show casing our cattle over fifteen years while I volunteered for ten of those years as leader. I can-

The governments of Canada and Manitoba will support the expansion of a producer-owned poultry processing company in Blumenort with $2.5 million in funding.

Granny’s Poultry distributes fresh and frozen Manitoba chicken and turkey across the country, and is one of the largest food processors in the province. The company is implementing a $37 million plant expansion and renovation, which will allow them to grow their business and purchase new equipment for processing, chilling, packaging and grading poultry, and improving production efficiency.

Granny’s Poultry currently represents 188 producer-member owners who supply the company with hatching eggs, chickens and turkeys. The company is the sole processor of turkeys in the province and employs approximately 500 Manitobans, supporting the livelihood of poultry producers, breeders and hatcheries.

The expanded facility will provide an opportunity for up to 148 employees to upgrade their skills over the next two years through new training. Jobs and the Economy will further assist the $37 million plant upgrading through the provision of a secured, repayable Manitoba Industrial Opportunities Program (MIOP) term loan of $2.5 million.

not emphasize how important this invaluable program is to our rural youth.

The girls also enjoyed participating in several other local shows and were members of the Junior Angus Association. The kids were involved in many school and extracurricular activities of which I enjoyed watching and I tried to attend as many as was possible. I also got involved by being on a few committees as well as being on a few of the Manitou United Church boards. Naomi completed her Ag Diploma in 2013, travelling abroad and working at the local Co-

op Ag site. Lenina is presently taking her third year of sciences at U of M, while Rachel is taking her U1 at U of M and upon graduating this spring Bennett has been accepted in the Diesel Mechanic course at ACC,” said Howatt.

Their bulls have marketed over the years through Red Power at Neepawa, Douglas Bull Test Station, and Southwest Bull Development at Oak Lake and as a guest consigner at JAS Buy the Beef Bull Sale and private treaty off the yard.

Their bull customers’ support was of utmost importance to them making many

friends over the years.

“Our Angus connections have come to include a remarkable group of people, with our commercial herd having Angus influence, our paths will hopefully cross again. It was with a heavy heart when I had to make the decision to sell the purebred herd in December.

The passion and love I had for those silly cows cannot be measured or explained, but due to health issues I decided to slow down, now maintaining and calving the commercial cows at a later date,” said Howatt.

Canola’s Health Benefits Could Open TPP Doors

By Les Kletke

Expansion of MB Poultry Processor Made Possible

Nancy Howatt (left) receiving Manitoba Angus Purebred Breeder 2015 Award -The Van Daele Award- from Larissa Hamilton, Manitoba Angus Association President.

Photo by Joan Airey

Brian Innes said the recent Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is good news for Canadian Canola growers. Innes is the Vice President Government Relations for the Canola Council of Canada and spoke to producers at Ag Days in Brandon.

He outlined the Canola Council’s strategic plan and while agronomist Angela Brackenreed handled the sustainable supply component, he spoke to the issues of differentiating the value of canola and Sustainable Open Trade.

Innes said that with 90% of canola being exported from this country it is important that trade continues to grow and he said the TPP should do

just that.

He down played the low Canadian dollar, as it should not have a longterm impact. “Certainly the dollar is a factor in US exports at this time but longer term we are more concerned about building a relationship and a loyalty to canola,” he said.

Inness said that a relatively new market is Korea and the Council targets three groups when it goes into a new country. “We want to have local experts who support the crop, we want to have a doctor, a dietician and a chef talking about the values of the crop,” said Innes.

“People eat differently in each country and if we can find a spokesperson that can reach the

audience of that country it is a huge advantage,” he stressed. He added that the celebrity chef appeal is not limited to American television and that each country has high profile chefs that can give a product instant appeal.

The increase of diabetes in Mexico has raised health concerns and he said canola oil could speak to that issue and become a part of their diet.

The canola market is not just for human consumption he went on to say.

“We see a rapidly expanding dairy industry in Vietnam and if we can tap into that market with canola meal it could be very valuable as the industry develops,” said Innes.

Brian Innes, Vice President of the Canola Council of Canada.

Currently the US, China, Japan and Mexico are the largest customers of Canadian canola and while he does not see one of them being displaced in the near future he does see potential growth in other Asian countries particularly with the TPP. “A free trade agreement could be a huge advantage for Canadian producers as we look at the long term for our industry,” he concluded.

The Agri Post

Beef Producer Jumped at Chance

Betty Green says the Beef Verification Program has help with decision making on their farm.

By Les Kletke Betty Green said she jumped at the chance to enrol in the Beef Verification Program and has found it beneficial to their operation. Green is a past president of the Manitoba Beef Producers Association and head the Verification Program.

She shared some presentation time with Jeffrey Fitzpatrick-Stilwell of McDonald’s Canada during the recent Beef ad Forage Week Seminar.

“The program is not at all intrusive and I found it to be more of a chat about what we do on the farm than someone visiting and looking for what we do wrong,” said Green. “I did learn from the visit and from the evaluation

form.”

She said that she was surprised when she saw the evaluation form for their farm and it was more a matter of things she did not mention, than things they did wrong that impacted the farm rating.

“We do a lot of things on the farm that we and other producers take for granted as common sense, so when we were talking about the farm I didn’t even mention them.

When I discussed the evaluation it was clear that I should have done a better job of explaining what we do and some of the things that have an impact on the environment.”

The farm was enrolled in the program and she chose to spearhead it because of misconceptions on sustainable beef production. “I am concerned that if we don’t get

involved and speak up other people will write the rules for us,” she said. “It happened in the PMU industry, it happened in the poultry and dairy industry and we could be next. We need to be proactive on this issue and tell our story.”

Green walks the talk, she told the story of new neighbours buying a farmyard close to their operation. “It wasn’t long and word spread that the new couple had concerns about the way we did things and were telling people in town about it,” said Green. “I heard about it and called them, I spent a couple of hours with them and explained out operation.

They no longer have a problem with the way we do things or the size of our operation, it was just a matter of information. We as an industry and as individuals need to do that.”

She said the Verification program also provided some initiative. “We have some things on the farm that we had planned but have slipped to the back burner. Going through this program brought them back to the front, and they are good management processes as well. Our farm will benefit from them,” said Green.

The program is still looking for more participants and applications can be found the Beef Verification Program website vsbpilot.ca.

MBP General Manager Resigns The Board of Directors of Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) wish to announce they have accepted the resignation of General Manager Melinda German.

German, who took over the position in March 2014, has been named the General Manager of the Canadian Beef Cattle Research, Market Development and Promotion Agency, which is located in Calgary. Her final day with MBP is February 22.

MBP President Heinz Reimer said it was with mixed emotions that the board accepted German’s resignation. “Melinda has been a strong general manager for Manitoba Beef Producers and accomplished a great deal in her time with us,” Reimer said. “We are sad to be losing her but pleased to know she will continue to work in the beef industry.

“On behalf of the board I would like to thank Melinda for her contributions to Manitoba Beef Producers and wish her the best in her new position.”

German said that Manitoba has been her home for a number of years and while she will miss her friends and colleagues, she is excited about what lies ahead in Calgary. “This is an excellent opportunity for me to work at a national level and continue to serve beef producers, particularly those I have gotten to know during my time in Manitoba. This is an important time for the beef industry and I’m excited to have the opportunity to be part of it while continuing to work in the best interests of producers.”

German added that she would like to thank the MBP Board of Directors for the opportunity to serve as general manager and their support during her time with MBP. “I must also thank the staff of Manitoba Beef Producers for their hard work. Our members are fortunate to have this dedicated group working on their behalf.”

Reimer said the search for a new general manager would begin immediately.

January 29, 2016

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Wheat Class Modernization Moves Ahead

By Harry Siemens Big changes in how the western Canadian grain industry classifies wheat and how it determines pricing is set to happen this August.

The Canadian Grain Commission’s (CCG) plan for modernizing Canada’s wheat class system will move ahead with two new classes and the elimination of three others in 2016, as well as a variety designation change to happen in 2018.

In a news release from the CGC, clarification was added for the new wheat classes, Canada Northern Hard Red and Canada Western Special Purpose that go into effect on August 1, 2016. The Canada Western Interim Wheat, Canada Western General Purpose, and Canada Western Feed wheat classes will be eliminated on August 1, 2016. Twenty-five varieties of Canada Western Red Spring and four varieties of Canada Prairie Spring Red wheat will move to the Canada, Northern Hard Red class on August 1, 2018.

“These steps reflect feedback from consultations in early 2015, followed by discussions with stakeholders on a proposed plan, as well as a scan of international markets conducted by Cereals Canada and the Canadian International Grains Institute,” said the CGC release. “The Canadian Grain Commission carefully considered all feedback from

breeders, variety owners, grain companies, producer groups, marketing organizations and end-use customers.”

The Canada Northern Hard Red class will have basic milling quality parameters; require quality data for varieties to be registered, before the August 1 deadline. In addition, the Canada Western Interim Wheat class, which came into effect on August 1, 2015, will be eliminated.

Faller, Prosper and Elgin ND will be designated to the Canada Northern Hard Red class.

The Canada Western Special Purpose class will have no quality parameters and include registered varieties for which no quality data has been provided by the variety registrant.

On August 1, all varieties in the Canada Western Feed and the Canada Western General Purpose wheat classes will be re-designated to the Canada Western Special Purpose class.

“The CGC is tightening the gluten strength standards in the CWRS and CPSR classes due to customer complaints,” said Blair Rutter of the Western Canadian Wheat Growers.

“And implementing a new class for varieties that have lower gluten strength but still good milling properties for certain end uses.”

Rutter said changes should allow Canada to better meet customer needs, although with the move to more buying based on specs, the CGC class

Rutter says changes should allow Canada to better meet customer needs, although with the move to more buying on the basis of specs, the CGC class system is becoming increasingly irrelevant.

system is becoming increasingly irrelevant.

When a producer goes to the grain merchant, elevator, inland terminal, he takes a sample with him. Some producers now take a quick picture with their cell phone and keep it on hand for when they want to start moving some wheat.

When the call goes out for someone in the marketplace wanting wheat or when the price moves up, the producer sends a text with the picture and describes the sample of grain.

The grain buyer will look at it, maybe ask for a physical sample, and offers a price he thinks he can afford to pay.

This is why the wheat class system administered by the Canadian Grain Commission is becoming a little more irrelevant.

Agri-Insurance Changes Benefit Manitoba Producers The Canada and Manitoba governments are supporting AgriInsurance changes, giving producers higher coverage at a lower cost for 2016 explained Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay and Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development Minister Ron Kostyshyn in a joint announcement.

AgriInsurance, administered through the Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC), has been updated for 2016 based on producer feedback and market conditions.

Changes to the program include AgriInsurance higher coverage for less premium due to higher average insured dollar values (prices) and probable yields and coverage will increase an average of seven per cent, while the average premium per acre will decrease by 4%. The changes also add a Grade Guarantee for Feed Wheat to protect against quality losses.

The Vegetable Acreage Loss Insurance Program is expanded, which mitigates risks associated with vegetable production with the addition of four crops.

Pasture Days Insurance Program is expanded from the previous limits of 90 producers to province wide for the next three years, compensating livestock producers for pasture shortfalls and/or supplemental feeding.

Wildlife Damage Compensation will see a change beginning April 1. The maximum compensation value will increase for animals injured or killed by livestock predators.

Additionally, the compensation for young animals will be revised to reflect what would have been the value of the animal at weaning weight, rather than at the time of loss.

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January 29, 2016

Farmers Continue to Bear the Brunt of Red Tape Government rules and paperwork continue to hit farmers even harder than other small business owners, according to survey data released recently by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), on day four of Red Tape Awareness Week.

A national survey of small business owners shows that three in four (76%) farmers identify government regulation and paper burden as a serious concern for their business, while 69% of businesses in other sectors cite red tape as an issue. This marks the fifth consecutive year that farmers’ red tape frustrations have outpaced that of the general small business community in Canada.

“For all the photo-ops and campaign commitments made at the farm, Canada’s farmers have seen little relief from the burden of costly government rules and paperwork,” said Marilyn Braun-Pollon, CFIB’s Vice-President for Agri-business. “It’s frustrating that Statistics Canada continues to insist farmers fill out the survey right in the middle of their busiest time of the year, spring seeding. But we were pleased to hear the federal government announce this week that they will be making the 2016 Census of Agriculture more accessible by moving it online.”

Farmers list an alphabet soup of regulations and agencies that are costing them time and money, including Canada Revenue Agency, Canada Border Services Agency, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Statistics Canada, land use restrictions and by-laws and product labeling.

“Farmers are looking to expand their operations and implement innovative technologies and practices that allow them to continue growing high quality food for all Canadians,” added Mandy D’Autremont, CFIB’s Senior Policy Analyst for Agri-business. “We need to ensure that the sector isn’t held back by out-dated, redundant and confusing regulations.”

Governments Needs to Act Now on Agri Risk Management Report Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) welcomes the 25 recommendations put forward by the Agriculture Risk Management Review Task Force in its final report released recently. The task force was struck last winter to look at adapting agriculture risk management programs or developing new ones, in order to help mitigate the effects of climate change on farm production.

“Generally, the recommendations are about improving existing programs, as well as creating incentives for producers to adopt best management practices,” said KAP President Dan Mazier. “These will work hand in hand to help prevent production decreases and farm losses.

“Climate change means floods, droughts and shifting weather patterns and agriculture is possibly the industry that is affected most. We must look at ways that will sustain food production and these recommendations, if implemented, can go a long way in doing that,” said Mazier.

KAP has provided a comprehensive submission to the task force. “Many of our suggestions made it into the final report, including the option of providing some additional flexibility on how producers can access funds in AgriInvest without tax implications,” Mazier said. “AgriInvest is an important tool in giving farmers something to fall back on when adversity hits.”

He noted the task force also highlighted the importance of two programs KAP has been involved with in Manitoba, the ongoing Environmental Farm Plan and the former Alternate Land Use Services.

“The recommendations have been made, and now Manitoba farmers need action on them sooner rather than later,” said Mazier. “I urge our provincial and federal governments to act as quickly as possible.”

The Agri Post

Record Beef Prices Over But Profits Remain

Sandy Russell says beef prices are on their way down, but there is still the opportunity for profit.

By Les Kletke The highs of the beef market may be past but that does not mean there are no profits left in feeding cattle.

Sandy Russell is a market analyst with Spring Creek Land and Cattle Consulting in Saskatchewan and she told Manitoba Beef Producers the highs of the current beef cycle are past but there are still some good prices to be had. She provided the market outlook at the Beef and Forage Week Seminars held in Manitoba.

She terms the prices of 2014 “phenomenal” and said that 2015 started strong but turned down and it was likely the trend would continue through the New Year. There were tight supplies in 2014 that drove the market up. “But now that dynamic has started to shift. Many of us thought it would take until 2016 but things happened much more quickly and we have seen the prices go down.”

Russell pointed out that current prices would have been record setting if it had not been for the peaks of 2014 and early 2105. “If not for those prices, we would think current prices are great.” Although there is still profits to be made in the cattle business, it is not a given. “Consumers have stayed with us through the high prices and that is a good thing,” said Russell. “We produce a high value product but we know there is a limit some place.”

Russell said that factors like the recent blizzard in Arizona and New Mexico could have a dramatic impact on the market. “At a time when cattle numbers are low this is extremely important and it was not just a matter of cattle being off feed there were large numbers of deaths. That will impact the market,” said Russell.

Asked about how the number of cattle that were sold through the auction system and contracts Russell said she does not have the exact numbers. “But it is about 90% of cattle that are sold by contract. There were some weeks this year where there were not enough cattle in the markets to establish numbers.”

“That is a trend that will continue, the market has gone electronic without anyone taking issue with it,” said Russell.

“Now people buy cattle from their computer. The first iphone was available in 2007 and now the markets are electronic.”

She said the desire for information has driven the trend.

“The markets hate uncertainty, they want information and computerization has given them unparalleled information base,” she noted.

“Information is at their fingertips, even the buyers at auction marts have iphones and any information in the world.”

According to Russell, the market will move lower, but the good news is, “Not as low as before.”

An Ounce of Safety Prevention

By Les Kletke The old adage about an ounce of prevention being better than a pound of cure may be nowhere better applied than on the farm when dealing with labour issues.

Shereese Qually is with Taylor McCaffrey and told the audience at Ag Days that is was their obligation to be aware of the legal aspects of hiring farm labour and particularly on safety issues. It is best to have a training program in place to avoid possible mishaps and the legal and financial ramifications that might follow.

Qually said the recent proposed legislation in Alberta known as Bill 6 has caused a great deal of media coverage and farmers in that province may feel the situation in Manitoba has them in a better position. “In fact many of the things being discussed in Alberta are already in place in Manitoba,” she said. “It is a matter of Alberta being much behind in legislation for workers and now leap frogging ahead of Manitoba but not as much as you might expect.”

Qually brings a farm background to her law practice having grown up on a farm in the Starbuck area. She readily acknowledges that times have changed and while in the past, her dad would hire help for the harvest season for an hourly wage.

“I deal with labour issue and it not a reflection on agriculture as much as the size of the business. Smaller operations feel it does not impact them and that they don’t have the resources to develop a safety program or be informed of the laws. That is not the case, they are responsible and it is less expensive when dealing with the issues before hand than facing a fine from the labour regulations.”

She recommends having a law firm prepare a document that outlines the safety procedures required by an employee. “There are good contractors out there, but we

Shereese Qually says you need to be aware of your legal obligations for safety on the farm.

(lawyers) are required by law to outline the legal aspects of any regulations,” said Qually. “You may not always get that from the contractors.”

Citing a practical example, she outlined the difference by definition of a contractor versus an employee. “A contractor is someone you hire for a job, an employee is someone who you might be working with,” she said. “A contractor will bring his own tools, and an employee will be driving the combine or using your tools. The degree of integration also comes into play, are they eligible for a chance of the profit or risk of loss?”

This difference matters, she explained. The legal aspects and tax ramifications are different for contractors or employees, and if an employee does not submit their taxes, you may be responsible. “It is your obligation to know the rules, and we suggest doing it sooner than later,” said Qually.

The Agri Post

New Canada Ag Minister Makes Official Visit to Washington D.C.

Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Lawrence MacAulay, with US Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, on January 14 in Washington.

Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and AgriFood, marked his first visit to Washington D.C. recently with a focus on strengthening Canada’s long-standing, bilateral partnership with the US, while advancing the interests of Canadian agricultural producers, processors and exporters.

The focal point of MacAulay’s visit with his US counterpart Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack was to discuss agricultural issues of mutual interest, with a focus on trade.

They expressed their commitment to work together to facilitate trade and increase the competitiveness of the agricultural sector.

Canada and the US form the greatest bilateral trading relationship in the world with over $50B in bilateral trade in agriculture and food products.

“I am confident that a renewed focus on the partnership between our countries will help create new opportunities for agriculture and agri-food and stimulate overall economic growth.”

Agriculture and seafood exports to the US have increased by almost $20 billion since NAFTA to total $29.5 billion in 2014, or 52% of agriculture and seafood exports to all countries ($56.4 billion), making the US the most valuable market for Canadian agricultural exports.

“Our government is committed to deepening ties with the United States,” said MacAulay. “I am confident that a renewed focus on the partnership between our countries will help create new opportunities for agriculture and agrifood and stimulate overall economic growth.”

The Minister also met with US leaders on agriculture, including a former Secretary of Agriculture, to seek their views on policy, priorities and dynamics, and how the US and Canada can work together on emerging agriculture issues.

In December, 2015, the United States repealed Country of Origin Labelling (COOL) requirements for beef and pork.

The Minister acknowledges the hard work and support of our US allies, which were instrumental in achieving a positive resolution. The Minister also met with US companies and associations from the COOL Reform Coalition, including the meat and livestock sector, to highlight the importance of the repeal and reaffirm Canada’s commitment to monitoring the implementation that will ensure the removal of discrimination against Canadian cattle and hog exports.

The US Department of Agriculture promised to make amendments to the relevant regulations as quickly as possible to reflect the legislative repeal.

January 29, 2016

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MacMillan’s Named Manitoba Angus Commercial Producer of 2015

(Left-Right) Mark MacMillian, his daughter Alyssa, his wife Murielle, and son Brent receive the Manitoba Angus Commercial Producer of 2015 Award from Larissa Hamilton, President of the Manitoba Angus Association.

Photo by Joan Airey

By Joan Airey The MacMillan’s farm is located three miles northwest of Marquette, Manitoba. Mark and Murielle own the property that once belonged to his great uncle who sold it to Mark’s mom and dad and then in 1985 Mark and Murielle purchased it.

“Mark’s favourite topic is cows, especially Black Angus. Mark has always loved having cattle and when the opportunity came for him to purchase his first cattle from the

McNeil family farm he wasn’t passing up the opportunity. Mark started his commercial Black Angus herd with four cows and two heifers in 1978. With Mark and Murielle both working full-time off the farm it was necessary to have a breed of animal chosen for their calving ease, great mothering ability, and strength, which for us is Black Angus. As time went by the herd increased in numbers from year to year to achieve the goal of owning fifty cows. We always try to hold back at least three or four replace-

ment heifers from the calf crop to replace the culled cows,” said Murielle MacMillan.

The MacMillan’s are always looking at ways to improve the calf crop by bringing in new blood lines and new bulls to help increase milk production in the dams, working towards a good average daily gain giving them bigger calves come fall. They purchase purebred bulls from Ossawa Angus, Last Straw Cattle Company, Black Rose Ranch, and Prairielane Farms. They always look forward to the most exciting time of year

when calving starts and the bull catalogues arrive in the mail.

“Life on the farm has changed dramatically since Mark was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma, an aggressive rare form of cancer in 2011.

The farm was left in the hands of our children Brent and Aslyssa when we had to travel to Toronto several times over a ten-month period for various appointments, radiation and surgery. With the help of family, friends, neighbours and the community everyone pitched in to help anyway they could and for this, we were eternally grateful.

Mark continues to work on the farm, when his health allows him to with ongoing support from his family. Alyssa hopes to farm full-time one day,” said Murielle.

The MacMillan’s have been involved in helping at the local curling rink with kids curling and even putting in the odd team for a bonspiel. Helping at the local community Meadow Lea was a way to get involved in the community. Alyssa joined the Interlake Young Riders 4-H club in 2007, which gave them the opportunity to learn about 4-H and what a great program it is and to volunteer as a leader.

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The Agri Post

January 29, 2016

Soil Health Should Use Longer Term Analysis for Healthy Crops

By Les Kletke

Healthy soil equals healthy crop says Marla Riekman of MAFRD.

Marla Riekman said the first step to producing a healthy forage crop is a healthy soil and she would say that rule applies to all crops.

Riekman was one of the presenters at Beef and Forage Week as it toured the province in mid-January and recommended that producers begin with a soil test when making plans for their forage production.

She does not down play the value of tissue analysis but said it is more valuable to determine the condition of the plant during growth because the analysis can be used for immediate treatment.

Her recommendation is for a longer-term approach to soil health. “Soil health is a buzz word at this time,” she said. “We need to establish what it means to the individual producer and what they are looking at. There are many components to including organic matter and the biodiversity of organisms in the soil.”

Maplehurst Farms Receives 2015 Limousin Ambassador Award

Mark Angus, National MLA Director presents Maplehurst Farms, the Davey family Tim, Kaitlyn, and Bob with the 2015 Limousin Ambassador Award.

By Joan Airey Since 1888, Maplehurst Farms has belonged to generations of the Davey family and is currently operated by Ken, his brother Bob, wife Jackie, their children Kaitlyn and Tim. The farm consists of eight hundred acres of native pasture, eight hundred acres of grain and hay land and rent three hundred acres of hay land.

This year, the Davey family was presented with the Ambassador Award at the All Breeds Banquet in Brandon.

“Like many other beef producers we tried several exotic breeds on our British based herd before we decided on Limousin. Limousin even added some muscle to our Holstein cross calves. We were so impressed with the breed that we became lifetime members in the Canadian Limousin Association in 1978,” said Bob Davey.

Their herd consists of approximately one hundred and seventy head of purebred Limousin and commercial cows. The heifers are kept at home in the summer on rotational grazed tame pasture and the cowherd spends the summer on native pasture. In October, the calves are weaned and are backgrounded until spring before being sold. The cows are fed on pasture near the yard until mid-January before being brought into the yard to calve.

“In the past bulls have been marketed off the farm and through Bull Test Stations at Gunton and Douglas. Females have been sold through the Treasure Chest Sale and the Manitoba Limousin Advantage Sale,” said Tim Davey.

Over the years, the children have shown several Grand and Reserve Grand Champion steers in 4-H and many Grand and Reserve Carcasses in Portage Inter-Club. All the steers shown in 4-H were homegrown. Since they sold the dairy herd in 2013, they have had more time to attend shows in the summer and Ag-Ex in Brandon in the fall.

Over the years, Ken and Bob have both spent time as directors on the Manitoba Limousin Association Board. Bob and his son Tim are presently directors on the MLA Board.

Riekman said that aggregate size is also a component to consider in soil health.

“We need to consider the aggregate size and how it will react to wind and water erosion,” she said. “We need to develop management tools that will prevent erosion and keep the soil healthy.

She advises that soil health is not a onetime consideration just as an individual’s health is not cared for by a single visit to a doctor. It is an ongoing process. “The soil is constantly changing and evolving,” she said. “It is alive and it changes.” Thus, it is important to soil test and get a snap shot of where the soil is currently and then later to see how

it has changed with management practices.

She said the science of soil health is in the development stage. “We are where soil fertility tests were years ago when producers started testing for N, P, and K and designing their fertility programs based on the results,” said Riekman. “This is a new matter and we have to get a benchmark as soon as we can and them develop programs and measure their results with subsequent tests.”

“We need to look at things like salinity, organic matter and pH of soil and develop programs that will improve our soils over the years,” said Riekman. “Manure, wind and water all have a dramatic impact on our soils.”

Reduce the Alarm of Lameness in Lactating Dairy Cows Recently, I conducted a barn walk in a large robot-milking dairy and within 10 minutes, I spotted about a half dozen limping cows. I did not know what caused them to limp, but after I talked to the dairy manager, I discovered that lameness was a significant problem on his operation and several of these cows showed up as ‘alarms’, because they were not visiting the milking stations as programmed.

I believe that solving and preventing lameness problems start with seeing the first limping cow. When a cow is seen limping, we should take the time to observe her general behaviour and should get some idea of why she is limping before proceeding with corrective action.

One of the leading causes of lameness in dairy cattle is physical injury. When the hoof is damaged, a protective barrier against hoof disease is broken. Bacteria such as Fusobacterium necrophorum, (“foot-rot”), strep- and staph- organisms is allowed to enter and thrive. Similarly, pathogens such as Treponema strains commonly known as hairy heel warts can also cause inflammation and painful lesions to the interdigital skin of the hoof.

Another leading cause of lameness is laminitis, which is the inflammation and damage of the “living” laminar corium tissues within the hard hoof. It often leads to abnormal hoof growth and wear, which makes walking difficult and painful for the animal. Such laminitis is classified upon severity into three main areas: acute, sub-acute and chronic laminitis.

Acute laminitis is visible. It is this severe lameness that we frequently associate with cattle limping up to the feed bunk. For example, sole abscesses can result from cracks or holes originating from laminar corium damage in the hoof sole. This damage allows foreign material to enter the hoof and an abscess may develop. White line disease can be another form of acute laminitis in which haemorrhages and poor quality horn formation along the sole white line lets foreign bodies such as grit and sand to manifest itself into severe lameness.

During sub-acute laminitis, the clinical signs are more subtle. This form of lameness is a degeneration of the laminar corium of the hoof, which leads to increased hoof wear and greater hoof injury. Sole ulcers are associated with sub-acute laminitis, which is a loss of horn sole and unhealthy exposure of the laminar corium.

Lastly, I have seen chronic laminitis in which hoof damage is irreversible. It is permanent damage to the laminar corium, which allows complete separation of bone from the horn wall. These dairy cattle have very broad hooves with the classic ridges (associated with high grain diets). Hoof growth is altered so much that the cow walks on her heels rather than normally on her toes.

Consequently, the dairy lactation-feeding program has one of the biggest impacts on the cause and prevention of laminitis in milking dairy cows. Feeding high grain diets, low or forage diets, or finely chopped forages can lead to sub-acute ruminal acidosis (SARA), an underlying cause of laminitis. SARA has also been implicated in greater rates of hoof wear, greater risk of physical hoof injury and thus increased potential for infection.

As a ruminant nutritionist, I balance dairy diets by meeting lactation nutrient requirements, while preventing SARA at the same time. This means critical ruminal pH levels are maintained above 5.5 by limiting the consumption and digestion by the milking cows of non-fibre carbohydrates (NFC) from lactic acid producing grains, and by feeding enough effective forage fibre. Therefore, I target dietary NFC levels between 33 to 38%, while assuring a minimum of 28% dietary neutral detergent fibre (NDF) is fed and with 3/4 of this NDF coming from forages.

With these amounts of grain, and forage (fibre) going into the dairy mixer wagon, I often employ other nutrients that help strengthen hoof hardiness that has been scientifically shown to prevent invading foot-disease.

A few years ago, I instructed a dairy producer to add 4 grams per head per day of zincmethionine to his lactation dairy premix, which in turn was added to his daily milking TMR. After 7 months of zinc addition, a successful reduction in lameness was observed and recorded. Even the hoof-trimmer made the comment - the general hardness of the hooves in the cowherd improved.

Aside from these nutritional preventative measures to combat lameness, I am a big advocate of improving barn sanitation.

On occasion, I visit a dairy producer that operates a dairy with 3 robot stations. He takes a fire hose and washes the concrete pad and metal grate under each milking station, every morning. He also worked with his vet and has set up a number of footbaths and therapeutic protocols. As a result, I find the feet of his cows cleaner than many other milking cows of different robot barns and has experienced a low incidence of ‘alarm’ cows at each milking station.

I guess this dairyman figures that when it comes to healthy hooves, dairy cattle need all the help they can get. His cows also have the proper dairy nutrition that keep them on their feet, eat lots of feed and produce lots of milk.

The Agri Post

January 29, 2016

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New Approach Needed to Reach Consumers on Livestock Welfare Dr. Temple Grandin, arguably the most well known farm animal care researcher in the world, said consumers are still woefully behind in their knowledge of real progress in livestock handling in the industry.

She challenged delegates to the 2016 Banff Pork Seminar to motivate their industry to do a much better job of reaching out. The good news in all of this, she said, is that there have been great improvements in animal handling in the industry. “I’ve been in the industry for many years and I can remember times when animal handling at plants was really terrible,” she said.

Then she was hired by McDonald’s, Wendy’s and Burger King to implement animal welfare auditing of slaughter plants. “The next two years I saw an exponential improvement in handling and stunning,” said Grandin. “Today two major companies have video auditing where outside auditors randomly monitor handling. Yelling and hitting animals has stopped. It is a different and better industry today.”

The bad news counterpoint to those improvements, Grandin said, is that consumers do not know about the improvements. It is her big frustration, she added.

On how to change things she has thoughts on that.

She explained that where the industry is doing the worst job is with the rapidly expanding millennial generation. By 2020, they are projected to be nearly 20% of the population while baby boomers will drop from 27% to about 20%.

Online technologies have transformed how millennials communicate and surveys show 21% of millennials use social media as their main source of information. Fortunately, nearly 35% still read a national source of news. Regardless, the younger generation gets farther and farther away from the farm, with only 50% ever having visited a farm that raises livestock or poultry.

Grandin said there are three important key points to understand. Young people lack knowledge and a significant portion of all consumers lack a basic knowledge of animals and agriculture. Many young people have been educated in a classroom where there is no practical hands-on activity. Many have never

sewed, cooked, fixed things or worked on a car.

“I believe that lack of hands-on activity growing up causes people to think in vague abstractions,” said Grandin. “Children who grow up doing physical things quickly discover that stuff doesn’t always work. Things in a practical world can be really well made but can never be perfect. Fortunately many of our new students do want to learn and want to do more hands-on when they major in animal science.”

Values matter to young consumers.

Research shows that communication with young people is more effective if it comes from somebody who shares their values. Research also shows farmers are a trusted source of information for consumers. Programs have been developed that allow producers to communicate directly with consumers.

The pork industry needs to create similar programs.

Animal welfare is important to millennials. Surveys of young people who had become parents showed the vast majority are more concerned about chemicals, antibiotics and ingredients in food compared to their parents.

Two studies, for example, showed nearly 80% stated humane production practices were important. Consumers perceive small farms are better than big farms and nearly 64% in one study felt food companies would put profits first over treatment of animals.

The pork industry should respond by showing consumers exactly what they are doing and explain it.

Grandin did a video with the North American Meat Institute showing market pigs being loaded on a truck and then taking a tour of a large pork plant. “It has 346,845 views on YouTube and about 80% likes,” she said. “I explain how the plant works in a matter of fact manner. To improve credibility it explains I am a professor of animal science.”

Another example is locations where tourists and students can tour a large, full scale working pig or dairy farm. To maintain biosecurity visitors look at pugs through windows and they can talk to people using microphones.

Science museums are another opportunity for agriculture to be displayed and people in the pork industry need to communicate with

friends they have in the big cities. Remember what you do for chores is interesting to folks from the city, noted Grandin. “My generation has a tendency to bash millennials,” she added. “But talking to the younger generation is exactly what we should be doing.”

People who raise pigs need to reach out. It can be as simple as cute pictures of piglets or showing procedures for washing and keeping the building clean.

Grandin took aim at two issues she believes reflect negatively on agriculture.

“Ag Gag” laws, which make it a crime for undercover investigators to take pictures she said makes agriculture look really guilty and sow stalls, are a degree of confinement that even older consumers on surveys do not accept.

The older generation absolutely must reach out to the younger generation, concluded Grandin. “I am

“There are practices in animal agriculture that need to be improved and there are others that absolutely need to be defended.” proud of the things I have done to improve animal agriculture. There are prac-

tices in animal agriculture that need to be improved and there are others that

absolutely need to be defended. Fighting over sow stalls is likely not worth it.”

Manitoba Soybean Acreage to Rise to 1.5 Million

By Elmer Heinrichs Manitoba pulse development specialist Dennis Lange, addressing growers attending St. Jean Farm Days on

January 7, said Manitoba farmers are likely to plant 1.4 to 1.5 million acres of soybeans this year.

Last year Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada reported that western

Canadian soybean production reached a record 1.57 Mt as the growing area in Manitoba and Saskatchewan continued to expand.

Lange told farmers that

CentrePort Canada to Break Ground on New Rail Park CentrePort Canada has attracted a significant anchor operation, BroadGrain Commodities, which helps pave the way for breaking ground on a new rail park at Manitoba’s inland port.

“The new CentrePort Canada Rail Park will provide us with a unique advantage when attracting rail-intensive businesses like BroadGrain to Manitoba,” said Premier Greg Selinger.

BroadGrain Commodities Inc. unveiled plans to invest up to $25 million to build a new bulk grain export and trans-loading operation, and bean-processing facility at the CentrePort Rail Park. BroadGrain is a major global marketer and handler of grains, oilseeds, byproducts and specialty crops, with international offices in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

It will be the Toronto-based company’s flagship terminal in western Canada. Subject to completing due diligence and an offer to purchase agreement, BroadGrain’s new operation will be located on approximately 29 acres.

“BroadGrain’s project is an ideal anchor for our new rail park,” said Diane Gray, President and CEO of CentrePort. “They are in need of high-volume rail services in order to move the highest quality of products, which ultimately is the objective of our first phase of development.”

The new operation will include loading 150-car unit trains with Manitoba commodities including wheat, canola, soybeans, corn and specialty crops. The new campus facility will include terminal storage, trans-loading and processing capacity.

“As we started looking at potential green field sites to continue expanding our footprint in the west, we were impressed by the value proposition at CentrePort and the potential for our project to become an anchor development in the new rail park,” said Zaid Qadoumi, President and CEO, BroadGrain.

BroadGrain’s investment triggers the construction of Phase I of the new CentrePort Canada Rail Park. CentrePort is investing $2.4 million to build the lead tracks and switches off the Canadian Pacific Railway mainline (CP Rail Carberry Subdivision), which will connect to BroadGrain’s dedicated tracks. These lead tracks and switches will be owned by CentrePort and will service additional projects as the rail park develops.

The Province of Manitoba will provide tax increment financing (TIF) revenues from the Community Revitalization Fund to assist with the construction of rail leads and switches.

The province is also realigning PR 221 to support rail park development.

CentrePort Canada is Manitoba’s 20,000-acre inland port and foreign trade zone. The new rail park is being built on 700 acres located just south of the CP mainline and west of CentrePort Canada Way.

in 2015 growers were planting soybeans by the first week of May, noting that the crop emerged slowly, with many fields sustaining frost damage.

Later hail also took its toll and Manitoba soybeans averaged 39 bushels an acre, though many reported yields from 35-50 bushels acre.

The Altona based specialist also stressed the importance of checking soybean crop plant stands once the crop has emerged.

“Ideally you’ll have 130,000 to 160,000 plants an acre. If you find that your count is only 80,000 plants, weed control will be even more critical,” said Lange.

With a ready market for the crop, and with prices in the $10 to $11 bushel range, Lange sees the possibility of acreage taking another jump up, even over last year’s record 1.38 million acres.

Canadian soybeans are competitively priced into the world market on support from the devaluation of the Canadian dollar against the US currency. There is a viable export market, but there are also a number of local buyers for soybeans, and some are being crushed for animal feed.

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January 29, 2016

The Agri Post