AgriPost October 25 2019

The AgriPost

October 25, 2019

Manitoba’s Thanksgiving Storm Puts Cattle Producers in a Tight Spot

At least a foot of heavy, wet snow and freezing rain combined with strong winds took down thousands of hydro poles and electric fences in the Interlake Photos by Tom Teichroeb cattle country of Manitoba.

By Harry Siemens Tom Teichroeb, his wife Michelle and their two daughters have a 400 cowcalf ranch near Langruth.

Teichroeb is President of the Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) representing Manitoba on the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association.

Due to the Thanksgiving weekend storm there was no electricity or land line

available for communication. The only communication Teichroeb and family had, was texting by cell phone.

“Our hydro is down and will be for the next week or so. I have no internet and no landline, only have text for now. There are over 200 hydro poles down in our area,” was Teichroeb’s first response via text mes-

sages amid the Thanksgiving Weekend early snowstorm on October 11. “It’s a disaster, to say the least. Over a foot [of snow], but we had so much freezing rain, hard to say how much snow would have accumulated otherwise.”

When asked what the most immediate problem was for his ranch, he said that the inability to get corn silage

because they needed it now.

“That’s just one element.

Damaged fence lines and other infrastructure,” said Teichroeb. “We were counting on that corn for the third week of October. So many other dynamics, too many to text.”

Fast forward to October 17, Thursday morning once the power came back on.

Continued on Page 2...

Around Tom Teichroeb’s Langruth ranch there were over 200 hydro poles down due to the Thanksgiving weekend storm that dumped a foot of heavy wet snow.

October 25, 2019

The AgriPost

Manitoba’s Thanksgiving Storm Puts Cattle Producers in a Tight Spot

Tom Teichroeb in better times at their local branding bee that involved the calves from six or seven of his neighbours all helping each other.

“We are, I guess, watching hydro crews put together the hydro lines again right now, taking them off the fence line. A lot of the hydro poles around my farm where some fell away from the fence line, some fell directly onto it, and that is our challenge here,” said Teichroeb. “We have miles of energized line that keeps our cattle in, not much for barbed wire fences anymore at all.”

Teichroeb said with no electricity to energize those fence lines as they were down in so many places, the challenge was to keep fixing the areas that the cows would migrate to, stay a little bit ahead of them and keep them somewhat contained.

“And make sure to keep them fed and under lowstress conditions so that they could function,” he said. “But it is very, very wet, water everywhere and once it seems like the cattle have gone somewhere, it turns into mud. We will need some big spaces for the next little while until the water has a chance to sink in or until frost for some of the surface water to go away.”

Here is the president of the cattle producer association barely able to deal

with his problems. Yet the responsibility is much higher, and the issue lies with a shortage of feed from two dry summers and now the inability to silage corn.

“Well, it’s certainly delayed. Providing we don’t get more snow piling up shortly, if we can have some ground freeze-up that will carry some machinery, most likely be our only possibility of getting at that silage,” he said. “But our other challenges with two years of drought, we have no reserves. We need to blend the feed that we have on hand with many things.

It needs to be a blend of hay and straw, distilled with dry grain and some silage and all those things.

We have a little of each and need to use some of our hay more than we would like to. And then we start to create an imbalance in our ration for further down the road. We have enough feed to cope now, but it will be very tough for many, and to navigate through this mess and find a way to make the silage.”

While as tricky as it may sound for Teichroeb for many other ranchers it is much more problematic.

“It’s not just about the management of pastures; sometimes, it’s fortunate enough

Continued from Page 1

to be in an area where you have feedstuffs available to you. So, for example, I was able to buy this 40 acres of corn that’s right next to me and some straw, too,” said Teichroeb. “Some people in the Interlake and up near Ste. Rose and that area did not have the resources around them to be able to do that. So strategically and geographically speaking, I’m fortunate at this stage where I’m at because I was able to source some of that stuff. So yes, I am in better shape than some, but still a long way from secure.”

Planning is the crucial thing for Teichroeb when at the mercy of Mother Nature. “We have a little pasture available, and if frost stiffens the ground, we can perhaps wean the calves off the moms and go to a different ration plan,” he said.

“Having power and ability to energize our fence lines and able to move cattle around to different spots, will certainly be a huge help for us.”

When asked who took the first shower once the power came back on he said, “I’m creative, Harry. I wired my hot water tank to the generator and lucky enough to own a bigger generator that can handle the load.”

There is No Easy Way to Finish This Year’s Harvest

By Les Kletke Harvest was easy in August, but now Paul Friesen does not know what it will take to move ahead to finish harvesting. The second wettest September on record followed by an unseasonable snow storm in early October has him shaking his head.

“We have tracks for the combines from the last time this happened,” said Friesen who farms at Starbuck.

“But even that is not carrying the machines now.”

Friesen has 320 acres of soybeans left to harvest and under normal conditions it would take no more than a couple of days.

“Under normal conditions they would have come off in mid-September but we had rain through the entire month and things just kept getting wetter and the crop

did not dry at all.”

He said his early crop was about average but was hoping to make some money on his soybeans. “The early cereals were okay probably close to the long term average, though we have been spoiled the last couple of years, and our expectation moves up,” he said. “The canola was only average but we got it off in good condition.”

Like so many farmers in Manitoba he has been increasing his soybean acreage over the last couple of years after becoming more familiar with the crop and it has provide a good return. “We were not the first ones to grow beans,” he said. “We got started about 10 years ago and found them an easy crop to handle and were becoming more familiar with them.

Now this.”

Friesen does not blame the crop. “It is not the fault of the crop,” he said. “Though it will present some special challenges trying to cut close to the ground in these conditions.”

He said that with other crops he might be wishing for a frost that would allow him to drive across the field. “But I don’t know how that will work with soybeans, it was not something we wanted to try, but this year there are no easy answers to getting this crop off.”

Friesen knows that he is going to face seeding problems on his soybean field next year. “We know we are going to be making tracks in those fields and we will have to deal with that next spring. That is the reality of this harvest.”

The AgriPost

Farmers Given First Right of Renewal on Crown Land Leases Producers will be given the first right of renewal for existing leases on Crown lands as part of the Manitoba government’s continued support of multi-generational family farming.

“Giving existing forage lease holders the option to renew their legacy leases for additional terms provides the consistency they need for their operations,” said Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler. “This will enable succession planning for family farms. Opportunities are created for new or young farmers to acquire use of these public assets through new leases to be offered at auction. This balanced approach shows we’re listening to the concerns of farmers and are supportive of the livestock industry in Manitoba.”

Following extensive consultations, amendments to The Crown Lands Amendment Act and the Agricultural Crown Lands Leases and Permits Regulation came into effect October 1. The updated regulation will increase the program’s transparency and accountability by including such features as a public auction process, the capping of leases at a 15-year maximum instead of 50, and measures to ensure the land is used effectively in a sustainable manner that contributes to economic growth in Manitoba.

Under the new regulation, producers who have legacy forage leases that expire before December 31, 2034, will be eligible to renew only until that date before lands go back to auction.

Producers with leases that expire after December 31, 2034, will continue under their current terms and are not affected by the new regulation. The province is pursuing further amendment to the regulation to enable successive renewals for legacy leases, provided leaseholders remain eligible.

“Having the first right of renewal on legacy leases is very important to all cattle producers,” said Tom Teichroeb, President, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP).

“Access and predictability are essential to long-term planning related to livestock operations, especially related to their grazing and haying resources. This is a valuable commitment on the part of the provincial government. MBP will continue to engage with it about vari-

ous aspects of the modernization of the Crown lands program to ensure it is both effective and efficient for beef producers.”

The Agricultural Crown Lands Leasing Program distributes leases and permits to approximately 1,750 farmers and ranchers throughout the province, providing an additional land base to support their operations. The land administered through the program is sufficient to feed nearly 90,000 cattle for the grazing season, contributes to ecological goods and services, and provides mitigation and adaptation to climate change.

For more information on the updated Agricultural Crown Lands Program, visit gov.mb.ca/agriculture/landmanagement/crown-land.

Province’s Changes to Crown Land Lease Program Based on Market Forces The Manitoba government is introducing a new balanced approach to modernize the Agricultural Crown Lands Leasing Program.

“Agricultural Crown lands are used by approximately 1,750 forage leaseholders and the land administered by this program is sufficient to feed nearly 90,000 cattle for the grazing season,” said Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler. “We look forward to working with stakeholders as we begin to implement changes to modernize the program.”

The Agricultural Crown Lands Program supports the sustainable expansion of the livestock herd in Manitoba, contributes to ecological goods and services and provides mitigation and adaptation to climate change. These leases and permits are available to farmers and ranchers, to provide an additional land base on which to conduct agricultural activities.

“The new approach for leasing Agricultural Crown lands helps bring this process up to date and allows for more opportunity for all producers, especially the next generation, to have access to leases that will positively impact their operations,” Bill Campbell, president, Keystone Agri-

cultural Producers said. “We sincerely want to thank the minister and his department for their in-depth and transparent consultation process that allowed all producers to have their voices heard which has ensured that this new approach has all producers in mind.”

In November 2018, the Manitoba government passed The Crown Lands Amendment Act (Improved Management of Community Pastures and Agricultural Crown Lands), which enabled amendments to the Agricultural Crown Lands Leases and Permits Regulation.

The regulation updates the Agricultural Crown Lands Program by implementing a system of allocating agricultural Crown land leases by way of a public auction.

Through extensive consultation with stakeholders, it was determined that this is the best way of achieving a fair and transparent system. This change places the emphasis on ensuring that agricultural Crown lands are effectively used in a sustainable manner that contributes to economic growth in Manitoba.

Another change was ensuring that a relevant rent is set for the private use of a public asset. The rent for forage

leases will be based on the price of beef cattle, which is relevant for the significant majority of forage agricultural Crown land leases. The rent for cropping leases will remain based on assessed land values.

In addition, the legislation introduces new fees for administrative aspects of the Agricultural Crown Lands Program that afford solely private benefit including allocations and transfers. The fees are nominal in nature to address partial cost recovery without introduction of barriers to participation.

The Final change was the implementation of a 15-year maximum for new forage leases to provide a balance that is long enough for current leaseholders to invest in the land, but also provide others, such as new or young farmers, future opportunities to acquire use of the public asset.

“Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) recognize the effort that the provincial government has put in to modernize the Agricultural Crown Lands Leasing Program.

The ability to utilize agricultural Crown lands is critically important to both the current and future viability of Manitoba’s cattle sector,” said Tom Teichroeb, Presi-

dent, MBP. “MBP has appreciated the opportunity to participate in this extensive consultative process. We hope the new regulations as a result of this process will allow these lands to be utilized in the most predictable and transparent manner possible, and MBP will continue to engage with the provincial government as these new regulations roll out, to ensure they are both effective and efficient for producers.”

“Manitoba will see a number of benefits from this updated regulation including increased transparency and accountability of the program, and a reduction in red tape,” said Eichler. “The updated regulation will also help contribute to provincial economic growth by helping expand our livestock industry, further positioning us as a leader in protein production and processing.”

With the primary use of agricultural Crown lands being for forage, the province seeks to increase the utilization of the lands to support growth of the livestock industry in Manitoba in a sustainable manner, by using market forces to encourage efficient and innovative uses of the agricultural Crown lands, said the minister.

October 25, 2019

MBP Looks at Modernization of Manitoba’s Agricultural Crown Lands Leasing Program Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) is engaging with the provincial government about the effects of its recently-announced changes to the Agricultural Crown Lands (ACL) Leasing Program on beef producers and it is seeking desirable outcomes for the industry.

“Many producers rely on predictable and affordable access to Crown land leases as a major part of their operations, particularly in areas of the province where there is limited access to deeded land,” said MBP President Tom Teichroeb. “During the consultative process we identified key producer and industry priorities when it comes to the future direction of the ACL program and we are continuing to advance those priorities.”

Among the changes being made to the ACL program MBP believes will be beneficial to the beef industry include allocating ACL leases via an auction system, which is a less complicated and more transparent process; a commitment to promoting compliance and using enforcement where needed to ensure the lands are being utilized for the intended purpose; and the removal of the 4,800 Animal Unit Month cap per leaseholder for forage leases, a practice that has been restrictive and which did not necessarily take into account the increasing size of operations overall.

MBP has firm positions on several matters raised during the consultative process around the modernization of the ACL Program and it is continuing to pursue their inclusion in the government’s policies. They include continued ability for producers to be able to utilize family transfers and unit transfers as well as allowing existing lease holders to have the first right of renewal upon expiry of their lease if they can demonstrate that they still meet the program terms and conditions.

Access and predictability are essential to long-term planning related to livestock operations; having a rental rate formula that is fair, easily understood, recognizes market conditions and does not place an undue financial burden on the producers during the transition to the new formula and the right to informed access whereby those wishing to access ACL would need to notify the lease or permit holder prior to entry. This is important to address concerns related to potential biosecurity issues, and also to help protect livestock, people and the environment.

MBP believes that if the beef cattle sector is to grow it is essential agricultural Crown lands be allocated, priced and managed in the most predictable and transparent manner possible. This will help ensure their use is both effective and efficient for producers, and also help meet the stated objectives of the ACL program which include supporting the sustainable expansion of the livestock herd in Manitoba, contributing to ecological goods and services, and providing mitigation and adaptation to climate change.

The AgriPost

October 25, 2019

Basic Chemistry Little of the everyday talk about “chemicals” seems to have an actual understanding of chemistry. Everyone should look at an excellent post from a few years ago, on a blog called “The Logic of Science.” It’s about “5 simple chemistry facts,” here’s a brief recap.

First, “everything is made of chemicals.” We should know this, but we still get fooled regularly. A popular advertising gimmick, for instance, asks listeners to focus on ingredients you know, or can pronounce, versus ones you can’t. But at the end of the day, simple things like butter and margarine are both made up of complicated chemical soups. It just depends on how closely you look.

Chemicals are unavoidable, they’re everywhere. How long do you think you’d last without oxygen (dioxide)?

Human beings are biochemical machines in and of themselves. Everything we do

happens because of a chemical reaction that is happening in our bodies, including reading this article.

Without chemicals and chemical reactions, we wouldn’t exist.

Regular readers will recognize the second fact, “the dose makes the poison,” it’s one of this writer’s favourites. Essentially, it says that every chemical is safe at a low enough dose; conversely every chemical is also toxic at a high enough dose. In fact documentation shows that people have overdosed on seemingly harmless water.

No, they didn’t drown, they literally overdosed. Look up the fascinating paper, called “Death from hyponatremia as a result of acute water intoxication in an Army basic trainee.”

You can also think about this in another way. We all have potentially nasty stuff floating around in us all the time. Even if we lived on a

deserted island in the middle of nowhere on just what nature provided, this would still be true. Things like mercury, arsenic, cyanide, formaldehyde, aluminum, lead and all sorts of other goodies naturally occur in food and water. Formaldehyde is actually produced by our own bodies.

The two most important questions are always, “What is the toxic dose in humans?” and, “What is the dose in any product in question?” If people can’t answer those questions, it’s an indication they haven’t done their homework.

Third: “There is no difference between ‘natural’ and ‘synthetic’ chemicals.”

Think about water. Dihydrogen monoxide (or H²O), has three atoms; two of them are hydrogen, one is oxygen. Thousands of different chemical reactions will get you water. There’s literally a thousand different ways to

make it.

If you give it to a chemist, there’s no way they’d be able to tell you how it was made.

It’s completely identical to all the other water around the world. The chemical structure is always the same. It doesn’t matter if the water came out of a cactus or was synthesized in a lab.

Which brings us to the next point: “Natural chemicals are not automatically good and artificial chemicals are not automatically bad.” There’s actually a formal, logical fallacy named after this one, called the “appeal to nature fallacy.” There’s no reason to think that nature arranged all the different chemical elements in ways that are always safe. In fact, it’s probably wiser to think that Mother Nature is a homicidal maniac who’s trying to kill you until you know better.

Finally, “a chemical’s properties are determined by the other chemicals bound to it.”

Penner’s Points

The end product may be very different from By Rolf its individual parts. Penner That sounds complicated, but a simple example would be salt, or sodium chloride. By itself, sodium is quite vola- now.) The mercury referred tile and can actually explode to here is part of something if it touches water. The other called “thimerosal.” chemical component, chloThink of thimerosal like rine, is quite toxic even at our previous two examples, low levels. But you put the water and salt. It’s made up two together in just the right of mercury bound to an ethway, you get everyday table yl group, so now it’s “ethyl salt. The combination doesn’t mercury.” In this form, it’s behave in any way like its in- perfectly safe. Mercury that dividual components. If you causes poisoning is bound to told people their table salt a methyl group, and called was “dangerous” because it “methyl mercury,” which is has sodium in it, they’d look very different. That’s why at you as if you were banan- claiming that vaccines are as, and rightly so. dangerous because they conPerhaps a better example tain mercury is just as crazy comes from vaccines. Some as saying salt will hurt you say vaccines are dangerous because it contains sodium. because they contain merA little bit of knowledge of cury, which is toxic. (The basic chemistry might calm mercury in question is only a lot of people down. Then in a small number of flu vac- again, maybe they don’t cines but forget about that for want that.

Alberta Takes the Lead on Stopping Farm Harassers

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney and the Government of Alberta took a strong stand for farmers in Alberta recently.

“Albertans stand with our farmers and our food producers who are an essential part of our society, and our economy, and our future.

That is why Albertans were so distressed to observe the invasion of your turkey barns that occurred here on September the second,” said Kenney on the farm of the Jumbo Valley Colony.

The move comes after dozens of animal rights activists occupied the turkey barns at the Colony in southern Alberta, about an hour and a half southeast of Calgary, calling for an end to commercial poultry farming.

While the government doesn’t know of other examples of similar demonstrations disrupting farms in recent years, the province wants to “lay down the law” to ward off future action.

“Now some people have called this a protest. I don’t

think it was a protest. You do a protest, you hold a bunch of signs on public property,” said the Premier. “This was an illegal invasion of private property, a dangerous act of trespassing, harassment of law-abiding, hardworking Alberta farmers. These food producers follow the laws and the regulations, living an often challenging life to help feed the rest of society.

We should not dignify this by calling it some act of legitimate protest. We believe in freedom of speech. If people want to criticize farming, if they want to criticize poultry or livestock, they have every right to do so. But they have no right to enter the private property of a farm to invade it, to harass the farmers, to create a biohazard for the animals, and to violate several laws in so doing.”

I agree with Mr. Kenney in the fact that this is long overdue. As he said, it may not have happened in such a fashion; there are different ways of doing so.

Some people call these activists, the Premier and I call them anti-farming militants.

Not protesters, but trespassers and bullies.

“I’m here today to say that the government of Alberta

will not tolerate trespassing and bullying of our farmers.

We will stand up for and with Alberta farmers in protecting the rule of law.”

In the next session of Alberta’s legislature, the government will introduce legislation to protect law-abiding farmers from trespass and harassment from illegal bullies, such as those who came to this farm a month ago. “We will do so by strengthening the provincial Petty Trespass Act to address trespass on agricultural land specifically. We will increase penalties through the provincial Offenses Procedures Act, fines of up to $10,000 for a first violation, $25,000 for a second violation, and potentially up to six months of imprisonment for offences of this nature. We are considering amending provisions in the Animal Health Act and the Agricultural Pest Act to address the cost of bio-contamination and biosecurity breaches due to unlawful entry,” said Kenney.

While the penalties and fines may sound excessive, the message that it sends undoubtedly is not. I like this part too. “We will ensure there are legal repercussions for individuals who misrepresent themselves to gain ac-

cess to farms, capture images to discredit operators and more measures that we are studying,” he said. “I understand that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency closely inspects the turkey farm operated by the Jumbo Valley Colony. Also, by annual audits from the Alberta Turkey Board, and has a solid compliance record. There was no reason for the activists to target this farm, but that’s not the point. There is no reason for any farm to face harassment, intimidation, trespass and this kind of illegal biohazard.”

Some may have legitimate concerns and Kenney had words for them too. “If people have legitimate concerns about animal health and safety or potential violations of food safety and agricultural regulations, we encourage them to go to the appropriate

authorities,” he said. “We in Canada and Alberta have the world’s highest standards for regulation of the food chain, and that includes poultry operations such as this one. We don’t need people acting like vigilantes through trespass, intimidation and harassment.

Instead, what we need to do is to stand up for and defend our food producers, our agricultural operators; our farmers. Most of the people in the cities are only a couple of generations removed from a family farm. I ask those folks in our urban communities, to remember their grandparents and great grandparents who made great sacrifices to operate farms, to feed their families, to produce food for the rest of the society.

That’s what our farmers do all across Alberta every day, just like this Hutterite Colony at Jumbo Valley.”

Photo submitted by Hutterite Colony at Jumbo Valley

The AgriPost

Talk About that Weather!

I was sitting in my seat waiting for the Stompin’ Taw (yes, Stompin Tom’s son) concert to start when I looked around and noticed that the next seat was occupied by a long time friend from eastern Manitoba. This was October 12 so naturally the talk turned to the weather and how bad the storm had been.

He told me he had gotten some snow, not as much as the central or western part of the province but enough to cause a problem even on the sands of eastern Mani-

toba. We had not spoken for a couple of years so we spent some time catching up and then as old men do went back to the weather.

“They say you are never more than 30 days from a drought or 3 days from a flood,” my friend said. I thought back to how good things looked crop wise at the end of July and what August had brought, the weekend weather was fresh in my mind and I could do nothing but agree.

We discussed the current year and how bad the ruts would be from trying to get the crop off after this, we talked about trying to put up some corn silage for the cows that would really like to eat through the winter, and would not be content to just hear that feed was in

short supply this year.

Then in true farm boy approach we turned to things we had done in the past, to deal with similar situations.

I mentioned using anhydrous ammonia as a nitrogen source to increase the protein in feed supply. “Yes, but that was when anhydrous was $300 a tonne and now it is $800,” replied my friend.

The speed with which he replied indicated he had already considered it.

We continued to chat and our conversation covered several scenarios that had been similar and how we had dealt with them. There were no easy answers, but farmers had always handled the situation and came through.

We can say that global warming is changing the world and that weather pat-

terns have changed and weather is much more severe but truthfully some of that flooding might have been brought about by improved drainage systems that get water off the field faster. In reality out industry has always been at the whim of the weather, and that can be a short term thunder storm or a full on drought.

We have coped with it before and we will again but knowing it has happened before and likely will again does not make it any easier, it does not pay the bills or feed the cows. This is resilient industry that will survive, and all the while knowing we are only 30 days from a drought or 3 days away from a flood.

Manitoba Wetlands Policy Upsets Producers

By Elmer Heinrichs No one is completely happy with Manitoba’s new policy on wetlands.

Pleasing no one is not ideal, but it suggests the province has done its job and found a compromise solution, said a spokesperson for Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

“I think the Tories do deserve some credit for digging into this issue … and coming out with what we think is a pretty fair and balanced approach,” said Scott Stephens, DUC’s Director of regional operations.

Producers on the other hand are frustrated by the government’s decision to prohibit drainage of sloughs that have semi-permanent

or permanent ponds.

In early October, the Manitoba government announced changes to Water Rights Act regulations, including efforts to remove red tape, which should streamline the approval process for draining small and temporary wetlands.

The province has also adopted a “no net loss” approach to wetlands. Landowners who drain a wetland will have to compensate the province or mitigate the loss of the wetlands. They could pay for the construction of a similar wetland or establish a new slough on their own property.

However, the province has decided that landown-

ers cannot drain Class 4 or 5 wetlands. Those are sloughs that have semi-permanent or permanent ponds. “That was a prudent choice,” Stephens said, because many regions of Manitoba have already lost too many wetlands.

Some farmers, especially those in regions where six, seven or 10 sloughs are common on a half-section of land, would like to drain all the wetlands on the field and consolidate the water into one large pond.

Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) is frustrated with that aspect of the regulation. It was hoping that producers could drain all sloughs and mitigate the

loss by creating an equivalent wetland. “We are surprised that the provincial government reversed course on what was proposed during the consultation process in terms of Class 4 and 5 wetlands,” said Mitch Janssens, KAP Vice-President. “These regulations can impede a farmer’s ability to control water on their land.”

It is unclear how the program will work because the provincial government has not provided details yet. But Ducks Unlimited is hoping that landowners will be paid for preserving Class 1 and 2 wetlands.

New Drainage Regulations Handcuff Farmers Dear Editor, The new Water Rights Act regulations brought into force by Sustainable Development represent a net negative to farmers and to the agriculture industry. We are surprised that the provincial government reversed course on what was proposed during the consultation process in terms of Class 4 and 5 wetlands and these regulations can impede a farmer’s ability to control water on their land.

In terms of positive steps, we applaud the department for taking steps to address administrative challenges, and for committing departmental staff to resolve drainage disputes that can occur between landowners. This process is not yet complete, and we hope that the department will continue to include KAP in further consultations going forward.

Further clarification is required from the province on the GROW program, and more work is required by the provincial government to ensure that beneficial management practices (BMP) program funding is approved in a timely manner. As KAP has pointed out previously, the GROW program has been announced with few details on how farmers can apply for funding, and what projects will be eligible and BMP funding has been slow to get to farmers when they need it most.

Farmers want to be part of the solution to climate change and protecting their livelihoods from its effects, but the provincial government needs to ensure that farmers are compensated in an adequate and timely manner for the work they are already doing.

Mitch Janssens KAP Vice President

October 25, 2019

Credit Where Credit is Due Dear Editor, It recently came to my attention that authorship of an Agri Post article was incorrectly attributed to me. The article, entitled “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: The Future of Phosphorus,” appears on page 31 of the September 27 edition. The author of this article is Susan V. Fisk. I was involved in publication of the journal article and provided the photo of struvite, but cannot take credit for writing the article. If you could publish an erratum stating the correct author, I would greatly appreciate it, so that credit for this well-written article can be given where it is due.

Sincerely,

Joanne Thiessen Martens

Department of Soil Science

University of Manitoba

October 25, 2019

The AgriPost

The AgriPost

Farmers Hope to Harvest After Historic Snowstorm

By Elmer Heinrichs The weather event which hit on the eve of the Thanksgiving weekend closed highways, caused unprecedented power outages and left unharvested crops some under half a metre of snow.

Record rainfalls and an early winter snowstorm could make this year’s harvest season one for the history books.

“We are just witnessing dollar bills floating up in the air, revenue disappearing,” said Keystone Agricultural Producers president Bill Campbell as a Colorado low swept through southern Manitoba.

This year’s storm brought back memories of 60 years ago when large quantities of wet, heavy snow fell over much of southern Manitoba over the Thanksgiving weekend leaving crops and hundreds of tonnes of sugar beets in frozen ground. Some crops in the field are buried under snow, or severely lodged under the weight of the snow. Standing crops

like sunflowers and corn were better able to weather the storm, said Manitoba oilseed specialist Dane Froese.

“By in large, snow fell into that crop without lodging much of the crop,” said Froese. “However there seems to be drifts along the edges of fields but the majority of the crops are still standing.

There is hope that they will be able to be harvested this calendar year.”

While snow began to fall in the northwest October 9, many Manitoba farmers appreciated a two-day window to harvest before the rain and snow hit and producers cleared off hundreds of acres of standing soybeans and some other crops before harvest came to a dead halt.

The silage corn harvest, as well as canola, flax and soybean progressed until the snowstorm, and the overall harvest stands at about 74 per cent complete, below the three-year average of 88 per cent for the third week of

October.

Dennis Lange, the provincial pulse crop specialist, said “We’re really looking at some drying weather before we resume the harvest of soybeans, edible beans and some canola still out there.

It would also help if we had a good frost to support machinery trying to harvest crops.”

“But even now farmers are mudding it, combining some early corn and drying it,” said Lange.

Potato growers need about two weeks of favourable weather for harvest, otherwise thousands of acres will remain in the ground this winter.

As of the middle of October, about 65-70 percent of the province’s potato crop had been harvested, said Dan Sawatzky, Keystone Potato Producers Association general manager. Sawatzky said about 65-70 percent of the province’s potato crop had been harvested by the middle

of October. Eastern regions report a short harvest window, about 36 hours that occurred just before the storm began, when farmers harvested soybeans and canola under very challenging conditions.

Producers are assuming that significant frost and ground freezing will be needed to access fields and continue the harvest. Canola harvest is estimated at 95 per cent complete with an average yield of 45 bu/ac and good quality.

Sunflower harvest had begun with yields of 3,000 pounds an acre. Producers are supplement feeding cattle but are also starting to round them up from pasture to bring them home. At the same time, calves are being weaned and marketed. A few Manitoba areas received less moisture and were able to spend more time in the field.

Warm and dry weather forecast for next week should allow producers to resume combining.

Floodway Gates Open First Time Ever in the Fall

By Les Kletke For the first time in its existence the Red River Floodway protecting Winnipeg was put into use this fall. While extreme conditions have called for its use on occasion over the late summer, 2019 marked the first time the gates of the structure have been used in October.

Just a week before the Floodway was put into service the Summit on Canadian Soil Health visited the gates south of the city as part a tour on the first day of the summit. David Lobb of the University of Manitoba hosted the tour and provided the group with a look at the mechanics of the Floodway and an overview of the impact it has on soil and water management in the province.

Lobb stressed that the clay soils of the Red River Valley did not provide good if any internal drainage and that surface water was, “A big issue, either too much or too little.”

Lobb’s presentation touched on the issue of increased drainage on fields throughout the Red River

Valley that have increased the amount of water that flows towards the north up to and past Winnipeg quickly after the spring melt or an excessive rain fall.

He also noted that the Red River is one of few rivers in the northern hemisphere that flows north, “So the melt begins in the south while the Lake is still frozen and cannot accept the water that is coming northward.”

The Summit on Canadian Soil Health tour had 60 people from across the country and many had not seen or heard of the Red River

Floodway.

Questions from the group centered on the impact agriculture had on the flow of water coming to the city and also on where the ultimate responsibility lay with controlling water. A group question focused on, “Is it right to protect the city of Winnipeg at a cost to agriculture throughout the Red River Valley?”

While most in the group agreed with protecting the city and preventing property losses due to flooding the concern lay with what can be done to remove water

from fields when it is excess and how it could be stored for times when it is needed.

Lobb stated that after the drought of August southern Manitoba had the second wettest September in history which was before the October snowfall and how quickly things had changed for farmers throughout the province.

The title of the workshop “Setting the Course for the Future”, rang true not only for those attending, but for those who will be impacted by the decisions the group makes.

David Lobb of the University of Manitoba outlines the function of the Red River Floodway protecting WinPhoto by Les Kletke nipeg during the Summit on Canadian Soil Health 2019.

October 25, 2019

Innovation Imperative for Grain Farmers Canada lags behind its competitors when it comes to government support for innovative crop protection methods and plant biotechnologies according to the Grain Growers of Canada (GCC). GGC is speaking up to remind Canadian politicians that investment in innovative plant science is essential to the country’s agricultural outputs as well as to its overall economic strength.

Technology and innovation are critical to the work Canadian grain farmers do each day and their use of science-based crop protection methods, plant biotechnologies and gene editing has agricultural, economic and societal benefits.

“Innovation and farming go hand-in-hand,” said GCC Chair Jeff Nielsen from his farm in Olds, Alberta. “By harnessing innovation and using cutting-edge techniques and practices, Canadian grain farmers can sustainably produce more of the safe, high quality grain that consumers demand.”

An additional $8.3 billion of Canadian crops are grown per year as a direct result of farmers’ use of plant biotechnologies and innovative crop protection products. In fact, biotech crops are more resistant to weeds, insects and diseases and the use of innovative crop protection methods and scientific innovations also lead to increased yield and improved agronomic traits. As a result, this allows for the more efficient use of resources like land, water, and inputs like seeds, fertilizer and pesticides, leading a smaller environmental footprint.

Without scientific innovations, Canadian farmers would need to farm 50% more land to grow the same amount of food.

Innovation has trickle-down effects on the Canadian economy and on Canadian society. The plant science industry contributes almost $10 billion to Canada’s GDP each year and is responsible for more than 130,000 jobs in Canada. Innovation also provides economic viability for the next generation of farmers, whose use of biotech crops and new varieties will result in a reliable, profitable yield. Additionally, innovation in farming saves each Canadian family more $4,000 per year and has resulted in healthier, more affordable food.

“Smart science and innovative agricultural methods make good agricultural and economic sense,” added Nielsen. “Not only do they provide economic stability for our farmers, but they also contribute to stability for Canadian families by helping keep food costs low.”

However, when it comes to investment in agriculture innovation, Canada is falling behind. The United States ranks first in the world for its use of biotechnology with access to cutting-edge science and innovations, while, as a result of redundant reviews that lead to regulatory uncertainty, Canadian farmers are being put at a competitive disadvantage relative to our counterparts across the border. All this while Canadian farmers continue to experience net farm income declines. According to Statistics Canada, 2018 was the lowest farm income reported in eight years.

“Political leaders need to ensure Canadian farmers can access the best plant technologies and innovations possible, or Canadian farmers, the Canadian economy and Canadian society will be left behind,” said Nielsen.

It is only by encouraging investment in science innovations that Canadian grain farmers can produce the world’s highest quality, most-profitable grains. By establishing clear, predictable requirements for the premarket assessment of gene-edited crops, we will ensure that Canadian grain farmers have access to the agricultural innovations that will keep them competitive in the global marketplace now and far into the future.

The AgriPost

October 25, 2019

Because Hunger Still Exists

By Harry Siemens According to Food Banks Canada, more than four million Canadians, both working and unemployed live with food insecurity and a third is under 18.

October 16 was World Food Day and according to Jim Cornelius, Executive Director of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, the Day is a take action day in support of the 821 million people in the world who do not have enough food to eat.

Farm Credit Canada (FCC) invited the media and the public to come out and show

support for the FCC Drive Away Hunger tractor as it tours in Manitoba from October 16 to 18. This Drive is a unique food drive that involves driving a tractor and trailer through communities to collect food and cash donations for food banks across the country.

“It demonstrates our commitment to rural Canada and brings the agriculture community together to share the food it produces with those who need it most,” said an FCC statement. Since its start, FCC Drive Away Hunger has collected more than

At the tractor-trailer food drive in Morden, Neil Cook with Farm Credit Canada spoke about the Drive Away Hunger food drive.

50 million meals directly benefiting food banks and school feeding programs in Canada.

At the tractor-trailer food drive in Morden, Neil Cook with FCC spoke about the food drive. “We’re collecting food today for the Drive Away Hunger food drive. It’s going very well. This week we collected food in Altona, Winkler, and Morden,” said Cook. “The youth groups go out and collect food on the streets, like going doorto-door, almost like trickor-treating. Then they bring it back to the food banks,

and we sort it and then store for the year. Then today, we’re going around to all the schools and collect the food the children brought to school. Now we’re collecting it all and taking it to the food banks. Again, that food stays in the communities in which we collect it.”

Teresa Giesbrecht of the FCC, Carman office, said the tractor and trailer used to collect the donated food has to do with the fact FCC is all about agriculture. “Farmers produce the food, and so we do want to, at the same time, create awareness for the

children, especially as we’re going to school to school,” said Giesbrecht. “We want to bring awareness to agriculture and where their food comes from. That’s the reason for that.”

She said the covered trailer is all about the cool, wet, rainy weather. “It’s covered.

With the weather these days, we sometimes do a trailer behind a tractor. This year just seemed not quite appropriate for that, so that’s why.”

The Food Drive has some history. It started on a treelined rural road not far from the outskirts of Listowel, Ontario. The FCC district manager Dale Snider sat in the cab of an open tractor,

Staff and students of the Ecole Morden Middle School deliver the collected food items and place them for the FCC staff to load onto the trailer.

surveying the flatbed of food behind him. Piled high were cans, boxes, and bags of nonperishable items, soups and juices, pasta and baby formula, oatmeal and canned meats. It was October 2004, and FCC Drive Away Hunger had just been born.

That first year, the FCC team led by Snider collected 60,000 pounds of food that is the equivalent of 60,000 meals for local food banks.

He spent eight days on the road, pitching his tent in a different field or farmyard each night and depending mainly on FCC customers for food and fuel. The result was a testament to compassion and generosity. Although BSE was decimating the cattle industry, and many rural Canadians struggled to feed their own families, the industry and the community pulled together to give what they could. In some areas, that Drive delivered a full year’s worth of food.

As the farming industry thrives the Food Drive is still going strong. Snider’s vision and enthusiasm were contagious. Thanks to more than 279 industry and community partners and 409 schools the FCC Drive Away Hunger collected a record 9.5 million meals for Canadians in need last year.

The AgriPost

Researcher Studies Long Term Total Field Green House Gas Emissions

By Les Kletke A Professor in the Department of Soil Sciences and head of the Applied Soil Ecology Lab, Dr. Mario Tenuta’s research at the University of Manitoba, Gleanlea Research Station is not the kind of thing that will have farmers stopping to take a look or monitoring fields as they drive by to see the impact.

His work will not catch their attention like new varieties or seeding methods will, but it may have a much greater impact long term than a new higher yielding variety of any seed.

Tenuta has a field trial that monitors trace gas emissions from the field as part of an applied study that may change how food is produced so that it becomes a net non-

Mario Tenuta operates a multiyear field scale trial measuring greenPhoto by Les Kletke house gas emissions.

emitter of Green Houses Gas (GHG) from soil.

His presentation to the Summit on Canadian Soil Health 2019 included a brief outline of the equipment used for monitoring of the gases but the key point was that he is able to make the emission measurements on the scale of a field.

The trial was established in 2005. Prior to the new research the test field was in a crop rotation of cereals and oil seeds with conventional and intensive tillage. The trial was set up in 2005 following a year of fallow with no crop or fertilizer use and weed management with tillage and chemical means.

The area is divided into 4 plots large enough to accommodate conventional farm equipment. The research has measured nitrous oxide emissions from annual crop rotations as well as the short term effects of perennial versus annual cropping. It has also looked at fall versus spring applied anhydrous ammonia.

The results from 2006 to 2016 show there was no significant difference in emissions from annual to annual-perennial crop rotations.

While the research may have

little impact on how farmers approach their crop rotations on a day to day basis, it may prove extremely useful in the discussion about the impact that conventional agriculture is having on the atmosphere.

Over the next two years testing will evaluate the impact of a cover crop on greenhouse gas emissions.

The intent is to see if cover crops will reduce the thaw emissions or increase the emissions under conventional production. Additional analysis will focus on whether cover crops can lower nitrate and soil moisture to limit thaw emissions, how do microbial genes producing nitrous oxide relate to thaw emissions and effects of cover crops, management, and soil conditions.

Tenuta acknowledged that farming practices are evolving and even over the duration of the experiment. He said that the measurement of greenhouse gas emissions might help provide data for the best management practices. “Which farming practices are tested have changed over time to address current questions as technology and farming practices evolved,” he said.

Strip “Ridge” Tilling Saved Money and Time

By Les Kletke Ryan Pritchard does not profess to have all the answers when it comes to strip “ridge” tilling, in fact he might say that he has more questions than ever and at the same time he has as much knowledge as anyone on the subject in Manitoba.

The Roland area farmer has made the switch to strip till. Pritchard said there were several reasons he was interested in strip tilling. “I work full time off the farm so time is an issue, and I also wanted to reduce the number of passes across the field. If I can save fuel costs that is a good thing.”

Prichard has developed his own one pass implement that allows him to place fertilizer in bands below his seed row.

At a tour of his farm during the Summit on Canadian Soil Health he faced questions about placing his fertilizer in bands below the seed row rather than off to the side as is often recommended. “That has not been an issue,” said Pritchard. “I think with the fertilizer below you are forcing the roots down rather than to the side and that is a good

thing. It has been working for us.”

Pritchard is working with Assistant Professor Yvonne Lawly of the University of Manitoba, Plant Sciences to develop the system and both provided presentations to the conference tour group when they visited his farm in early October. Excessive rainfall through the month of September kept the tour from the field but he did provide a look at the implement he has developed, which has been modified extensively for his conditions. In addition to reducing the number passes with the tiller in the fall, Pritchard and Lawly were also able to show that strip tilling could maintain the same temperature and moisture in his fields.

“They have been doing this in the US for years,” he said. “So when I bought this machine in North Dakota I thought they were using it in similar conditions but things are different on everyone’s farm.”

The strip-ridge till concept that Pritchard is using has some fine tuning although it is not new. In the 1980s a group of farmers from the

Manitoba Corn Growers Association made the trip to Boone County, Iowa to see it in the field.

Ernest Behm, a long time conservation specialist with the USDA and farmer in Boone Country had done ex-

tensive work with strip tilling and was heralded as the Father of Ridge Till. In fact he has written two books on the topic, and while the application methods may be new the advantages he was trying to achieve are similar.

John Heard of Manitoba Agriculture and Ryan Pritchard field questions about Strip “Ridge” Tilling from attendees at the Summit on Canadian Soil Health in early October.

Photo by Les Kletke

October 25, 2019

Workshops to Stretch Your Feed Supply A number of workshops have been scheduled to discuss strategies to stretch feed supplies for producers adversely affected by the dry conditions much of the province has experienced this summer.

Meetings will be held on the following dates: Wednesday, October 30 at 1:30 pm in Brandon, at the Manitoba Beef and Forage Initiatives Farm at the northeast corner of PTH 10 and PR 353; Monday, November 4 at 7 pm at the Ashern Auction Mart on Auction Mart Road; Tuesday, November 5 at 7 pm at the Arborg Heritage Village Hall on PTH 68 East; and Wednesday, November 13 at 7 pm at the Lundar Legion Hall at 50 Third Ave.

Reduce Mycotoxins to Keep it Clean! - Safe Storage for Cereals A recent spate of wet weather across the Prairies has prompted Keep it Clean! to issue a reminder to cereals growers of the potential for the formation of Ochratoxin A (OTA), a potent mycotoxin that forms in high moisture conditions.

Because OTA is a chemically stable compound ordinary food processing does not substantially reduce its presence in foods and beverages. Scientific research has shown that OTA is toxic and carcinogenic affecting kidneys in several animal species.

“With the current conditions in western Canada, it is important that growers are aware of OTA and the conditions under which it can form,” said Brenna Mahoney, director of communications and stakeholder relation for Cereals Canada. “By understanding what OTA is and how and when it forms during storage, growers can take proactive steps to safely store their grain and keep it free of OTA.” OTA is produced by Penicillium verrucosum, a naturally occurring soil fungus. Unlike deoxynivalenol (also known as DON or vomitoxin) which is formed in the field, OTA forms exclusively in storage. OTA is strictly regulated in Europe but not yet in Canada or the USA. However, because of its potential risk to human health, OTA is carefully monitored by end users such as food processors, CFIA/Health Canada, and the US Food and Drug Administration.

The most common source of Penicillium verrucosum spores is from soil particles, last year’s stored grain, grain handling equipment, and residues remaining in the bin.

Penicillium can grow in small pockets of wet grain, or when water comes in contact with grain even in bins that are generally well managed and properly aerated.

Growers are urged to adhere to the following protocols for safe storage to mitigate the risk of OTA forming in their grain: - Keep bins and grain handling equipment clean, thoroughly cleaning dust and debris between grain lots.

- Ensure crops are harvested or dried to a safe level for storage.

- Cool the grain quickly to well below 10°C and keep it cool for as long as possible to minimize condensation in the bin. Even fine droplets of condensate can allow the fungus to grow.

Visit keepingitclean.ca/cereals/storage for further information on OTA and how it forms, along with visual examples of OTA formation at critical points of handling and storage.

Prevention of even small pockets of OTA-contaminated grain during storage is the only way that it can be managed to protect health and prevent product recalls. By taking steps to prevent the formation of OTA in stored grain, growers can protect their investments and help keep markets open for all.

10

October 25, 2019

The AgriPost

The AgriPost

Frost Threatens Manitoba’s Potato Crop

By Harry Siemens The Keystone Potato Producers Association (KPPA) is the processing potato producer organization for Manitoba. This year as last year, the harvest is most challenging, according to association manager Dan Sawatzky of Portage la Prairie.

“Early on, we had some heat that shut down the diggers and those that kept on digging; most did not, in that heat, had to haul some of their product back out within the week to salvage it,” said Sawatzky. “That shortened our opportunity, and then after that, it just continued to rain. And especially in the Carberry area, I think they’ve had probably a little more rain than others, and it’s very challenging there. So we’re probably not at 50 per cent [October 3] at this point. I’m hoping that the weather holds and we don’t have frost.

That’ll end the season.”

By October 18, several days after the October snow and rain dump, Sawatzky said in an updated interview, producers made some progress but under deplorable conditions.

“There was a little stretch, those warm days where it’d be about ten days back. Some of the growers were able to get rolling again, making some progress. But the hardest-hit areas with rain and soil types prevented quite a few from even taking advantage of that two or three-day window when the weather was warm. There was a number that tried on that Wednesday, and it just didn’t work.”

Members of the KPPA, about 55 or 56 farms, planted roughly 70,000 acres of potatoes in 2019 down from a dozen years ago but up from four or five years ago.

“We’ve increased some because of the expansion by J.R. Simplot in Portage la Prairie, so they are looking at expanding again next year.

But to get the plant’s needs for this coming year when they look at opening in late January, they needed to have some of that supply contracted,” he said.

In terms of frost killing this year’s crop, potatoes unlike other crops, cannot handle frost, at least not severe cold. This rain and snow are keeping producers out of the field, but in the end, it is the frost that would end the season. “Last year that date was October 11 or 12 and we did suffer severe losses,” said Sawatzky.

He said everything destined

Potato fields prior to the snow but after the heavy rains in the Wellwood, MB area.

for processing, producers grow under irrigation. The fresh side, still quite a few acres are produced on dry land. More and more of the seed is under irrigation including the fresh table market potatoes. Some of the varieties are shorter seasons.

If the season begins earlier in the spring, this variety tends to finish a bit earlier. These potatoes do not need to be under irrigation over an extended period.

Sawatzky said the industry is using some new concepts for storing their potatoes onfarm as well. “The zipper lock building was the standard here in the ‘80s and ‘90s through to 2010. Now we see some US-style Hansen-Rice as is a big name, and several growers are using them here.

Yes, big changes in storage design, structure, and cost.

They are four times the cost what they were back before 2000,” he said. “The newer designs have increased airflow, better air distribution.

The way the slots are on the floors, it’s more like full floor aeration. Some storage has prescriptive air, the ability to pull air separate from the main air system to target problem areas. So there’s a lot of different advancement

within the potato storage world.”

Sawatzky said after some growers left potatoes in the field last year because of frost, some of the producers increased their efficiency and harvesting capacity. When they can get going right, they can get a lot of acres off.

“Usually it takes a couple of weeks and in some cases three weeks, but guys are trying to shorten that window,” he said.

In summing up the current

situation Sawatzky said before this last snow, it was surprising that some potatoes still looked very good. “We had very little rot in some fields, except in the low lying areas containing water. Producers will have to avoid trying to get those,” he said. “It’s not looking good, but until we see the temperatures dip low into the ground and damage the potatoes, I think people still hold out some slim hope.”

Potato field prior to the snow but after the heavy rains in the Wellwood, MB area.

First, the heavy rains left fields wet and soggy, then the snow during the Thanksgiving Weekend made them even muckier and harder to navigate. This is a potato unloading and storage facility a mile west of Winkler, MB.

October 25, 2019

11

Ag Researchers Strive to Reduce Carbon Footprint

By Harry Siemens Research underway at the University of Saskatchewan will help policymakers develop strategies for reducing the carbon footprint of agriculture.

This research examines the implications of adding high fibre alternative feed ingredients into swine rations, and exploring greenhouse gas generation through the pork production cycle using a model developed by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

The study focuses on field peas, which benefit the soil, and wheat middlings a co-product of flour production.

Dr. Denise Beaulieu an Assistant Professor Monogastric Nutrition with the university’s College of Agriculture and Bioresources, said researchers find they can include these high fibre ingredients in rations at high levels with no adverse effects on productivity.

“We’re using a model developed by Agriculture Canada, so I would like to acknowledge their contribution to this project,” said Dr. Beaulieu. “They are adapting the model primarily used before for beef cattle. The model will take everything into account from growing the crops, taking the by-products off the crop, producing feeds from those crops, feeding it to the pigs, greenhouse gas production within the barn, manure production in the barn and then the animals going to market.”

We are then combining this data in one model to look at the effect of different diets and by-product inclusions on the overall carbon footprint. “One of the reasons we’re looking from growing the crop to sending the pigs to market is because one of the major sources of greenhouse gas output from pork production comes from producing the feed,” she said. “So anything we can do to reduce that impact will be significant.”

“I worked for several years looking at feeding by-products to pigs and looking at their production. We know that these are a more economical way of producing pork. A lot of these byproducts are high in fibre,” said Dr. Beaulieu. “My first question because these fibres ferment in the large intestine, whether this would increase or have some small effect on the actual greenhouse gas output from the pig itself. Then secondly, reading a report of a large study by the Food and Agriculture Organization from the UN published a few years ago on an extensive examination of all the literature related to carbon footprint pork production, I noticed no Canadian studies included in this fairly comprehensive report.”

The main objectives of her study are the overall carbon footprint and providing data for use in models for pork produced here in Canada, especially in western Canada, and how byproducts or alternative feedstuffs effect that carbon footprint.

“We’re using two different feed ingredients, one including high levels of peas in the diet of finishing pigs, up to 40 per cent peas.

We know that including peas in a crop rotation can decrease the overall carbon footprint and it’s good for the soil to produce further crops,” she said. “Secondly, we include a by-product of flour production, wheat middlings in our diet, high in wheat middlings up to about 30 per cent, a by-product of wheat production and flour production, relatively high in fibre.”

Beaulieu said they are running several experiments looking at the inclusion of these ingredients in the diet of pigs and if the pigs grow when not included in the diet. The research hopes to answer questions, such as what happens in the production of manure when stored and the gas production of this manure, what is the nitrogen retention in these pigs while looking at protein retained by pigs, and finally putting pigs in specialized chambers at the Prairie Swine Center to measure gas production.

“Specifically from greenhouse gas emissions, we are looking at the effects on the manure, and we’re looking at different ways, for example, does the greenhouse gas emissions change depend upon how long they store the manure?” she asked. “We had the pigs in chambers, measured the greenhouse gas with and without the pigs in those chambers so we can separate the gas produced by the pig and from the manure, and the greenhouse gas produced from the pig. We’re looking at the typical greenhouse gases produced, specifically CO2 and nitrous oxide.”

Beaulieu said that certain diets do not affect a pig’s health or growth but will reduce carbon output. “We can formulate diets with up to 40 per cent peas in the diets, and the pigs grow just fine and large amounts of wheat mids too, and the pigs grow just fine,” she said. “We will incorporate data into models to look at the overall carbon footprint, but we can certainly include these in the diets, even in terms of economics.”

12

October 25, 2019

The AgriPost

The AgriPost

New Farm Implements Include Robotic Weeders and Blade Rollers

The weed roller received a lot of attention at the 2019 Summit on Soil Health tour even though it is not commercially ready yet for all Canadian farms.

Photo by Les Kletke

By Les Kletke Dr. Martin Entz at the University of Manitoba, Department of Plant Science, knows that he is fighting an uphill battle while convincing producers to make the switch from conventional to organic production, but that has not deterred him.

Entz understands farming practices used in conventional agriculture and he is trying to provide sustainable and practical alternatives.

Weed control continues to be an issue for organic producers and those considering making the switch to organic production. In his research at the University of Manitoba, Entz has tried a number of different methods and one of the most recent is a blade roller.

Entz demonstrated the implement to the tour group at the Summit on Canadian Soil Health when they visited in early October. The blade roller is used to crimp cover crops, weeds and green manure resulting in less tillage requirements.

While the demonstration was not ideal because of several conditions including wet soil and too early in the growth cycle to have the best affect it did show the implements potential.

In addition the work at the University of Manitoba’s Ian N. Morrison Research Farm, Carman and Region Facility includes a wide blade cultivator which is used to undercut weeds, resulting in weed control without inverting the soil,

a comb cut that allows for control of Canada Thistle and other hollow stemmed weeds in cereals and a robotic weeder which is a camera guided cultivator that works in 6� row spacing of small grains. The machine is being fitted for no-till by substituting cultivator shovels with weed wackers.

The Summit on Canadian Soil Health 2019 was held in Winnipeg in early October and provided delegates from across Canada the opportunity to see some of the innovative soil and water management projects in Manitoba. The tour stopped at the Red River Floodway, the University of Manitoba Glenlea Research Facility and the Carman facility.

It was at the Carman site that the group was exposed to the rather unconventional weed control methods. While the blade roller did provide weed control despite the challenges of wet conditions several on the tour questioned the commercial viability and how large a roller would be available for commercial operations. It was stated that the implement is available in several widths but still short of commercial size for most Canadian operations.

The weed roller may not be the answer for all crops, but some variation of it might be and with the long winter coming up, some farmer might find the shop time to make those modifications.

October 25, 2019

AAFC Reports Higher Crop Exports

By Elmer Heinrichs Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, in its October outlook, provides the final estimates for all crops for the 2018-19 crop year including the supply and disposition of soybeans and corn.

Total exports of field crops increased by four per cent as notably higher exports of durum, wheat, coarse grains, soybeans, dry peas and lentils more-than offset lower exports of canola.

The report also provides an outlook for the 201920 crop year but forecasts here do not yet account for the cold wet conditions which have prevailed on the Prairies since September and heavy snow in early-October.

Weather related issues have had a negative impact on crop quality in both Western and Eastern Canada.

Revised estimates of field crop production will not be available until December 6 when Statistics Canada publishes the final estimates of yield and production based on an extensive survey of producers.

Total field crop production estimates stay at 95.6 Metric tonnes (Mt) with 87.5 Mt of grains and oilseeds (G&O) and 8.1 Mt of pulses and special crops (P&SC).

The latest projections called for wheat production to rise by four per cent, barley by 19 per cent to almost 10 Mt, with corn down considerably from 2018-19 due to lower imports and fewer carry-in stocks.

Higher production of oats and canola were also forecast, and soybean production was estimated at 6.49 Mt, a 13 per cent drop from the 7.42 Mt grown last year and lower projected yields.

However late weather pressures will seriously affect all unharvested crops like edible beans, lentils, chick peas, canary, mustard seed and sunflowers.

21

22

The AgriPost

October 25, 2019

Canada’s Descendants of British Home Children Research Their Rural History

By Joan Airey In September descendants of British Home Children across Canada held a memorial and informational days in communities.

Joan Plandin headed one in Russell while the Hunt sisters, Holly Draper, Bev Bennett and Connie Clark held one in Kenton Manitoba.

Between the late eighteen sixties until 1948 over one hundred thousand children emigrated from the United Kingdom to Canada. They were sent over by fifty organizations in England including the Barnardo’s, the Salvation Army and Quarriers. Annie MacPherson and Maria Rye were largely involved with the initial groups of Children emigrating. British Children were also sent from the United Kingdom to Rhodesia, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

Annie MacPherson and Maria Rye were largely involved with the initial groups of Children emigrating. British Children were also sent from the United Kingdom to Rhodesia, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.

“The children were believed to be orphans, but in

many cases that was not true.

Emigration was seen as a solution, while farmers in Canada and other countries, needed help, an abundance of children were living on the streets or in overcrowded workhouses and orphanages.

Often families were not notified when their children were sent to other countries.

Dr. Barnardo’s plan was to assist boys who were in their mid-teens and older to settle in western Manitoba at Russell,” said Joan Plandin.

Annie Macpherson was Barnardo’s mentor and she encouraged him to consider emigration. Dr. Bernardo assured doubters that his children would be well trained, sent to homes carefully chosen and cautiously supervised after their placement.

He believed that church and hard work would heal the wounds of abandonment, poverty, and heartbreak. The dream of the Russell Barnardo home had begun.

On arriving in Canada the children were sent to receiving homes across Canada and farmers would apply to receive the children. They signed an agreement form with the adult agreeing to

provide food, lodging, clothing and necessities. Some children were accepted into homes as loved members of the family and others were not as fortunate as horrific stories of neglect and abuse have been recorded in history. Many people are not aware that some of their ancestors were British Home Children.

On October 21, Holly Draper and her sisters hosted a presentation at Kenton Museum in honour of the British Home Children, some who were their ancestors.

“My husband Garry and I have spent many hours researching our ancestors through Ancestry, the United States census and the Canadian Census and have found, Find a Grave a good tool to use. Recently I have sent request forms so we may collect whatever information Dr. Barnardo orphanages have on file,” said Draper. “We have been able to have verbal contact with direct relatives of each of our four great uncles, one had no children. Another asset we found was the Facebook Group called ‘British Home Children’s Advocacy and Research Association’.

They are an amazing group of people who can help you research your BHC.” “Our great grandparents lived in London England back in the 1800’s. William and Alice Richardson had eight children, five sons and three daughters, losing their daughter, Grace in infancy.

They had a comfortable living until William lost their money in some bad business deals,” said Draper. “In 18931894 there was a diphtheria epidemic that struck London.

A daughter Kathleen died in December of 1893 and William died in February. The family was left destitute and Alice could not support her family. She placed her boys into orphanages under the care of Dr. Barnardo, and her remaining daughter Dorothy, our Grandmother in the Wanstead Infant Orphan Asylum. Alice went to work in hopes of earning enough money to bring her children home. By the time she saved enough money to support her family, the boys had all been sent to Canada; the oldest was fourteen and the youngest only 9.”

“In 1907 Alice and Dorothy headed for Canada aboard

Anniversary celebrations were held in Russel and in Kenton.

the S.S. Kensington to reunite with her boys. Cyril and Martin were in the Miniota Municipality working on farms as labourers having first been at the Russell Training Farm. Alice settled into Miniota and with the help of her Daughter Dorothy ran a rooming house.

The other three boys Tracy, Reginald and Douglas had been placed in Ontario,” she explained. “Once the boys became of age, they moved in with Cyril the only one to remain in Canada, the others settling in and Detroit, Mich-

igan. Over the next thirty years Alice had reconnected with five of her sons and Dorothy her brothers making this one of the Happy Ending stories of our British Home Children.”

“We are hoping in 2020 which is Canada’s 150 Birthday to hold a bigger memorial in Kenton for British Home Children who came to Manitoba. I would love to connect with other descendants of the BHC. My e-mail address is dhdraper@mymts. net.” commented Holly Draper.

Holly Draper and her sisters hosted a presentation at Kenton Museum in honour of the British Home Children, some who were their ancestors.

Ernest and Dorothy (Richardson) Hunt, 1948 of Miniota.

The AgriPost

New Zealand Maps White Clover Heritage Pedigree analysis will help breeders develop clover varieties with desired traits.

Four-leaved clovers may or may not bring good luck.

What is indisputable is that all white clovers, whether with three or four leaves, have many benefits.

The United States Department of Agriculture calls white clover, “One of the most important pasture legumes.” In New Zealand, it is one of the main species, along with ryegrass, grown in pastures.

On farms, white clover provides multiple services.

Bacteria in clover root nodules ‘fix’ atmospheric nitrogen and make it available to crops. White clover is a great source of protein for farm animals. In cities, white clover often accompanies the grass used in lawns and playgrounds.

Despite its many uses, white clover breeders in New Zealand did not have access to a comprehensive map of the population structure or genetic landscape of white clover diversity in the country. Now, researchers in New Zealand have created the first detailed map of white clover ancestry and genetics.

“This ’pedigree map’ achieved via pedigree analysis will serve as an important resource to white clover breeders,” said Valerio Hoyos-Villegas, lead author of the study. “It will also help make more informed decisions in the breeding of different white clover varieties.”

For all crops, different varieties may be needed to grow in different environments for varying purposes. For

Plants of white clover germplasm at the Margot Forde Germplasm Center in Palmerston North, New ZeaPhoto by Eryn Deverson land.

example, some crop varieties might need to be drought resistant. Others may be bred to have high yields while growing on poor soils.

In addition to gaining a resource for breeding white clover varieties with desired traits, researchers also found information on the heritage of the species. Pedigree analysis provided this vital information.

For example, the researchers were able to confirm the genetic makeup of the plants initially used to establish white clover crops in New Zealand. They could trace how this initial group of plants, brought in by early plant breeders, were the basis for other varieties of white clover developed later.

“Understanding this genetic history of white clover will help maximize diversity in breeding populations,” said Hoyos-Villegas. A diverse breeding population can help breeders develop varieties of white clover with more desired traits.

The researchers focused on a collection of white

clover germplasm, maintained in the Margot Forde Germplasm Centre in Palmerston North, New Zealand.

Germplasm refers to genetic resources or material maintained for breeding or conservation goals.

“Safeguarding germplasm is the most inexpensive and efficient method of genetic conservation for important plants,” said Hoyos-Villegas. But, simply having a germplasm collection is of limited use. “We have created a curated resource of pedigree information,” he said.

“This resource can be used by any breeder or geneticist interested in using the white clover germplasm.”

The study also provides a summary and results of white clover breeding efforts over the last 80 years. The historical nature of the research threw up some unique obstacles. “We were dealing with data from many different sources,” said HoyosVillegas. “One of the main challenges was curating the data to reach a standard that gave us confidence in the re-

sults.”

The researchers collected and analyzed a lot of historical information in the study.

Now, their results can serve as a launch pad for future research and breeding efforts.

For example, researchers can use the pedigree analysis to associate traits of interest with specific genes.

“We can also cross populations of white clover based on data from the pedigree analysis,” said Hoyos-Villegas. “We can test these populations to determine what sort of novel genetic variations we can create.” These data can then be used to complement ongoing breeding efforts in the private sector.

Researchers are now thinking about expanding pedigree analysis into different species beyond clover. “It would be very useful to extend this analysis to other important forage species,” he said. “Perennial ryegrass, which is often used as a companion species to clover in pastures, would be a great next choice.”

New Manitoba Chief Veterinary Officer Named

Dr Scott Zaari

Manitoba has named Dr. Scott Zaari as its chief veterinary officer, responsible for leading work on issues related to animal health and welfare.

Zaari holds a doctor of veterinary medicine degree from the University of Calgary with an emphasis in ecosystem and public health and completed a veterinary internship with the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) in Paris. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in microbiology and immunology from McGill University.

Originally from southern Alberta, Zaari began his veterinary career as a mixed animal veterinarian, providing veterinary services for cattle producers. After leaving Alberta, Zaari has worked internationally as a veterinarian including positions with the OIE in southeast Asia for three years supporting large-scale disease control programs related to foot and mouth disease and rabies. He will be joining Manitoba Agriculture from his current position as a clinical and welfare veterinarian at New York’s largest animal shelter, the Animal Care Centers of NYC. The Chief Veterinary Office works to protect animals, food and people through legislation and programs related to animal welfare, animal health and food safety.

October 25, 2019

23

Alfalfa and Potassium: It’s Complicated Has anyone ever told you to eat a banana when you have a muscle cramp or eye twitch? That’s because bananas have potassium. Potassium is an important nutrient for humans and an even more important nutrient when it comes to alfalfa.

Manitoba farms manage slightly over 1,000,000 acres of alfalfa annually (Stats Canada 2016). Because of its high nutritional content, alfalfa is a common feed source for farm animals like cattle, horses, sheep and goats. So, understanding this relationship between alfalfa and potassium is a worthwhile goal.

“Potassium plays a role in many processes within an alfalfa plant,” said Jacob Jungers, a researcher at University of Minnesota. “For example, it’s important for converting sunlight to energy, transporting molecules and growing new cells.”

However, too much potassium can be a problem. “When alfalfa plants are given more potassium than they need, the concentration of potassium in the tissues increases,” said Jungers. “This is called luxury consumption.”

Our bodies do this too. We store certain vitamins in our fat cells when we consume more than we need.

This increased concentration of potassium affects the nutritional balance of alfalfa as a feed source for livestock. High potassium concentrations are especially concerning if fed to lactating dairy cows. “In addition to being costly for growers, over-fertilization can put dairy cows at risk of milk fever,” said Jungers. Milk fever is a metabolic disease cows can get around the time of calving that causes weakness, and sometimes even death.

So, Jungers and his team wanted to identify potassium fertilization rates that increase yield and nutritive value, while reducing potassium concentration in the tissue.

Researchers experimented with five different rates of potassium fertilizer on alfalfa fields. Throughout the four-year study, they took measurements of the yield, nutritive value, and potassium concentrations in the plant tissue. Soil samples were also taken to track the potassium levels in the soil.

“Potassium fertilization increased alfalfa yield, but decreased forage quality,” said Jungers. “This trade off was consistent among all alfalfa cultivars in the study.”

Intensively harvested alfalfa did differ in overall yield, but it did not differ in its yield response to potassium fertilization. When applied at recommended levels, potassium fertilization is important for high alfalfa yields. However, potassium fertilization will not prolong alfalfa stand life or productivity beyond the third production year.

“Many soil types are abundant in potassium, but relatively little is available to crops at any given time,” he said. “The amount of potassium that might someday be available to crops is largely dependent on soil texture, moisture, and other environmental factors.” Potassium fertilizer rates for alfalfa should be determined based on expected yield, soil test levels, and if the crop will be fed to cows.

The next steps in this work may be to consider the timing of potassium fertilization. In this study, potassium fertilizer was incorporated in the soil prior to planting the first year. Then, it was applied in the spring the following years. In the Midwest, application of potassium fertilizer is common in the fall or after the first cutting.

Understanding tradeoffs between alfalfa yield and quality is important for fertility management and sustainable production. Measuring and reporting these tradeoffs helps growers make the best decisions for their operations.

University of Minnesota Summer Intern Bianka Simon Fuzaro inspects alfalfa plants for nutrient deficiency.

24

October 25, 2019

The Art of Communication I was privileged to grow up in a part of Manitoba where, as a young child, I got to experience party-line phone service. I remember my parents having to wait for the neighbours to end their conversation before placing a call. I also remember stories of hearing neighbours pick up their phones to eavesdrop on the local news and life events of their neighbors. What an interesting and non-confidential way of communicating!

We live in a world where the means to communicate are more accessible than ever before. With all the forms of technology available to help us, it should be easier to communicate now more than ever before. However, that does not seem to be the case.

How does this relate to insurance? When I was first hired into the industry, I was told that I was joining a “people business”. As insurance brokers, we have the privilege of communicating with a variety of people, from insurance underwriters and claims staff to our own clients. We are constantly communicating with people.

We have an unwritten policy in our office: if you want a yes, visit someone in person; if you want a maybe, pick up the phone and if you want a no, send an email or text. The truth behind this policy is this; the clearer the communication is the more likely you are to achieve the desired result.

As we are entering a time where the insurance market is tightening up, it is important to work with someone who communicates well. Make sure you choose to work with an insurance broker that properly understands your operation, and explains the risk (or lack thereof) clearly to your insurer and will also communicate with you and your adjuster throughout the claims process.

Would you like to work with an insurance broker who strives to communicate well? Consider making Rempel Insurance Brokers your insurance broker of choice. We work hard to make sure our clients have the resources required to make good decisions on risk.

David Schmidt is an Account Executive at Rempel Insurance Brokers in Morris, MB, specializing in insuring farms and businesses across Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Office 204-746-2320, Text 204-712-6618, davids@rempelinsurance.com at rempelinsurance.com.

Daycare Supports Altona Area Food Bank

By Elmer Heinrichs Through Peak of the Market’s Farm to School fundraiser, the Kiddie Sunshine Centre in Altona will donate 600 pounds, or 40 bundles, of fresh produce to the Rhineland and Area Food Bank. Farm to School Manitoba is a not-for-profit, healthy and profitable choice in fundraising offered by Peak of the Market, the farmer-owned marketing board which sells Manitoba-grown vegetables.

In this fund-raiser, parents of children at the daycare could buy bundles of fresh vegetables, including potatoes, carrots, parsley, cabbage and apples all supplied by Peak of the Market, for personal use and were also able to donate to the local food bank at the same time.

Patricia Klassen, Director of the Altona daycare, said, “Not everybody has their own garden, so this was a way for people to get fresh produce,” as opposed to canned.

She said this fundraiser with half of sale proceeds kept by the daycare, served as a valuable lesson to the children at the daycare. “We have this giant pile of vegetables in our building and of course children are curious to know what this is. While some is used for snacks, we talked about how we’ve raised money and the balance is donated the food bank for people that need it.”

Rhineland Food Bank representative Jake Enns, who received the produce donation, thanked the children for their effort. Peak of the Market feels this fundraiser helps promote healthy eating, supports school and daycare nutrition, as well as supporting community food banks.

The AgriPost

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

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

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

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

Dr. Andrew Davidson, manager of Earth Observation Operations at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), explained that there is no better way to obtain national-scale information on the state and trends of agriculture and resource use than from space.

“Satellites can cover way more ground at a much faster pace than humans, drones or aircraft, and the data can be used to measure things such as crop type, vegetation cover and productivity and

surface soil moisture conditions,” he said.

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

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

AAFC’s Earth Observation Operations is based at the Ottawa Research and Development Centre.

They are small, but mighty and the amount of data they manage is impressive. “Satellites provide imagery; but it is the scientists on the ground who turn it into something useful,” said Davidson.

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

Much of what Dr. Davidson’s team produces are data sets, maps and forecasting tools that can be accessed online through various AAFC web portals. There are also tools and applications for analysing these data so that decision makers can make informed agri-

cultural management decisions.

The Annual Space-Based Crop Inventory, a product of AAFC research, annually maps the crop type of every field in Canada and is used to detect trends in crop planting practices. It is also critical for other applications, such as warning growers of possible threats such as crop diseases.

The inventory is also being used by provinces, private sector and academia to determine how crop agriculture is affecting the surrounding environment including lake water quality and honeybee populations. “These data have opened up the possibility of enhanced decision making in the agriculture sector,” Davidson said. “And it doesn’t stop there; our ability to help meet the informational needs of the sector is only expected to improve as new satellite sensor technologies are launched, brought online, and made available.”

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

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

Shelterbelts Continue to Be a Valuable Tool in Combating Climate Change Shelterbelts are a common feature of the landscape in southern Manitoba. They protect buildings, crops and livestock.

Years of research has demonstrated significant increases in crop yields due to shelterbelts. Although the yield directly adjacent to the shelterbelt may be reduced, the area protected by the shelterbelt may realize significant yield increases from 5 to 40 percent. They also provide a variety of other benefits to landowners, the environment and the local community as a whole.

Despite all the benefits that shelterbelts provide, many landowners are deciding to eradicate trees from their landscape. Many shelterbelts are older, and are encroaching onto valuable farmland. Some farmers even consider shelterbelts a pain to farm around. Farm equipment is wider and it is difficult to get around the ends. In addition, no till

and reduced tillage methods do not leave the soil as vulnerable to wind erosion.

As climate change becomes more of a focus, shelterbelts are seen to play a major role in sequestering significant amounts of atmospheric carbon dioxide into the soil and as biomass. Every year a tree grows, more carbon is sequestered. There are many older shelterbelts that have stored a lot of carbon, and are continuing to do so. Renovating existing older shelterbelts rather than removing them will allow them to continue to provide the agricultural benefits that they were designed to do, plus they will continue to provide a carbon sink to mitigate climate change.

There is an increased awareness of the role of shelterbelts in global warming. A recent survey of rural landowners in southern Manitoba indicated that over 94 percent

agreed that removal of shelterbelts could contribute to global warming or climate change.

Stanley Soil Management Association has received some funding through Environment and Climate Change Canada to encourage landowners to renovate existing shelterbelts rather than remove them from their fields.

The goal of the project is to provide information about the value of shelterbelts as an investment to landowners. Landowners will also have opportunity to evaluate different methods of shelterbelt renovation in order to maximize the benefits. There will be demonstration sites for shelterbelt renovation and planting.

For further information contact stanleysoil@hotmail.com or Richard Warkentin, Technician Stanley Soil Management Association at 204-362-0352.

The AgriPost

Plant Residue Research Looks at Till or No Till Methods

October 25, 2019

Snowfall Shortens Gardening Season

By Joan Airey

Dr. Yvonne Lawley Assistant Professor at the University of Manitoba, Plant Sciences was a presenter at the Summit on Canadian Photo by Les Kletke Soil Health with her extensive research on soybean residue management.

By Les Kletke Dr. Yvonne Lawley, Assistant Professor at the University of Manitoba, Plant Sciences has done extensive research on residue management although it is not what concerned growers this year.

As October draws to a close, the concern was about getting the crop off the field rather than residue management. In many cases the condition of the field will become secondary to getting the crop in the bin. However, Lawley and farmers know that more normal conditions will return.

She was part of a presentation for the Summit on Canadian Soil Health that visited southern Manitoba on October 1. She has been working with Ryan Pritchard a farmer to develop a ridge till system for his field work. He has

modified machinery that allows him to place seed and fertilizer in two bands below the seed with a single pass.

Lawley concentrated her presentation of what he has found about residue management in soybeans and has considered four treatments. First is a deep-till cultivator or double disc, second was no till direct seeding, third was vertical tillage, and last was vertical tillage with high disturbance.

She found that there was little difference between soybean residue treatments in a four year study, and once the following crop was planted it was hard to distinguish treatments within the field.

There was no significant difference in soil temperature or moisture at a seeding depth of 5 cm of any of the treatments.

The test crop did not show a difference in stand or yield between the treatments in the fourth or fifth experiments. The exception was dry conditions following the planting of corn in the Carman area in 2016. One oddity in results showed up in the Landmark trials in 2017 where a three bushel yield advantage was found in the fall tillage treatment though there were no difference in plant stand or soil temperature to explain the difference.

Lawley’s findings indicate that conventional tillage of low residue crops like soybeans is not necessary regardless of the soil type.

She plans to continue research into direst seeding into soybean residue and the impact of ruts after harvest. This may be just the year since plots with ruts will not be hard to find next spring.

Our area was lucky that we never lost electrical power during the storm but lots of farmers still have crop to harvest. When we went to retrieve one of our tractors from the last field we harvested you could see several fields with water between the swaths on our way out.

This rough weather is an opportunity to think about growing salad makings under lights or on a window sill. The lettuce, other greens, multiplier onions and parsley I had growing in the greenhouse got moved under lights so the heat wouldn’t need to be turned on in the greenhouse.

Only our Mountain Ash was damaged by the heavy snow and we are trying to salvage the tree as it is a haven for birds all year round.

After the storm I managed to dig my potatoes and carrots out from six inches or more of mud. However, I’m not complaining because our crop is in the bin.

Manitoba Rural Women’s Day, “Women Showing Courage, Determination and Boldness” is on November 2 at the Sokol Hall in Brandon. The Manitoba Women’s Institute is asking all rural women to join them to hear speakers share their experiences with overcoming life challenges; highlighting their personal successes. For more details and to register visit the MWI website mbwi.ca.

Manitoba Farm Women’s Conference will be held in Winnipeg at the Victoria Inn from November 17 -19. With the stressful harvest this year it would be a great break to meet with other women in the same bucket. You can learn more about the Conference at manitobafarmwomensconference.ca.

Back to gardening. I received my seeds for this month from Sage Garden but because of harvest and other jobs I have not had a chance to work collecting seeds from my different open pollinated, heirloom, hybrid produce that was sent to me to collect seeds from. I’ll share information with you next month about the seeds I collect.

Hope by the time you read this your harvest is done and hydro has long ago been restored to those who lost it during the storm.

Growing Canada’s Value-Added Food Sector The Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance (CHTA) wholeheartedly endorses the observations and recommendations of the Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Forestry in their report on Canada’s value-added sector.

“The untapped potential of Canada’s value-added food sector presents an opportunity to increase international and interprovincial trade, inspire innovation, and break down barriers to economic growth across the country.

While the food processing sector is already one of the country’s largest employers, there is plenty of room to grow.”

The specific recommendations addressing support for the development of food processing, regulatory reform, innovation, growth and competitiveness and global marketing

align very closely with the objectives of the Canadian hemp industry.

The CHTA has released targets for the hemp industry in their Blueprint for a Billion Dollar Industry, projecting an increase in the hemp sectors annual economic benefit from $340 million in 2016 to $1 billion by 2023.

In order to achieve this transformational growth, the CHTA believes it is vital that the Canadian government address exactly those points identified by the Standing Committee. Current regulations are preventing the industry from achieving these goals.

Additionally, in a White Paper co-authored by the CHTA and the Canadian Health Food Association (CHFA), the two organizations called for Smart Regulations of CBD pertaining to the development of sup-

plemented food and natural health products containing non intoxicating cannabinoids derived naturally from hemp plants.

The hemp industry requires the support of the Agricultural and Health ministries to work collaboratively to remove barriers to production, processing and marketing. They project growth in all areas of the hemp industry including food, feed, fibre, and fractions, given the freedom and support afforded all other agricultural crops. They encourage revisions to government policy and regulations which will respond to the recommendations of the Senate Committee Report and empower the hemp industry to become a more relevant contributor to Canada’s value-added economy.

Salad Greens I started from seeds that Sage Garden Club sent me in September. I plan to start harvesting them this weekend. The parsley has been growing in the greenhouse all summer.

Photo by Joan Airey

25

26

The AgriPost

October 25, 2019

H@ms Marketing Co-op Expands Further with Independent Hog Producers

By Harry Siemens The idea to merge hog marketing services across the Prairies began over ten years ago. From the first producer meetings emerged a joint organization originally named Hogs @ Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and by the time the new service launched in January 2010 it was renamed as Hog Administrative Marketing Services or H@ms.

Today, H@ms uses that power of volume to work for producers.

“Our producer base continues to grow, particularly further west. Our delegates passed a resolution at the annual meeting in April to create an Alberta district. Given the positive momentum and more producers using the co-op services,” said William ‘Bill’ Alford, H@m’s general manager. “We’re going to get that process underway heading into the spring. Yes, better serving the hog producers from here [Manitoba] right to BC.” Alford said the attraction for producers to deal with H@ms marketing co-op is the fact it is producer based. “You have to be a producer that markets hogs through the coop to be a member. We provide primarily risk management services so that producers could book their hogs for a contract up to 9, 10 months out,” he said. “That’s a big driver of new business, especially with the volatility in the markets.

It’s the new normal. It’s an excel-

lent tool that producers like to use to help keep cash flow through all periods positive and take advantage of profitable prices.”

The impression often exists that the hog industry in western Canada has a few if any independent producers and that is where H@ms is, working with independent producers that market to the co-op, but mostly Hutterite colonies.

“With a consolidation over the last ten years, a lot of the other independents, non-colonies, have exited or gone on some production-type contract with one of the packers,” said Alford. “That is still happening, particularly out west, but we still give a single voice and strength of numbers having the coop structure. We offer risk management programs to all the processors, so we have the expertise to do that. The producers have strongly made it clear that that’s a service they want and need to manage their business,” said Alford. “It’s helped producers take advantage of opportunities. We’re seeing modest expansion, even in Manitoba here with some of the producers, with the optimism in what they could see profit margin wise heading into next year.”

Without a doubt, the optimism in the pork industry comes from the fate of other producers in other countries, most specifically African Swine Fever affecting most of

Asia.

“There’s a dramatic drop in pork production worldwide over that.

It’s kind of hard to fathom. When you put into perspective, up to half of the world’s pork production is devastated by the disease,” said Alford. “As an exporting country like Canada, the US, that’s an opportunity that has lifted the hog futures and pork prices. It’s volatile, though, a wild ride. When this news first came out, we ran up to over a dollar a pound, US. Back in April, pretty much across all months, producers took action, and we’ve never seen this many hogs booked on a forward contract before. It’s unprecedented, which is good. Prices have softened with the US-China trade war, and complicating trade on many Ag products. And even our government here with the Chinese situation, not shipping any red meat over there. But it still doesn’t fundamentally change the fact that this pork has disappeared. It’d be a big hole to fill.”

Alford said the once-lucrative market to US packers has all but dried up for hog producers in western Canada after the US implemented country of origin labelling or M-COOL. Many of the US packers stopped buying Canadian origin hogs. There are a few smaller plants further west that source some pigs out of Canada, but the tier one packers do not have any presence

When the new service launched in January 2010 it was named Hog Administrative Marketing Services or H@ms.

here.

“The space in western Canada is under-utilized right now, so the prices we receive here are more competitive to keep the hogs here,” he said. “The way the North American pork markets, and we are on the export market for close to 70 per cent of what we produce. We

Producer meeting in progress.

need to rely on global pork prices, ultimately to figure out what it’s worth.”

H@ms contracts with the four major hog plants in western Canada, namely Maple Leaf in Brandon, MB, Donald’s Fine Foods, in Langley, BC, the Thunder Creek plant at Moose Jaw, SK and HyLife

Photos by Harry Siemens

The AgriPost

CFA Pleased to See Progress on Agri-Food Immigration Pilot The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) was pleased to see the announcement by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) which detailed new pathways to permanent residency for temporary foreign workers in the agri-food industry.

Starting in 2020 a three-year immigration experiment will begin, where temporary foreign workers will be able to apply for permanent residency after accumulating 12 months of Canadian work experience and, if approved, will also be allowed to bring their families into Canada.

Farmers can look to address year-round employment vacancies through this exciting new pathway to permanent residency.

CFA has specifically communicated to government officials the critical importance of increasing pathways to permanent residency for farm workers and other rural occupations since 2014.

The Canadian agriculture sector has been facing labour shortages for many years, with a 2019 report from the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council finding these shortages resulted in annual lost sales of $2.9 billion for primary agriculture alone. The same report forecasts continued growth in the sector’s labour needs, resulting in a potential labour gap of 123,000 by 2029, equivalent to 32% of labour demand for that year.

“Canadian agriculture has been identified as a sector with a huge potential growth from studies like the Barton Report and the Agri-Food Economic Strategy Table,” said Mary Robinson, CFA President.

“But this growth will not be achieved if we cannot meet our labour demands. Pilots such as this show the government is recognizing the problem and taking real steps to address it. Canadian agriculture is a foundational industry, and any growth that it experiences moves up the value chain, creating further growth in related industries such as transportation and food processing.

That’s why we are pleased to see a comprehensive pilot addressing the needs of both primary agri-

culture and the Canadian food processing industry. With access to skilled labour when we need it, Canadian agriculture can meet its potential and flourish,” said Robinson.

Canadian farmers across this country believe this pilot demonstrates a clear recognition of the economic importance of rural Canada and the enabling role that immigration can play in leveraging its immense potential for inclusive growth and prosperity, through key sectors like Canadian agriculture.

CFA is pleased to see a collaborative approach to this pilot, with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) making critical changes to address existing constraints in both immigration policy and the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.

CFA looks forward to continue its work with the Government of Canada in assessing how the pilot is responding to latent demand for permanent residency throughout the sector, recognizing that this pilot is a first step that will need to evolve as farmers realize these new opportunities and look to address year-round vacancies through this exciting new pathway to permanent residency.

October 25, 2019

Unique Research Looks at Optimizing Fertilizer Source and Rate to Avoid Root Death Recently a study assembled canola root dose-response curves for nitrogen sources, a fertilizer used worldwide. Nitrogen based fertilizers are used to give plants a boost, increasing yield and ultimately farmers’ profits.

But, as the old adage goes “the dose makes the poison”. Similar effects are seen in over-the-counter medicines. People need to take the right dose, at the right intervals, for medicine to be safe and effective. Fertilizer works the same way.

In particular, the rate and source of the fertilizer can make the difference, especially in a method called banding. It’s a method where the fertilizer is placed in a band in the soil below the seed. While banding has many advantages, it can also cause damage to the plant roots if used incorrectly.

“While banding below and to the side is the recommended practice, banding directly below the seed continues to be a common practice used in dryland systems,” said Isaac Madsen a postdoctoral research associate at Washington State University. “It can reduce the number of passes across the field required in a growing season. Banding also allows you to put on all or most of your fertilizer at one time. This generally causes less disturbance in a minimum or no-till system.”

Researchers like Madsen are trying to find the ideal rate and source that will help the plants without damaging the roots. Madsen and his team studied canola in particular. New imaging and analysis techniques allowed them to see canola roots interacting with fertilizer in a way never previously done.

“In this study, we imaged canola roots growing into a fertilizer band and measured the damage to the canola tap root,” Madsen explained.

“Using scanner-based rhizoboxes (glass boxes filled with soil), we were able to collect a series of root images over time. This allowed us to look at the effect of fertilizer rate and source on the seedling root systems.”

The reason the root damage is of such concern in canola is because it has a long tap root. These larger roots are especially affected by fertilizer.

If the tap root is damaged, the plant cannot properly take up nutrients and water.

The team’s end goal was to determine what is called a dose-response curve. This will help farmers better apply their fertilizer and know if it will harm their crops’ roots or not. They used the data they collected from the root images to develop these curves for the different fertilizer sources.

“A dose-response curve helps determine the amount or dose of a substance that will result in a specific response,” Madsen said. “In this instance we modeled tap root survival, depth, and distance from fertilizer band.”

They used three sources of nitrogen fertilizer in their study, specifically urea, ammonium sulfate, and urea ammonium nitrate. Each one reacts differently in the soil, and the researchers thought they would cause different amounts of damage to the roots.

Madsen said their results show that banding urea ammonium nitrate rather than urea, along with keeping the rates low, is the best option for canola. He added that this research is important for canola growers in the Pacific Northwest area. It helps establish guidelines for them to apply nitrogen fertilizers.

“I think banding is, indeed, frequently the best practice,” said Madsen.

“But we need to be careful with our rates and sources. Banding of fertilizers will not cause problems as long as the rates used are low enough and the sources used are safe enough. My research goal is to develop rate and source guidelines that growers can use to minimize damage and maximize fertility.”

Madsen explained that the imaging techniques used in this study were unique and very useful. Getting a glimpse at the roots can be valuable.

It allows something usually hidden beneath the soil and important for plant health to be studied in real time.

“I really like taking pictures and making videos of roots,” Madsen added.

“There is something immensely satisfying about making This image with multiple canola roots illustrates the videos of phenomena effect of urea rate. The damage increases from left to which have not been right, corresponding to an increase in the urea rate.

The roots on the right are shorter and have more signs imaged before.” of damage.

Photo by Justin Archibald

27

28

October 25, 2019

The AgriPost

Feed Enough Protein to Gestating Beef Cows Daily

By Peter Vitti Recently, I was driving west through the southern prairies and saw a beef cow herd grazing late-autumn straw-colored pasture.

I suspected the calves from these cows were probably just weaned, which simply puts these dams at their lowest dietary requirements. Although, I believe that these particular cows were getting plenty to eat, but they were probably not getting enough protein from this dried-out pasture. Such a short drive-by was a good reminder that cattle producers should ensure all protein requirements of their gestating cowherd must be met as these animals approach the upcoming calving season.

A gestating cowherd conceded to an overwinter protein deficiency will have immediate bad consequences. For example, mature cows desired to maintain or build up body condition score to an optimum 6 out of 10 points; will instead lose body fat (often dropping to a BCS < 5), and thus not cope with harsh winter conditions. In addition, replacement heifers will not be prepared to deliver a healthy and strong first-calf, because they will fall short to put on the necessary growth and required bodyweight gain by calving time.

Unseen to our eyes, these protein-deficient cows/heifers do not supply enough essential protein metabolites (ammonia) to their own forage-digesting ruminal bacteria. In turn, these bugs cannot maintain their own adequate growth rate, which leads to three nutritional-related outcomes: a reduction in overall forage digestibility, a slowdown in the rate of feed digestion and decreased forage intake by the entire cowherd. As a result, less dietary energy is derived from any forage consumed by these cows, which allows less available dietary energy (and protein) for good cattle body condition or growth in the first place.

Such lack of essential dietary nutrients, negatively affect good early and mid-gestation fetal development as well. That’s because, dietary protein (and energy) are targeted in the growth and vascularization (nutrient blood flow) of the early gestating placenta of the cow, which keeps her small fetus alive and allows for its continuous pre-natal development. In a similar manner, researchers at the University of Wyoming (2010) speculated low-quality (protein) pastures grazed by mid-gestation cows were responsible for a significant decrease in muscle-fibre formation in their fetuses, which led to actual lighter spring calves at weaning age.

Protein shortages of this kind for gestating cows as well as replacement heifers;

Gestating beef cows need adequate daily protein.

can largely be avoided as long as we provide them with about 2 - 2.5 lbs of total crude protein per head, daily. Based upon a DMI (dry matter intake) of 2% in mature beef cows (1,200 lbs, bw), it also calculates to about 8.5 - 10.5% in their final diet.

These vital protein requirements usually go hand-in-hand with an early to mid-gestation energy requirement of about 50 - 52% TDN, respectively.

Many of these early/mid-gestation beef cows are still out on pasture during the beginning of autumn until the first snowfall and still rely on pasture for most of their protein (energy) nutrition. From a practical standpoint, there aren’t a lot of options for protein supplementation unless these cattle are moved to a more nutritious pasture. Otherwise, many producers purchase molasses lick-tubs to supplement dietary protein.

As a beef nutritionist, I make it a point to choose the type of molasses lick-tub to compliment the quality of the pasture that the cattle are grazing. For example, 30% protein blocks should be placed on acres of mature autumn pastures by which its grass protein is no more than 7% protein: a 1,200 lb mature beef cow should consume roughly 24 lbs of pasture grass (24 x 0.07 = 1.7 lb of protein) + 1.0 lb of a molasses block (1.0 x 0.30 = 0.30 lb of protein) = 2 lbs of total dietary protein.

As we get closer to the first snowfall, some of these cattle herds remain on the same pastures for the entire winter, or are moved to other areas such as higher protein (11- 12%) swath-grazing acres, or low-protein stubble/corn and stover fields (6 - 8%).

Therefore, similar molasses cattle-lick tubs of varying amounts of proteins might be switched over to compliment these different types of forage. At the same time, many cows are moved back home to drylot, where producers first feed harvested bales of low-quality forages for the first part of the winter. Then, they feed better quality forage a month or so before calving-time.

That’s what a friend of mine that overwinters about 400 red Angus gestating cows’ plans to do. His mid-gestation diets use wheat and lentil straw as a forage base, adds some grass hay and is complimented with barley grain and a 32:16 beef protein supplement. He will feed this 9 - 10% protein diet from November to about midFebruary. Afterwards, he plans to reduce the amount of straw and add back some fair-quality hay as his cows enter the last trimester of pregnancy to assure, they are getting enough dietary protein.

The AgriPost

Drought Did Not Favour New Kernza Perennial Grain

Kernza, a variety of domesticated perennial grain originating from a forage grass called intermediate wheatgrass and a relative of annual wheat, has showed some promise despite not being ready for comPhoto by Les Kletke mercialization.

By Les Kletke Just when it appeared that a new domesticated perennial grain originating from a forage grass was on the way to commercialization it suffered something farmers understand very well, a crop failure.

Kernza the commercial name for the perennial wheat grass derivative, related to annual wheat, had shown the most potential for commercialization before the crop failure in 2018.

In the spring of 2019 Cascadia, a subsidiary of General Mills announced that the move to market would be slowed. The failure of the crop the previous year meant a lack of seed for multiplication in 2019.

General Mills has taken a lead addressing environmental concern with its program that offers producers incentives for making their cereal production bee friendly and was a leader in the industry with Kernza promoting it as a perennial grain that is a wild relative of wheat that could prevent soil erosion.

Development of the crop began in 1983 with the intent to commercialize the crop by bringing the yield up to the level of spring wheat varieties, improving respectability and reducing shatter resistance. While progress has been made the crop still grows higher than most farmers would prefer and has a considerable yield drag.

Dr. Martin Entz at the University of Manitoba, Department of Plant Science sees value in the crop. Entz a long time promoter of organic production and reduced tillage methods sees that there is promise for its use in crop rotations but acknowledged that the crop has not yet developed to where it is commercially viable.

Katherine Stanley, who works with Dr. Entz, conducted a tour in early October of the plot of Kernza perennial grain. The tour group were participants at the Summit on Canadian Soil Health looking at innovative Soil and Water Management in Manitoba.

While the terms ‘perennial grain’ and ‘wheat’ stirred the groups attention with immediate interest the plant developments did not have them lining up to order seed for the new potential crop.

In Manitoba, the drought of 2018-2019 had taken its toll even before the wettest September on record that made for a less than ideal perennial grain stand. Photos from earlier Kernza field crops did a much better job of showing the potential and that it could develop to a significant stand.

While a crop failure last year in the US held it back from commercialization and the weather affected research plots in Manitoba there is still a good deal of interest in the new perennial grain.

Regenerative Agriculture Forum Returns For the second year in a row, Regenerative Agriculture will be setting deep roots in southwest Manitoba.

Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association (MFGA) is hosting their 2nd Annual Regenerative Agriculture Forum in combination with their Annual General Meeting in Brandon on November 19-20. Once again, the MFGA event will be aligned with a Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) Grazing Club event to give producers valuable access to experts on Regenerative Agriculture. The 2019 workshop follows up a wildly-successful Regenerative Agriculture 2018 Conference.

Embraced by a growing number of agricultural leaders and producers to merge

economic and environmental outcomes, Regenerative Agriculture uses systems of farming principles and practices that increase biodiversity, enrich soils, improve watersheds, boost ecosystem services, and capture carbon in soil and above ground vegetation.

The MFGA Regen Ag Forum is a day and a half opportunity for producers to learn from experts, build their peer networks and exchange ideas and knowledge on Regenerative Agriculture.

Early bird registrations are $150 before October 1 and $200 after. Information on the MFGA Regenerative Ag Days program, speakers and sponsorship options can be found at mfga.net/regen-ag-days.

October 25, 2019

29

30

The AgriPost

October 25, 2019

A National Effort Needed to Control Spread of Wild Pigs in Canada

By Harry Siemens Dr. Ryan Brook, a scientist with the University of Saskatchewan, said controlling wild pigs in Canada will require nationally coordinated aggressive and immediate action. The ongoing spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) in Africa, Asia, and Europe has drawn attention to the potential for wild boar and wild pig populations in North America to harbour and infect commercial pig populations with the disease.

Dr. Brook, an Associate Professor in the Department of Agriculture and Bioresources with the University of Saskatchewan, said, although the problem has emerged across Canada since the mid-1980s, the industry is doing very little about it.

“There is no national strategy or plan and so each province has its perspective on things,” he said.

“Alberta has a program where they are trapping animals and removing them and they have a plan, which is good, so certainly, Alberta is at the forefront of being proactive. Saskatchewan has a program through the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Program. If you have issues and complain to SCIC, they will send out teams to ground trap, shoot, or snare wild pigs. They are doing some of that, and it is a good model for sure. Manitoba, to my knowledge, is not doing anything and no other provinces are taking any action removing pigs.”

He said the efforts are pretty haphazard at best amongst the provinces and pretty limited in scope and scale. Indeed, without plans and strategies and aggressive broadscale efforts, there is no chance of eradication he said. “The big gap is the overall and fundamental lack of leadership from any organizations

Group of wild pigs in the bush.

Dr. Ryan Brook, a scientist with the University of Saskatchewan at a meeting in Sweet Grass, Montana, spoke about expanding wild pig herds and what it would mean to the hog industry if a wild pig population established itself in the state.

that I’m aware of in taking this on as a real recognized emerging crisis,” he said. “Without leadership, I don’t think we’re going to get too far any time soon.”

The scientist said the industry needs more research and a greater ability to track and test wild pigs to address the risk of disease transmission from wild to domestic pigs.

Concern over the risk of wild boar or feral pigs harbouring diseases that could spread to domestic swine herds has increased recently as ASF spreads.

Dr. Brook said while the industry recognizes North America is African Swine Fever free, people do know from other places it can infect wild pigs and help spread the disease. “I think the specific role that wild pigs play in this is probably not entirely clear, and it depends on a lot of factors. Some evidence and modelling work from Europe suggest that the role is relatively little in places where they don’t move very much,” he said. “But in areas

where they are highly mobile and cover large areas, their potential role would change quite dramatically. The only option, if there is an outbreak anywhere globally, is to try and eradicate the disease.”

Dr. Brook said any animals that will harbour it like domestic pigs and any free-ranging wild pigs have to be found and removed and eliminated. There has to be the capacity to do the testing to determine the disease status of these animals.

“I would say that thinking about the risk to Canada; we can’t say definitively at this point what exactly the risk is of the wild pig herds,” he said. “I think it’s pretty clear we need more research, and we need more capacity in our ability to test these animals should this disease arrive.”

Dr. Brook said Canada needs to be able to assure its trade partners, “That we are doing things right.

Having a handle on wild pigs has become that much more important.”

Large wild boar.

If ASF spreads into feral pigs any free-ranging wild pigs may have to be found and removed and eliminated.

The AgriPost

Amalgamation Talks Continue with Vote to Occur February 2020 Five Manitoba commodity groups continue to move forward for potential amalgamation with the continued commitment to providing information to members.

Members will vote in-person at the annual general meetings as part of the CropConnect Conference on February 12 and 13, 2020.

The steering committee comprised of directors from the Manitoba Corn Growers Association (MCGA), Manitoba Flax Growers Association (MFGA), National Sunflower Association of Canada (NSAC), Winter Cereals Manitoba, Inc. (WCMI) and the Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association (MWBGA) with assistance from their legal counsel have drafted bylaws of the potential new organization (NEWCO), as well as a draft of the amalgamation agreement.

“To be open, transparent and provide as much information as possible prior to the vote in February 2020, the steering committee wanted to draft the legal documents with respect to the formation of the new organization (NEWCO),” said Gregg Fotheringham, NSAC President. “The draft bylaws cover topics including the purpose of NEWCO, who are its members, how NEWCO will operate, the duties of its crop committee delegate and board of directors, and how meetings are conducted.” The steering committee recommends members read and understand the draft bylaws as good governance lays the foundation for a highly functional and effective organization.

The steering committee has also reviewed a draft amalgamation agreement developed by their legal counsel. “The amalgamation agreement sets out the terms and means of carrying out the amalgamation,” shared Fred Greig, MWBGA Chair. “To address concerns from members, the agreement in-

cludes the provision that cash reserves collected by each of the five organizations prior to the date of amalgamation will be invested by NEWCO into research and market development initiatives into the specific crop types it was collected on.”

Myron Krahn, MCGA director added, “The draft amalgamation agreement also includes that after the date of amalgamation, NEWCO will make all reasonable efforts to ensure research and market development initiatives relating to each specific crop type be maintained at comparable levels.”

Meetings were also held in May and June 2019 with the Manitoba Farm Products Marketing Council (MFPMC) and the Minister of Agriculture Ralph Eichler and his senior staff to provide updates on the potential amalgamation. The MFPMC has determined that a vote in favour of amalgamation by the five organizations would be enough to establish the representative nature of the amalgamated organization.

“The steering committee appreciates the engagement of the Manitoba Farm Products Marketing Council, Minister Eichler and his staff throughout this process,” said Doug Martin, WCMI Chair. “We will ensure the conditions laid out by the Council for the voting process are met,” added Eric Fridfinnson, Director with the MFGA. The amalgamation proposal, draft bylaws and amalgamation agreement are available at the temporary website mbcrops.ca.

Additional webinars are also being planned after harvest to engage with members and answer any questions leading up to the vote in February 2020. Feedback from farmer members can be made directly to Rob Hannam at rob@mbcrops.ca or to any of the directors and staff of the five organizations.

Investing in Young Farmers Two projects that support leadership in Canada’s young farmers are receiving an investment of more than $700,000 from the Federal government under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership’s AgriCompetiveness Program.

The Canadian Young Farmers Forum will receive $616,627 to provide young Canadian farmers with business capacity skills as well as learning, networking and peer support opportunities to increase the profitability and efficiency of their operations. Activities under this project will include farm business management training, an outreach campaign and social media activities.

In addition, Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers Program will receive $100,925 towards their three-day national recognition event. This event is held each year to recognize young farmers that exemplify excellence in their profession and promote the tremendous contribution of agriculture to Canada and its economy. Seven regional competitions lead up to the national event where farmers between the ages of 18 and 39 are nominated by peers and industry based on how their farm business has developed, used innovations, solved environmental issues, exemplified best financial and business management, farm safety and created public trust.

October 25, 2019

31

Count the Spots of Sub-Clinical Milk Fever in Dairy Cows At one time or another, most dairy producers have had a dairy cow with milk fever. It’s a mature cow with sunken eyes that lies down right after calving and cannot get up.

When this has happened, most people give her a bottle or two of Ca-Mag solution and luckily within the hour, she is back on her feet and up to the feed-bunk.

Such clinical milk fever is just the tip of the iceberg, because for every treated case, there are up to ten cows with unseen subclinical milk fever and that can be a serious problem, well into lactation.

Such sluggish fresh cows will likely stand up after calving, yet may have a high rate: of retained placentas, uterine infections, displaced abomasums, chronic mastitis, and are harder to breed back. Like their clinical counterparts, these are still cases of post-partum milk fever, which by definition; slip into a state of hypocalcemia or a lack of available blood-calcium, when their bodies need it for manufacturing colostrum. Fortunately, by feeding specifically formulated close-up dry cow diets, we can maintain adequate blood-calcium levels to prevent subclinical milk fevers from occurring in the first place.

In the last year, I encountered two different dairy barns, in which I speculate had strong underlying subclinical milk fever issues: - A 200-cow dairy feeds about 18-20 close-up dry cows on their own straw pack. They are fed 21 days prior to calving, a close-up dry cow diet consisting of: lactation diet refusal, a 16% transition cow pellet (my formulation) and the remainder - good grass hay. During this summer, there was an influx of about 7 - 10 more dry cows, which caused some of the timid cows to eat only lactation leftovers.

As a result, there was a string of 4-5 fresh cows with retained placentas and subsequent metritis.

- On a 125-cow, 10-15 close-up dry cows were segregated at the end of a new free-stall barn. They were fed 15 - 20 lbs. forage mix of fair quality alfalfa-grass hay with a potassium content of about 2%.

This forage mix was complimented with my 16% transition diet, fed at the rate of 8 lbs. per head per day.

Similar to the first case, a string of retained placentas broke out after calving as well as these dry cows never achieved satisfactory feed intakes during their close-up period and into early lactation.

Blood samples were not drawn in both cases and tested for blood-calcium levels. Otherwise, results of these tests might have proven valuable in order to confirm subclinical milk fever. That’s because research shows that similarly tested closeup dairy cows begin to draw a tremendous amount of calcium from their blood due to the onset of firstmilk colostrum production. When their levels fall below 2 mmol/litre in the first 24 hours after calving, then subclinical milk fever is likely to occur, unless these cows can either mobilizes calcium from their bones or increase intestinal absorption of dietary calcium.

As a dairy nutritionist, I formulate “old school” transition diets, which creates a planned blood-calcium deficiency in close-up dairy cows that triggers specific parathyroid hormones (PTH) to be released and thus stimulate bone mobilization to release adequate calcium back into their bloodstreams. University studies demonstrate that feeding less than 10 g/head/d calcium (a dry cow requires 40 g/head/d for maintenance) is effective in preventing milk fever. Consequently, in the first above case, I reviewed the analysis of the leftover lactation feed eaten by the timid cows and it contained 1.2 % calcium. So, corrective action was taken by the dairy producer to mix-up another

allotment of well-balanced ration to ensure his additional close-up cows consumed enough of the overall close-up dry cow feed.

In the second suspect case, I also tried to minimize the amount of dietary potassium that was fed to these close-up dry cows, because potassium contributes to alkaline blood, which tends to suppress bone-calcium mobilization. By keeping dietary potassium levels to less than 0.65%, it has been shown to reduce the incidence of milk fever and other fresh cow problems.

Therefore, I reformulated their transition diet from 8 to 13 lbs. and it seemed to dilute the 2.0% potassium of the forages, which worked in favor of preventing any further retained placentas.

Once more, nobody can be assured that each of these cases was solely subclinical milk fever, because no blood-calcium samples were taken for conformation.

However, when I investigated the cause of each case, I believed that subclinical milk fever was the best preliminary explanation, then I gathered its relevant information and finally, I took an experienced approach to implement practical and effective dietary solutions.

By feeding specifically formulated closeup dry cow diets, we can maintain adequate blood-calcium levels to prevent subclinical milk fevers from occurring in the first place.

32

October 25, 2019

The AgriPost