The AgriPost
October 28, 2016
Manitoba Crops Average to Above Yield But Quality Varies Greatly
Sweet Potatoes Showing Promise as a Manitoban Crop By Les Kletke Sajjad Rao acknowledges that sweet potato production in Manitoba has a long way to go to commercialization but after 4 years of working with the crop, he believes it has potential. The crop caught Rao’s attention when he came to Manitoba and was looking for something that would fit climate wise and add to the rotation on Manitoba farms. The crop that originated in Central American and has migrated northward demands a longer growing season than most areas of the province offer but Rao has successfully screened varieties that will mature in Manitoba. He points out that the crop is not like the typical Irish potato most people think of nor is it a yam which people use the names interchangeably. “With the Irish potato we eat the tubers, but with sweet potatoes we eat the roots,” he said. “The plant is very different and so is the way we propagate it. With Irish potatoes we using cuttings from the tuber with sweet potatoes we use cutting or slips of the plant.” The process is much more labour intensive also. “At this point I would not even suggest a comparison to the traditional crop,” he said. “The costs are so different as well as the yield. We will begin working on the agronomy in a year or two. For now we are still working on selecting the varieties and moving from the test plot to field production.” He plans to have one or two plots within an acre in field style production next year. continued on page 2 Sajjad Rap of Assiniboine Community College checks the harvest on his sweet potato plots. The crop continues to show promise in Manitoba.
By Harry Siemens Exciting, difficult, frustrating, huge, sometimes binbuster and sometimes not is how farmers describe the entire cropping season from start to almost finished in Manitoba. First off, Manitoba Agriculture reports that crops across Manitoba are generally at or above the five-year average while, quality is average to below average for the majority of crops. Commenting on its final crop report on October 17, Pam de Rocquigny, a Cereal Crop Specialist with Manitoba Agriculture said, due to some extreme weather, yields are at or slightly above the five year average and, as the result of the wet harvest, the quality of most crops is average to below average. “So for crop yields, just generally speaking, they were either at or slightly above our five years averages for most crop types,” said de Rocquigny. “Having said that there are lower than average yields for various crop types that were reported in some areas of the province.” Those decreases in yield were largely due to weather events such as excess moisture. “We had some wind storms that resulted in some lodging and some stalk breakage and we’ve seen a higher number of hail claims that would impact yields,” commented de Rocquigny. She said higher disease pressure effected many crop types this year as well. In some cases, yields were surprisingly good but at the same time they were not record breaking by any stretch this year. “We’ve seen a wet harvest period that resulted in some downgrading due to weathering and disease pressure for some crops types as well resulted in downgrading. So quality and yields are both variable across the province,” said de Rocquigny. Provincially, the harvest is estimated at 92 percent complete with 99 percent of the cereal crops and field peas, 95 percent of the canola and edible beans, 88 percent of the soybeans, 50 percent of the flax and 20 to 25 percent of the sunflowers in the bins. Turning to fall seeded cereals Manitoba Agriculture reported that those number of acres planted in the province this year has been about on par with that of last year. De Rocquigny said planting of the winter wheat and fall rye, the main winter cereal crops grown in Manitoba, started in the first week of September. “We’re probably going to continued on page 2
October 28, 2016
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Manitoba Crops continued... continued from page 1
Sweet Potato continued...
see acres stable, at the same as last year in terms of both winter wheat and fall rye since both those crop types were seeded into generally good soil conditions, being good soil moisture and warm soil temperatures,” she said. “What we’re hearing is they’re emerging quite nicely right now. There’s been good germination and good stand establishment reported so far.” Some areas that did receive some heavier amounts of precipitation, are reporting some impacts to stand establishment. She said it will be interesting to watch how the moisture influences the winter wheat crop and fall rye crop going into the winter. “Typically we like to see winter wheat at the three leaf to a tiller stage. That’s kind of the best stage that we like to see the winter wheat going into our winters and I think we’ll probably see that this year so that’s good news,” she said. “Most crops are seeded into good stubble as well because we do need that snow catch and snow cover to protect the crowns from those cold temperatures that we often do get in the province over the winter. I think we’re setting up quite nicely and producers are doing all they can to get the crop as winter hardy as possible.” De Rocquigny said it is good to see germination and some good stand establishment beginning. “It’s always great for the winter crops to establish well so they can survive our cold Manitoba winters.”
Horticultural Production students James Maluga (left) and Riley Coppicus (right) hold up sweet potatoes pulled from the ground in the college’s grow plots.
continued from page 1
The harvest isn’t all cream and roses as this picture from Danny Dyck in southern Manitoba shows harvesting corn.
“Growers are very interested in trying the crop and we might begin with some market gardeners who see potential in the crop,” said Rao who teaches in the Horticulture Certificate program and the Advanced Diploma in Sustainable Food Systems at Assiniboine Community College in Brandon. Students in his course get the hands on experience with harvesting right through to cutting slips for next year’s planting. “The college has always stressed a hands on approach and they get that quickly in my course because they are working with the crop itself,” he said. The harvest of this year’s sweet potatoes was done the first week in October. While Rao’s students were busy with the harvest an African scientist was being recognized in Des Moines, Iowa with the World Food Prize for his work with sweet potatoes. “It is very high in vitamin A and can provide a great nutritional benefit in diets,” noted Rao. It was not native to Africa but it has great potential to feed the people there.” Four years of work with the plant has shown even more promise to continue, but he faces some challenges. “There is no research or breeding program for our climate so we have to screen the varieties that will work here and then move to agronomic evaluation of the crop.”
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She’s Off to Toronto to Champion the Farmettes By Les Kletke Abbey Chubaty is going to Toronto tell her story about the Farmettes, women who took their place in agriculture when this country was at war. “The Farmettes were from University and High School, they helped out on farms during World War I and II,” said Chubaty confidently just a week before her trip to Toronto and the Royal Winter Fair. She will be part of a speaker’s competition at the Fair. Chubaty is 12 and in her 5th year as a member of the Woodmore Combined Club where she has completed projects in Exploring 4-H, cooking, crafts and Pick a Project, which this year is exploring gluten free cooking. She was invited to compete in the competition for Toronto because of her win last spring in the Junior Communications of the 4-H provincials. She won the junior one-person demonstration last April with a video entitled “Would Grandma Approve?” When she was invited to compete for the trip to Toronto, she was given a choice of five topics and chose Women in Agriculture. When asked why she chose to highlight the contribution of women in the industry, she explained, “We had done a lot about the Farmettes in Social Studies last year,” she said. “Mr. Sweeney is a really good teacher and I had learned a lot doing the project so it seemed like a good fit.” Chubaty is a student at Roseau Valley School in Dominion City. The Farmettes, a word derived from suffragette or know as Soldiers of the Soil grew out of a movement as conscription began during WWI and farm labour was short. High School students were offered a pass on final exams for 3 months of work on farms. They also received a small amount of spending money. The movement
Abbey Chubaty is off to Toronto next month to tell the story of the Farmettes.
proved successful and help bring in a crop. It began well before the famous Rosie the Riveter Campaign was conceived and was again revived for WWII. Chubaty won the competition held for juniors aged 11 - 15 and earned the trip to Toronto. She has never been to the Royal Winter Fair be-
fore and will be taking her mom with her. “I haven’t been to the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto either,” said Mom Sharon. “But we are looking forward to it. We have some family in Toronto and plan on meeting them.” It is a good bet they will be there to cheer Abbey on in her competition.”
Nationally Recognized Forage Conference to Be Hosted in Winnipeg The Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA) is working with the Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association to host the 7th Annual CFGA Conference at the Fairmont Hotel in Winnipeg, November 15 - 17, 2016. Using Manitoba’s productive forage and grassland scene as the backdrop, the 2016 Annual CFGA Conference will highlight how the Canadian forage and grassland sector is a critical foundation for sustainable growth and development throughout the Canadian agriculture industry. Key topics for discussion during the conference include economics of forage production, environmental benefits of grass on the landscape, export industry development, the role of cover crops in annual production systems, soil nutrient management and conservation.
October 28, 2016
The AgriPost
October 28, 2016
What’s Good for the Goose, Might Hurt the Gander Over the years, I have often wondered how we know that certain things are good since the exact same thing in another situation is not good or can be downright awful. It was different but a lot like the issue of the Canadian Wheat Board, some farmers saw it as salvation while others saw it as the devil’s right hand. I could never figure out how the division came to be, it was not the size of a farm or location, or country of origin of the grandparents or anything that easy to define. Some farmers supported it and others despised it. This past week I was again made aware of one of those issues, I must disclose that I was driving home from Des Moines, Iowa so had a lot of time with AM radio to get informed of what is wrong with the world. Let’s start with Des Moines, I was there to attend the Global Farmers Roundtable and the Canadian representative explained that through mechanization he had freed up time on his farm so that he could spend more time fishing, something he enjoyed tremendously. He explained to the group that he milked 50 cows and had purchased the farm from his father who had retired at age 52. He went on to explain that the farm was providing a good living and he was salting away enough money so that he could retire at the same age without having to sell the farm to pay for his retirement. “My wife and I have decided that if one of our children wants to farm, they should be able to do it without the farm being the golden handcuffs and putting them in debt for at least ever,” he said. The discussion carried on around the table and the Mexican representative explained she needed to have 450 cows in her dairy to make it work. The New Zealand representative said she was part of an operation that milked 700 cows and that was what provided them with a living and it was a commonly accepted number in their country for the size of an economic unit in the dairy business. I have not the space to record the remarks from those around the table about the Canadian system, let’s just leave it at there were mixed reactions to the Canadian supply management system. My Canadian friend acknowledged that the protection at the border allowed him a comfortable living. He down played the fishing this time. Then on the way home I heard about a group of wheat farmers in Belgium that were proving to be the stumbling block to a new trade agreement that would allow Canadian agricultural products access to the European Union. They feared that low price wheat might enter their country and drive down the price of the commodity and impact their livelihood. Here is my dilemma, it is easy to see how wrong the Belgium farmers are to keep us from the market place in this time of global trade, it was also sort of easy to see how my dairy farming friend deserved to get away from the cows sometime, and if he had a fishing rod in his hand it was not a crime but when I consider the issue, I appear to take sides with both sides of the coin. What is good for other is often not good for all of us.
Director Nominations Open for the Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Organization The Manitoba Wheat And Barley Growers Association are seeking nominations for four Director positions to begin three year terms if successfully elected at the 2017 AGM, February 16, 2017. The election and AGM will take place in conjunction with the CropConnect Conference at the Victoria Inn, Winnipeg. Nomination period opens November 1 and closes November 30 in order to allow for the new special request advance ballot option that
was approved by membership at the 2016 AGM. The details of the advance ballot option will be explained in the AGM Notice that will be sent directly to all members later this year. “A lot has been going on over the past few years as we have launched this new organization. We have continued to focus our attention on high priority research projects and looking for efficiencies in administration through innovative collaboration. Everything we do is about bringing value back to
Manitoba Excluded from Ag Consultation a Much Bigger Deal than Meets the Naked Eye A visit to Manitoba, which was originally part of a House of Commons Agriculture Committee tour to consult farmers on the next agricultural policy framework, is no longer in the committee’s plans, says Keystone Agricultural Producers President Dan Mazier. “We understand that committee members were originally scheduled to visit us, but plans have changed and Manitoba will no longer be included,” said Mazier. “This is very disappointing because these consultations are extremely important, and the views of individual Manitoba farmers should be heard. “Manitoba is one of the country’s major agricultural areas with 15,000 farms and a primary production output of 12 per cent of the Canadian total. These are not insignificant numbers and I urge members of the Agriculture Committee to include us in the November tour.” I asked Dan, who is doing a real good job as President of Keystone Agricultural Producers and farms near Brandon, if this is a big deal to miss out in the Growing Forward 3 discussions; A big deal because it sends the wrong signal. He says the agribusiness industry in Manitoba recently earned revenues of $10.7 billion, while the Conference Board of Canada predicts a 5.7 per cent increase in provincial agricultural activities in 2016. The much bigger deal part of this I think and Mazier agrees, is the fact it almost appears that PM Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government is really only paying lip service to Canada’s agricultural industry and all that that entails. When you come to think of it, the one who is left holding the bag at the end is the primary food producer, the farmer as I like to call him/her. While not every liked the former minister of Ag, Gerry Ritz, in fact for many it was you either liked him or hated him, Mazier says one of the most important things Ritz did was bring farming and agriculture to the forefront in Ottawa. He says it is even impossible to get in front of the two Manitoba ministers. Let me add my two cents here… With few people in the Liberal party involved directly in farming, and more specifically agriculture and with people not involved in farming, but clamouring for the Libs to develop a national food policy - my take is this we will see a policy that will only pay lip service to those who produce it and make sure the climate change proponents and animal production haters, and the like will have much more influence. I saw that coming earlier, and me thinks my assessment won’t be far off. I hope I’m wrong. You’ve heard me say that the current carbon taxes in the NDP province of Alberta will cost farmers hundreds of thousands of dollars in extra expenses each and every year. Here is why I believe so strongly, in what I’m saying. Recently and without warning, the Trudeau government announced via a national newspaper article, Ottawa will set a minimum price on carbon of $50 a tonne by 2022, and impose the measure in any province that does not join the new pan-Canadian plan by 2018. Then PM Trudeau announced on the House floor the price will start at $10 a ton by 2018, and go up by $10 a year for the next four years. All provinces will have to choose between imposing a carbon tax or a cap-and-trade system. If any province fails to join in, the federal government will step in to impose a price on pollution, while returning all revenue to the province. Doesn’t this just give you confidence they will consult on a national food policy? As Gerry Ritz told me, a carbon tax puts Canadian producers [farmers] and manufacturers at a total disadvantage when it comes to doing business with other countries that I’m sure are laughing at us here. Saskatchewan Environment Minister Scott Moe said the federal plan will devastate his province’s economy, costing $2.5-billion by 2022. No, no says Ms. McKenna trust us. Saskatchewan will have the option to design its own program, or get the revenues from the federal one and offset any price increase with tax cuts. “This is good for Saskatchewan,” she said. I guess the feds plan on harvesting the carbon credits from thin air. A bit like trying to dress a ghost, don’t you think? Well I do!
members. “We are moving from six directors to seven at this AGM and welcome Nominees with the desire and experience to strengthen the potential of wheat and barley as a profitable crop choice for Manitoba produc-
ers,” said Fred Greig Board Chair. Candidates must be members in good standing and have the support of at least five members to be eligible. To receive a nomination form or for more informa-
tion, see the mbwheatandbarley.ca website or contact Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association at info@mbwheatandbarley.ca or call 204-750-2656.
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Resistance, Residue, Ridiculousness Many food labels, marketing campaigns and a whole lot of hype have tried to scare us about the use of antibiotics in farm animals. What most people, and even some farmers, don’t realize is that all meat, egg and dairy products are free of antibiotics. These foods are safe to eat. Michelle Miller, the Facebook sensation also known as the “Farm Babe” breaks it down for us in her latest piece, “Antibiotic resistance from livestock to humans easily explained.” The key piece of information that’s usually missing in people’s minds concerns the issue of withdrawal times. Farmers do use antibiotics on livestock, but they are also required by law to stop using them well before these animals or their by-products get to market. These withdrawal periods are long enough so that the drug is no longer in an animal’s system. To put it another way, long enough so that there is no antibiotic residue in the finished product. Adding to the confusion is that people don’t necessarily know the difference or the relationship between “residue” and “resistance”. The terms sometimes get used interchangeably, or implications are laid that any level of anti-
biotic residue will automatically lead to resistance. Veterinarian Dr. Kerry Keffaber explains, “It’s not the residue that is the focus. There is no residue of concern thanks to withdrawal times; it’s the resistance that can develop.” People are generally unaware of the extent of the precautions employed by meatpacking plants and food processors to control risk and test for food safety. All of these are designed to protect us from bacteria. Even if those bacteria aren’t antibiotic-resistant. Remember, though, that while the odds are pretty slim that some kind of antibiotic-resistant bacterium will make its way from an animal to a human, they aren’t zero, either. This leaves just enough wiggle room for fear mongers to do their thing. But in reality how slim is slim? According to Dr. Keffaber, four things would have to happen for antibiotic resistance to transfer from animals to humans. First, resistance would have to develop in an animal. Then the resistant bacteria would have to be transferred within the equipment of a slaughter house. After that, someone has to be exposed to the bacteria, probably after the food is cooked, and then get sick from it. Finally, this person would have to be
Support is Needed for Our Researchers By Judy Klassen Modern day farming is a complex field of work. While farmers display hard work and dedication to their fields and livestock, it is without question that determining best practices is a matter of improving livelihood. It is through the diligence of researchers, farmers and scientists that Manitoba farmers are able to collaborate on the best and most sustainable methods of farming providing maximum crop yield and improving sustainability. From the Alberta Wheat Commission to the University of Manitoba’s Glenlea Research Station, many important research topics are being covered in relation to food production. During the Farm & Food Awareness Week this past year, I was provided the opportunity to visit the Glenlea Research Station located just south of Winnipeg. During this eye-opening visit, I saw firsthand the amount of time and care needed to research sustainable farming in our province. The Glenlea Research Station focuses on researching organic and sustainable farming in order to lessen the ecological footprint of the agricultural industry. Established in 1992, the Glenlea Research Station supplies farmers with much needed knowledge in relation to organic farming. The goal of the Glenlea Research Station is to try various methods to determine best practices so that organic farmers are armed with this knowledge. In addition to analyzing crop yield, the station also researches soil quality, ecological systems. The agronomic knowledge established by the researchers can be a tremendous aid, lowering the risk to the farmers of Manitoba, Canada, and abroad. With a shortage of organic grains, the work and research of Dr. Entz and his team may become increasingly more important. Indeed, the learned knowledge generated from agricultural research is important for Canada’s future. The committed research of academic institutions and other organizations is important to the continued success and competitive growth of Manitoba’s farmers. The continued effort of our researchers plays a critical role in the future of farming in Manitoba. With agriculture contributing $3.6 billion to the provincial economy, the ongoing development of knowledge will only allow this figure to grow. I encourage everyone to support not only local farmers, but local researchers as well. The work of both is truly marvelous. For 25 years of service to Manitoba’s farmers, I say thank you to the Glenlea Research Station and wish you more years of continued success. Judy Klassen is the current interim leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party.
October 28, 2016
Penner’s Points By Rolf Penner
prescribed antibiotics from doctors that don’t work. That all adds up to a pretty slim chance of anything happening. But there’s more to it than just that. Right now, “Over 95 percent of the bacteria of resistance concern related to animal use of antibiotics still respond to the first antibiotic choice from their doctor.” That doesn’t mean we should ignore this potential risk, but it does means we shouldn’t get hysterical over it. Maybe that means farmers have to work closer with their vets, but that’s easily done. It’s important to look after our animals when they’re sick. Antibiotics are an important tool, and we need to use them responsibly if we want them to stay in our toolbox. But it doesn’t hurt to remind our customers that they are safe and we are doing everything we can to make sure it stays that way.
Farmers Ask PC Government for Return of “Stolen” Property Dozens of members of the Manitoba BiPole Landowners Committee (MBLC) helped pack the Victoria Inn recently at the first public meeting held by Manitoba Hydro to explain their decision to continue with the controversial transmission line. Landowners in the path of the controversial BiPole III route complained to Hydro Board Chair Sandy Riley that under the previous NDP-appointed board, Hydro officials had, “Misled, harassed, intimidated and bullied,” family farms into signing so-called “voluntary” agreements that allowed Hydro to ruin farmland, introduce pests and disease, and assign risk to the farmers for Hydro’s towers and equipment. Ultimately, dozens more landowners were expropriated by an order in Greg Selinger’s cabinet. MBLC, a local grassroots committee of the Canadian Association of Energy and Pipeline Landowner Associations (CAEPLA), attended to demand that Pallister directs Riley to tell Hydro that their expropriated land be returned and meet CAEPLA at the bargaining table. MBLC spokesperson Jurgen Kohler asked Riley if the new Progressive Conservative government and the Hydro board recently appointed by Premier Brian Pallister would recognize the right of his members to utilize the services of CAEPLA “our experts” to negotiate complex easement agreements and “treat us fairly”. “We’ve had several meet-and-greet sessions [with the previous board],” explained Kohler, yet landowners were still denied the right to collective bargaining through their appointed agent. “I have the right to choose my legal representative. It’s time to recognize that. Let’s find a win-win to move forward.”
“You promised us a ‘Better Manitoba’. You have had six months to show Manitobans you value personal and property rights in this province.” While Riley ignored MBLC demands that Hydro executives sit down and negotiate with CAEPLA, the landowners’ chosen and legal bargaining agent, he instead suggested he would meet with MBLC and CAEPLA representatives himself later this month. “This is a very tough situation for you and your members… I would like to talk to you,” said Riley. Kohler and other MBLC members are not convinced meeting with the Board chair would be useful and were disappointed in his dismissive attitude toward meeting directly with landowner negotiators. “This has dragged on for 4 years, and multiple meetings that have done nothing but drag this out and delay a practical, win, win resolution,” Kohler said. “We are not asking Mr. Riley for yet another meet and greet. We are asking for the return of our stolen property, the return of our expropriated land, and for Hydro executives to do the honest and honourable thing and meet us at the bargaining table.” MBLC committee member Heidi Wiens targeted the Pallister government with additional questions. “Manitoba Hydro employees continue to skulk around landowners’ properties to pressure and harass landowners into signing flawed easement agreements. Does the PC government have any intention of directing Manitoba Hydro to negotiate a fair business agreement with landowners? Does the PC government have any intention of restoring and respecting property rights in this province? We want to know,” Wiens asked. “You promised us a ‘Better Manitoba’. You have had six months to show Manitobans you value personal and property rights in this province.”
October 28, 2016
The AgriPost
Rivers Host to Manitoba Rural Women’s Day
By Joan Airey Recently the first Manitoba Rural Women’s Day was held at the Rivers Legion Hall with over a hundred people attending a workshop jammed packed with information on “Achieving Family Harmony” organized by Manitoba Women’s Institute members. A second workshop is scheduled for Dugald on October 29 followed by Manitoba Farm Women’s Conference, which will be held in Portage la Prairie from November 20-22. “Just think of the difference of getting to this event in 1910. In 1910, it would have been by horse and buggy. I would have had to start out early yesterday to come from my home near Eden and then spend the night with a friend. While today, I jumped in the car and was here in less than two hours. Now women still enjoy the idea of getting together to learn for their own benefit, for the benefit of their families and their community. That hasn’t changed over the years,” said Adelaide Hunter Hoodless co-founder of Women’s Institutes (WI) in Canada. The important role of rural women in their community was a theme throughout the day. “Educate a boy and you educate a man, but educate a girl and you educate a family. Each of us will go home with new information or a new idea to share with a member of our family, a friend or at a community function,” said Ann Mandziuk the WI President. Gerry Friesen, of Signature Mediation told how he asked a woman how she had stayed married sixty-five years. She replied, “We were born in a time when if something was broken you fixed it rather than throw it away.” “Relationships provide us with identity, purpose and direction. In essence, relationships and therefore community is a life giving, life defining, and life nurturing process. Just because one person is right, doesn’t mean the other person is wrong. You have to look at life from both sides in conflicts,” said Friesen. “The stats came from a book called The One Thing-The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results, by Gary Keller with Jay Papsan. What the stats were saying was that 39.5% of people who write down their goals and dreams are successful in reaching them. That 76.7% of people who wrote their goals and dreams down and reviewed them weekly were successful in reaching them. Many people do not set goals. Goal setting has only been lately truly recognised as something of value, and even so by a limited number of people. One of my colleagues at National Best Financial Network has developed the Eight Step Dream Plan, designed to help people set and reach their goals. I believe that everyone should set goals and figure out what their dreams are both in their business and personal lives. We all need a road map to reach our destination, would you agree?” asked Shirley Scott, Business Director with National Best to the attendees. After lunch, a Fireside Chat was held on conflict within a family. Moderator Marina James who is founder of SHE Day (Share, Hear-Empower) led the chat “Dealing with Family Conflict alongside panellists Vicki Olatundun the Executive Director with Steinbach Family Resource Centre, Wilma Derksen with White Banners and Karen Kaplen with the Women’s Institute-Winnipeg/Interlake. “The highlight of the day for me was the Fireside Chat, a conversation about achieving family harmony. The four women participating all spoke candidly about their experiences, both personal and professional, and gave some positive, practical advice on how to deal with family conflict. “Together we are stronger” and “Family first” were themes. The bottom line was that communication among family members is of vital importance, and often, the most effective
communication is face-to-face,” said Dianne Kowalchuk a member of the Manitoba Women’s Institute and Editor of the Institute News. Insights into our attachments and our own behaviour within the dynamics of family were well received by participants in the workshop discussion titled “Effective Family Communication”. “Adult Attachment Theory provides a link between emotions and behaviour as it relates to relationships. Understanding our own attachment needs can inform us of our own patterns of behaviour and emotion and how this interacts with our partner’s attachment need, emotions and behaviours,” said Marsha Harris, BA, NNFT, a Counsellor at Brandon University. An hour session at the end of the day provided time for everyone attending to connect and chat with the speakers and sponsor of the event. Organizers said that this is the first year the organization has hosted Manitoba Rural Women’s Day and plans are already in the works for 2017.
Gerry Friesen of Signature Mediation speaking at the first Manitoba Rural Women’s Day.
Photo by Joan Airey
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October 28, 2016
October 28, 2016
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HyLife Expansion in Neepawa Includes More Finishing Barns By Harry Siemens HyLife has announced a $125 million expansion and modernization for its meat processing plant in Neepawa, because of the steady growth in demand for its high-quality pork product. The company has determined it needs to modernize and expand to its Integrated Pork Production and Processing System, starting as early as 2017. This will include another expansion of HyLife’s flagship pork processing facility in Neepawa, due to export growth with the developments in the Japanese and Chinese markets. The scale of market growth is rewarding and the investment is sending the signal the company can do even more. “This new investment in Manitoba will mean not only more jobs across the province but a greater demand for value-added pork thanks to our integrated system and our great primary producer partners,” said HyLife President, Claude Vielfaure. HyLife has become Canada’s number one fresh chilled pork exporter to Japan, returning $200 million worth of sales from the Japanese market annually. HyLife recently opened a restaurant in the trendy Daikanyama district of Tokyo to further highlight the quality and taste profile that HyLife pork delivers. “HyLife has taken that unique Japanese consumer demand for its domestic pork and worked tirelessly to recreate this taste profile at home in our integrated production and processing system,” said Vielfaure. “The result is a solid and growing base of Japanese consumers seeking to buy HyLife’s premium fresh chilled pork products, which we grow and process right here in Manitoba.” HyLife also has a steady presence in the Chinese market, grossing $80 million in sales annually since breaking into the market in 2008. While in China with Prime Minister Trudeau in early September, HyLife announced a contract with the Chinese e-commerce platform, JD.com. “To meet growing demand and address international competitive pressure, the time has come to reinvest back into HyLife’s integrated system,” he said. “HyLife envisions expanding the Neepawa plant by moving to a full double shift and adopting innovative technologies to improve yields and processes and increase shelf life.” Hylife also plans to con-
HyLife plant in Neepawa to see capital improvements as early as 2017.
struct new finishing barns and a feed mill. This will bring up to 165 new jobs to the communities HyLife operates in and will increase its total employee base to approximately 2,000. “Our company has grown significantly over the last few years and we purchased the Neepawa processing plant in 2008 and had 300 employees, invested heavily over the years and now we are at 1,200 employees,” said Vielfaure. “We’ve grown our markets all over the world, specifically in Japan and China and the demand for our product has outgrown our supplies.” “We’re looking to expand our plant by 130,000 square feet which will include a much bigger cut floor than we have today, packaging, shipping. We’re going to put a lot of innovation in the plant and improve our processes so it should become a very world class plant after we’re done,” explained Vielfaure. “Part of the project is we’re going to have to add some infrastructure, like a feed mill and some finishing barns.” HyLife sells weanerfeeder pigs into the United States, but once they build their new feeder barns, the company will keep and finish pigs here in the province and process in their Neepawa plant. The company has not yet determined if the new feeder barns will all be built in Manitoba. Recently, the Americans cancelled the M-COOL program for pigs and cattle, but so far, it has not changed pork exports to the US. “Because of M-COOL we have never targeted the US fresh pork sales. Maybe that will open up more but for now we have targeted other markets,” said Vielfaure. “If the plant in Neepawa needs pigs, then it doesn’t make much sense to send live pigs south.” He said HyLife will work with the industry and government to determine where and how best to build those proposed finishing barns. Whether producers can get involved, Vielfaure said that they would look at all options to purchase pigs and therefore are open to anything.
“The PED virus is part of the scary part of our business as it keeps nipping us on the side here and we try to do things to make sure it doesn’t spread more in western Canada,” he continued. “Three months ago we invested into a big trailer wash in Neepawa where they get washed and baked to kill any bacteria and viruses in the trailer and will build one in La Broquerie too. It is new technology; if you bake the trailers it is almost foolproof.”
Eradicating Scrapie in Sheep and Goat Herds The Federal Government has announced funding of up to $345,720 to the Canadian Sheep Federation (CSF) to implement the Scrapie Eradication Strategic Plan for the sheep and goat industries. This project will provide sheep and goat producers with the information and tools necessary to combat scrapie, a fatal disease affecting sheep and goats. The project will help mitigate economic losses to sheep and goat producers, reduce the cost of disease control actions, regain market access, and explore new market opportunities. Canada is world-renowned for its high-quality livestock. For 2014, Canadian farm cash receipts for goats, sheep and lambs totaled nearly $187 million. The Plan will expand on the existing the Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program (VSFCP), a national flock/herd scrapie risk management program available to any sheep or goat farmer in Canada who agrees to meet the requirements of the program. “This program will move the small ruminant industry closer to negligible risk status for scrapie, with a goal of protecting Canadian farmers from disease loses, re-establishing lost markets and creating opportunities for future trade,” said Canadian Sheep Federation Chairman, Phil Kolodychuk.
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Low Quality Bumper Hay Crop Slows Down Southern Sales By Les Kletke The trip to Madison, Wisconsin and the World Dairy Expo may not pay immediate dividends for Manitoba’s hay producers, but they are aware that by attending the show for over twenty years it is part of an effort to build their business. Jake Hoeppner of Altona acknowledged that he does not have prime hay to sell this year. “We have gotten to know the market and when we cannot get it up in good quality, we roll it up and it stays local,” he said. “We need to have good quality to make it work in the export market when transportation costs come in to play.” His area received nearly twice the normal precipitation during the growing season and while it helps with the volume, it made it impossible to put up a quality product. The above average precipitation was a double-edged sword for hay producers this year in making it a challenging year. Across much of the Midwest it means a smaller than normal demand. Some cattlemen in northwest Kansas are reporting 3 years of normal hay crop this year. “That takes a lot of the demand out of the market,” said Chris Kletke
Manitoba Hay Producers make their annual trek to Madison and World Dairy Expo. Chris Kletke, far right, says that the rain increased production but hurt quality this year.
of Brunkild who was part of the Manitoba delegation at Madison. “Some areas that are normally buyers are out of the market or might even be selling this year.” Darren Chapman said the wet conditions were a problem in western Manitoba as well and not only on hay production. “The hills gave us a good crop and our flat land had a lot of crop drown out,” he said. All three agree they are not in the hay business short term and the trip to Madison was not about sales for this year. It has been a long journey to establish Manitoba as a reli-
able producer and they need to be at the show to maintain a presence with their customers. “Rain makes grain,” said Kletke. “It was a year that produced a good crop but along with that came some challenges in getting it off, and it is the same thing in the hay business. The moisture makes for a good volume of crop but it was a challenge to get it off in good condition,” said Kletke. The low Canadian dollar has helped export sales but the trio say that transportation costs have continued to climb over the years and that places them at a disadvantage.
Tackling the MexicoCanada Agri-Food Trade Deficit with Beef Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, and Chrystia Freeland, Minister of International Trade, announced that the Government of Canada has secured expanded market access for Canadian beef and beef products of all ages to Mexico, consistent with recommendations from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). The expanded access will allow for open trade in beef, and beef products throughout North America. “Canada is pleased with Mexico’s commitment to restore access for Canadian beef. It is an important milestone, which underscores the strength of our bilateral agricultural trade relationship with Mexico. This expanded access, based on sound scientific principles, will create new opportunities to export even more high-quality Canadian beef to Mexico while putting more money in the pockets of farmers and help grow the middle class,” said MP MacAulay. The announcement comes as MacAulay wrapped up his first official visit to Mexico where he met with Mexican Secretary of Agriculture José Calzada to build on the two countries’ long-standing partnership in agricultural trade. They discussed areas of opportunity to increase the competitiveness of their agricultural sectors. Minister MacAulay also provided opening remarks at the Canada Beef Inc. Gala Dinner where he promoted the Canada Beef brand by emphasizing Canada’s safe, high quality and sustainably produced beef. Canadian industry has projected that the value of this expanded access for beef to Mexico will result in incremental sales valued at $10 million annually and that total annual sales of beef to Mexico could eventually exceed $200 million. Fresh, boneless beef is Canada’s third highest grossing export to Mexico. The top two exports are Canola seeds and Non-durum wheat, other than seed for sowing. Refined canola oil and fresh pork also round up the top five agri-food exports to Mexico. The deal is expected to partially offset the increasing agri-food trade deficit with Mexico. The market has the tenth largest population in the world at over 127 million people. In 2015, domestic agri-food exports to Mexico were $1.74 billion while same sector imports from Mexico stood at $2.09 billion. The overall agri-food trade deficit has increased substantially from 2013. In 2013, Canada had a positive agri-food trade balance with Mexico at $80 million, which is in sharp contrast to the 2015 Canadian agri-food deficit of $356 million.
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The AgriPost
The Drive Behind a One-Stop Bean Shop By Les Kletke Alvin Klassen is well on his way to build the one stop dry bean shop. Klassen who calls Thornhill home has travelled thousands of miles this summer to every dry bean growing area of the continent to make connections and get a feel for the crop. “We have a website up and running that provides growers with information from every bean growing area on the continent,” he said. “Growers can access that information and use it in their plans for growing and marketing beans.” Klassen spent nearly a decade in the bean business for a major processor in western Canada and is familiar with most aspects of the business. He is candid about his expansion plans. “I had hoped that the industry would see the value in a comprehensive site that would be a one stop place for information, but some of the companies feel they have the system in place to collect the information themselves and use it to their advantage. I hope to grow past that.” Currently the website is funded by subscriptions from bean producers and corporate sponsors. “We have a number of seed companies and equipment manufacturers that have got on board with the idea and are part of our website,” he said. “I wanted to get the site up and running to show farmers the value in it before a sales drive.” He knows the bean business and that summer is not the time to attract farmers to a website. “They are in production mode and are out in the bean field. Now that harvest is over I will be getting back to the farmers I spoke to about using the service.” Klassen does have a handle on Manitoba production and said that the wet weather took its toll. “We have 114,000 acres of dry beans in the province and 12,000 were either reseeded or lost completely due to wet weather. That is nearly 10% of the crop that was negatively impacted by the excess moisture,” he said. “There was an area south of Plum Coulee that got 34 inches of rain during the growing season.” He has engaged several weather services for the Bean World website (drybeanworld. com) and is hopeful that the comprehensive weather information will drive growers to the site and be the first step in convincing them to be subscribers. On the other end of the spectrum, he has information about the bean crop and sales from Mexico. “Growers need to know when we are selling into Mexico and when they are exporting beans from Mexico. That is the kind of information that we will provide,” said Klassen.
US Dairy Producer Likes the Canadian Operating Style
Becky and Tucker Gretebeck are happy producing organic milk for a growing market.
By Les Kletke Tucker Gretebeck produces organic milk in the heart of America’s dairy land and competes with traditional milk production quiet favourably. “The system is just like Canada,” he said. “It has allowed me to get into the dairy business and make a living.” The system he compares to the Canadian supply management system is producing milk for Organic Valley Farms. The system he operates in may not be exactly like a supply management system it resembles more a co-operative business. “We get paid a flex price,” he said. “We are guaranteed a price that pays us a premium on organic production. Then in about the middle of the year we are told how much production the company will need to meet the market demand and what the premium will be for that. Then the price is adjusted.” Gretebeck said the growth in demand for organic milk has allowed the company to provide premiums for the past10 years he has been producing for them. Organic Valley is headquartered in La Farge, Wisconsin, markets dairy products, eggs, and has a field crop division. His wife Becky works in the Research and Development portion of the company. “It is not just organic milk,” said Becky, “The Company has a full line of dairy products that compete with the conventional products in the grocery store. In most stores it is a label side by side with traditional brands.” Gretebeck said it has been a transition to organic production and he is still learning. “I had to change my cows from the big Holsteins to smaller animals that work well on grass,” he said. “We don’t have any of those 1,200 lb. cows anymore, we have smaller cross bred cows and we have learned to grow crops that work well feeding them.” His 50 cows are a mix of Mount Billiard and Normandy along with the traditional Holstein breed that is dominant in Wisconsin dairies. He has switched his 350-acre farm to pasture and hay production. “We had to learn to grow other crops like red clover to replace the alfalfa and we use sorghum,” he said. “It is a process and we are still learning but this system has allowed us to be in the dairy business and with the current prices for commercial milk in the US we could not do that otherwise.” The company has 1,600 farms on contract production and Gretebeck expects that number to increase.
Manitoba Beef Producers’ District Meetings Set the Path for Future Growth Manitoba Beef Producers’ (MBP) annual tour of the province is underway for 14 Districts starting in District 11 at Ashern until November 16 in Carman. “We strongly encourage all of our members to attend their district meetings,” said MBP President Heinz Reimer. “This is a member driven association and their input is needed to help shape the association’s direction and focus. The meeting is also their opportunity to bring forward resolutions for the annual general meeting in February.” Aside from the update on MBP’s activities and a review of the financial report, the meetings will include a discussion on growing Manitoba’s overall herd numbers and the programs and policies needed to help spark an increase. “Recently Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler said he would like to see the province’s beef cow herd grow to 750,000 over the next decade,” Reimer said. “It is important for us to know what type of policies and tools members see as key to achieving this, be it targeted business risk management programs, enhanced lending tools, research into production efficiencies, a strong labour supply, sound water management strategies, access to Crown lands and community pastures or other needs. Member input on this subject would be very valuable.” Elections for directors will be held in odd numbered districts this year. A new director will be selected for District 11 where current director Caron Clarke has reached her term limit and will be retiring. There is no cost for members to attend the meetings. Each meeting begins at 6 pm and will include a free beef on a bun supper. A complete list of district meeting dates and locations can be found at mbbeef.ca/district meetings.
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Once Upon a Tire... a Tractor Ahead of Its Time By Les Kletke John Braun remembers his Dad buying a new Oliver 88 in February of 1952 and that tractor was driven in this year’s Tractor Trek from Steinbach to Richer. Braun who has rented out his land still keeps the tractor shedded, and while he doesn’t drive it much, has plans to take part in next year’s trek
as well. “It was a good run,” said Braun. He still lives on the same farm that the 1952 tractor went back to. Braun was 16 when his dad bought the tractor new and he remembers what his dad gave up for it. “He traded a WD 30 International,” he said. “This was on rubber and the gears were so much better.” The
farm was a mile and half from St. Elizabeth and the drive home was a pleasant treat on rubber tires. At the time, St. Elizabeth had both an Oliver and Massey Harris dealer. Braun said his father chose the Oliver because of the transmission. Not only was the Oliver more powerful - delivering 36 horsepower, but the gear
ratio was better for plowing, the most common method of soil preparation at the time. “It was rated a ‘3-plow tractor’,” he said, “and we would plow in either 3rd or 4th gear.We used it for seeding with a 28 run drill.” The Oliver was the big tractor on the farm at the time and not only used for fieldwork. It was equipped John Braun drove in this years Eastern Tractor Trek and plans to be back next
with a pulley and saw duty as the power plant for the crusher as well. “We used it for crushing, and making feed,” said Braun. “We did not have a loader for it.” The 88 was built from 1947 to 54 at the plant in Charles City, Iowa. It is powered by a 3.8 litre diesel engine that was built by Waukesha Oliver. There was also a 3.8 litre gas engine available. The tractor underwent a complete restyling in 1948 with increased sheet
John Braun remembers his Dad buying this Oliver new in 1952.
metal and streamlining that resulted in a model then known as the Fleetline. Braun had the tractor sandblasted and repainted in Rosenort in 2000. As a lifelong bachelor, he has no heir apparent for the tractor when he is done with it, but still plans on driving it a few more years.
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Farmer Spends Thousands of Man Hours to Create Dragway By Joan Airey Henry Lepp grew up on a farm in the Rivers area and briefly in 1969 when he was in grade six he spent a year in Paraguay. In the same area as where the family farm was Lepp now owns his own organic farm where he grows fall rye, barley, peas and alfalfa. His ambitions do not stop at farming though. Lepp owns Springland Manufacturing with his brothers John and Herman. He has a Masters in Engineering and designs some of the equipment they manufacture. “We started Springland Manufacturing in our dad Peter H. Lepp’s shop on the family farm in 1985. We build grain handling equipment, sweep augers for farms and commercial companies. In 2011 we purchased the old air base near Rivers and have since started manufacturing there as well as on the farm,” said Lepp. Back in grade, twelve he started drag racing and has never lost interest in the sport since. Over the years, he has raced at Gimili, Minot, Jamestown, Altona, and Neepawa. This summer Lepp along with a group of dedicated people started to turn one of the runways on the old airbase into a drag strip. “We had to put in guard rails, install timing system, build the tower, admission booth and starter booth. We had to build a fence to keep spectators away from the racing area. We put rubber on the track by dragging a tire scraper tire on the track then sprayed a traction compound on it,” said Lepp. To drive a dragster you have to have a special licence. To get a license you have to race in front of three licensed NHRA or IHRA drivers at a sanctioned track. Then you
can get a license from NHRA or IHRA depending where you were tested. “We held the first drag races at our new track October 15, 2016. Over fifty cars participated with a car from Sioux Lookout being from the furthest away and its pit crew was from Edmonton. A high light of the day was Daryl Forrest from Winnipeg who brought out his Alcohol Dragster (1600 horsepower) and put on an exhibition run. Our timing system is run by three laptops which have to be linked together. After the end of each race, the printer prints the time slip. Win or lose each driver gets a time slip,” said Lepp. He explained that anyone can be competitive because slower cars get a handy cap at the line. In the morning cars get three time trials. This lets racers know how fast their car is goes. They write the time on the window, called a dial-in. “Drivers have to watch the lights on the start tree. So the car in left lane can have a 6.2 second dial-in on the window and the car in the right lane has a 6.9 dial-in. The times are put into the computer and the start tree starts on the right, .7 of a second sooner than the left. A driver pulls up to the starting line. The front tire breaks a beam and lights the prestage amber bulb. They creep ahead till the stage amber bulb comes on. When both lanes have a stage light on the tree, it is started by computer. The next three amber lights come on starting at the top .5 seconds apart, then the green lights and the race is underway. If a car leaves before the green the red comes on and the car is disqualified. Also if a car goes quicker than the time on the window it is called a breakout and the car is also disqualified,” said Lepp. Rivers Fire Truck, Ambulance and High-Way Collision
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were on site the day of the races as a safety precaution. Future plans include hosting three weekends of racing in 2017, expanding to a hundred and seventy pits and installing scoreboards. He recollected that the first car he restored was a 1970 Chevy SS. Now Lepp owns a 1965 Malibu SS with a 396 engine. There were only two hundred manufactured at the time. Collecting and restoring cars is an interest Lepp has always had, besides drag racing and manufacturing farm machinery. They can be found of Facebook at Baseline Dragway.
Henry Lepp’s dream came true after thousands of hours of hard work making Baseline Dragway a Reality. Cars lined up race day at Baseline Dragway.
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Know the Problems Dealt by Wet Corn Silage in Dairy Diets This autumn, I have seen a variety of cornfields being chopped into corn silage for dairy cattle. While some of this corn was dried down enough to make some good quality corn silage, I was surprised when I saw some producers literarily harvested green chop. After all, they were faced with another rain shower, which forced them to make wet corn silage. However, they should know the problems of wet corn silage and be prepared to deal with it, when the bunk or silo is opened. As a dairy nutritionist, I consider any ensiled corn silage to be too wet, when its dry matter content falls below 30%, which makes ensiling the crop for good silage difficult in the first place. The best corn silage fermentation occurs when whole plant moisture is between 65 – 70%. This is the standard recommendation for making corn silage in horizontal bags and bunker silos, with a slight drier allowance in tall tower silos.
Here are some of the important guidelines* for well-preserved corn silage:
*source: University of Delaware.
Consequently, harvesting corn silage at moistures above this threshold of 70% yields not only less dry matter content, but may result in seepage of essential nutrients such as soluble proteins and energy-enriched starch and sugars. Rather than promote anaerobic lactobacillus fermentation, which produces high levels of lactic acid to lower the pH in order to preserve corn silage, clostridia fermentation is allowed. Clostridia bacteria fermenters convert forage starches, sugars and organic acids into butyric acid as well as dietary protein into ammonia. This type of fermentation is very inefficient, which often leads to high dry matter losses, a higher pH and high levels of butyric acid; which gives the silage a smell like rancid peanut butter and/or spoiled fish. When such butyrate-containing silage in a TMR is fed to lactating dairy cows; dry matter intake and thus milk production often suffers. Aside from these palatability issues caused by butyric acid content, the excess water content alone may create physical problems of getting lactating dairy cows to consume enough dry matter of the entire diet. It might result in a significant reduction of all essential nutrients destine for milk production. For example, a group of early lactation cows eat 90 lb of a dairy diet with a total moisture content of 48%, calculates into a base consumption of 47 lbs of dry matter intake (DMI). Let’s assume that the moisture content of a new bunk of corn silage (2016) making up 40% (DMI) of this lactation diet is 72% moisture, compared to the previous year’s 67% moisture. Now, the new diet is wetter by 5%. Without adjustments, these cows are forced to eat 100 lb of the new diet on an “as is” basis to consume the same DMI. If there are a large proportion of first calf heifers in this early lactation group, they most likely will not be able to eat this much feed. The point of the above lesson is, “Don’t be caught off guard when dealing with wet corn silage!” That means that dairy producers should choose the best method that works for them in determining the moisture content of post-ensiled corn silage samples. While there are many ways to test moisture content in feeds, I like the two easy-to-do approaches; namely, using a Koster tester or by Microwave oven (MV). Interestingly, the Koster tester is an electrical dryer that is specifically designed for drying forages and wet feeds, and determining their moisture content. This apparatus has a heating element and fan built in its base by which hot air is blown through the feed sample placed on a built-in screen for moisture determination. Its drying procedure takes about 20 – 25 minutes. Sample loss tends to be a small problem in using the Koster tester. Likewise, the common microwave oven provides a quick means of drying samples. Its greatest challenge is to avoid burning samples, when they get crispy (re: recommended to place a small amount of water in oven). MV drying time is about 5 – 10 minutes for most wet feeds. Regardless of which methods is preferred in determining the moisture content of one’s corn silage and other feeds, it sometimes takes a bit of practice to refine their similar procedures in order to achieve the most accurate moisture results. Luckily, some dairy producers took as routine pre-harvest corn silage samples. They did this by a sweep of a harvester or yard-cutter, which allowed them to possibly delay harvest and allow standing corn plants to wilt down further. Such opportunity tends to lessen corn silage that is ensiled too wet. I am also a big believer in that all producers should take post-ensiled corn silage test samples, simply because this is the feed that is going to be put in the feed bunk. I have seen many problems associated with wet corn silage from its preservation to the negative feeding effects upon good palatability, nutrition and thus milk production. Therefore, I strongly recommend that all producers study their corn silage’s nutrient and moisture results and take possible action, even before any adjustments are made to the lactating dairy diets.
The AgriPost
The Three-Wheel Tractor Craze
The images of the 1916 Brandon Light Tractor Plowing Demonstration show a significant craze in tractor design, which was sweeping North America. By 1916, the day of the Prairie style gas tractor was ending. Designers and manufacturers realized they needed tractors, which were suitable for smaller farms and for jobs such as seeding, harrowing and grain binding. Cost was also a concern as the industry realized that if tractors were to replace horses, then manufacturing cost needed to be held down. This need to reduce cost led to the threewheeler craze. It appears that D.M. Hartsough realized that if one designed a tractor with only one wheel being driven, then one could avoid the need for a differential and would reduce the cost of the tractor. Hartsough had been involved with tractor design beginning with early experiments in 1899 and went on to design the Big Four tractors built by the Gas Traction Company. He ended up designing the Bull tractor in 1914. It was a very odd-looking tractor with one large rear wheel, which was driven. In addition, another rear wheel was much smaller and not driven. The tractor design had one wheel at the front but in line with the rear drive wheel. A further oddity was that the small rear wheel could be adjusted up and down by means of a crank. When plowing, the rear drive wheel and front wheel ran in the furrow. By adjusting the small rear wheel, you could keep the tractor level. The big downfall to the Bull tractor was that it was not very powerful being rated as 5 hp at the drawbar and 12 hp on the belt. The Bull also had the alarming ability to sometimes fall over on its right side when making a right hand turn. The problem occurred enough times, that later Bulls had a substantial metal rod hinged and hanging down from the outside of the right fender. As the tractor be-
gan to tip over, the rod swung out, contacted the ground and arrested the fall. The Bull was cheap however, costing less than $500 and 3,800 Bulls sold in the first 9 months. With a sales success like this, other manufacturers began to copy the Bull design. The Bull tractor and other three wheelers appeared at the 1916 Brandon Tractor Demonstrations. The Peoria 8-20 tractor and Grain Growers Special 12-24 tractor were very similar to the Bull design. Under its tin work, the Case 10-20 was also quite similar to the Bull. Emerson Brantingham’s Model L 1020 tractor and the Hart Parr “Little Devil” were variations on the three-wheel design. They had only one rear wheel with two front steering wheels while the rear wheel was driven. Little is known about the Peoria 8-20. It apparently was equipped with a Beaver 4 cylinder engine and sold for $685 in the US. The Grain Growers Special 12-24 was a tractor sold
by the Grain Growers Grain Company that later became the United Grain Growers. The Grain Growers signed a 5-year contract with the Minneapolis Steel and Machinery (MS&M) Company for a supply of the MS & M’s Twin City Twentieth Century tractor, which the Grain Growers rebadged as the Grain Growers Special. MS & M was the manufacturer of the Twin City line of tractors and in 1914 was manufacturing Bull tractors for Bull Tractor Company. The Twentieth Century tractor was sold only in Canada. The tractor was larger than a Bull tractor and was equipped with a two cylinder opposed engine. While the contract was signed for 5 years, MS & M appears to have quit manufacturing the tractor in 1917. Also, the Canadian Government changed the rules of valuing machinery brought into Canada in 1916, which increased the duties collected, and consequently the prices of machinery. While this rule did not last long in the face of serious complaints, the Grain Growers had difficult time selling farm machinery at the time. By 1922, the Grain Growers was out of the farm machinery business altogether. The Case company entered the three-wheeled tractor business in 1915 when it introduced the 10-20 tractor. It was equipped with a 4-cylinder vertical engine, which was successful enough that it was used on the Case cross mount tractors. The Case 10-20 possessed the ability to power the left hand rear wheel in the
forward gear only. No other three-wheeler design appears to have had this option. The Model L was Emerson Brantingham’s initial foray into small tractor design but could not be called a success as the engine had numerous design and manufacturing
October 28, 2016 flaws. The Hart Parr “Little Devil” was aptly named as it was powered with a 2-stroke engine. It was possible for this engine to run in reverse and it would do so when lugged right down. Of course, when it began running in reverse, the drive train began running in reverse, which meant the
tractor was backing up. All of this could happen very suddenly. The operators’ seat was rather exposed and a less than alert operator could be crushed between the tractor and implement. Most Little Devil tractors were soon recalled by Hart Parr and
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scrapped. While the Happy Farmer tractor looked very similar to the Bull tractor, it possessed two driven rear wheels. It is said of the Happy Farmer tractor that it made its owner happy on two occasions only, the day it arrived on the farm and the day it left. D.M. Hartsough designed the Happy Farmer shortly after he designed the Bull tractor. Hartsough had fallen out with his partner in the Bull Company and left the company to go to Happy Farmer. D.M. Hartsough was a prolific designer involved with the Big 4 tractor, the Bull tractor, Happy Farmer tractor, Lion tractor, possibly the Minneapolis Ford tractor, and the LaCrosse tractor, all within twenty years. The early years of the tractor business was a very interesting affair with various designers working for competing companies almost at the same time. Some companies manufactured tractors for other companies and stole their ideas if not designs. The three-wheeler craze did not last long as the design was just too limited. Bull was bankrupt by 1920 and other manufacturers of three wheel tractors turned to designs that are more conventional. Case was the exception as the Case 10-20 stayed in production until 1922. The Manitoba Agricultural Museum is open year round and operates a website at agmuseum.mb.ca.
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Millions of Meals Depend on FCC’s Drive Away Hunger
Farm Credit Canada (FCC), along with its partners, participating schools and volunteers have provided over 6.7 million meals for food banks nationwide, far surpassing this year’s goal. “FCC Drive Away Hunger is about working with our partners, FCC offices and schools across Canada toward a common goal of reducing hunger in our communities,” said Michael
Hoffort, FCC president and CEO. “It draws an important connection between those who produce our food and those in need of a helping hand.” “I’m once again overwhelmed by the generous support of our customers and partners. We couldn’t have done this without them,” Hoffort said. FCC Drive Away Hunger involves driving a tractor and
trailer through communities to collect food and cash donations for food banks across the country. During the week of October 10, FCC teams drove tractors through communities in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick. “We believe in this cause and we’re thankful to everyone who contributed, from the hundreds of employees who participated in their company’s food drive to the students who took the time to collect items from home to donate through their school,” Hoffort said. “No matter the size of the donation, it all makes a huge difference in someone’s life.” FCC Drive Away Hunger is FCC’s flagship community investment program. Since 2004, FCC employees, customers and community partners have provided over 33 million meals to food banks in Canada. To learn more, visit fccdriveawayhunger.ca.
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Preconditioned Calves are Worth More in a Bear Market
By Peter Vitti The weaned calf market reached a peak in the fall of 2014. Since then mixed with lots of volatility, the value of weaned spring calves this fall are roughly worth half of the paid out nearly two years ago. Many cow-calf producers who sell weaned calves to feedlots are asking if the practice of preconditioning calves is really worth it. Yes, I believe that preconditioning calves, especially in today’s bear market is profitable, because it adds more value to a saleable product, which traditionally attracts cattle buyers. Such preconditioning value is locked up by feedlot-destined calves that have been vaccinated, castrated, dehorned, low-stress weaned, has some feed-bunk/waterer experience while eating a nutritious post-weaning diet for at least 45 days. I find that much of this value can be illustrated on a three-P approach of practical benefits, profitable economics and positive experience. Practical benefit can be realized almost immediately. This first-P allow producers to sell more pounds of calf on a live-weight basis after preconditioning, rather than selling lighter off-the-cow weaned calves. For example, preconditioning calves that graduate from a 45-day post-weaning feed and management program are geared to gain 2 lb per day or about 90 lbs more marketable weight. Given today’s feeder prices, the gross revenue for these heavier calves range from $140 - $160 per head. Another practical benefit can be acquired through low-stress weaning of preconditioning calves in the first place. These humane methods of weaning calves include: complete separation (on-farm), fence-lining weaning and two-step weaning. In contrast, many calves that are not preconditioned are often “truck weaned” as a low cost management option. Available research data has proven that many of these truck weaned calves never fully recover and tend to cost feedlot operators about $25 - $125 per sick calf due to treatment costs, loss of feedlot performance and higher feedlot deaths. Furthermore, some university extension studies have estimated that non-conditioned calves such as “truck-weaned” calves will shrink upon transport to feedlots between 10 – 15%, while preconditioned calves will shrink only one-half as much. Both people whom truck-wean calves and a portion of producers that humanely wean calves in autumn have expressed to me that the economic benefit of preconditioning programs is inadequate. Their opinion cites an Alberta study (2012) that showed that pre-conditioned calf sales garnish an $8.00/cwt premium per spring calf by cattle buyers, but this extra $50 per 600 lb calves ($8 x 600 lb/100) doesn’t often cover the extra costs of pre-conditioning calves. They say this bonus is narrower during wide price variations due to heavier weight discounts and market seasonality. I disagree. For 2016, I present the following profitable preconditioning spreadsheet of profitable economics. This following table illustrates the *current financial status of truck-weaned calves compared to preconditioned calves reared on a 45-day post-weaning feeding program (gaining 2 lb per head, daily). Other preconditioned parameters include: 1. Premium is paid @ $8 per cwt, 2. Feed (forage, grain, mineral), health (vaccination, deworming, parasite), and yardage = $88, 3. Current market values used, where applicable and 4. Graduated bodyweight discount of $10/cwt.
*current financial status is based on time of writing (author) As a result, the final profit in this case is about $86 per preconditioned calf or about 97% ROI (return on investment). Even if we eliminated the shrink factor (re: calves were shipped to a dry-lot 25 km, away); a $51 per head would still be realized. In either case, this is evidence that extra revenue and profit should be drawn out from putting calves on a preconditioning program. Regardless of its profitability, one person that believes in preconditioning weaned calves is a person that I met at Forage Days in Vita, Manitoba, a couple of years ago. She said that her parents operate a 500 cow-calf operation near Brandon. Rather than ship their weaned calves out of province, they sell about 400 verified preconditioned calves to a local feedlot. Depending on cattle feeder prices, the feedlot paid a premium (undisclosed), which covered all costs of preconditioning plus a nominal profit. My friend said the profit wasn’t the reason that her parents preconditioned their calves, but rather they had a guaranteed market (without trucking logistics) for their calves. From such positive experience coupled with above practical and financial attributes, I believe it helps make preconditioned weaned calves simply worth more in today’s bear market. It should be a testament to all cow-calf producers. More so to people that usually ship their weaned calves right off the cow. In these latter cases, they should pencil out a similar spreadsheet to mine and see if pre-conditioning calves still “doesn’t pay” given their own situation. A positive bottom-line might convince them to consider preconditioning their weaned calves in the future.
The AgriPost
Central, Eastern Harvests Very Near Average By Elmer Heinrichs In its final 2016 crop report October 17, Manitoba Agriculture estimates that provincially the fall harvest is at 92 per cent complete. Cereal crops and field peas are about done, canola and edible beans, 95 per cent, soybeans, 88 per cent, flax, 50 per cent, sunflowers and grain corn 20-25 per cent complete. Crop yields in Manitoba are generally at or slightly above five-year averages. However, below average yields for various crop types were reported in some areas, largely due to extreme weather events during the growing season, including excess moisture, high winds causing lodging and hail. The quality for a majority of crop types is average to below average, with downgrading caused in large part by the wet harvest conditions and disease pressure. Germination and stand establishment of winter cereal crops is rated good to excellent, with seeded acreage stable or down slightly across the province. Fall fieldwork including tillage, soil testing, post-harvest weed control and fertilizer applications of anhydrous ammonia is ongoing and as field conditions allow. Harvest of later crops continues across the province as weather conditions permit. In Central regions, rains have caused on-going delays, but producers have made excellent progress on harvest and fieldwork. Isolated areas in the southeast part of the region toward Halbstadt are very wet, limiting harvest activity and fieldwork. The soybean harvest is close to complete, with yields averaging 40 to 45 bu/acre. Quality is good with most receiving the top grade. Higher yields were obtained in areas receiving timely rains. The sunflower harvest continues with early yield reports to date ranging from 700 up to 3,100 pounds an acre, perhaps averaging from 1,500 to 2,200 lbs/ac. The grain corn harvest continues. Early yields ranged from 90 to 200 bu/acre, with average yields running in the 130-150 bu/acre range. Final yields will likely be up over last year. Winter wheat yields ranged from 55 to 90 bu/acre, while spring wheat yielded an average of 55 to 70 bu/acre. Hard red wheat had the lowest yields but the best quality. Eastern regions too report continued showers and light rains, and farmers struggle through a particularly challenging harvest. Up to mid-October the soybean harvest was 85 per cent complete, with the corn crop about 15 per cent off, and only about a quarter of the sunflowers done. Winter wheat had an average yield of 75 bu/acre with 65 per cent of the crop grading No. 2, the balance Feed. Spring wheat averaged 55 bu/acre with 55 per cent of the crop grading No. 1. Canola averaged 35 bu/acre with 100 per cent of the crop grading No. 1. Soybeans averaged 42 bu/acre with 100 per cent graded as No. 2. Thus far, corn has averaged 120 bu/acre and graded No. 2. Sunflowers are averaging 1,500 lbs/acre, and with less head rot, quality is seen as good. Eastern rates hay supplies as 20 per cent surplus and 80 per cent adequate, straw supply is only 50 per cent adequate, and producers will have to supplement for energy and some for protein. Pastures remain in better condition than normal due to abundant moisture.
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It Is Your Obligation ...it is as important as putting food on the table day to day.
By Les Kletke “Farmers have an obligation to providing a succession plan. It is not about doing it when you get around to it, it is as important as putting food on the table day to day,” said Liz Robertson the Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Farm Advisors (CAFA). Robertson is passionate about the topic and has organized a daylong event for Manitoba farmers and advisors on November 10 in Niverville. “Farmers can come to the event and hear a variety of speakers and different aspects of what should be considered in a plan. The cost of the day is less that a single call to their lawyer or accountant,” she said. While CAFA normally focuses on train-the-trainer events that provide information to those involved in the business of advising farmers, this event is open to the public and she would like to see many farmers attend. One of the key note speakers scheduled for the event is Frank Wiebe of BDO. He will be explaining the Three Circle Model of Family Business Systems, which was developed by the Harvard Business School. Developed in the 1970s the system had become the standard in organizing and planning family businesses. The Three Circle Model is intended to clarify the framework of different groups in a family business and give them a picture of the interaction of these groups. “The day will give farmers a chance to see what should be involved in the transfer of the family business,” said Robertson. “It is about making them aware of the things they should be considering and hopefully get them started on a plan.” Elaine Froese is another one of the speakers in the program. She has made a business of helping families get through the tough questions that are involved. She cites examples of her own involvement in a farm as ‘the daughter-in-law’ and now as a farm wife, that is welcoming another generation into the farm business. “It is about changing the questions you ask,” said Froese. “It is the difference between family members and employees and family members who are almost employees. We need to know the expectations of the people involved and that only happens by discussion.” Robertson said the daylong event is intended to give farmers the information about what should be included in a succession plan but she is also hopeful that it will move some to action and begin the process on their farm. “This is an important issue in any farm operation and not something that can be done in one day, this is something that should begin early and evolve with the farm,” she said. “But if you did not begin when you started farming the best time to start is now.” Online registration is available at cafanet.ca/farm-succession-registration-niverville.
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The AgriPost
New Landmark on the Horizon By Les Kletke The prairie horizon had been undergoing a transition for several decades as wooden grain elevators once the staple of a communities skyline disappear and concrete elevators take their place not only on the skyline but in the transportation industry as well. Viterra held the official opening for its Ste. Agathe Elevator on October 21 and the facility is a prime example of the changes. The facility is just outside of the community and features a 134-car siding that has a track loop accessing both CN and BNSF rail lines. “Viterra has been working side by side with Manitoba farmers for over 100 years, connecting them to markets around the world,” said Kyle Jeworski. “While we’re very proud of our history, we’re also firmly focused on the future. Our significant investment in this new grain terminal demonstrates our confidence that southern Manitoba will continue to play an important role in Canadian and global agriculture for many more years to come.” The new facility has a storage capacity for 30,000 tonnes of grain and is equipped with the most modern high capacity loading equipment to facilitate the highest capacity of grain handle. “We’re very pleased with this highly efficient facility and what it will mean to farmers, suppliers and other stakeholders in this province and in this community,” Jeworski added. “We also recognize that any success we have as a company is directly attributed to our customers, who choose to trust us, to support us, and to provide us with the quality products we need to meet our end users’ expectations worldwide.” The facility will serve a much larger area than elevators of the past. “The days of loading a truck and heading into the local elevator are gone,” said Peter Dyck who farms west of Ste. Agathe. “We market our grain much further than the local elevator.” Dyck said that he had an average crop this year but faced some quality issues before getting the crop off. “Now that we
“Now that we have the crop off and know what we have, we’ll take the time to shop it around to different companies and see what they offer.” have the crop off and know what we have, we’ll take the time to shop it around to different companies and see what they offer,” he said. “This facility offers another option but the company has been around so it is not really new or another player in the game. We have seen consolidation in the industry take away some of our choice, and not many emerging to replace them.”
The AgriPost
The US Likes Trade… Really By Les Kletke The United States of America needs agricultural trade, despite what current presidential candidates may say about the matter or what their intentions are if elected. Joe Glauber, who was the USDA Chief Economist and Lead Agricultural Negotiator of the WTO Doha round said
Dr. Joe Glauber says the US has increased its agricultural production faster than its consumption and needs to increase trade.
“We have to remember that there are a number of components to these trade agreements and agriculture is just one.” that increases in agricultural production has outstripped the growth in demand in the US and that means that more agricultural production has to be exported. Glauber was at the University of Manitoba as the Daryl Kraft lecturer speaking on the US Trade policy in late October. He acknowledged that at the height of what was considered a Trade War in the in the 1990s the US consumed nearly 80% of its agricultural production and needed to find an export market for only about 20%. “That has changed,” he said. “We now export about 50% of the wheat we produce, a lot of the rice and the soybeans it has grown to where we export 1/3 of the crop. Most commodity groups are in favour of increasing trade.” He said the one exception is in its major crop, corn. “We
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saw that with the growth of the ethanol industry and usage of corn expanding we could increase production and the demand kept pace. That peaked in 2011 and now we are looking for some export markets,” said Glauber. He covered a number of topics relating to world trade including Britain’s departure from the European Union. “We have to remember that there are a number of components to these trade agreements and agriculture is just one. When countries make decisions like this there are other things involved,” he said. Glauber points out that there are many unknowns in agricultural production and that makes it difficult to predict where the US policy on agricultural trade will go. “We see a great deal of potential in the former Soviet Union and they could become major players in the market, South American has also increased its production and sales into the world market,” he noted. “We have seen a real change in Europe and the way it supports its farmers,” he said. “There have been major changes since the Uruguay Round of GATT,” said Glauber. He recently returned from a trip to western Africa and said that continent remains the wild card. “We don’t know what they will do with food production but we do know their population is increasing and that will mean a demand for food,” he said. “We also know that the US has to look at increasing agricultural exports.”
CFGB Harvest Nearly Done By Elmer Heinrichs To the end of October harvesting of crops for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank continues on community grow projects in various parts of the province. It has been a prolonged and wet harvest season, beginning in early August, and only now, in October some projects are taking off the last crops. Recently, on October 3, the Common Ground project at Rosenfeld harvested a 300acre field of soybeans. Coordinator Kevin Nickel said five combines, two grain carts and four trucks harvested the large field despite very wet conditions. Nickel said the crop yielded about 26 bushels an acre, some 8,000 bushels. “And with fertilizers and other inputs donated by a number of agri-businesses and farmers supplying machines
and time, we should be able to donate some $80,000 to $90,000 to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank,” he said. Earlier, heavy rains also affected the 150-acre CHUM project north of Altona, but Isaac Froese, Chair of the
committee, reported that four combines, four semi-trailer trucks and a grain cart helped out at the harvest, which yielded about 35 bushels an acre, worth about $50,000 for the Foodgrains Bank. Regional Representative
Harold Penner said less than 10 per cent of crops on grow projects are left to be harvested, and announced the fall banquets to thank volunteers at Rosenort and Brandon for November.
CFGB to Celebrate 40 Years of Grain Donations By Elmer Heinrichs It’s time for the annual Manitoba CFGB fall banquets, announced Harold Penner, Regional Representative for Foodgrains Bank, noting that only a small number of fields less than 10 per cent of the total crop are left to be harvested. But there will be a difference this year, said Penner. Both of the banquets will be held in rural areas, and there
will be a flashback to the beginnings of grain gathering for people in need. “The first will be on November 22 at the Rosenort Evangelical Mennonite Church, two miles south of Rosenort on River Road. It will mark the 40th anniversary of grain gathering for the MCC Food Bank, which later became the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. Forty years ago, farmers in
southern Manitoba began to gather wheat to be cleaned and bagged at Friesen Seeds at Rosenort, not far from Morris,” said Penner. “Wheat was collected from farmers and cleaned at Friesen Seeds near Rosenort in the fall of 1976, and the first shipment left Canada in 1977,” said Penner. “We want to honour that first beginning which led to Canadian Foodgrains Bank being incorporated in 1983. We hope that all [supporters] will be happy to drive out to Rosenort this year.” A second banquet honouring volunteers and supporters will be held at Brandon on November 24.
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The AgriPost