AgriPost May 26 2017

The AgriPost

Commodity Groups Announce Possible Merger

By Les Kletke They are not a good mix in the hopper or the bin but at least five of the province’s commodity groups hope that they are a good mix in the Boardroom.

The Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers, The Manitoba Grower Gowers, Manitoba Flax Growers, The Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers and the National Sunflower Association signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to pursue the possibility of the groups merging under one umbrella.

“Four of five are already housed in one building in Carman,” said Pam de Rocquigny who has been in the role of General Manager of the Manitoba Corn Growers and Wheat and Barley Growers for the past three months.

She said the initial period has gone well with no major obstacles. Both organizations have offices in the building and have been aware of the others operation and the Manitoba Corn Growers has handled some cash advances for other groups in the past.

She said that there are some efficiencies from having one manager for the two organizations but the proposed

Pam de Rocquigy has been General Manager of the Manitoba Corn Growers and Manitoba Wheat and Barley growers for the past 3 months.

5-member group will present a different situation. “At this point they have signed an MOU and will be looking at what format the new organization could take, the intent is to have someone in place that could present a structure of what the organization could be. We hope to have something to take to our members at the crop show in February.”

Talks between the groups began 3 years ago and have

now picked up momentum with the announcement of the signing of the MOU. She said that at this time there is no time line for any decision and it will depend on the person who is charged with coming up with a possible frame work.

Wearing her Corn Grower hat, de Rocquigny said that acres for the crop are expected to rise significantly in the province. “Stats Can expects there to be 475,000 acres of

corn which is up from 328,000 last year, “she said. She attributes exceptional yields last year to the increased acreage but will not pin down the bumper crop to a single factor.

“We have seen improved genetics over the years with earlier varieties and higher yields, we have seen improved management practices and last year we had the heat. They all came together to contribute to a Manitoba average of just over 140 bushels an acre,” she said.

May 26, 2017

Canola Not at Table for Merger Talks Manitoba Canola Growers Association (MCGA) along with all the other commodity groups in Manitoba have been discussing ways to collaborate for the past three years.

As a board, the MCGA had considered being part of a potential merger but at this time, the decision is not to participate in the current memorandum of understanding (MOU) although they will continue to monitor the discussions.

“Canola has been a part of the commodity group merger talks since inception,” said Charles Fossay, President of MCGA. “We applaud the efforts of the Manitoba Corn Growers, Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers, National Sunflower Association, Manitoba Wheat and Barley Association and the Manitoba Flax Growers Association to explore merger potential.”

Canola is an established organization with provincial counterparts in SaskCanola and Alberta Canola Producer Commission, and a national branch called Canola Council of Canada that is connected to the complete canola value chain, and national policy voice through the Canadian Canola Growers Association.

“Canola has a good working relationship with all of the provincial commodity groups and we look forward to continued partnerships moving forward,” stated Bill Ross, Executive Director of MCGA. “We continue to look for collaboration opportunities in research, education and promotion, and member relations in order to leverage check off dollars.”

“The maturity of the canola value chain affords us opportunities on a national and international stage that we would not want to lose and have to keep in mind as we move forward,” commented Ron Krahn, MCGA Director. “Some of our key points of concern are narrowing of farmer representation with potentially fewer directors around the table leaving us with a small voice for our members, increased workload for farm directors, weakening our relationship with our current strong canola alliances, inefficiencies of a larger organization, and potential addition of staff.”

The AgriPost

May 26, 2017

Keeping Competitive in the Business of Pigs

By Harry Siemens Brian Sullivan, the CEO of the Canadian Centre for Swine Improvement, said the adoption of new technology will be key for Canada’s pork industry to remain competitive while meeting new challenges facing the industry.

In partnership with Swine Innovation Porc, the Canadian Centre for Swine Improvement is examining novel technologies designed

to optimize pig performance and improve competitiveness.

Sullivan said historically the biggest challenge for the Canadian pork industry is to remain competitive. “We needed to have very efficient sows, efficient growing hogs with good yielding carcasses and that’s going to continue,” he said. “We need technologies to make sure we keep at the leading edge in everything we can do as far as ef-

ficiency is concerned. We’re also being faced with many new challenges, some of those in the animal welfare health areas, some of them in pork quality for example.

Some of these are going to be challenging and some of them are opportunities.”

Sullivan said there is no question that Canada has always been a leader in development and adoption of technologies and it is one of the reasons Canada is among the leaders in pork production globally. “This is going to be critical not just to survive but to take advantage of the opportunities and to meet the challenges that are facing

the industry,” he said. “By no means is Canada alone at looking at technologies and doing the research that is needed.”

Tough competition is a factor said Sullivan especially from Canada’s neighbours to the south and Europe as well as other countries. “If we rest on our laurels, I’m pretty sure somebody is going to come in and take the share of the market,” he said.

Sullivan said there are several technologies that are getting closer to practical application. Some of them are vision based systems where cameras take pictures in two and three dimensions that

could be used to automatically predict characteristics of a pig, such as weight and growth. “There’s others that could monitor the activity of pigs so accelerometers or things like we have in our iPhone to keep track of our own activity,” he said.

“Those things could work with livestock and get information on behaviour that might be helpful. There are other technologies that could monitor the health of the animals, help with reproductive management, help to enhance the quality of the pork ultimately that’s going to be produced for consumers.”

Sullivan said as with all

technologies the costs generally start out very high at the research level and early adoption level but these prices are coming down faster and faster. “The other thing that’s happening is operations are getting larger so, if you have a technology that can be used on more and more animals, then the cost per unit of output of pork or piglet starts to come down very rapidly,” he said. “The other side of it is that we’re able to do more and more with the information that technologies can gather so there’s more value that could be potentially coming out of the technology.”

High tech barns like this one at the Suncrest Colony near Steinbach, keeps the Canadian hog industry competitive.

Mixed Farm Prepares for Busy Season on All Fronts

By Les Kletke Danny Rooke voiced his sentiments about seeding and could be a representative for most Manitoban farmers.

Rooke farms at Alexander and does custom work for other farmers in the area.

This year he bought a new planter and scheduled 4,500 acres for the new unit.

“We are at the mid-way mark [May 19] and someday I look at the task and think we will never get done, then we have a couple of good days and I think the acres is very attainable,” he said with a chuckle. “But that is the way it is and we have to keep going. We should be alright, realistically, we are on target.”

Rooke invested in the precision planting equipment for his own farm and as a part of his operation does custom work for farmers in the area. “We have been putting up high quality forage for a number of years and felt that we can do a good job at that,” he said.

The farm has a purebred Red Angus herd as well as a commercial cowherd. In the commercial herd, he uses Red Angus bulls on Simmental cows. “We have had success with that and think it is a good cross, but when we sell bulls the producer can

use them on whatever type of cows he has. We have little input on that,” said Rooke.

He does advocate the cross on a feeding system like his.

For the first time this year, he is selling a crop of Red Angus yearling bulls. He is hopeful that buyers will respect the features he has worked on and that the price will be reflected. “We have a good number of bulls that will be around the 1,400 lb mark and we have raised them on high quality forage.

They are intended to work for the commercial cattleman and will not lose weight when they are put to work.”

He does not advocate a high-energy diet that puts weight on the animals quickly. “They tend to back up then when they get to work,” he said. “We don’t give them a lot of cake and we hope that they will work for the farmer on his herd,” he said. Rooke plans to sell the bulls by private treaty from his farm at Alexander and is having them semen tested by the end of the month.

While Rooke has concentrated on the field operations, daughter Alice has concentrated her efforts on preparing the show ring. The grade 11 student did get her drivers licence earlier this year

Danny Rooke has completed seeding on about half of the acres he contracted and expects to finish by the end of May.

and she said that has helped out with supporting the field staff.

For her the show season starts in Oak River on June 9, and marks the beginning of a busy summer. “I will be competing on the Milk Run this year, that is a series of 4 or 5 shows close together [geography and time] so that will take some time and I am working on halter breaking the animals,” said the younger Rooke.

She will be showing the

first calf from one her cows.

“I am very happy and think we could do well,” she said.

Alice also has her project steer from the Rivers 4 H club where she is a member.

“We have some bred heifers that will be going into a demonstration pen at a National Angus event in summer so there are a lot of animals to get ready, thankfully school is over in a couple of weeks.”

Then Alice can get on with her dream of being a full time cattleman.

Alice Rooke is getting animals ready for the show ring and this fine specimen will be making the tour around the circuit in western MB.

The AgriPost

May 26, 2017

Drone Technology Saves Time and Money Assessing Crop Damage

By Harry Siemens Landon Friesen farms at Crystal City, with his brother and father growing wheat, canola, soybeans, and peas on 5,600 acres.

“We’re not a really diverse farm, but we’re trying to be,” said Landon earlier this year after presenting to the Young Farmers of the Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) in Winnipeg speaking about the drone technology. “We see a lot of young guys, especially young farmers, who bought into the technology of drones. But all they’re using them for is pictures. Whether it’s just pictures of your land, or crop scouting. But they can do so much more than that. Most of the guys who have a drone have the same access to some of the software, that’s absolutely free, that can do a lot for you.”

Friesen said these drone pictures are useful for crop insurance reports, especially after a hailstorm. “Let’s say

you have a field that’s hailed out, and you want to know exactly how many acres were hailed out and at what severity. You can use your drone to fly a grid. It will automatically fly for you; you don’t have to touch it.

It’s going to take off and fly a grid and land,” he pointed out. “You’re going to upload that image to your computer, stitch it together, and it gives you a report of exactly how many acres are damaged, and to what extent. Quite often you can hand it to your insurance company representative and save him a lot of time because I guarantee that if you got hail, so did a bunch of other neighbours, and he’s going to be busy. When you can hand him a report that shows how many acres have been destroyed or damaged, it will save him time.”

Friesen finds it very useful for counting acres he farms with crop insurance. In 2016, with the excessive mois-

ture, he was able to assess how many acres had excess moisture and under water.

“I could get it right down; to how many potholes I could count. But for me to fly the drone over the field and be able to use a tool online just to count the acres, and hand it in to them, the exact number, is so helpful,” he said.

Landon said on their farm, they have found it to be quite accurate, especially for counting acres. “It’s been, I think just as accurate as a person walking around in a field with a handheld GPS. I’m not sure why more insurance companies aren’t using the drone technology. Because it saves them a bunch of time in the end.”

For some people not familiar with the technology, counting damaged crop acres manually may be more accurate he agreed. “Well, yeah.

We have technology that can do it probably faster and more efficient. It’s new tech-

nology. It’s change, right?

Change doesn’t happen overnight,” said Friesen.

Landon said the base price to buy a drone and software could start at $1,500 and it would have most features available. “The thermal cameras and the different sensors you can put on there, that’s when it starts getting expensive. But I just run a basic camera on mine. It’s amazing what it can all do,” he said. “I use an iPad, or a handheld controller with an iPad that mounts on it, and that’s what controls it.”

The plan for their family farm for 2017 included peas, soybeans, wheat, and canola.

“I don’t know if I’ll be heavy into soybeans this year because in 2016 we traded all of our soybean acres for peas, took advantage of that price rally. This year will be really more of a half and half, with the peas and the beans.”

Friesen noted that there was some general confusion on

why a pea processing plant would be built in Manitoba at Portage la Prairie. “I think a lot of guys are confused as to why we’re getting a pea processing plant in Portage

when there’s really not too many peas grown in Manitoba. But I think these are the guys that would love to see a soybean processor put up,” he said.

Manitoba Beef Producers to Offer Six Bursaries Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) recently announced it will again award six $500 bursaries to deserving Manitoba students in 2017.

The bursaries are available to MBP members, or their children, who are attending a university, college or other post-secondary institution. Students pursuing trades training are also eligible. Preference will be given to students who are pursuing a field of study related to agriculture or those acquiring a skilled trade that would benefit the rural economy.

“We are proud to offer these bursaries to our members and their children,” said Manitoba Beef Producers President Ben Fox. “Ensuring that our communities have the skilled trades needed by the beef industry is a priority of our board. Some of our past recipients have made significant contributions to rural Manitoba and we are proud to help them achieve their educational goals.”

Those applying must be at least 17 years old as of January 1, 2017 and be an active beef producer or the child of one. Applicants must use the bursary within two years of receiving it and the program they are attending must be at least one year in duration.

Interested students are required to submit an essay no more than 600 words in length discussing what the beef industry means to them, their family, community and Manitoba at large. Students are also asked to include the reasons they enjoy being involved in agriculture.

Applicants must also submit a high school or post-secondary transcript, proof of enrolment in a recognized institution, a list of their community involvement and three references. The application can be found at mbbeef.ca/ producers/mbp-bursary.

Completed applications must be submitted to MBP by June 2, 2017. All entries will be reviewed by the selection committee and the winners will be notified by July 31, 2017. The winning essays will also be reprinted in the September issue of Cattle Country.

Landon Friesen of Crystal City farms 5,600 acres growing peas, wheat, canola and soybeans and uses drone technology to collect data for crop insurance purposes.

May 26, 2017

Not too Late for a Revamp of the CWB There are those who would say that my question is purely academic because the CWB has never left and the battle is still going on with what should be done with the remains of the once mighty Canadian Wheat Board. But for the majority of people living in the reality of farming in western Canada the Board is a part of history.

There is no doubt on this one, you can never go back, the CWB in the form it existed will not return but there is a chance that the initials could be revived for another farm organization that could have a dramatic impact on the budgets of Manitoba farmers. All the talk about the amalgamation of nearly a half dozen commodity groups in our province and the choice by the Canola Growers to not get involved got me thinking… with changes coming to the smoking regulations of our country and our province leading the way in production, the dope growers are going to need an umbrella organization.

There is a good chance that they might be a bit late to the party to join the group that is being talked about by Corn, Barley and Wheat, Flax, Pulse and Soybean, and Sunflower grower organizations but that probably won’t be the first time that this newest organization is described as late to the party. They are after all somewhat mellow and easy going.

We must also consider that dope growers may think they are somewhat special and want to keep their crop distinct from hemp, which has all of the growth but none of the party associated with the new crop. To keep this differentiation they may choose to go the route of Canada’s first Cinderella Crop and for an industry wide organization such as the one that has worked well for Canola.

The Canadian Dope Council (CDC) would be easily confused with the Canadian Disease Centre, which already has an office in Winnipeg, so they might be better off to go with the CWB initials, and who knows they might be able to pick up some unused letterhead and envelops. There would have been a building that was waiting for them on Main Street in Winnipeg but they were too late to the party on that one. Oops.

So who knows maybe the CWB will rise again and the initials along with whichever logo the group chooses will be a welcome site on envelopes in farmer’s mailboxes across the country.

Whichever format the industry chooses for its grower and industry organization they are going to have to hurry because there is little doubt as to the importance of such a group. The industry has a very active seed group as users tell me – the changes in dope in the last couple of years make breeding programs in crops like corn and soybeans seem at a standstill. We know what those programs have done to maturity dates for those crops, but these breeding programs have changed the makeup and potency of the seed.

A quick search of seed types available reveals names like Trainwreck, Blackberry Kush, and Gorilla Glue #3 that sounds a whole lot more interesting than a variety named for a town.

The AgriPost

Carbon Tax Sucks

A recent announcement by Manitoba’s Pallister government to exempt farmers from any “direct” carbon taxes is welcome news. But it doesn’t go far enough. Canada’s history with such taxes shows us that they are neither revenue-neutral, efficient nor able to “save the planet.” Even in the best cases, real world experience shows them to be classic big government taxand-spend schemes.

In the Winnipeg Sun, Robin Speer, Wheat Grower Executive Director of the Western Canadian Wheat Growers, and Todd MacKay, from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, point out that farmers will still be hit with this tax in all sorts of indirect ways. Everything farmers do and touch is related to fossil fuels and carbon. From fuel, to fertilizer, to crop protection products, to transporting grain and livestock, the list goes on and on. Eliminating any, direct tax just means farmers won’t be paying the tax twice.

Kenneth P. Green, an environmental scientist, wrote a paper for the Fraser Institute titled, “Poor Implementation Undermines Carbon Tax Efficiency in Canada.”

The title of his opinion piece in The Hill, based on the paper, gets straight to the point, “Canada’s carbon pricing—bait and switch.”

Green says, “Canada has pretty much proven that governments have no intention of getting carbon pricing right.”

We are told all sorts of wonderful things about how carbon taxes are the most efficient way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. But that’s just in theory. When the rubber meets the road, Green writes, they fail three important requirements. First, they should replace existing regulations, not add extra costs to them. Second, the taxes should be fully rebated by lowering distortion taxes like income taxes. Third, the money from the tax should not be used to monkey with energy markets by subsidizing the government’s pet energy projects.

Provinces have already shown us that they have no problem siphoning carbon tax funds off for their own purposes.

According to the Auditor General of Ontario, “Out of the $8 billion to be collected in four years, $1.32 billion will be earmarked to subsidize residential and business electricity bills. The rest will be spent on government pet projects - transit, subsidies to renewable energy, dubious efficiency programs, etc.” Alberta goes further. It will sink an estimated 44% of what it collects into general revenue and various other nonclimate related programs. Quebec has a whole host of projects listed on its government website on which it intends to spend the money. BC is supposed to be the poster child for revenue neutrality; for the first four years, that province returned the new revenue money by reducing other taxes, but now it, too, is diverting funds elsewhere.

As a side note, anyone want to take a guess at how much the world’s total power is generated from wind? After

Penner’s Points

By Rolf Penner

decades of massive subsidization it’s still basically zero. Matt Ridley goes through the math in an article for The Spectator. Technically, its 0.46% so you can round it down to zero. Add in solar and tidal energy sources and you still don’t get to 1% but at least you can round up to it. This is the alternative energy that according to all these different government officials is supposed to replace fossil fuels as our primary energy source in a few years? Thanks to their wise investment of our tax dollars.

Kenneth Green concludes, “Canada’s experience with carbon taxes does indeed serve as a beacon to the world, mostly casting light on the bait and switch tactics of carbon price peddlers. While there are valid arguments for efficient and economically benign carbon taxes, governments have shown no interest in establishing or maintaining them.

Rather, hunger for new revenues and the inevitable central planning conceit of politicians distort carbon pricing into just another political tax-and-spend program, this time under the undeserved halo of saving the planet.”

This carbon tax stuff isn’t just bad for farmers; it’s bad for Manitoba and Canada. Governments just can’t help themselves when it comes to taking our money and spending it foolishly even when they start out with the best of intentions.

Maintaining a Reputation in Canadian Standards for Wheat Dear Editor: Recently there has been a public push by the Western Canadian Wheat Growers (WCWG) to change the Canadian varietal registration and grading system to allow American grown wheat full access into our export system. As usual, their simplistic approach ignores the economic pitfalls that Canadian farmers will face should this occur.

Canada’s grading system is unique in the world, with all of the wheat varieties that are accepted into our system assigned to a specific class that is based upon their characteristics. These characteristics include such things as protein content, and ensure uniformity within the class so that our customers are assured of a product that meets their end needs.

The Americans, however, simply accept any variety that is put forward, and it is up to customers to test each and every shipment to determine if it meets their specifications. As well, it is up to every farmer to decide if a variety meets both their own agronomic needs, and the end-use needs of potential customers.

Canada’s unsurpassed reputation for the world’s best quality wheat will be put at risk if we allow inferior quality American varieties unfettered access to our handling system. Our customers will no longer be assured that the grain they purchase meets the exacting standards and uniformity that has been Canada’s hallmark of a superior product.

This most recent lobby by the WCWG threatens to debase Canadian farmers’ quality system, and endangers our ability to provide a superior product to our customers.

Canadian farmers have to stand up for our world-class system that delivers outstanding value and quality, both to ourselves and to our customers. We can’t afford to let our standards be degraded by relinquishing the advantages we have developed over the last century.

Sincerely, Cam Goff, National Farmers Union board member, Hanley, SK

The AgriPost

May 26, 2017

Renting Farm Equipment Saves Money for Some Farmers

So much of my work as a farmer’s advocate and farm journalist continues to focus on encouraging farmers with new ideas, start-up ventures, and last but not least, the young farmers trying to get a foothold by working not just harder, but smarter too.

This often means doing several jobs like helping with the family farm and starting another business that helps other farmers.

Through Twitter, I get all kinds of requests, or at least tweets and retweets, where someone nudges me in a certain direction, offers me their idea, or simply wants more exposure for something they

think could help others. With a combined total of 17,000 followers in both Twitter and LinkedIn, a weekly publication like this one, and other farm papers, one can begin to get certain requested messages out there. Having come to that point where I’m obviously closer to the end of my career than say the beginning, I can pick and choose even more so the causes, projects and people I like to support.

Duane Thiessen who lives in Morden, Manitoba, and farms with his father and brothers at Crystal City, is one such entrepreneur.

Farming 300 acres together with the family farm, he also started a farm equipment rental business under the business name of Thiessen AgriVentures and Flaman

Rentals. The rental business he started only a few years back in 2013.

“We’re a farmer rentals dealer and our aim is to provide a trustworthy service of clean and well-maintained equipment for rent for the progressive farmer,” said Thiessen. “Also, equipment that will operate in many conditions. Then, constantly striving to stay up to date on agronomy and farming trends in the ever-changing agriculture industry.”

When asked about who he targets, he admits it is hard to identify, realizing that many of the bigger operators like to buy and own their own equipment or if they use it once or twice a year letting it stand for the rest of the time.

Thiessen said he is there to help that farmer who suddenly realizes he needs a special piece of equipment

Pallister’s Carbon Tax Exemption for Farmers Acknowledges Policy Failures The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is claiming an important victory as Premier Brian Pallister admitted carbon taxes are harmful for farmers and is now calling on him to acknowledge the same is true for all Manitobans.

“Manitoban farmers are the most efficient and environmentally conscious producers in the world and a carbon tax would punish them while their competitors in the United States and Australia continue to compete without the same disadvantage,” said Todd MacKay, Prairie Director for the CTF. “But an exemption for direct costs is only a partial solution as farmers will still get hit when a carbon tax increases costs for fertilizer, trucking and everything else. A carbon tax will ripple through the economy and harm farmers despite half-measure exemptions.”

Premier Pallister announced he would not impose a carbon tax on farmers because agricultural exporters compete on a world market and cannot increase prices to offset the cost of a carbon tax. He went on to say that, “Carbon taxes have the potential to very negatively impact on that sector.”

“Premier Pallister is absolutely right that a carbon tax would hurt farmers, but the same is true for every other Manitoban,” said MacKay. “President Donald Trump isn’t imposing a carbon tax in the United States, China isn’t imposing a carbon tax and Australia has already repealed its carbon tax. Hammering Manitobans with a carbon tax will make this province less competitive without actually helping the environment.”

Wheat is Manitoba’s number one export at $973 million annually, according to provincial statistics. Manitoba also exports $761 million in nickel and $617 million in petroleum products. A carbon tax is a threat to all of Manitoba’s $13.7 billion in exports.

Manitoba produces 2.9 per cent of Canada’s total emissions. Canada produces 1.6 per cent of global emissions. That means that eliminating all of Manitoba’s emissions would only reduce global emissions by 0.046 per cent.

“Premier Pallister needs to follow the lead of Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall and oppose failed carbon tax policies,” said MacKay. “At the very least, he needs to keep his promise to hold a referendum on all major tax hikes and let Manitobans decide whether they want to pay a carbon tax.”

but doesn’t want to buy it just then. That farmer can call Duane, pick up the piece of equipment, whether it is an extra tractor for the day or even for a half-day and then pays, the rental cost accordingly. “For most guys, it doesn’t pay to buy these things. Why not rent it and save that capital and take the 100 per cent tax right off as a rental? It’s not standing around for the rest of the year,” he said. “I’m taking that risk and being able to rent it out to somebody else, after the first guy finishes using it.’

When talking about his farming operation, Thiessen said it isn’t a fully partnered business but they work together with extra help when needed during the business time and then hiring others to work his land. It also works well with rotating crops. Duane is planting

wheat and canola on his 300 acres and the other business participants plant other crops as the rotation calls for. “Personally, I’m growing wheat and canola, but no soybeans, but the farm is. We all work together, everything just worked together as one family, but with separate economic entities,” he added.

As the temperatures started warming, he said there is a good attitude amongst farmers. “Well, I think it’s very good. Talking to them more, been getting some calls for rentals. The thing is just, they aren’t quite there yet [field conditions and soil temperatures] and it’s just getting going this week, so basically most guys are preparing,” he said. “It’s just a touch wet in places there still. Whenever it rains here, just a little trickle and you start to see the water come out from underneath. That water table is

right up there. You also need to be careful where you start to go through a low spot, but realize you have to go around.”

Thiessen said renting is becoming a very good option for sourcing occasional use or high priced equipment, as it’s an expense write off.

As I said at the beginning so good to see one young farmer setting up a business to help other farmers.

May 26, 2017

The AgriPost

The AgriPost

May 26, 2017

Australian Company Hemp Foods on Hiring Spree With the recent legalization of hemp as a food in Australia, the southern hemisphere’s largest hemp foods manufacturer, Hemp Foods Australia plans to expand its operations and is seeking experienced hemp professionals to help it do so.

Because of Manitoba’s outstanding international hemp reputation, Hemp Foods Australia is specifically seeking a Production Manager from the area.

The recent ruling by Coalition of Australian Governments will have an impact on the country’s economy and farming industry. Australia and New Zealand have been the last western countries to embrace hemp as a source for protein, oil and fabric, but the April 28, 2017 ruling by Coalition of Australian Governments means Hemp Foods is now set to experience exponential growth.

“In addition to added job opportunities for Australia’s farming industry, this is a very positive step towards more sustainable farming in Australia,” said Paul Benhaim, Hemp Foods Founder.

The global hemp industry is worth approximately $1 billion and growing. The market for Australian Hemp is expected to quadruple in the next two years. Hemp Foods Australia currently uses over 200 million hemp plants annually. “Australian hemp farmers are elated at the decision to approve hemp as a food and separate it from marijuana,” he continued.

Benhaim said Australia is a great place for job seekers with hemp cultivation experience. “The lifestyle in Australia simply can’t be beat. We have a beautiful moderate year-round temperature, warm ocean waters and a friendly, lively culture,” said Benhaim. “We’ve been fortunate to attract some of Canada’s finest consultants previously and they universally tell us they’re delighted at their decision to move to Australia,” he continued.

Benhaim pioneered the European hemp foods industry with the successful snack bar ‘9bar’ and moved his efforts to Australia in 2000 where he has built a thriving production plant capable of over 1,000 ton per annum, with international distribution including Asia.

AGM Returns to Where it All Began

By Joan Airey

The annual Canadian Angus Association Convention is coming to Brandon June 8 – 11 with a Beef Value Chain Panel.

A Panel presenter includes Joe Bouchard a Manitoba cow calf producer, cattle marketing specialist and a chef from the Victoria Inn. James Bradbury will speak on “Know your Brandon Know Your Public” and a Value added Beef Panel discussion would take place.

Arlene Kirkpatrick, Manitoba Angus Association, Secretary said many other special events are planned as well. “We have a bus tour of Anderson’s Feedlot in Souris. Then a cattle handling demo, cattle on display, steak supper at HBH Farms.”

“Manitoba has hosted many annual meetings and conventions over the years and we look forward to hosting the 2017 Convention and the sixth annual Canadian Angus Foundation Legacy Sale Saturday night,” said Kirkpatrick.

The Canadian Aberdeen Angus Association comprised of officials and directors from western Canada and its breed office now in Winnipeg has a long rich history. The Constitution and Bylaws were approved at a meeting in Brandon, Manitoba in 1905. Then the Canadian Aberdeen Angus Breeders Association was incorporated on May 4, 1906. The first President of the Association was the Honourable W. Clifford. The Canadian Angus Association office remained in Brandon from 1911 until 1947.

The most notable female Angus purchased by the A.B. Anderson partnership was for the Winnipeg Flood Relief Sale in 1950. That was when the British government sent a number of purebred cattle, sheep, and swine to Manitoba to be sold in aid of the flood victims of the disastrous flood that year. This female was Primula of Balfron.

A.B. Anderson was Doug Anderson’s grandfather who started Mountain View Farms in 1933. Doug a third generation member of the Anderson family to operate Mountain View Farms was President of the Canadian Angus Association in 1964.

Paul Benhaim, Hemp Foods Founder is specifically seeking a Production Manager from the Manitoba area.

The AgriPost

May 26, 2017

Central, Eastern Farmers on Move to Finish Seeding

By Elmer Heinrichs It’s been a hectic month for Manitoba farmers. They went from dawn-to-dusk, occasionally into the wee hours, in an effort to plant this year’s crops. And amazingly, it’s almost done!

With the arrival of May, the weather warmed and farmers across central-eastern regions and elsewhere across Manitoba hit the field with a running start and much of the crop is now seeded.

Manitoba Agriculture, in its May 15 Crop Report, said all regions reported good seeding progress during the week with warmer temperatures and improving seedbed conditions. Approximately 50 to 60 % of seeding is completed in Manitoba with central regions making the most progress.

The Crop Report also noted that many areas with high water tables in the spring now have access to more and more fields as top soils are drying down, with light-textured soils dried to the point that a rain would be welcome to assist with germination.

In fact, most seeded fields would benefit from some rainfall.

Most cereals are planted, with the earliest fields emerging nicely. Good progress has been made with canola, and soybean planting is well underway and is advancing rapidly.

Central regions report nearnormal temperatures with drying winds allowed for improved seedbed conditions, and seeding continues with significant progress made in much of the region. Because

of last fall’s wet conditions, many fields required heavy harrowing or cultivation prior to seeding. More than the usual fertilizer is being applied since few acres were done last fall. Some are now hoping for rain to aid seed germination in fields, which are badly rutted.

Seeding overall ranges from 40 to 95 % complete, with progress most advanced in eastern and southern parts of the region, and a significant number of producers have finished spring seeding.

Canola acres range from 30 to 95 % complete. A majority of field pea acres is also seeded, and corn continues to go in, ranging from 60 to 100 % done. Sunflowers and flax range from 40 to 60 % done, as are many soybeans, now germinating nicely. Potato

planting is also in progress, and edible bean planting has begun, with a majority of acres expected to go in after the long weekend.

Eastern region reported that due to little precipitation and rising soil temperatures farmers were out quickly to put in all kinds of crops planned this year. The forecasts of rain propelled farmers to put in as many acres as possible while conditions allowed.

Across the region, it is estimated that 80 % of spring seeding is completed. Spring

wheat, other cereals and corn are almost done being seeded and are beginning to emerge.

Most of the remaining acres will go in before the long weekend, weather permitting.

Planting of soybeans and sunflowers is underway and producers are expected to make rapid seeding progress as long as favourable weather continues.

Now that winter wheat field assessments are complete, it is determined that almost none of the crop has survived. Some farmers are

trying to keep enough field area for seed for next year, while other fields are being terminated and reseeded with other crops.

Producers are starting to move livestock to pasture, fertilizing of hay and pastures continues as producers are able to, with a majority of hay and pasture lands rated as in good or fair condition.

As May ends, farmers are into a final push to re-seed a few crops, seed one last field, and move on to spraying and other fieldwork necessary to grow another crop.

Hundreds of Acres Already Seeded for FoodGrains Bank

By Elmer Heinrichs Seeding on our Canadian FoodGrains Bank (CFGB) farms began on May 3 with 120 acres seeded to wheat at Minnedosa as well as 25 acres of corn at St. PierreJolys, said Harold Penner, Regional Coordinator of the church-based relief agency.

“May is turning out to be a good month for seeding in many parts of the province, though some areas are still too wet and cool to be able to seed,” said Penner. He added, with it being a busy month, “It’s hard to tell how many acres are seeded or what the total acreage will end up

being. But from reports received, it appears that a good number of projects are seeded, and quite a few of these have emerged and are looking good.”

Reflecting on the many volunteers who make FoodGrains Bank projects work, Penner said that in Manitoba we have

a number of projects that have run continuously for over 20 years, and cites the BMW project out of Boissevain as one celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

“With the very difficult situation in the world today,” he said. “I just want to encourage everyone to do what they can

to make a successful growing project in your community.”

Growing Projects are continually the most effective fundraisers that the FoodGrains Bank has. “If you are willing to help promote this idea in your community and need some help, please call,” said Penner.

Farmer plants corn near Altona as Manitoba seeding got underway.

Photo by Elmer Heinrichs

The AgriPost

Tailoring Crop Seed and Fertilizer Methods Boost Your Returns Per Acre

By Harry Siemens Garett Veldman, husband, father of 4, farmer, seed retailer, Director for the Manitoba Corn Growers also operates a business out of Carman, called AGrow360 supplying seed for grain, corn silage and forage seeds.

When interviewed at a recent dairy meeting, Veldman, said while selling into the seed grain market, he also has products and services for the dairy feed market. “We have some new stuff with Horizon Seeds, new to western Canada. We’re excited to bring that into Manitoba,” he said.

“Horizon Seeds is on a different genetics platform than probably what most farmers are used to seeing. They run a syngenetic platform in the background and they buy genetics from different suppliers, no different from the cattle guys buying different bulls and heifers and getting different genetics into their herd. We’re doing the same in the corn business.”

Before spring seeding, Veldman said farmers talking about increasing soybean acres and less wheat. Most saw corn acres increasing

and Oat acres looked to be up as well. The consensus was that canola would decrease in their area.

When asked how western Canada viewed soybeans and if the crop was on the brink of becoming another Cinderella crop, he agreed. “I have that word in my head as well, the Cinderella. Like this year, mid-June I remember spraying beans. I probably would have written that crop off for a 30-bushel crop, to be honest with you. We had a lot of holes out there. That crop ended up turning into over 50-bushel an acre,” he said.

“That’s quite impressive for the nature of the plant to be able to take that water on and actually fight through it. We can see it. It’s just been a staple crop on a lot of farms in the area.”

Veldman said the challenges looking forward as a young farmer would be getting the most out of each acre. The price of land is going up. For a young farmer to expand, it is a bit tougher.

Rental acres are tight, so doing things differently on the farm may be advantageous.

“The one thing for us has

to do with seed genetics with tube or a pipe that drops into “Then, we’ll how we apply our fertilizer the canopy and then it splits come in with and we are testing various into a Y. Then, the hose is another third of methods. Plant populations actually dragged right along liquid nitrogen and just getting more yield out the rows of the corn. when the corn The advantage is that when is almost chest of that acre is the way we’re looking at things,” he said. fertilizer can be applied high. Especially “This summer, we bought later and at different stages, with the heavy our own set of fertilizer ap- the crop benefits the most. rain that we had plications, very similar to the “We’re getting away from in 2016, that’s Y-drop system that we’ve front loading all our nitrogen, where we felt seen in the marketplace. We like pre-plant. We’ll maybe the advantage can go fairly late, about V8 put on a third of our nitro- was. We didn’t in the corn. We’re able to ap- gen ahead of planting. Then, lose nitrogen up ply fertilizer right beside the we’ll put on another third front.” row banding it right beside with anhydrous,” he said. the stalk of the plant to allow for heavy dew or a rain to wash that in.”

Veldman saw about a 9bushel increase last year after applying their fertilizer that way but will make further tests this year and try to bump those bushels up in the corn.

He applies the Garett Veldman of Carman is looking to get the most per acre by using a different fertilizer method. He applies fertilizer with a high clearance fertilizer with a sprayer using a tube or a pipe that drops into the canopy and then it high clearance splits into a Y. A hose is actually dragged right along the rows of the corn sprayer using a in three separate applications when the crop benefits the most.

May 26, 2017

CGC Proposal to Reduce User Fees Welcomed Canada’s grain industry is known around the world for its quality, safety and consistency. In his address to members of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) at their Annual Convention on March 15, Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and AgriFood, stated that lowering user fees was a priority and that the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) was consulting with industry to find ways to save money for growers.

The Minister welcomed the CGC’s proposal to reduce fees for official grain inspection and official grain weighing services effective August 1, 2017. Supplementary fees for overtime related to official grain inspection services would also be eliminated.

The proposed changes would limit further accumulation of surplus revenue in the Canadian Grain Commission revolving fund. The proposed changes were published in the Canada Gazette, Part I on April 22, 2017. Stakeholders have until May 22, 2017 to comment on the proposed changes.

The reduced fees would result in a 24% decrease in fees, or estimated savings of approximately $10 million, for the 2017 to 2018 fiscal year.

10

May 26, 2017

The AgriPost

The AgriPost

May 26, 2017

Farmers Play Cat and Mouse with the Weather Conditions

By Harry Siemens

The 2016 crop in Manitoba while one the best in recent memory, was not without its challenges especially for farmers in the Altona, area and beyond.

Eldon Klippenstein produces cereal crops, corn, oilseeds and soybeans in southern Manitoba with interest in markets, trading and trucking of late.

He recounted his experiences from last year. “Below average. We had a lot of challenges and suffered through a tough year, probably the toughest year I’ve managed through, so far,” said Klippenstein in a recent interview. “We managed to get into the fields last fall and whatever opportunity we had, we were in the fields. We managed to get our fields into relatively good shape. In terms of on an average, if somebody asked me how many acres are you happy with in terms of your field conditions, I’d say I’m probably about 40 per cent of where I would like to be, another 50 per cent that is workable, 10 per cent that I need a good spring to fix some ruts and whatnot.”

Despite some colder weather and even some unwanted

spring snow, he is optimistic going into 2017. “So far, we’ve had a drier spring, which has helped us to dry out fields. Our water has receded to where basically everything is off the fields,” said Klippenstein.

“The creeks are just recently within the banks and the river is within its banks, too. We’ve had a decent amount of drying take place. Our ditches are not full of water. Our own ditches are doing their part. They are not full so we’re in a place where things are drying out.

It’s bringing some optimism to the community here.”

He manages a grain, corn, oilseed and soybean farm with corn and soybeans a big part of the acre base. “Soybeans are going in for us this year. It’s due to soybeans proving themselves to do relatively well in either dry or wet conditions.

It’s a little bit of a hedge to try to preserve the farm this year,” said Klippenstein after suffering three wet years, affecting his bottom line.

That is why his plans include more soybeans this year to help catch up. Corn is down, but it is still a little more than a section. Soybeans will make up about 60 per cent of total

acres. “Yeah, two-thirds of the farm is going to be soybeans this year because money talks sometimes, when the crunch is on and rotation will have to take a back seat,” he said.

“When you have a tough year, and sometimes after three tough years, which is what we’ve dealt with in the last few, the last three years we’ve had either hail or too much rain, it’s basically brought us to a point where we’ve got to do what we’ve got to do,” Klippenstein said candidly.

When catching up with Gilbert Sabourin who farms at St. Jean-Baptiste, it was during the week of cold weather and snow, but that did not dampen his optimism. “We’ll start off with oats, then roll into canola, soybeans, sunflowers and corn.

Crops that I dropped from last year are barley and wheat. It is a long time that we have not grown barley and wheat,” said Sabourin. “For barley it took way too long for the trade to come out with new crop prices, and in the meantime I had an opportunity to price out more oats at $3.60 a bushel, so my acres dedicated for barley turned into oats. And on the wheat side, I was supposed

to grow some wheat and then someone had cancelled some Nexera canola acres, so I picked those up and turned my wheat into canola.”

Sabourin shared further difficulties he had last year, explaining that his first seeded canola dried up and froze out.

He turned those acres into corn because he could plant corn deeper to get to the moisture.

Then it rained. “You know, it wasn’t without a struggle, but we had a good crop out there, so we bought tracks for the combine; we ended up buying a new grain cart with a track as well, to get the crops off. With the tracks we eliminated a lot of ruts in our fields ending up working most of our ground in those two nice weeks in November, we tilled and even applied the fertilizer. We averaged a very good crop. Actually, our corn and soybean yields were record yields for us and that’s partly due to the August rains we received.”

The soybeans yielded very well, despite some drowned out spots, but overall it was a very good soybean year. The later corn yielded a bit less than the early seeded corn, but just 5-10 bushels difference.

Expanding Opportunities for Young Canadians in Agriculture The Federal government has announced a two-year investment of up to $5.2 million for the Agricultural Youth Green Jobs Initiative to attract young Canadians to green jobs within the agriculture and agri-food sector.

The initiative follows through on a Government of Canada commitment made in Budget 2017 to help create good, wellpaying jobs and to support young Canadians as they transition into the workforce.

Under Canada’s Innovation and Skills Plan, Budget 2017 committed to helping young Canadians succeed through measures that help create employment and skills development opportunities under the Youth Employment Strategy (YES).

“Young Canadians have the talent and drive to lead the future growth of Canada’s economy, but they need practical work experience. Green jobs will provide young Canadians with valuable work experience, jump-starting their future careers in the agriculture and the environment sectors,” said Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.

Support is available to fund youth internships, both on the farm and with organizations en-

gaged in the agriculture and agrifood sector for environmentally beneficial activities.

Funding will be available in two streams. The Green Farms stream will provide matching funds of up to $10,000 to help a farmer hire high school or college students, aged 15 to

30 to support environmentally beneficial activities on the farm.

The Green Internships stream will provide matching funds of up to $16,000 to help organizations involved in the agricultural industry hire young graduates to pursue environmental activities, services or research that benefit

the agriculture sector. These internships are to be completed by March 2019 and must be up to 4 months in length.

Applications for both streams are under way until all funds have been allocated and are approved on a first-come, firstserved basis.

He ended up with an average yield of well over 150 bushels an acre between the early and later seeded corn.

The average in his area might be 130.

The soybeans on one field, which is further away, received more water damage, did 45 bushels an acre net haul. The rest of soybean acres yielded above 50 bushels an acre. Sabourin said that it did not matter what variety, early maturing or late maturing, they all yielded the same, pretty well.

11

2016 was below average with many challenges making it a tough year, probably the toughest year he has faced said Eldon Klippenstein, a farmer near Altona.

12

May 26, 2017

The AgriPost

The AgriPost

May 26, 2017

21

New Inland Terminal Prepares for Large Oat Crop Exports

Positive Reaction to Grain Monitoring Program and Key Legislative Changes

Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport, has introduced legislation, which includes measures to advance a longterm agenda for a more transparent, fair, and efficient freight rail system.

The bill addresses a number of priorities for the western Canadian grain industry including reciprocal penalties, a definition of “adequate and suitable” rail service, maintaining and modernizing the Maximum Revenue Entitlement and a new Long-Haul Interswitching provision.

Building on these measures and in response to a request by the industry, Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, also announced the establishment of a fourth mandate for the Crop Logistics Working group, a forum of industry representatives who will exchange views and identify supply chain challenges and opportunities, including throughout the implementation of the Transportation 2030 freight rail initiatives.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada will provide a government co-chair.

Further, MacAulay also announced that the Grain Monitoring Program would continue for an additional

three years. The Grain Monitoring Program allows for independent monitoring and reporting on the performance of the western grain handling and transportation system.

Details on the program will be available soon.

“Cereals Canada welcomes the legislative changes to grain transportation,” said Cam Dahl, President of Cereals Canada. “The grain, oilseed and special crops industries have been united in our call for measures that will help ensure railway accountability for performance.

The legislation today will help correct the imbalance between the market power of the railways and captive shippers.”

The legislation maintains key tools that will allow shippers to hold railways financially accountable for their service performance.

The tools that will be used included improved processes through the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA); clarification of railway responsibility in the Canada Transportation Act by better defining adequate and suitable service; permanent access to long-haul interswitching options (vs. temporary extended interswitching);

and increased requirements for reporting and railway contingency planning.

“The grain industry is captive to monopoly carriers,” continued Dahl. “It is good economic policy for legislation to balance this market power through measures that mimic what would occur if there were open competition. The policies announced today would accomplish this goal.”

“While the most important part of the legislation is the increase in railway accountability, all of these provisions are important,” noted Dahl. “Improving CTA processes are important to ensure problems are caught and addressed before they snowball into major failures.

Together with clarification to the meaning of adequate and suitable railway service this will help ensure that the Canadian transportation system meets the expectations of our customers both within Canada and internationally.”

On initial review, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) also welcomed the long-awaited Transportation Modernization Act tabled in parliament. “CFA is very pleased with the draft legislation’s provisions for

grain transportation. It’s clear that the voice of Canadian farmers was heard during the consultations undertaken last year,” said Ron Bonnett, CFA President. “The entire package will create a more competitive environment while also providing an increased level of service for farmers.” Bonnett went on to say, that many of the recommendations put forth by CFA and regional partners during consultations were included in the new legislation.

As the 2017 crop season approaches, grain farmers will be relieved to see that the Maximum Revenue Entitlement (MRE) program will be maintained and modernized and that longer interswitching, to foster competition, will now be implemented permanently.

CFA believes this new legislation will create a rail transportation environment that is more conducive to efficiency, with improved service, competitive rates, and transparency, as well as data that are more accessible that will allow for proactive management of unexpected events or surges of demand for freight. “We encourage decision makers to enact this legislation as quickly as possible to ensure it is place for this year’s harvest,” concluded Bonnett.

Continued on page 23

By Les Kletke Emerson Milling is expanding not only physically but also into new business ventures. Company principal Real Tetrault said the company has added an arm, Mid Canada Transload that will be building an inland terminal to handle the company’s exports southward but also has plans to handle other commodities and will be equipped to off load products as well.

“We think there is an opportunity for feed products,” he said. “Most feed mills are not on a rail line and we will be able to service that industry. A rail car typically holds two b-trains of product so that makes shipping easier to points across Manitoba.”

The Emerson based company has been looking for a suitable site for its oat exports for several years and had settled on a site near Humboldt, Saskatchewan in the centre of an oat-growing region. “When the rail problems of a couple years ago hit, we realized we would be dead in the water in that situation,” said Tetrault. “So we decided to build in our own backyard.” The company has purchased 250 acres of land a mile south of Lettelier and is installing a siding that can accommodate 70 cars. It will be operational this fall. There are plans for a possible expansion that could accommodate another 50-60 cars.

He said the company is building a loading facility to accommodate the export of oats for Emerson Milling but will also be open to working with other companies and building a facility for them or loading producer cars. “The site has CN rail service to Emerson and that is the BN interchange which also is used to move product into the US and onto Mexico, so there is good access to southern markets from this site,” he said.

The inland terminal will be operational this fall and should be equipped to handle what is intended to be a larger than normal oat crop. “The problems with harvest last fall in much of Saskatchewan drove prices up and they have stayed longer than expected. Farmers were able to contract this year’s production for some very attractive prices, I expect to see that price drop,” he predicted.

Tetrault said that with the expanded acreage for 2017 anything but a complete crop failure would have prices moving down from springtime levels. The above average acreage of the crop means that the new facility could be online just in time to handle what could easily be a record volume of oats grown in the province.

22

May 26, 2017

The AgriPost

The AgriPost

May 26, 2017

Positive Reaction... continued from page 21

“It is clear that farmer voices have been heard,” said Jeff Nielsen, Grain Growers of Canada President. “Grain farmers have been vocal throughout the consultation that we need increased competitiveness and reliability in grain shipping.

Many of the proposed legislative changes in the Act will go a long way to providing long-term remedies to inherent problems with the current system.”

“Every sound business relationship has to be built on accountability,” explained WGEA Executive Director, Wade Sobkowich. “Through this legislation, the Government is rebalancing the relationship between the rail carriers and their shipper customers by holding both parties financially accountable to perform.”

“It’s been several years of intense work to achieve some of these milestones,” said Rick White, CEO of the Canadian Canola Growers Association. “At first glance, C-49 appears to address many of the reforms that farmers have been asking for, while striking a balance between the needs of shippers and the railways.”

Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) is generally positive about the Federal government’s proposed rail legislation citing the requests they made in their submission during the consultation process have been met. “There are a number of things we are pleased about and that includes reciprocal penalties for both grain shippers and railways,” said KAP President Dan Mazier. “This means that the railways are going to be charged for service failures, whereas in the past only shippers were penalized for contract failures.”

“Another positive is that this legislation will give the Canada Transportation Agency greater powers to collect grain-movement data and proactively intervene,” said Mazier. “The bill also refers to access to long-haul interswitching options, which would replace the temporary 160-km interswitching regulation set to expire August 1 although I would like to see clarification around this.”

“All of these changes indicate that Transport Minister Marc Garneau listened to the industry when we met with him last fall in Saskatoon, and I would like to thank him on behalf of Manitoba farmers,” he said.

The Manitoba Organic Alliance Names New Coordinator In a recent decision by, the Manitoba Organic Alliance (MOA), Kate Sjoberg was named as the new Coordinator and will join the organization to support increased outreach, fundraising, and organizational development.

In a statement the organization said, “Sjoberg brings leadership and development experience from three Winnipeg inner city non profits, strong knowledge of government and multi stakeholder collaboration, and fundraising success.”

“I have personal connections in Westman, and a long time interest in farming communities, agriculture, and sustainable practices. I’m very excited to put my skills into working with our members and partners to continue to develop organics in Manitoba,” said Sjoberg.

Manitoba Organic Alliance Launches New Website The Manitoba Organic Alliance (MOA) is pleased about the launch of their new website to serve its membership.

“This new platform provides our members with up to date information on the latest research and techniques, current issues in the organics sector, educational opportunities, prices, and organizational updates,” said MOA President, Kate Storey. “It’s an information hub for the entire value chain, designed to draw members and increase networking opportunities. We’re really pleased with the way it turned out.”

To find out more go to manitobaorganicalliance.com.

See the AgriPost online at www.agripost.ca

23

24

May 26, 2017

The AgriPost

The AgriPost

Avoid Giving Your Baby Calves Gut-Aches I visit literally hundreds dairy farms across Canada, each year.

On most of them, pre-weaned dairy calves are raised away from the main lactation barn or older replacement heifer facilities. Whether these baby calves are housed in hutches, group pens or brand-new calf barns, when I find a group of calves that are sick and not growing; a lot of their poor performance can be traced back to poor nutrition causing indigestion.

I see a lot of commonality in these unfortunate situations.

They often fall into four main categories of gut-aches, namely: nutritional scours, abomasum bloat, rumen acidosis, and hay belly. In order to take corrective action, I recommend a return to a simple calf feed and management program.

A large part of this problem stems from many people feeding pre-weaned calves as if were mature dairy cows.

Rather, a newborn baby dairy calf starts off with a small-undeveloped rumen without an established microbe population (it gets this from its surrounding environment later on). It must rely upon a few selected enzymes released by its own abomasum and small intestine in order to break down simpletype essential nutrients, which are only found in milk such as casein and other milk proteins, lactose sugar, and saturated fats.

By 4 weeks of age, the calf’s abomasum and small intestine becomes a little more developed. Now, the calf’s rumen has a variety of new digestive enzymes as well as a limited type of microorganisms, which together can convert simple starches/sugars from grainbased calf starters into volatile fatty acids that are absorbed across the rumen wall.

It is these absorbed VFAs, particularly butyric and propionic acids that stimulate the absorptive tissue lining of the young calf’s rumen to become very active; rumen papillae elongate and the rumen walls thicken. The whole rumen grows in size, and the small

calf is on its way to become a true ruminant.

Rather than promote steady ruminal development in 6 to 8-week-old dairy calves; many askew and unsound pre-weaned calf-feeding programs do just the opposite and cause the following digestive upsets: 1. Milk and milk replacer scours: It is frequently seen as bright yellow, creamy colour or nearly white liquid; all signs that a recently consumed milk or milk replacer meal was poorly digested. Not only does poor milk digestion lead to poor absorption of essential nutrients that the calf requires to live and grow, but also unabsorbed nutrients left in the calves’ gut tend to draw retained water from the calf’s tissues, which amplify scouring and lifethreatening dehydration.

For example, I often see milk replacer scours in calves when producers mix milk replacers at a rich 150 grams of powder per litre of solution, rather than 130 grams per litre of solution, which is the natural dry matter content of whole cow’s milk.

2. Baby calf rumen acidosis: It has been proven that preweaned dairy calves can get acidosis eating too much grainbased calf starter much like a milking cow that eats too much grain. For example, the University of Tennessee (1998) fed a conventional calf starter pellet formulated with corn and other common feed ingredients to a group of milk-fed calves from one week to twelve weeks of age. As a result, these researchers found that SARA (sub-clinical rumen acidosis - depicted when pH in a cow’s rumen falls below 5.8) was reported in experimental calves at 2 weeks of age. Similarly, some producers have told me that when they feed more than 3 lbs of texturized calf starter or on a freechoice basis, found that many calves seem to go off feed after a couple of days of vigorous eating of calf starter – a possible sign of acidosis.

3. Abomasum Bloat: It is caused by the rapid proliferation of clostridium perfringens

that produces a severe build up of excess gas in the abomasum of pre-weaned calves. From the outside, there is severe distension on the right side of the calf, while similar ruminal bloat is distension on its left side. Unfortunately, abomasum bloat seems to occur allof-a-sudden and before any treatment can be administered, the calf often perishes. Some research suggests that feeding higher concentrations of milk replacer than 130 grams per litre of mixed solution that supply a high level of lactose sugar to the bacterium, which may lead to a high incidence of abomasum bloat.

4. Hay Belly: Many good studies prove that feeding straw or other low-quality forage for its “scratch factor” is a myth. Virginia Tech (2010) showed that 2 to 4-month-old calves fed a textured grower diet had similar growth to calves that were fed texturized feed plus added wheat straw. The wheat straw group did weigh 21 lbs heavier at the end of the test, but it was attributed to 21 lbs of gut-fill and water. Similarly, I find that many calves fed in this manner suffer from semi-impaction and/or bloat - literarily walking balloons on sticks for legs.

To avoid each of these four gut-ache or indigestion problems, I strongly recommend following a simple nutritious calf-feeding program.

I mean: make sure colostrum is fed to newborn calves and afterwards provide whole milk or a milk replacer at 2.5 – 4.0 litres per calf per feeding (twice a day) at approximately the same times (am/pm) each day. Subsequently, start to feed a high-quality grain-based calf starter at two to three weeks of age. Avoid feeding any forage until after weaning. Finally, assure that extra clean water is provided in addition to all whole milk or milk replacer feedings.

#HereForFarmers Fundraiser Back for 3rd Consecutive Year Farm At Hand rallies Ag industry and communities to encourage conversations about mental health in farming, and support local resources with #HereForFarmers fundraiser.

The goal of #HereForFarmers is to remove the stigma around mental health challenges by encouraging conversation and raising funds for the Farm Stress Line. In North America, the farmer suicide rate is almost twice that of the

general population and mental health remains a topic that many feel the need to remain silent about.

The fundraiser runs until June 30, with the goal of raising $10,000 in donations for the Farm Stress Line. All are invited to join the conversation online using the hashtag #HereForFarmers and to support the cause by buying a specially designed t-shirt at hereforfarmers.com. This is

the third year for the fundraiser with over $15,000 in donations made over the past 2 years.

“We are thrilled to continue to build on the success of #HereForFarmers,” said CEO Mark Lepp. “The wellbeing of our users is something we take very seriously and will continue to be a priority. We look forward to the support from our industry partners in driving the conversation around this issue.”

May 26, 2017

25

26

May 26, 2017

The AgriPost

School of Agriculture Graduates Largest Class in Over Three Decades

Diplomas with Distinction, awarded to students who obtain a Grade Point Average of 3.75 or better out of a possible 4.5, were presented to Brian Archibald, Simon Cutler (Arborg), Ricardo Enguita (Zaragoza, Spain), Michelle Falk (New Bothwell), Joel Friesen (Mitchell), Celeste Giesbrecht (Miami), Renate Jochum (St. Francois Xavier), Lauryn Keen (Manitou), Ashley Kiansky (Vita), Jennifer Mueller (Arnaud), Blair Reid (Lorette), Dawson Sawatzky (MacGregor), Bailey Sigvaldason (Arborg), and Philip Therrien (La Broquerie).

Seventy-five students received their Diplomas in Agriculture at the 2017 convocation of the School of Agriculture held Friday, May 5, at the University of Manitoba. This is the largest graduating class since 1986.

Brian Archibald of Killarney received the Governor General’s Bronze Medal, an award given to the graduate with the highest academic standing in the two-year Diploma Program in Agriculture. Archibald was also the recipient of the President’s Medal, given annually to a student who combines scholarship with outstanding qualities of leadership. The President’s Medal was presented by Dr. Janice Ristock, Provost and VP academic, U of M.

The Teacher of the Year Award was presented to Don Flaten in recognition of teaching excellence and contribution to the students’ program of study. This award is selected by the graduating class of Diploma students.

Since its inception in 1906, the Diploma in Agriculture program at the School of Agriculture has undergone many changes and challenges to meet the ever-growing needs of Canada’s agri-food industry. Students opt for one of four programs in, crop management, livestock management, business management or general agriculture, depending on their career aspirations.

The Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences annually awards Certificates of Merit to those who have made significant contributions to the agri-food industry. This year’s recipients include organic researcher and educator Martin Entz and former Deputy Premier Jim Downey.

Certificate of Merit winners (L to R) Michele Rogalsky, Director, School of Agriculture Jim Downey, Certificate of Merit recipient Dr. Janice Ristock, Provost and VP academic, U of M Dr. Martin Entz, Certificate of Merit recipient Dr. Karin Wittenberg, Dean, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences

Valedictorians were Alice Guimond and Jake Ayre

The AgriPost

May 26, 2017

27

Agricultural alumni were recognized for leadership and service contributions

Two alumni of the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences were honoured for their outstanding contributions to Manitoba’s agricultural community.

Martin Entz, organic researcher and educator, and Jim Downey, former Deputy Premier, received Certificates of Merit from the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences at the recent School of Agriculture convocation in recognition of leadership with agricultural organizations and outstanding service to the community at large.

Martin Entz received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Plant Science from the University of Manitoba and his Ph.D. from the University of Saskatchewan.

He joined the Department of Plant Science at the U of M, and nearly 30 years later

is a respected professor and mentor, teaching courses in agroecology and organic crop production.

Entz’s research focuses on ecologically integrated farming systems, and he leads the Glenlea Long-Term Rotation Study, Canada’s oldest organic vs. conventional farming systems experiment, which celebrated 25 years in 2016. He is also the founder of the Natural Systems Agriculture program and is known for his collaborative approach to research. He has worked with traditional and organic research and producers in the areas of weed and fertility management, organic breeding and production and conservation agriculture.

In addition, he has logged countless hours of outreach at field days, producer workshops and conferences, connecting with farmers and

learning from their experiences.

Entz also participates in ecologically integrated farming system research and development work in Central America, southern Africa, northwest China, and has volunteered with the Mennonite Central Committee in North Korea.

James (Jim) Downey completed the Diploma in Agriculture at the University of Manitoba and graduated from the Western College of Auctioneering in Billings, Montana. He has farmed in the Melita area for over 50 years and in 1971, he founded the Melita Auction Mart Ltd, which he and his wife Linda operated. Downey was elected to the provincial legislature in 1977, and was re-elected five times. During his time in office, he served as Minister of Agriculture,

Northern and Native Affairs, Rural Development, Energy and Mines and Industry, and Trade and Tourism, and was appointed Deputy Premier from 1990 to 1999.

In his long career with the Province of Manitoba, Downey was instrumental in several initiatives including the Maple Leaf hog processing plant in Brandon and several other industry expansions around Manitoba.

He participated in and led a number of trade missions around the world and was the lead provincial minister on Canada’s internal trade agreement in 1995. After retiring from elected office, he worked in the private sector and in 2009, becoming part owner of Shape Foods Inc., a state-of-the-art flaxseed crushing business in Brandon.

Graduates 2017 Diploma in Agriculture - 110th Graduating Class Archibald, Brian E.* - Killarney Avery, William J. - Crystal City Ayre, Jake T. - Minto Baron, Joel K. - Carberry Bestvater, Carson M. - Grunthal Borst, Derrick H. - Elm Creek Borstlap, Andrew F. - Haywood Bruchanski, Clayton P. - Lac du Bonnet Bruneau, Alana F. - St. Jean Baptiste Calvert, Braden M. - Carberry Cutler, Simon* - Arborg Davy, Kris R. - Winnipeg Day, William J. - La Salle Delaquis, Christopher S. - Emerson Dizengremel, Anne-Marie G. - La Broquerie Enguita, Ricardo* - Zaragoza, Spain Erb, Madison G. - Oak Bluff Erb, Michael E. - Oak Bluff Falk, Michelle* - New Bothwell Fehr, Tyson M. - Gretna Fisk, Brea R. - Portage la Prairie Friesen, Joel K. * - Mitchell Gaudet, Justin P. - Somerset Giesbrecht, Celeste D.* - Miami Gordon, Sosefo C. - Franklin Guimond, Alice H. - Woodmore Harms, Eric D. - Snowflake Heppner, Jeremy J. - Altona Hill, Barrett - Carberry Hygaard, Robin L. - St. Andrews Jochum, Renate M.* - St. Francois Xavier Keen, Lauryn R.* - Manitou Kiansky, Ashley C.* - Vita Klassen, Serena C. - Morden Lavich, Gregory J. - Carberry Lea, Edward K. - Manitou Lesage, Jocelyn D. - Notre Dame de Lourdes McDonald, Leah E. - Winnipeg McKinney, Carter D. - Waskada McLeod, Bradley R. - Mather Meyer, Graham P. - Dauphin Mistelbacher, Dane M. - Prairie Grove Mueller, Jennifer* - Arnaud Myers, Travis D. - Glenboro Newell, Chad R. - Winnipeg Nichol, Keith A. - Arborg Nickel, Jan Kevin - Winkler Nickel, Jared T. - Stuartburn Nicolajsen, Dane J. - Sperling Nolan, Catherine M. - Dauphin Orchard, Chad M. - Miami

Ostberg, Lexus L. - Dominion City Piper, Bryce - Cartier Porteous, Kathleen M. - Marquette Pouteau, Donovan M. - St. Leon Price, Staci L. - Winnipeg Qually, Rauri A. - Dacotah Rakochy, Zachary - Canora, SK Read, Robert N. - Beausejour Reid, Blair C.* - Lorette Reimer, Jonah B. - Steinbach Robertson, Kantara A. - Treherne Robidoux, Nathan I. - St. Pierre-Jolys Salamatin, Carla V. - Elm Creek Sawatzky, Dawson J.* - MacGregor Sigvaldason, Bailey R.* - Arborg Therrien, Philip P.* - La Broquerie Thomas, Jagger P. - Boissevain Timmerman, Kristen H. - Treherne Unrau, Robyn B. - Marquette Vermeersch, Thomas W. - Baldur Warkentine, Melanie E. - Winkler Wylde, Thorne J. - Oakville Yule, Aubrey G. - Killarney Zacharias, David - Winnipeg *With Distinction (The Diploma in Agriculture with Distinction is awarded to Agriculture Diploma students who obtain a Grade Point Average of 3.75 or better out of a possible 4.5).

Dean’s Honour Roll Brian Archibald William Avery Alana Bruneau Simon Cutler Christopher Delaquis Ricardo Enguita Michelle Falk Brea Fisk Joel Friesen Celeste Giesbrecht Renate Jochum Lauryn Keen Ashley Kiansky Carter McKinney Jennifer Mueller Chad Newell Staci Price Blair Reid Dawson Sawatzky Bailey Sigvaldason Philip Therrien Jagger Thomas Kristen Timmerman Melanie Warkentine

School of Agriculture – 2017 Medals, Awards and Prizes Governor General’s Bronze Medal and President’s Medal - Brian Archibald James Farms Award ($500) – Dawson Sawatzky Pallister Farm Award ($500) – Ricardo Enguita Prof. Paul and Anna Stelmaschuk Awards ($500 & $300) – Dawson Sawatzky and Brian Archibald Brad Jonk Award ($300 Plaque) – Dawson Sawatzky Ian R. Seddon Memorial Award ($1,000) – Joel Friesen Manitoba Pork Council Prize ($500) – Joel Friesen Cyril L. Anderson - Feed Rite (Masterfeeds) Prize ($950) – Bailey Sigvaldason Canadian Association of Agri-Retailers (CAAR) Agronomy Award ($1,000) – Celeste Giesbrecht FASO Major Awards (Plaques) – Brian Archibald, Leah McDonald, Dane Nicolajsen and Bailey Sigvaldason Manitoba Ag Days Convocation Prize ($1,000) – Renate Jochum Dr. Eugene H. “Papa” Lange Memorial Prize ($1,225) – Bailey Sigvaldason John Roth Memorial Award ($250 & Trophy) – Brian Archibald Rylan Laudin Memorial Prize ($500) – Dawson Sawatzky Teacher of the Year - Don Flaten

28

May 26, 2017

The AgriPost

PED Cases Cluster Near Manitoba Finisher Barn

By Harry Siemens

On May 16, Manitoba’s Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO), Dr. Megan Bergman confirmed positive test results for PEDv from another finisher operation in southeast Manitoba. This farm is within 5 km of the three infected farms that the industry confirmed PED positive on May 2, 6 and 8, respectively.

On May 18, Dr. Megan Bergmann, Manitoba’s Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) confirmed positive test results for PEDv from another sow operation in southeast Manitoba. This farm is in the area as the four cases most recently confirmed in May. Manitoba Agriculture’s Emergency Operation Centre is continuing to operate and is assisting the affected producer and conducting a full disease investigation. Biocontainment measures have been implemented at the site and plans for animal care and cleaning are underway. Producers within a 5-km radius of the infected site and contacts with the infected site are being contacted to monitor their herds and collect samples for testing. All veterinarians with clients within the 5 km area are aware of the site’s location.

According to a statement by Manitoba Pork, the four affected producers during this outbreak have made communication possible by signing this Sharing of Information

Waiver. “We encourage all producers to sign this waiver and provide it to their herd veterinarian and Manitoba Pork ahead of a disease outbreak,” said MPC. “This enables quick sharing of information to prevent further spread, as well as more comprehensive support to the affected producer.”

Farms within a 5-km area should restrict yard traffic. In light of this fourth case near the affected farm operation, Manitoba Pork is encouraging producers within the area to restrict vehicles, staff and service providers from entering their yards. Signage or temporary barriers should be erected to ensure compliance.

In addition, Manitoba Pork said that routine biosecurity practices should use physical distance as a barrier. Producers within the area should park all staff vehicles at the end of the driveway and wear dedicated footwear or plastic booties in the yard. “Only allow essential service providers to visit the site, and insist they park at the end of the driveway and wear booties in the yard. Push all garbage and dead stock pick-ups to the end of the driveway, if not already in effect and away from where barn personnel and visitors will park. Consider liming the driveways between the parking area and the barn with enough space to ensure all livestock and feed trucks entering the yard will get at

least a full tire rotation worth of coverage.”

Service providers are encouraged to contact the barn manager or personnel prior to visiting the site even if you will not be entering the barn.

Visits within the area should be scheduled as the last thing of the week, if possible, or at least last thing of the day, followed by a cleaning and disinfection procedure. If necessary to visit a site, park at the end of the driveway, put on plastic booties when exiting the vehicle, and remove the booties when returning to the vehicle.

Minimize the amount of site contact to the essential service areas, only getting out of your vehicle when necessary.

“Please discuss these recommendations with your herd veterinarian to implement the best biosecurity plan for your farm,” said MPC in their statement.

Dr. Bergmann is calling for heightened biosecurity in the wake of Manitoba’s latest case of PEDv. “The infected farms have all implemented what we call biocontainment, which means that they’re very cautious about any potential transmission of the virus outside the barn,” said Dr. Bergmann. “So they’re making sure they’re implementing very good biosecurity practices both on entry but also when they’re exiting the barn so that they’re not bringing the virus out with them. We’ve also asked that

any farms in the area enhance their biosecurity practices as much as possible.”

She said biosecurity is the industry’s best friend regardless of time of year. “I think we need to continue to remember that in Manitoba we have significant contact with the United States where this virus is quite prevalent,” said Dr. Bergmann. “We also have some high traffic sites that are positive for the virus so we can never let down our guard with respect to our biosecurity to prevent introduction of this virus onto our farms.”

When heading into a high traffic site, be very conscious about ensuring you have implemented really good biosecurity before you go back to your farm so that you are not bringing anything back with you. Dr. Bergman emphasized, prior to the most recent confirmations.

Nine of the previously positive ten premises have achieved presumed negative status, which means they had completed their cleaning, and disinfection and all pigs and pig contact surfaces within the barns were negative.

For more information, check out Manitoba Pork’s PEDv webpages. For any biosecurity and animal care issues, contact Mark Fynn, Manager of Quality Assurance and Animal Care Programs at Manitoba Pork, at 204-235-2302 or mfynn@manitobapork.com.

Managing Risk is more than Pricing Grain Although we are a grain marketing advisory company that focuses on making a customized marketing plan for a farm, and working with them throughout the year to carry that plan out, there is much more to risk management than many may realize.

Granted, the majority of our time is spent working on the grain side, but there are times we step into managing risk of other sorts on the farm as well. These include, namely, currency risk (i.e. the Canadian dollar) and input price risk (i.e. fuel costs). Both can have large impacts on profitability of a farm, which is the entire aspect around which we run our program.

While there is no way to hedge many of the inputs on a farm like seed, chemical, or fertilizer; there is a way to manage some price risk on fuel costs by using the Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel futures contract which trades on the CME New York board and has a solid correlation

to what crude oil futures do.

This also has a fairly direct impact on our cash fuel costs here at home.

If you don’t have a brokerage account with a futures broker, and have never looked into something like this before, it might feel like trying to take a drink of water from a fire hydrant. It’s tough to explain in a short article like this, even for those that do trade futures.

The chart below shows the ULSD contract from last February through today, the up arrows indicate places that clients bought the contract expecting it to go up (therefore pushing diesel prices higher), with the down arrows being where we sold the contract to lift our hedge.

All but one time we were correct on the call for doing this and it helped offset about $40,000 USD worth of fuel costs over this timeframe.

The downside to this strategy is that one contract of ULSD is 42,000 US gallons

(158,760 litres) which is more than most farms use in a year. Therefore, it is tough to make this a true, one to one hedge for most farms and needs to be approached with some caution.

If your farm uses half that amount in one-year, your hedge gains or losses will be doubled by trading one of these contracts.

If you are interested about this, want to know more about this or anything else IntelliFARM does, feel free to visit our website and ask a question.

IntelliFARM is not a futures broker and does not make trade recommendations

to clients. Clients must have their own brokerage account and manage these positions.

Trading futures involves considerable risk and is not suitable for everyone.

Brian Voth is the President of IntelliFARM Inc, working with farms to create customized grain marketing plans and carrying them out. For more information visit intellifarm.ca or call 204-3243669.

The AgriPost

May 26, 2017

Controlling Liver Fluke in Beef Cattle

By Peter Vitti A couple of years ago, a beef producer from the southeast corner of Manitoba showed me a test-tube filled with water. It contained a worm that was about 3 inches long, 1 inch wide and flat enough to almost see through. He told me that it was a deer liver fluke that the vet had taken from a dead cow from his 100-cow operation that graze pastures along a strip of swampland.

Until she was found dead and the vet posted her for liver flukes, this producer never associated this particular parasite with several chronic cowherd problems that were tolerated for years. With his vet’s discovery, he has routinely treated his herd with available flukicides and now has the situation under control.

This is a powerful message.

Cattle that graze in muddy or in existing shallow water on pastures, makes them very susceptible to such infestations of the common liver fluke (fasciola hepatica) or deer liver fluke (fasciola magna). It’s my understanding that the latter deer liver is endemic to lowland areas of southern Manitoba.

There are no classic symptoms that show grazing cattle are infected with either species. Yet only confirmed cases involving liver flukes, report it as a typical wasting disease similar to those affecting deer or Johnne’s disease in dairy cattle.

Its symptoms are general in nature and appear as weight loss, reduced body condition and depending upon infestation severity, some cases of

chronic diarrhea. Limited university research on spring postcalving cows with liver flukes have reduced milk production and rates of fertility, which usually dovetails into calves with lower weaning weight as well as lowered cow conception rates in the fall.

As illustrated in the accompanied picture, the complete liver fluke life cycle from the time the fluke egg is initially shed in the manure of infected cows onto pasture until a new generation of fluke eggs takes about 16 to 24 weeks. Subsequently, there are four major stages from fluke egg to hermaphroditic (contain both sex organs) adult liver flukes, which ultimately reside in the bile duct of cattle: 1. Egg stage – eggs are shed in the manure of the beef cow

from adult liver flukes.

2. Miracidium stage – eggs hatches (10 days to several months) into free-swimming, ciliated larvae called the miracidium. Within hours of hatching, the miracidium finds and penetrate snails living on wet pastures.

3. Cercariae stage – Within the snail, one miracidium takes about 5 to 7 weeks to develop into hundreds of cercariae or tadpole-like 2nd larvae stage.

After they leave their snail host, attach to grass and becomes encysted metacercaria.

4. Adult stage – The grazing cow ingested the encysted metacercaria contaminated grass. Once ingested juvenile liver flukes are released from metacercaria capsules; penetrate intestinal wall and burrows their way to and through

Tractor Fundraiser Treks Back to Richer

By Les Kletke The Eastman Tractor Trek fundraiser is heading Richer on June 10 and organizer Anne Toews is still accepting entries. The event starts at the Mennonite Village Museum and heads to Richer for lunch before returning to Steinbach for the evening meal and awards.

The tractors will be on display over the lunch hour at the Richer Dawson Trail Park where there will be lots of time to visit with organizers, owners, drivers and spectacular vintage tractors.

Toews said the route is just over 50 km and, registration fee is $100 per tractor. Entrants are expected to raise a minimum of $400 per tractor with a pledge goal of $1,000 per entrant to help raise funds for the Eden Foundations and the Mennonite Heritage Museum. Proceeds from the lunch at Richer will also go to the general funds raised by the Trek.

Toews will be accepting entries until June 2 and said while she still has space for more a number of families have already made a commitment. “We have families that make this an annual event and it is pretty special for Grandfathers to drive with their grandsons in the event,” she said, “We have had a number of 3rd generation families at past events.”

This is the second year the event winds itself through the countryside to Richer in time for a meet-and greet and tractor display as well as a well deserved noon meal. Next year the Trek will take a different route. “We try to get a new route after two years,” said Toews. “We think that is fair to the community that is hosting and the drivers get to see some new country and perhaps some new spectators see the event along the way.”

The fundraiser is in its 8th year, has continued to grow,

and generates a friendly competition between drivers. A similar July event is in its 10th year in Winkler following a route through several Mennonite Villages to the Pembina Thresherman’s Museum. This year to celebrate the special anniversary organizers will hold a Tractor Olympics at the end of the ride.

To qualify tractors, need to be 50 years old and able to maintain a speed of 10 mph. The $100 registration includes breakfast, lunch and

supper along with prizes.

Lunch is open to the public while dinner is intended for Trekkers and their spouse or invited guests. “We still have a bit of time but I encourage trekkers to get their entries in,” said Toews. “It helps organizers know what to expect and it also helps with planning along the route.”

She said that good weather is on order for the day.

To register, make a donation or for information on Tractor Trek 2017 contact Anne at 204-326-9661.

The Eastman Tractor Trek will be returning to Richer Dawson Trail Park this year. The noon meal in Richer provides visitors with a chance to see the horsepower of yesteryear and visit with the drivers.

Dauphin Area a Crop Season Behind

By Les Kletke

While most of Manitoba’s farmers are nearing, completion a few are still playing catch up from last fall’s wet conditions, which did not allow for completion of harvest. The northwest area of the province saw more than twice the normal amount of precipitation last fall and that is still playing havoc with this year’s planting.

Don Taylor farms at Dauphin and he said that he has been using most of the nice days this spring to get his fields into shape for spring planting. “We went into freeze up so wet last fall that a lot of canola stayed out in

the field and it was worthless this spring, and we still had to clean it up and get ready to plant,” he said. “Now we are getting behind with seeding again.”

Taylor acknowledged that it is difficult to break the cycle of being a season behind and seeding in June can mean a late crop that faces a risk of not being combined again.

“We don’t have the option of not seeding,” he continued.

“We face a difficult situation with little or no revenue from last year’s crop and now we have the added expense of getting the fields into shape and planting late.”

Taylor did run some of the

canola through the combine as a matter of cleaning up the swaths. “There is little if any seed left in the swath after spending the winter in the field but we still have to chop the stalks and spread them so that we can get on to plant this year’s crop.”

The seed that shattered from the stalks last fall or through the winter has caused him to change his seeding plans, which normally include about one third of his acreage in canola. “We have to consider the amount of volunteer canola that we will have in the field and that we may have to include an extra spray operation to

get rid of that,” said Taylor.

He has switched more acres to oats this year. “The price was good and we can clean up the volunteer canola in oats, I am hoping we can do it with what would be our normal broadleaf weed control,” he said.

While it is, a small area of Manitoba that did not complete last year’s harvest the problem is a greater concern in Saskatchewan and Alberta where more of the crop stayed in the field causing problems this spring.

The late spring has meant that fields have been slow to dry and ruts have been full of water.

the liver, which takes up to 8 weeks. These fluke larvae enter the bile duct, where they mature into egg-laying adults to repeat the cycle.

Severity of liver fluke parasitism in cattle depends on the degree of infestation.

Cattle seldom die from liver flukes, but it can elevate the cow’s susceptibility to a host of secondary problems such as clostridium haemolyticium infections causing Redwater disease. That’s because the migrating juvenile flukes damage the liver and the clostridium bacteria grows inside these damaged areas. Death is possible in infected animals that are not properly vaccinated.

Moreover, once juvenile flukes reach the bile duct, they mature into adults, where their spines cause abrasions along the surface duct lining, which causes internal bleedings. The adult liver flukes feed upon this blood, which leads to common anemia of the cow. Other chronic damage includes liver tissue scarring, hardening of the bile ducts and enlargement of the cattle’s gall bladder.

Treatment of liver flukes in cattle comes down to a few flukicides; Albendazole (Valbazen), Corsulon (Ivomec Plus), and Triclabendazole (Fasinex 240, United Kingdom). The first two flukicides are only effective against mature adult liver flukes. Triclabendazole is the only product effective against very early immature flukes (two-weeks old) through adulthood. There is no available flukicide treatment against shed eggs in cow manure.

Subsequently, producers interested in using Triclabendazole require a veterinarian prescription before purchase

29

(which includes special instructions for its use). Those people interested in using the other two flukicides should find their protocols are straightforward.

For example, Albendazole is to be drenched for its first treatment for confirmed fluke infections in cattle in autumn. This is to remove any build up of adult flukes that matured over the grazing season. A second treatment is then given again in the following April/May, which reduces the number of egg-shedding adults before letting cattle out on pasture. It is noted that Albendazole should not be given to any pregnant cow or replacement heifer during the first 45 days of gestation; otherwise, it may cause early embryonic deaths.

Most of the time, flukicides are given to the cowherd after liver flukes are found in a dead cow. I believe this is hardly pro-active in controlling a growing problem among beef herds. However, there is hope for a new type of liver fluke diagnosis.

Recently I watched a YouTube video, entitled: Science Squad on liver flukes with Tyndall and Teagasc (Dec. 15, 2014). The Tyndall National Institute (Ireland) is developing a simple plus/fail test for the presence of liver flukes in cattle and sheep. These scientists employ microchip technology that detects antibodies in a drop of blood from animals exposed to liver flukes.

The chip is linked electronically to a farm-friendly computer reader. The video’s commentators concluded that this new research for early detection of liver flukes might be the key to effective control in the immediate future.

30

May 26, 2017

The AgriPost

New Agri-Venture for Walker Family

By Joan Airey Travis Walker has worked as an agronomist but when Travis, Kendra, and family found a farmyard in the country east of Rivers, they fell in love with it. They decided to venture into a different facet of agriculture. The previous owner had three large greenhouses on the property so the Walkers decided to make use of them.

“We are starting out small and hope to expand as we learn the business. We have a selection of flowers, vegetables, fruit trees and shrubs for sale this year. Our opening will be May 21. I enjoy building things so I’ve made a variety of planters to sell. From the interest shown in the variety of planters we have, I’ll

Travis Walker talks with visitors as they tour his new greenhouse business.

more than likely be kept busy building. We been raiding our parents farms for old barn boards, etc. to create unique planters and wall hangings,” said Travis.

Not content with only agriculture, most weekend evenings Travis is busy with his DJ business “Party Jockey’s Music”. Kendra teaches elementary school in a nearby

Travis Walker uses his wood working skills to create planters of all shapes and sizes.

town during the day and relaxes in her spare time working in the greenhouse.

US Commodity Groups Recognizes NAFTA Success US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer formally notified Congress of the Trump Administration’s plans to modernize the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Canada and Mexico.

US commodity group, the National Corn Growers Association President Wesley Spurlock urged Lighthizer to remember the interests of US agriculture as they begin modernizing the agreement.

“The Trump Administration understands that NAFTA has been an unequivocal success story for American agriculture,” said Spurlock. “Exports are one pillar of a strong farm economy, accounting for 31 percent of farmer income.

Nowhere is the importance of trade stronger than right here in North America. Since NAFTA was implemented, US agricultural exports to Canada and Mexico have tripled and quin-

tupled, respectively. We export billions of dollars of corn and corn products to these countries each year.”

“The National Corn Growers Association will work closely with the Trump Administration and Congress to build on the successful trade relationship we have with Canada and Mexico. We want to ensure any updates to NAFTA maintain or increase opportunities for America’s farmers and ranchers,” stated Lighthizer.

The announcement means trilateral negotiations could begin as early as August 16.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) will publish goals for the negotiations at least 30 days prior to negotiations.

In its own analysis, the USTR reports that, “As the US’ two largest export markets, Canada and Mexico buy more Madein-America goods and services

than any other countries in the world. Since NAFTA’s implementation, US states like Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, and many others have seen a surge in exports across North American borders.” In addition, “For over 30 out of the 50 States, Canada or Mexico rank as the first or second largest export market,” under NAFTA. For services and many categories of goods, the United States maintains a trade surplus with the NAFTA countries. If fossil fuel and its byproducts are excluded, there is no deficit.

In fact, the US has a large and growing trade surplus in goods, including agriculture and manufactured goods, as well as in services. In addition, nearly 60 percent of US total goods imported from Canada and Mexico are used in the production of Made-in-America goods and services.

Spring Conditions in Beausejour Look Promising

By Les Kletke Jurgen Tanner is pleased with the start of his crop. Tanner farms at Beausejour and said that his early seeded cereals have emerged and he is pleased with the start for the crop. “We had adequate moisture and so the seed was placed in moisture and with a couple warm days the crop was emerging. It was not as quick as it could have been but the crop was not stressed so we should be off to a good start,” he said. Tanner has stayed with a significant amount of cereals in his rotation and while many farmers have cut back their wheat acres, he has maintained his.

Like most Manitoban farmers, he has included soybeans in his rotation but he has not allowed

them to become his prime crop.

“I still grow significant acres of wheat,” he said. “There have been years it has not shown as good a return but over the long run we have done well with it.”

Tanner has grown high yielding soft wheats as well as high protein hard wheats. “It depends on the market and the conditions,” he said. “Some years we do well with high yield wheat and we have done very well with winter wheat but not this year.”

After seing the condition of his quarter section seeded to winter wheat last year, it had to be turned down for reseeding. “The stand was not there. Winter wheat can spread out and if the stand would have been even I would

have left it, but there were large patches of the field with nothing, and the crop cannot recover from that, it will not spread into those patches,” he said.

Tanner is also pleased with his first crop of 2017, his calf crop.

He has 40 commercial cows that calved earlier this year and all of the calves are on spring pasture with their mothers. “We have a 100% calf crop and that is alright,” he said. “We did not have any twins but we did not lose any calves so that is a plus.”

He said pastures need some heat to generate growth and while there is adequate feed for the animals at this time, he is hopeful for some heat in the last week of May.

The AgriPost

Waiting for the Heat in Souris

By Les Klekte Todd Robbins appreciates the warm weather arriving in the second half of May but would like more of it, and could have handled it sooner.

Robbins who runs a commercial beef herd at Souris said that while pasture had greened up it has been slow coming. “Things are coming along now, but it has been a slow start, and the calves have not had the nice lush pastures we would like to see,” he said. Too much water in the grass can be a problem he added. “The calves are being looked after by their mothers for now but when the grass is too lush and juicy it can cause problems with the dietary system as well, but that has not been the case this year,” he said.

He has 300 cows that he calves in spring and markets the majority of calves in the fall, some go back to the herd as replacements and some are kept for his own feeding program. He used Red Angus bulls on his herd this year and was happy with the result. “We had a good calf crop this year and not much problem with calving, though we have more mature cows in the herd so that is not usually as much of a problem as with heifers. We do have some first-time calves but we paid special attention to them and things worked out well.”

He said that they would use the same bulls on the herd this year before going into a full-scale change. “We use the bulls for two years and then change them because there are usually newer ge-

netics available and we like to change them before they are breeding their offspring,” he explained.

His feed supply was good through the winter and he does have some feed in storage but is looking for a good hay crop. “We would like things to get growing. That has been a slow start this spring waiting for things to get green, much less getting any substantial growth, but if we get some heat now we will be all right, and then we will be looking for some rain to bring that growth along,” he said.

Robbins has already applied some fertilizer in anticipation of arriving moisture and heat. “We do have some fertilizer down because we know it will come sometime,” he said.

No Plans for Excess Alfalfa This Year

By Les Kletke There is an old adage in the grain market that ‘a crop has never been killed in April’ and it may hold true for hay crops this May although conditions this year could mean one less cut.

Peter Klassen said that normally he likes to get his first cut of alfalfa in early June.

This year it is not likely to happen. “The spring was just to cool and we did not get the plants growing early enough,” he said. “When we don’t get that early start, and the first cut off in early June it is less likely we will get a third cut.”

He chuckled when asked about planning for a third cut in May. “We have been fortunate the last couple of

years, and you start to think that it is normal,” he said.

Klassen has a good supply of feed for his dairy cows but would prefer to err on the side of caution. “Most dairymen would prefer to have a year’s supply of feed as insurance, because we know there are years when we will be short of feed or can have a crop failure.” While most dairymen would rather add to their stockpile of feed than sell it, he does market some feed when he has excess.

“Maybe that is why I am looking for that extra cut,” he said. “If we have enough for the year and some for insurance we do sell some feed.”

He said that he has not made any effort to find export markets yet because he

is not a consistent supplier.

“To develop those markets you have to be a steady supplier, and we put our own feed requirement first so when we do sell it might be lower quality feed and it is not every year,” he said. For the most party, he has been able to find a ready market for his excess feed with local cow-calf operators in southeastern Manitoba.

“Last year there was a lot of feed but conditions got tough and even after it was baled it was difficult to get off the field, so there was a market,” said Klassen. Even though he has not given up hope for a third cut this year he is concentrating on getting a good quality first cut for the hay shed.

On Time, On Plan in Pilot Mound Area

By Les Kletke “On time and good conditions,” is the way Jared Thiessen describes this year’s seeding operation. Thiessen farms with his Dad near Pilot Mound and said that things were not early but conditions were good for planting.

“We would like to get on the field in April,” he said. “But that doesn’t happen every year and it did not happen this year.

We got started well into May but conditions were good and things went fairly quickly.”

He said that it won’t be long before many farmers are looking for some additional moisture. “There was good soil moisture and we were able to plant into moisture which is not always the case but there should be enough moisture to get the seed to germinate. It would be good to have some moisture come from above

to get the plant off to a good start.”

He is adamant that early conditions go a long way to determining fall yields. “Having good moisture for planting and good germination does not guarantee a good crop, but you are sure that if you do not get good germination you are not going to get a good crop,” he said. “This year the moisture is there for a good start.”

Most of the farm’s 3,000 acres is heavy soil and that means planting when conditions are favourable. “We would have liked to have seen the soil warmer,” he said. “Especially for the soybeans but we can’t afford to wait on our heavy ground so the beans went in and we are hoping to get the heat to get them up and growing.”

Soybeans have seen a steady increase on the Thiessen farm

and now occupy nearly half of the planted acres. “We have had a couple of good crops [soybeans] and have not had a failure so we have been increasing the acreage and are getting more familiar with the crop” he said. They don’t have plans to increase the soybean acreage percentage over than what is already planted.

As for many farmers this year, the price of oats and contracted production has the Thiessens growing the crop that was absent from the rotation for several years. “There were some good pricing options through the winter so we made a commitment to the crop,” he said.

“We are hoping that we will be able to move some of it early or else we are going to have some storage problems, but for now our concern is growing the crop. Storage is a good problem to have.”

May 26, 2017

31

32

May 26, 2017

The AgriPost