AgriPost September 28 2018

The AgriPost

September 28, 2018

Additional Funding Available to Livestock Producers to Combat Dry Conditions

Landmark Growing Project Harvest’s Special Connection

“Opa will be smiling from heaven today,” 18-year-old Joshua Giesbrecht told his mother when he woke up on August 18, the day of the annual Landmark Manitoba Canadian Foodgrains Bank growing project harvest. Not only was it the first time the grade 12 student got to drive a combine for the growing project harvest, it was special for another reason - Joshua is the grandson of the Foodgrains Bank’s first executive director, Wilbert Loewen. Loewen, who died in 2016, served in that capacity from 1979-90. “It felt good to participate, knowing my Opa started this,” Joshua said after he and eight other farmers combined 60 acres of canola. “I was thinking of him all the time I was driving the combine.”

Photo by John Longhurst SEE STORY ON PAGE 2...

The Manitoba government is taking another step to help livestock producers who have been affected by dry conditions across the province.

“Manitoba Agriculture supports our livestock sector across the province, and we recognize that many areas are feeling the effects of the hot, dry summer,” said Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler. “Effective management of both surface and groundwater sources used for livestock production is essential for ensuring the health and longevity of the livestock, pastures and associated water sources.”

Ag Action Manitoba Assurance: Beneficial Management Practices provides targeted incentive programming to agricultural producers and select industry service providers to advance the adoption of beneficial management practices (BMPs) that reduce identified environmental risks, improve agro-ecosystem resilience, build public trust and improve environmental sustainability of farm options in Manitoba.

The Managing Livestock Access to Riparian Areas BMP provides funding for livestock producers to protect surface water. Recognizing that limiting livestock access to surface water may require alternate water sources, clarifications have been made to the BMP to enable funding for water source development.

New eligible costs to the BMP include water source development such as drilling new or deepening existing wells, test hole drilling, screening, casing, well caps, water pumps and required plumbing components and professional and contractor fees for water source development including dugouts, constructing new or rehabilitating existing dugouts.

To be eligible for funding under Ag Action Manitoba Assurance: Beneficial Management Practices, applicants are required to complete an Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) to assist them to manage risk on their farm operations with respect to water quality and supply, soil health, air quality and biodiversity. Producers have until February 15, 2019, to submit their EFP Statement of Completion.

Applications for several BMPs will be accepted on a continual basis throughout the fall, the minister said.

Producers can contact their local Manitoba Agriculture office or call the department toll-free at 1-84GROW-MB-AG, 1-844-769-6224 for more information on any of these programs and services or go to gov.mb.ca/agriculture under Quick Links.

September 28, 2018

The AgriPost Landmark Growing Project Harvest’s Special Connection...

“Opa will be smiling from heaven today.” That’s the first thing 18-year-old Joshua Giesbrecht told his mother when he woke up on August 18 the day of the annual Landmark Manitoba Canadian Foodgrains Bank growing project harvest.

Not only was it the first time the grade 12 student got to drive a combine for the growing project harvest, it was special for another reason, Joshua is the grandson of the Foodgrains Bank’s first executive director, Wilbert Loewen.

Loewen, who died in 2016, served in that capacity from 1979-90. “It felt good to participate, knowing my Opa started this,” Joshua said after he and eight other farmers combined 60 acres of canola.

“I was thinking of him all the

time I was driving the combine.”

Joshua’s mother, Deb Unger Loewen, said she was “misty-eyed” watching Joshua driving the combine on the field. “It’s great that this is something he wants to do, that he wants to be involved with it,” she said. “To see him so excited about today was gratifying as a parent.”

In addition to supporting the Landmark growing project, Deb and her boys, including younger son Daniel, can home-grown vegetables and sell them to raise funds for the Foodgrains Bank.

For John Longhurst, Director of Resources and Public Engagement, Joshua’s connection to the first executive director of the Foodgrains Bank is unique, but it is part of a larger story of how the

children and grandchildren of the first supporters of the Foodgrains Bank are continuing that tradition. “It was unique to see Joshua’s special connection with his grandfather through the harvest,” he said. Equally inspiring is seeing how many others are following in the footsteps of their parents and grandparents. “It’s great to see how many of the earliest supporters have passed the vision for addressing global hunger down to the next generations,” he said.

Longhurst has heard of cases where parents sell the family farm to their children, with the stipulation that a portion of the proceeds of each year’s crop must be donated to the Foodgrains Bank. “For them, it’s a family thing, something they do every year, and that

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their children want to keep doing, too,” he said.

In 2017, there were 245 growing and community projects and auctions from PEI to B.C. Altogether; they raised $7.3 million for the Foodgrains Bank. Together with other donations from individuals, churches and corporations a record $13.7 million was donated to the Foodgrains Bank last year.

With support from matching grants from the Canadian government, the Foodgrains Bank provided a total of $37.6 million of assistance to 843,967 people in 34 countries. “All of this is possible because of people like Joshua, his parents, and the many others who keep the spirit of giving alive,” Longhurst said.

“We are grateful for each and every one.”

Dry Conditions Trim 2018 Crops

By Elmer Heinrichs Weather conditions, including lower than average precipitation in several parts of Canada, are expected to drive down 2018 crop production and lower anticipated yields for some crops, says Statistics Canada with data from its July farm survey.

In addition, high temperatures in some areas may have contributed to an expected decrease in production and average yields for some crops. While more acres will boost the barley crop, farmers anticipated reduced production of canola, wheat, soybeans, corn for grain, and oats.

Farmers in Manitoba expected an 8 per cent decrease in total wheat production to 4 million tonnes. As in both other prairie provinces, lower yields are expected to offset increases in harvested areas, 2.9 million acres in 2018.

Nationally, farmers anticipate total canola production to fall from 21.3 million tonnes in 2017 to 19.2 million tonnes in 2018. The ex-

pected decrease is due to a decline in harvested area, as well as an anticipated decline in average yields to 37.5 bushels per acre in 2018.

In Manitoba, harvested area of canola is expected to increase 7.4 per cent to 3.4 million acres in 2018. But, with yields expected to decline from 44.0 bushels per acre to 37.7 bushels per acre production is anticipated to decline 7.9 per cent from

2017 to 2.9 million tonnes.

Harvested area of soybeans in Manitoba is projected to decrease 18.0 per cent to 1.9 million acres, the first decline in harvested soybean area in the province since 2007. Soybean yield is expected to fall from 36.1 bushels per acre in 2017 to 34.7 bushels per acre in 2018. The anticipated decrease in both harvested area and yield is expected to result in a 21.1 per cent de-

cline in production, from 2.2 million tonnes in 2017 to 1.8 million tonnes in 2018.

Harvested area of oats is expected to decrease to 2.4 million acres. In addition, farmers across Canada anticipate that yield will fall from 93.1 bushels per acre to 87.9 bushels per acre in 2018. As a result, production at the national level is expected to fall 11.5 per cent to 3.3 million tonnes.

Manitoba agriculture says soybean yields are ranging from 25 to 35 bushels an acre.

Photo by Elmer Heinrichs

Teichroeb Selected as New Manitoba Beef Producers President Tom Teichroeb has been elected President of the Manitoba Beef Producers by the Manitoba Beef Producers Board of Directors during its meeting on August 28. He had been serving at the helm

on an interim basis since August 7, when Ben Fox stepped down as President. Teichroeb remains the representative of District 8, and Fox will continue to serve on the Board as District 13 director.

In other Board changes, District 1 representative Gord Adams was elected to serve as Vice-President and District 12’s Kris Kristjanson is the new Second Vice-President.

With his new role, Kristjanson

of Ochre River now joins the Board’s Executive Committee.

The Manitoba Beef Producers Board of Directors offers congratulations to all serving in new roles within the organization.

The AgriPost

African Swine Fever Movement Restrictions Drop Hog Prices

By Harry Siemens Jim Long, hog industry commentator, said African Swine Fever (ASF) continues to move in China and is a massive challenge for Chinese authorities to control.

There are many pigs moving, 600 million a year, with millions of sows in backyard production.

“We have observed ASF in Russia for ten years, and they can’t contain it despite having a large land mass with swine widely dispersed.

China has twenty times more pigs than Russia,” said Long.

“In China, producers feed a large percentage of their pigs with reusable bags moving pigs in vehicles with wooden floors.” Washing and disinfection of trailers has room for improvement.

Long said the Chinese authorities announced new measures to control the spread of ASF, including the prohibition of inter-province movement of live pigs among the affected provinces and neighbouring provinces, covering 16 provinces, more than half of the country. Other measurements would be stopping the use of pig blood meal for feed and increasing the subsidy from 800 to 1,200 CNY ($117 US to $174 US) per pig under mandatory killing.

“The restriction of hog movement and ASF issues are affecting China Hog Markets. Price in Liaoning, which has an ASF break is 11.9 CNY/kg live weight (78¢ US/lb. live weight), while in Zhejiang, ASF free it is 18 CNY/kg live weight (1.19 US/lb. live weight).

That’s a $100 US per head difference,” he said. “We will be watching China hog prices closely; they will reflect most quickly the supply-demand effects of ASF.” Long said recently officials in Belgium identified two wild pigs with ASF in

“It brings out the vulnerability that we have in feeding people, producing enough food for the world” said James Hofer, Starlite Colony Hog Boss on the subject of the African Swine Fever outbreak.

Belgium which according to Long is the first-time they have observed ASF in Western Europe.

Dr. John Carr, international livestock consultant and a veterinarian said one of the things that fascinate him about this current outbreak is the timing because the pig price in Canada is pretty awful. “We’re all feeling the pain, and this outbreak is going to tank the price of pork in China, it already has,” said Dr. Carr. “And so we may even have slightly more pain because if our exports drop because the Chinese can’t afford to buy them while they can buy cheaper food at home.”

“But I am convinced the reality will be in a year’s time, China is going to need pork, and I believe that the pig industry has a duty of care to China which some people might find difficult,” said Long.

Carr said if the Chinese need pork they will need Canadian pork, so his thoughts for pig producers in Canada is to get their breeding targets right.

“When you’re sitting with a sow, don’t have a sour face because in a year’s time the price could be excellent. So when you’re breeding that

sow you pat her on the head, and you tell her she’s a good girl, and you get them pregnant and let’s have fantastic litter size and let’s enjoy the next year of Canadian farming,” said Dr. Carr.

James Hofer Starlite Colony Hog Boss and representing the Colonies on the Manitoba Pork Council said as he listened to Dr. Carr’s comments on ASF, “We have to keep it out.”

“I agree with what John said that Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has to do their thing and when I sit here and think about developments that happen in the world I say to myself boy the world gets smaller every day,” said Hofer. “And something that happens on another continent with the way we’re travelling, moving products and stuff it impacts. Anything that happens anywhere in the world has an impact on the rest of the world.”

Hofer said when he thinks about the whole food production process, agriculture in general and something so big happens it can become a catastrophe. “It brings out the vulnerability that we have in feeding people, producing enough food for the world,” he said. “Consumers, gov-

Dr. John Carr, international livestock consultant and a veterinarian said one of the things that fascinate him about this current outbreak is the timing because the pig price in Canada is pretty awful.

ernments need to support agriculture they need to work with agriculture. It is something that food, it’s essential.

There’s no debate to be had about that, everybody needs to eat, and it’s something that we need to take seriously.”

Hog pricing is reflecting the supply-demand effects of the African Swine Fever virus as movement restrictions are affecting China Hog Markets, said Jim Long, a hog industry commentator.

September 28, 2018

September 28, 2018

I Was Wrong!

I used to believe that there were rules in place that kept the office of the President of the United States from doing things that could be deemed unreasonable. I knew there were rules about impeachment and I thought that there were some parameters that controlled the office of the President and would prevent total bedlam if a loose cannon was elected.

I was wrong, and while the last two years have made a case for it the last month has really proven it. I have believed and often used this space to expound the virtues of our democracy and how we might see a slight difference in the course of where our country was going by who was elected to the top office south of us. I also took great pride in living in a place that lived under the rule of law, and had rules in place for the transfer of power form one elected government to the other. I am not so sure on this count.

What has happened in Ontario and the change to the number of elected officials governing our country’s largest city has me wondering. I don’t know exactly how the “notwithstanding” clause works but it seems that the Premier of Ontario can change the number of seats on city council when he chooses and that happens to be right after he was on that council.

Perhaps he has firsthand knowledge of its inefficiencies – he was a part of them.

I happened to be in Russia at the time when Mr. Putin changed the rules of re-election so that he could serve a few more terms as President and accomplish some of the things he thought necessary like annexing countries that were under the former Soviet Union. Now I know of his interaction with and what appears to be a mutual admiration society with Mr. Trump.

I wonder is Donald considering expanding the time a president can serve to more than two terms.

I used to think that ideas like that were farfetched, but I also believed that a trade deal signed by the officials of a country held its members to the deal and I see that is the not the case.

If one, the most powerful, signatures to the agreement wants to changes the rules, the deal is off and he now sets the rules.

How much impact can one man have?

One needs only to attend a sale for dairy cattle and compare the prices to a year ago to see the impact. We are living in interesting times, in the words of Arty Johnson on Laugh In, “Very interesting and very stupid.”

The AgriPost

Sports

Why is it we find sports so compelling? The thrill of competition, the athleticism, the entertainment? Do we give it too much meaning in our lives? Perhaps, sometimes we do, but it has done a pretty good job of mirroring society throughout history. From politics, to economics, and even social issues, sports gives insight into who we are and what we can achieve.

Farmers are no different. Listening to games in tractor cabs, doing chores early so they can get to a kids hockey game, making time for baseball during seeding and of course curling bonspiels, farmers love their sports. It’s sure to come up in most casual conversations right alongside the weather and commodity prices.

A recent “Freakonomics” podcast introduced a new mini-series they call “The Hidden Side of Sport” which delves into all sorts of questions we don’t normally think of. For instance, despite all the hoopla over player salaries and team revenues it’s actually quite small as far as industries go. NFL football is the richest most successful sport in the world, ever. It generates about $14 billion a year, which sounds impressive but that puts it right up there with Sherwin-Williams paint. Add in the NBA, NHL, Major League Baseball, soccer, golf, pro tennis and mixed martial arts and it’s closer to $50 billion. This gets you in the ballpark of … the cardboard box industry.

We don’t spend our free time talking and thinking about paint and cardboard boxes so obviously there’s something else going on.

Sports can be thought of as a proxy for war and there is historical evidence of this dating back to the 14th century. But it was also used as a tool of colonisation. The British Empire used to make a habit out of introducing cricket, soccer and tennis to places it conquered. This would aid in the cultural transition of a people but it would also increase their level of fitness

Penner’s Points

and groom the best

By Rolf soldiers. It also aided Penner in the appreciation for fair play, following rules and listening to authorities.

Nowadays immigrants find it much easier to integrate into a country if they take up the local sports. It may not seem fair but anyone who picks up a hockey stick for instance is considered far more Canadian than someone who doesn’t.

It’s also just a wonderful form of escapism. For a few hours, to sometimes days we can allow ourselves to be someone we normally aren’t. We make signs and paint our faces, wear crazy hats and sometimes drink ourselves silly while yelling insults at the officials or other teams. Which some will argue is actually healthy for us, to safely blow off some steam from the primitive instincts and aggression that lurks around every corner of our psyche.

Martha Newson, a cognitive anthropologist sees other benefits. She sees it as a great way to bring people together and build social trust. People from all sorts of different backgrounds can build strong bonds through the unifying effect of sports. There are also dangers Newson warns, when ones personal identity fuses with a group identity you sometimes take things personally that you shouldn’t and act out on them in negative ways. For example, studies have shown that when England loses a World Cup match the level of domestic violence goes up 30%.

Like the art’s, sports also inspire us in many ways. It focuses our energy to create these symbolic events which touch us on an emotional level. Grown men can be brought to tears, other times they might be hugging or even kissing each other after having won an important game or accomplishing a difficult feat. The whole country can even be intimately wrapped up in events and outcomes such as at the Olympics and the World Junior hockey tournament every year.

There’s all sorts of reasons why we love and sometimes hate sports. Barriers get broken, records get smashed, heroes and villains battle it out, and rivalries go on for generations. Sports are by no means perfect, but they sure do make life more exciting. Maybe that’s enough in and of itself.

Clouds of Uncertainty for Canada’s Farmers Discussions and concern continue amongst all farmers regarding NAFTA negotiations or the lack thereof, ensuing tariffs, and how it affects current commodity prices and demand or the lack thereof.

Grain and special crop farmers are harvesting a decent crop varying from below average to average depending on what the industry considers to be average after several great and even bumper crops in Manitoba.

Cattle producers face higher feed prices and possible direct feed shortages and hog producers face uncertainties due to trade battles and African Swine Fever amongst other diseases. Dairy farmers and others raising supply-managed commodities face some difficulty due to President Trump’s obsession with our supply management system. Then reports surfaced that those in Canada’s Liberal government may purposely want to see NAFTA scuttled for various unthinkable and ideological reasons.

“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist or Ag economist to see that the USA-Canada hog market sucks,” said an exasperated hog commentator Jim Long, also President of a pig genetics company. “Losses per head are ranging from $25 to $40 US. With US and Canada hog marketing’s of up to 2.9 million a week. The losses per week - from $72.5 million US to $115 million depending on which loss per head you use. It’s not pretty.”

Long, while in Russia recently someone asked him what profits were like in US-Canada. When we told them, losses were in the range of $25+ US per head, the next question asked, “Why do people produce pigs if they can’t make money?” Good question.

“Our answer was – It is what happens when you become an exporting nation,” responded the hog commentator. He said an indication of the producer panic is the slaughter weights; believing producers moved hogs to get ahead of prices that were dropping daily. Average weight has fallen one-pound week over week and 3.2 pounds lighter than a year ago. Usually, slaughter weights are rising through August and Long believes hogs are very current relative to last year. “The trade war with China-Mexico is hurting both US-Canada producers,” he said. “The tariffs are costing us at least $25 US per head. At some point, this should get sorted but in the meantime, it’s hurting an industry that has successfully created export markets.”

Canada’s hog industry is looking to China because almost daily, officially another hog farm has African Swine Fever outbreak.

I asked this question of Dr. John Carr who feeds pigs in Mainline China, Hong Kong, South Korea, and the Philippians. We may ask what does it have to do with the producer here in Manitoba but tell me, in your perspective, what’s happening?

“China is a major importer of Canadian pork so there is an impact on cost because of what will happen in China where the price will collapse, has collapsed and is collapsing. That’s going to have an impact directly with us here at home on our exports,” said Carr.

Then we have the other side of the coin where we have 1.4 billion people eating 40 kilos of pork a day with over half the world’s pigs. Now to put that in some perspective, it ends up being about 1.5 million pigs a day, so the Chinese eat the Canadian industry every week and a half. These numbers are almost unbelievably astronomical. Canada has 14 million pigs, and China has 440 million pigs, so we are a relatively small industry.

I mean, China has all the pigs, and they have a lot of people who love pork. He expects the official number now at five farms to actually be hundreds of outbreaks and eventually devastate the Chinese pig industry. The long and short of it is that Canadian pig farmers focus on breeding and production. With the price in the tank now, who knows where it will be a year from now. China still needs to feed 1.4 billion people.

The AgriPost

Living Laboratories Initiative to Transform Agricultural Science A thriving and sustainable agriculture sector is made possible only by the investments made in science, research, and innovation. Canada has some of the world’s best scientists, and the breakthrough technologies they develop give farmers the tools they need to better manage their farms, while growing their businesses and creating good middle class jobs.

Minister of Agriculture and Agri-food, Lawrence MacAulay has explained the details of the Government of Canada’s transformational $70 million investment, over five years, to address significant environmental challenges and hire approximately 75 scientists and science professionals in emerg-

ing fields of agricultural science. “This investment allows us to hire the next generation of world-class scientists here in Harrow and across the country, and will help give our farmers the tools they need to grow their businesses for years to come,” said MacAulay.

Of this $70 million investment, $44 million is dedicated to hiring the next generation of federal research scientists and science professionals and equipping them with the state-of-the-art tools they need to advance agricultural research, including environmental sampling equipment and analytical instruments.

MacAulay also announced a new Living Laboratories Initiative, which includes

$10 million to support collaborative research projects with external partners.

Living Laboratories are an integrated approach to agricultural research that bring farmers, scientists and other stakeholders together to codevelop, test and monitor new practices and technologies on farms. The result will be more practical technologies and sustainable farming practices adopted more quickly by Canadian farmers.

The Canadian-led initiative called Agroecosystems Living Labs (ALL) is a model to the world as other countries also try to improve the resilience and sustainability of their agricultural production.

This Living Labs approach was presented by Minister

MacAulay at the G20 Agriculture Ministers meeting in Argentina in July and the initiative was endorsed by ministers in attendance.

In the same spirit of collaboration, the remaining $16 million of the $70 million is earmarked to fund collaborative Federal research projects focused on priority areas affecting the agriculture sector, such as environmental issues. With these funds, researchers will have the support, for example, to find better nutrient management solutions to ensure the health of our waterways.

This $70 million investment in research and development fulfills the Budget 2017 commitment to support discovery science and innovation.

Increase in Federal Funding Targets Canola Crop Research

Minister MacAulay announced up to $12.1 million in funding to the Canola Council of Canada for increased research.

Canada’s canola sector is strong and growing. In 2016, Canadian canola seed and oil exports accounted for almost 15 per cent of total agriculture and food exports, valued at $9.2 billion. Canola has also been the largest crop

in Canada in terms of market receipts since 2010, and accounts for more than onefifth of all Canadian cropland. The Government of Canada knows that research and innovation are vital to ensuring Canadian canola

farmers have a sustainable and profitable future.

While visiting the Bruce D. Campbell Farm & Food Discovery Centre in Glenlea recently, Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced up to $12.1 million in funding to the Canola Council of Canada under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, AgriScience Clusters.

Building on the work of two previous clusters, this research funding includes an additional industry contribution of up to $8.1 million.

The cluster will focus on advancing the growth and profitability of the sector through innovative and sustainable

KAP Opposes Loss of Rural Electoral Seat Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) has asked the Manitoba Electoral Divisions Boundaries Commission to change its recommendation that would see one seat removed from rural Manitoba and an additional seat created in Winnipeg.

The recommendation was made in the commission’s interim report, which recommended changes to the province’s electoral divisions due to population changes since the last review in 2008. “We recognize the commission is bound by the Electoral Divisions Election Act to make some changes, but it could have realigned the boundar-

ies and kept the same balance between seats in Winnipeg and the rest of Manitoba,” said KAP President Bill Campbell.

KAP contends that farmers and others who live outside Winnipeg already feel deprived of effective political representation because of the concentration of political power within Winnipeg. “It is the opinion of many KAP members that the issues of people who live outside the perimeter highway are ignored,” said Campbell.

Campbell said that KAP will be presenting a number of recommendations to the commission for revising the report, including consultation with political and legal experts on the

issue of effective political representation. The election commission is also being criticized for holding important public consultations on boundary changes during harvest. KAP is nonetheless asking its members to make an effort to attend and voice their concerns at the consultations in their communities.

A list of locations can be found at boundariescommission.mb.ca. Consultations are taking place now through September 20.

A copy of KAP’s initial presentation to the commission is available on the KAP website for members to base their own presentations on.

approaches to creating new and improved products. Activities will include adapting food processing techniques, exploring uses for canola meal in livestock production, examining practices to optimize yields, protect crops from pests, and share lessons learned with stakeholders.

The Government of Canada is also continuing to support new markets for the canola sector. In 2016, Canada reached an agreement to secure canola trade with China, which allows for exports of canola seeds under existing commercial terms until March, 2020. Exports of canola seed to China continue to increase reaching $2.6 billion in 2017. In addition, in June 2018 the Federal government introduced legislation to implement the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for TransPacific Partnership (CPTPP), which will further help to open markets and increase exports.

September 28, 2018

New U of M Facility Enriches Dairy Research and Education The University of Manitoba (U of M) opened the doors on the Dairy Farmers of Manitoba Discovery and Learning Complex at the Glenlea Research Station on September 13.

Ralph Eichler, Minister of Agriculture, and Scott Gilson from the Dairy Farmers of Manitoba (DFM), joined Dr. Digvir Jayas from the University of Manitoba at a special event to introduce guests to the new facility.

The 60-cow facility, which features modern dairy production infrastructure, was made possible by Dairy Farmers of Manitoba’s key contribution, totalling nearly $2.2 million. The support allows the University to continue its important research in dairy production management to ensure economic and environmental sustainability, as well as healthy food options for consumers. Of equal importance, the Dairy Complex will provide students with hands-on learning in state-of-the-art facilities.

The project was also supported by the governments of Canada and Manitoba, who partnered to invest more than $1.4 million via the Growing Forward 2 (GF2) Growing Innovation, Capacity and Knowledge Development Initiative to expand scientific research capacity at the dairy complex.

“Manitoba’s dairy industry plays an important economic role in our province,” said Eichler. “This investment ensures that dairy research conducted at the University of Manitoba remains on the cutting edge, attracting research investment to the province and promoting the development of young scientists and industry professionals.”

“Dairy Farmers of Manitoba is proud to support scientific dairy research in the province,” said Henry Holtmann, Vice-Chair, Dairy Farmers of Manitoba. “Dairy farmers share the same values as consumers and the research conducted at the University of Manitoba will help advance our industry by continually producing milk of the highest quality, providing excellence in animal care, and looking after the environment today and for future generations.”

The Dairy Complex includes new robotic milking and feeding systems, free stalls for dairy cattle, dedicated spaces for calves, milk collection tanks, above-ground manure storage, new flooring and related laboratory equipment. Researchers will be able to individually manage multiple groups of animals in a free-stall setting. A dedicated Level 2 metabolism unit will enable intensive studies of nutrient intake, microbial diversity and infectious diseases, such as mastitis, without needing to move the animals off-site.

Two research projects already planned for the new facility will focus on identifying best management practices for high quality Canadian silage production, and exploring the efficacy and safety of hemp products. The Dairy Complex also includes equipment for precision dairy farming, allowing the development of strategies to better match the demands and supplies of nutrients for dairy cows in modern group-housed and automated barns. In addition to its key support of the Dairy Complex’s construction, DFM has committed to ongoing annual support of U of M dairy research programs.

“Thanks to the leadership of Dairy Famers of Manitoba on this project, these state-of-the-art facilities will allow our faculty and students to undertake research that is up to industry standards, thus enabling the results to be readily translated into practice and be of significant value to producers in Manitoba and beyond,” said Jayas, Vice-President (Research and International) and Distinguished Professor at the U of M. The Dairy Farmers of Manitoba Discovery and Learning Complex will be an essential venue for students interested in acquiring hands-on experience with large animals and Canadian dairy production. The Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences recently developed an expanded experiential learning component centred on the Glenlea Research Station’s animal production systems.

In addition, the Glenlea dairy barn has been a popular public education component for visitors to the Bruce D. Campbell Farm and Food Discovery Centre. The new Dairy Complex will enhance teaching and outreach through a viewing gallery and public exhibit space, and provide visitors with a rare opportunity to engage with modern dairy production.

September 28, 2018

The AgriPost

Province Focused on Keeping Farmers in Business Post Drought

By Les Kletke

While attending the Amazing Agriculture Adventure to conduct the luncheon cookie auction for students Minister of Agriculture Ralph Eichler took some time to speak to the AgriPost about a few serious issues.

Eichler said that this year’s drought is a concern and that Manitoba Agriculture’s emphasis in helping farmers is on programs that will help producers through the drought rather than provide aid to leave farming. “We have had requests for programs that help producers with freight but we know that the benefits quickly get built into the price of the animal and don’t provide any benefit to the actual producer,” said the Minister. “That is why we have stayed away from those types of programs; our intent is to keep people in business.”

“We know that with programs that encourage producers to leave production they often don’t come back,” said Eichler. “We know that infrastructure deteriorates when it is not being used and that just adds to the problem.”

Manitoba Agriculture data shows that only 20% of producers return to the industry when they leave for what is intended to be a short period

of time.

The government has allowed for a tax deferral for farmers who are selling off their herd this year, but Eichler said that programs that allow producers to get water to their herds and in preparation of winter is a much greater emphasis. “We have programs to help farmers deepen their wells or for pumping to replenish dug outs,” he said. Ag Minister Ralph Eichler has some fun “The program allows conducting the Cookie Auction at the anthem to access solar nual Amazing Ag Adventure.

Photo by Les Kletke powered equipment which is also a benefit.” for Canadian farmers and we Eichler also points to pro- know that it is the target of US grams that were in place negotiators,” said Eichler. “It earlier in the grazing season seems that dairy is always the allowing producers access target, much more so than the to land that is not normally other commodity groups.” grazed. “We expanded the To put the numbers in pergrazing area to wildlife man- spective Eichler pointed to agement areas and Crown the number of chickens and Lands to give producers ac- hogs that had been affected cess to feed earlier,” he said. by the hurricane in the CaroWhen asked about cow linas. “Those numbers are prices and the recent drop almost equal to Canadian in dairy cow prices, Eichler production.” voiced some surprise but acWhile speaking to volunknowledged the uncertainty teers at the Amazing Agriof current trade talks at the culture Adventure Eichler international level. Dairy thanked them for their efforts cow prices have fallen to half and encouraged them to conof what they were a year ago tinue spreading the message at sale in Grunthal earlier that of, “How safe and high qualiweek. “We know that supply ty food production in Canada management has worked well is.”

Amazing Ag Adventure Expands Programming

By Les Kletke Katherine Cherewyk stepped in as Chair for the Amazing Ag Adventure and is being amazed.

Amazed on several counts including the interest in the program. “We have waiting lists for all our programs,” said Cherewyk. “We have waiting lists for the program based in Winnipeg, for the one in Brandon, and I will be working on the program for Russel and we also have interest in running an Amazing Agriculture Adventure in Dauphin.”

She said expanding the program is not as easy as it may seem. “We have to have stations that can be dismantled and moved to another site, so that requires some planning of the station and also people who are available to dismantle, move and reassemble the program at the next site.”

This year the number of stations was reduced from 16 to

12, but not because of a lack of interest. “That came about at the request of the teachers and volunteers. They wanted more time at the stations so that students would get more time to understand the message of the station.”

One of the stations deals with weather and the impact it has on farmers. Students move around a life size game board based on the role of a dice which represents weather patterns.

Cherewyk who has spent the last several years in fund raising and with volunteer based organizations such as the Canada Games. She has been surprised by the number of volunteers stepping up for the Amazing Agriculture Adventure. “This year we have 30% first time volunteers,” she said. “So that speaks well for the future of the program.

We also have sponsorship from companies who are asking if their employees can be

a part of the program.” Three Winnipeg High Schools also provide student volunteers to help with the movement and marshalling of younger students.

“We have expanded out donation base,” said Cherewyk.

“It used to be heavily concentrated in the crops sector but we have been moving out to other sectors of the industry and have had a good response, again they are asking if their people can be involved in the program and see the work that is being done. That kind of involvement is fantastic.”

Although the new dairy barn at the Glenlea Research facility is not one of the stations that can be packed up and taken to Brandon or Russell she said that the Winnipeg event has also been able to take advantage of the dairy barn at Glenlea. “It allows the students to get a firsthand look at milk production,” she said.

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The AgriPost

Local Rodeo Champion Heads to Vegas

By Les Kletke Stephanie Colli is having a good year on the rodeo circuit. This year, Colli, from Hamiota, was awarded the Season Leader Championship Buckle in breakaway roping for the Heartland Rodeo Association. She also won the finals champion and year-end high point cowgirl.

After competing in the circuit championship rodeo in Grunthal September 15 and 16 she is now headed to the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in Los Vegas this December.

“There has been a big revival in breakaway roping,” said Colli. “A lot of rodeos are bringing it back after about a 15 year absence and they are going to have it at the NFR in Vegas.”

She is one of 2 Canadians who earned a top 60 spot to compete against the contestants that will take part in the Vegas rodeo. “There are two long go-rounds and then one short one of 15 contestants that will be part of the NFR finals,” said Colli.

Competition will be fierce among the Vegas contestants. “I will have to do everything right to make it to the short go-round,” she said

of her strategy to win. “The girls there will be around 2 seconds and under. I was 2.4 seconds in Grunthal, so I will have to be lot better.” A lot is less than half a second in this event.

While she did best in the breakaway roping Colli also competes in barrel racing and team roping. In the team roping she pairs with Scott Peters and they qualified for the finals. On Saturday though the pair had a bit of tough luck and did not register a time. Each event requires a different horse and she said that adds to her travel costs which impact her plans for the future.

She would like to move up to the Manitoba Rodeo Cowboy Association (MRCA) or Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) rodeo circuit. “But that means more traveling and more costs,” she said. “Your fuel is you major cost and I have some sponsorship but there are a lot more costs to taking the next step.”

When asked how she got to the verge of the continents top rodeo, she said it was a high school goal. “I was in high school and I wanted

Stephanie Colli is heading to the NFR in Vegas to compete in breakaway roping. She is one of only two Canadians in the competition.

Photo by Les Kletke

to rodeo,” she said flashing a smile. “My parents just made it happen.” After High School she attended college in Brandon before heading off to Alberta. While there she was in a rodeo accident that caused a serious shoulder injury. “They told me I would not rope again,” she said. “Three years later I was season leader in the breakaway roping .”

That is the kind of determination that will do her well as she faces the top cowgirls in the world in Las Vegas.

Heartland Rodeo Association Began as a Dream

By Les Kletke Claude Potvin said that seeing the finals of the Heartland Rodeo Association (HRA) is like a dream come true. Potvin a Committee Director for HRA works in the ring providing colour and competitor interviews for announcer Ivan Anholtz and was the first president of the Heartland Rodeo Association.

Povtin said that 23 years ago he was part of a group that saw a need for a new rodeo association and today Heartland has grown beyond their expectations. “The MRCA ran the rodeos at that time and they sanctioned about 30 rodeos and competitors had to attend 20 to be in the competition for year-end awards. We thought that was too many rodeos and there were weekends with two sanctioned rodeos and it was just too demanding.”

The goal of the new association was simple, to make rodeo a family sport that could be enjoyed by all across Manitoba. “We don’t have any rodeos that overlap and we don’t have to go into

Saskatchewan or Ontario to compete,” he said. “Our events do run border to border though.”

Potvin who lives at Treherne has been a competitor in several events winning year end buckles, was the original president and has continued to serve as a director of the association for 10 of its 23 years. He said the association has achieved what it set out to do and has achieved a few bonuses. “We set out to make rodeo a family event,” he said. “And along the way we have become a place where cowboys and cowgirls can get a start and move on the bigger things. This is a great circuit to start on. Then competitors can move on to the MRCA or the CCA as a semi-pro and who knows where they can end up.”

He lists Zane Lambert who is a 3 time Professional Bull Riders (PBR) champ as a cowboy who got his start in the HRA. Lambert recently competed in Brazil representing Canada in the Nations Cup. Ally Mullen is a barrel racer who also got her start

with Heartland went on to be the 2017 Canadian Rodeo Queen which got her a trip to the NFR in Los Vegas.

While the 23 years have been a success Potvin is looking to the future and the 25th anniversary of the circuit. “We are hoping to raise the ante a bit and have trophy saddles for the year end winners that year,” said Potvin.

Chances are he will find a way to do it.

Claude Potvin was the first president of the Heartland Rodeo Association when it began 23 years ago. Today he is a Director and provides colour commentary from the ring as well as interviews with contestants.

Photo by Les Kletke

The AgriPost

Hooked on Rodeo

By Les Kletke Chelsea Horrocks and friends came to the Heartland Finals Rodeo in Grunthal to support one of their friends competing in the finals of the bull riding and they left as fans of rodeo vowing to attend more next summer.

Horrocks works in Health Care in Winnipeg and was there to support Joey Tinnant who had qualified as a top ten bull rider and was competing in the finals for the Heartland Buckle. She and three friends decided to make the day of it

and attend the entire event on Saturday.

They readily acknowledged that they were not typical rodeo fans. “I guess the sandals and pink hair gave it away,” said Horrocks with a chuckle. “But the only boots I have are combat boots and they would not have been right either.”

“It is not at all what I expected,” she said of her first rodeo. “I love the adrenalin rush and watching the riders prepare for them to open the chutes. That anticipation is as

Livestock Producers Receive Tax Relief for 2018 Extreme weather conditions have caused feed shortfalls in several provinces, which has led to designated regions in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Quebec being eligible for livestock tax deferral provision. In Manitoba 63 mmunicipalities have been designated under the livestock tax deferral provision.

The Federal Government has released an initial list of designated regions where livestock tax deferral has been authorized for 2018 due to drought or excess moisture conditions.

The livestock tax deferral provisions allow livestock producers in prescribed drought, flood or excess moisture regions to defer a portion of their 2018 sale proceeds of breeding livestock until 2019 to help replenish the herd. The cost of replacing the animals in 2019 will offset the deferred income, thereby reducing the tax burden associated with the original sale.

Eligibility for the tax deferral is limited to those producers located inside the designated prescribed areas. Producers in those regions can request the tax deferral when filing their 2018 income tax returns.

List of Manitoba 2018 Livestock Tax Deferral Municipalities based on the 2016 Statistics Canada Census: Alexander Norfolk-Treherne Argyle North Cypress-Langford Armstrong North Norfolk Bifrost-Riverton Oakland-Wawanesa Boissevain-Morton Pembina Brenda-Waskada Piney Brokenhead Portage la Prairie Cartier Prairie Lakes Cartwright-Roblin Rhineland Coldwell Ritchot De Salaberry Rockwood Deloraine-Winchester Roland Division No. 18, Unorga- Rosser nized, East Part Souris-Glenwood Dufferin Springfield Elton St. Andrews Emerson-Franklin St. Clements Fisher St. François Xavier Gimli St. Laurent Glenboro-South Cypress Stanley Grahamdale Ste. Anne Grassland Stuartburn Grey Taché Hanover Thompson Headingley Two Borders Killarney - Turtle Mountain Victoria La Broquerie West Interlake Lorne West St. Paul Louise WestLake-Gladstone Macdonald Whitehead Montcalm City of Winnipeg Morris Woodlands

good as watching the ride.”

Horrocks is no stranger to intense competition being a high level arm wrestler herself. She has won the Canadian Championship and placed 12th at the World’s.

“A shoulder injury has me out of that sport,” she said.

“Rodeo is a lot like that. It is short and sweet but really intense. I like the bright colours,” she said flipping her pink hair back.

Kristin Elke is from La Salle and this we her first rodeo as well. “I thought I would be bored with the down time between events and the repetition,” she said. “But that

was not the case at all.” Elke said that she will definitely attend more rodeos next year but is not a full covert to the sport where she would watch it on TV. “There is so much going on here, and the atmosphere is great. I will be back even if your friend is not competing,” she said. “But without a doubt my favourite event was the bull riding, the excitement is really quiet something.”

They both credited announcer Ivan Anholtz with adding to the event. “The announcer filling in and giving you details of the competitors was great,” said Elke. “That

September 28, 2018 really kept things going and you have a connection to the competitors.

That adds a lot.”

“I really like the atmosphere,” said Horrocks. “It seems that everyone is connected to a competitor, either as friends or family they are all here to cheer someone on. It is kind of laid back until the event gets going and then the adrenaline takes over. I love it.”

These ladies attended the Heartland Rodeo finals in Grunthal to support their friend Joey Tinnant a bull rider claiming it was their first rodeo experience and all promised to be back for more next year. Photo by Les Kletke

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A Catastrophe and Technology Brings New Life

By Harry Siemens On November 10, 2017, roughly 7,500 pigs died in a blaze at a hog barn in southeast Manitoba on the Blue Ribbon sow farm which is part of the Henervic Farms.

On Wednesday, September 19 the farm hosted an Open House showing off the farm’s new sow barn conversion and a close look at the Maximus line of products including ventilation controls and the ESF electronic sow feeder systems.

Craig Sawatzky, the owner and manager of Blue Ribbon Sow family farm was proud of the fact that they are up and running despite that costly and devastating fire last November. “Once we’re in full production, we’ll have 3,000 sows after completing rebuilding following that fire. We have one barn that stayed standing, and this is our renovation/conversion to move to open housing, and it’s exciting,” said Sawatzky.

“We’re hoping to stock animals here on September 27, and this is our way of showing others what we’re doing here.”

He said they had animals in the now renovated barn after the fire and used a different site to farrow out the existing animals, depopulated in June and ready for restocking. While still under construction, once finished the site will have two connected barns with breeding and gestation on one side and the farrowing section on the other.

Along with a devastating fire and rebuilding came the opportunity to convert to the new open housing and feeding system for their sows.

“For us, it is exciting to see some of the new technology at work. There are enough operations that have made the switch paving the way on what to do and what not to do, and we’re very comfortable with the decision to go to open housing,” said the proud owner.

When it comes to the ESF, electronic sow feeders there were a few different options and the Blue Ribbon sow farm chose the Maximus system. “We’re very comfortable with the product, and it’s an excellent working relationship with the people selling it,” said Sawatzky.

“The advantage is it controls our feed, the air, the fans and the feeding stations automatically. And I can be at home

Craig Sawatzky, the owner and manager of Blue Ribbon Sow family farm is quite proud of the fact that they are up and running despite that costly and devastating fire only last November.

on my phone, to check anything I want, or get an alarm, or a response, or an update, or whatever I need from anywhere I want.”

With the new Code of Practices dictating group housing for sows in Canada he said it is a lot easier than most people may think to witch over because of the new technology. “There are so many tools at your disposal now to maximize your production and to take care of your herd, that it’s stimulating,” he said.

Henervic Farms originally built a 1,200 sow barn in 2002 on the site, expanding to 3,000 in ’04 and operated the unit right up until the fire in 2017. With the rebuilding, the production unit remains the same size operation but now with some fancy new equipment. “The fire, it was a horrible experience, awful, but now moving forward, there are some exciting things that we can do now, and it’s very exciting,” he said.

Sawatzky described the ESF sow feeding system starting with the sow’s radio tag. He explained that when she comes close to the feeding station, it will turn on and drop her food. “She [sow] can come to the station as often as she wants. Once she gets her daily amount, then it just won’t drop her anymore feed,” Sawatzky said.

In this system, the sow wears an RFID ear tag that is read electronically as she walks into the feeding station and can eat until she finishes her daily ration as part of a

controlled pre-programmed feeding plan. When she walks into the station, it reads her ID tag and the system feeds her accordingly whether only half her ration now or later.

“It’s all programmable by the farmer, so the sow walks in, the scanner reads the ear tag, and she gets her ration.

She backs up, go gets some water and either lays down, or wanders around the pen, and it’s very comfortable,” said Funk.

“When she goes into the farrowing crate, there’s an RFID reader in the farrowing crate too,” said Funk.

“Historically, farmers used paper, pen and cards, to keep records. With this system everything is immediately recorded as the sow goes in a station, and it’s immediate on your phone or home computer. You know where she is, what she’s doing, how far she’s through her ration.”

The RFID scan gives her location and automatically that feed care follows her.

Barn owner Craig Sawatzky said how much easier making the transition to group sow housing is than he expected.

He along with many others had real concerns. Producers are finding if appropriately designed and properly renovated the employees prefer this type of system. “And if we look at the sow data, the sows do as well or better; it’s turning out to be a very positive thing. There is still some cost, right? Existing guys still have to renovate as you saw here,” said Funk.

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New Trust Accounts Set Up for Agri and Hail Insurance

How to Start a Rodeo Career

These bull riders cannot wait to watch the video of their last ride. “You can always learn something from watching a video,” said Austin Kinkead.

Photo by Les Kletke

By Les Kletke If you have ever wondered how you get started as a bull rider, Austin Kinkead can tell you.

“I was 10 when I started. I was at a rodeo and they put me on a calf roping steer. I stayed on for a couple of jumps and I was hooked,” said Austin Kinkead who is also a director with the Heartland Rodeo Association. He came by it intrinsically as his father had ridden bulls and so had his cousin.

It seemed like a natural thing to do. That first ride was 10 years ago. “So I have been riding for half my life.”

Kinkead may have taken the first ride without much preparation but that is not the case today. He has attended the Bull Riding School put on by his cousin Ben at least twice. The school is held each spring in Grunthal running through Friday to Sunday. “The Friday night you try the bull barrel and then on Saturday you get on the live bulls and watch the video tape of your ride,” he said.

“Sunday you do it again. You can always learn something from watching a ride.”

Kinkead fills his time between rodeos working as a heavy duty mechanic at Lun-

dar and has plans to continue riding bulls. He also attended a bull riding school in Esterhazy, Saskatchewan. “While they follow a similar format, each one is a bit different and teaches you something else,” he said. “You get different tips from different instructors.”

The schools also feature different levels of stock for various competitors. “They try to match the type of stock that you ride with your ability,” he said. “They won’t put a rookie on a real tough bull, and as you progress they move you up to bigger and tougher bulls.” The schools

are affordable usually in the range of $350 for the weekend activity.

He has come a long way from the first steer ride.

His plans for the future include moving up and trying the next level but for now he is content to be competing in the Heartland Rodeo Association. “I missed qualifying for the finals this year so I will be back next year and try to do better on this circuit before I move up. I want to learn everything I can here,” said Kinkead.

Kinkead said there are a number of options to move up in the rodeo world, he might try the MRCA next with any eye to the professional circuit like the CPRA or PBR.

The Manitoba government and the Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC) have established two new trusts for Manitoba’s AgriInsurance and Hail Insurance programs.

“Establishing these trusts clearly demonstrates that these funds are strictly for the benefit of insured producers and provides greater transparency to the public in that these funds cannot be used by government for any other purposes,” said Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler. “The creation of these trusts, with MASC as the trustee, will provide continued assurance to participating producers the Manitoba government is committed to the industry and that these funds will be available when needed.”

Budget 2018 included Manitoba’s Fiscal Responsibility Strategy: Keeping Our Promises, which set clear objectives to manage future financial volatility, and to improve financial transparency and accountability. It also put a greater focus on summary or ‘whole of government’ reporting for all departments and approximately 180 other reporting entities including MASC. The minister noted establishing the trusts will help achieve these goals.

As the trustee, MASC will remain in control of these funds and ensure they are solely for the benefit of Manitoba’s participating agricultural producers. The trusts will ensure that funds are only used for the benefit of insured producers and that no changes to the programs are forthcoming. This change protects these funds from use by future governments, and puts Manitoba on the leading edge allowing producers to protect their money.

“MASC is committed to supporting Manitoba’s financial reporting initiative,” said Jim Wilson, Chair of MASC. “I also want to assure agricultural producers that their contributions to the trusts will be available to pay indemnities when protection is needed in years of adversity and challenging weather conditions.”

AgriInsurance and Hail Insurance are the first line of defence for the crop sector by providing agricultural producers with effective insurance products to manage production risks caused by weather, such as rain, hail or drought.

Ensuring that these types of insurance tools are available is one way the Manitoba government supports the industry in its efforts to produce a consistent supply of quality raw product. The minister noted this is crucial to attracting value-added investment to Manitoba, such as the almost $1 billion in recent investments by Roquette and Simplot.

AgriInsurance programs across Canada operate under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal, provincial and territorial agreement. Premiums are cost-shared among the federal and provincial governments, as well as producers. The Hail Insurance program, including administration costs, is solely funded by premiums paid by producers.

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Successful Ag in the Classroom Waiting List Grows

By Les Kletke When the Minister of Agriculture shows up to conduct a cookie auction at your event you know you have the support of the government. Sue Clayton is the Chair of Ag in the Classroom in Manitoba and appreciates the support of the current administration.

“We have had the Minister of Agriculture come out and conduct one of the cookie auctions for the last couple of years and that is a huge show of support,” said Clayton.

“We know that we have the support as the vehicle to deliver agricultural information to the students of Manitoba.”

She added that the Minister has also been on had to support the Ag literacy program within schools.

Clayton’s predecessor Joanne Ross has moved on to chair the national program which has seen additional growth as well. One of the new programs that Clayton feels will be advantageous is a resource grid that ties together more than 50 resource programs. “A teacher can go to the program and by providing the grade and topic that she is teaching find a list of all the resources available across the country,” she explained. “It will save so much time and

Katherine Cheweryk and Sue Clayton discuss the possibilities of another Amazing Agricultural Adventure at Kelburn Farms.

Photo by Les Kletke

make for more efficient use of resources and things will not have to be duplicated if they are already available in another province.”

She said the provincial organizations will remain the prime delivery organization.

“The provincial Ag in the Classroom groups will still be the boots on the ground in delivery of programs and sourcing volunteers but this is a great aid for teachers.”

Clayton is excited about the response from schools. “We have waiting lists for all of our programs,” she said. “We have a waiting list for our Little Green Thumb program which shows students how they can garden and grow

their own food.”

Clayton acknowledged that programs available to teachers have increased in most areas but budgets remain a concern. “It is important to keep programs affordable to all schools and we try very hard to do that. Keeping our costs to the schools downs is very important and we are thankful to the industry sponsors that provide not only funding but volunteers to help deliver the programs.”

“There is a big message to carry forward about food production,” said Clayton.

“To inform students about the quality and safety of the food produced in our province and in our country.”

Balancing the Dream of Rodeo and Academics

By Les Kletke It started out as a mother daughter activity and it has become a passion for the younger, and a passion supported by the senior.

Taylor Bean said that she and her Mom, Janice, were looking for something they could do together and they tried horseback riding. “After a couple of lessons the instructor said that she had potential as a rider,” said Janice. “I loved it,” said Taylor who now competes as a barrel racer on the Heartland Rodeo Association circuit.

This year, she missed out on the top ten in the standings which would have qualified her for the finals rodeo in Grunthal August 15 and 16. Bean attends about 10 rodeos a summer on the circuit but this year it did not earn her enough points to place in the top ten. She also attends a few Jack Pot events where barrel racers get together and contribute an entry fee that pays out some money to the top placing riders.

Bean who lives at Selkirk has just begun her 3rd year at the University of Winnipeg and may transfer to the University of Manitoba next year in hopes of qualifying for Veterinarian School in Saskatoon. “I may also transfer to nursing,” she said. “I want to do something in the medical field but work’s first choice would be working with animals. I want to be a large animal veterinarian.” She worked on a local dairy farm this year to increase he knowledge of large animals.

While Bean has taken the riding to competitive level Janice has stayed with it as recreation, enjoying trail riding with her daughter and makes a point of attending as many events Taylor Bean is balancing her dreams of being a veterinarian and competing at a higher level in barrel racing.

as she can to see her daughter compete. “We still have her original horse,” said Janice.

“She had moved up to be more competitive but the first horse is still in her heart.”

Bean is considering make a leap to the next level of rodeo.

“I would like to see how far I can go with it, but that requires a better horse and more travel,” she said. “University books are expensive and right now that is more important. I have to be on the Heartland circuit before I consider going on, but it is a dream.”

For now the family enjoys the rodeo circuit and the occasional trail ride.

Photo by Les Kletke

The AgriPost

Global Trade Disputes Add Financial Strain for Hog Producers Ongoing uncertainty in global pork markets has resulted in Canadian pigs being sold at prices that are 30% lower than this time last year. Canadian farmers are in an extraordinarily difficult financial position.

Canadian pork producers are integrated into the much larger US market and the prices they receive are based directly on those negotiated by their American counterparts. Unfortunately, the fallout from trade disputes between the United States and key pork markets such as China, Mexico and Canada has intensified the normal seasonal decline in prices.

The Government of the

United States recognized the impact of these disputes and, as part of a larger $12 billion trade mitigation package, announced a series of pork specific initiatives that included an $8 per hog ad hoc payment.

“The financial stress on individual producers is increasing rapidly. We need to act and act quickly. I look forward to meeting with Minister MacAulay to discuss the situation as soon as possible,” said Manitoba producer and Chair of the Canadian Pork Council, Rick Bergmann. Canadian farmers, facing exactly the same market conditions, need similar support from our Federal and Provincial

governments. While they can compete and succeed in normal market conditions, they are requesting immediate, short-term support to help weather this storm.

Canada is the third-largest supplier of pork to global markets. Approximately 70% of our production, valued at $4 billion, is sold to consumers around the world. “Producers welcomed the conclusions of the 2017 Barton Report and looked forward to helping Canada reach its $75 billion export target,” said Bergmann. “However, in the absence of immediate action, achieving this goal and the jobs associated with it, are in jeopardy.”

Newest U of M Instructor Makes September Ag Education Month

By Les Kletke Brittany Byron has turned September into Agriculture Education month, within her circle of influence.

Byron who grew up at St. Laurent and completed her Masters in Animal Science at the U of M began teaching at the School of Agriculture as a session instructor this September teaching a first year livestock course.

She recalled her very first day in front of the class. “I was honest with the students,” she said. “I told

Brittany Byron directs students in the Weather Game at the Amazing Ag Adventure at Kelburn Photo by Les Kletke Farm.

them this was my first big teaching experience and I would like to know what is important to them.” She let the class know that although there is a course outline some flexibility was offered depending on what students would like to concentrate on.

She was aware that the 85 students in the first year Diploma program came from a wide variety of backgrounds. “There are some that are right out of high shool, and there are some that are over 40,” she said.

“There are some that have no farm experience and some that have worked with animals all their life.”

She had a plan to handle the range of experience. “I told them that I am available if they have special interests, they can come and see me and I will try to incorporate it in the course or perhaps I can help them individually,” said Byron.

She knows her job with first year students is to provide a background to livestock programs and that they will only be able to scratch the surface. “We deal with beef and dairy cattle, some swine, and poultry both broilers and layers,” she said. “That is a lot to do in a half course.

If I can stir their interest to take more livestock courses

that would be a bonus.”

The day before she began teaching Byron was a volunteer at the Amazing Agriculture Adventure at Kelburn Farm staffing the weather game. The station featured a life size game board that had students moving through a cycle of agricultural production. Moves were determined by rolls of a giant dice.

The previous weekend she had been at the Glenlea Research Station for Open Farm day. “We had 647 people come through the new dairy barn and we were asked many questions about dairy production,” she said.

“It was an opportunity for some people to see a cow up close for the first time and for others to see how the industry had changed.”

Byron said that while some visitors were amazed at the size of a cow, others who had milked cows by hand in their youth were surprised at the automated milking stations and that cows could be milked without the touch of a human.

When asked if she preferred, formal classroom education or extension programming she said that, “There is a need for both.

For now I am happy to be telling the story of agriculture in or province.”

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Growing the Canadian Hemp Sector grading standards to ensure Canadian hemp products are known globally as being of the highest quality said MacAulay.

He explained that part of the new cannabis legisla-

Minister MacAulay announced funding of $330,550 to the Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance.

Canada’s hemp sector is growing, with seeded crop area reaching over 138,000 acres in 2017. Hemp is increasingly used across a variety of products, including environmentally friendly clothing and building materials. It is also becoming widely recognized for its high

nutritious content, including protein, omega and fibre.

“A strong and competitive agriculture sector is vital to Canada’s prosperity and our Government is proud to support the hemp industry, which will help grow our economy and create more jobs for our middle class,” said Minister

of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Lawrence MacAulay while speaking at Manitoba Harvest Hemp Foods recently to announce funding of $330,550 to the Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance (CHTA) under Growing Froward 2, AgriRisk Initiatives. This investment is helping to develop industry

Insuring Your Construction Project One of the most overlooked details of construction projects is the insurance coverage. With all of the details involved, it is easy to overlook the important step of insuring your new building.

This summer, I had the privilege of watching the progress of a new building under construction each day while I drove to and from my office. I was surprised to see the building laying flat one day as I drove past – the victim of a strong wind that left the frame and roof of the building in pieces on the ground. This is a reminder to us that it is important to insure buildings while under construction. It is quite common for buildings under construction to sustain losses – theft of materials, vandalism, wind damage, fire and water damage can occur.

Most general contractors will carry insurance for the projects they are responsible for. We also see lots of clients choosing to be their own general contractor. In these cases, it is not uncommon to receive a phone call from a client asking if they can insure a new building, quite often well after the start of construction.

There are a few ways to insure buildings. While a general contractor can purchase coverage, they are passing that cost along to the project owner. As the project owner, it may be in your best interest to control the insurance, so that you are aware of the limits on the policy, deductibles, and even the insurer involved in protecting your asset.

This also allows your broker to negotiate terms on your behalf, rather than having the cost of the project built into the overall building cost.

With new construction projects, it is important that you purchase coverage before the foundation is complete. When doing a renovation project or simply adding equipment to an existing structure, the building insurance already in place may be all you need.

At times, it is as simple as increasing your limit of insurance, notifying your insurer and advising them of the changes you are making. There are times where a limit increase is not required, such as when you are renovating or updating what is already there so there is no need to increase the limit. In these situations, it is still important to notify your broker and insurer that there are changes being made to your building.

When planning your building project, make sure that you are working with someone who will educate you on the options for insuring your project. Don’t be caught with your building flat on the ground and no insurance to protect you.

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

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

tion that the Government of Canada is updating is the industrial hemp regulations to allow the industry to harvest the flowering heads, branches and leaves of the crop immediately. These changes will

open new revenue source and market opportunities for hemp producers by enabling the sector to research the most efficient and economic ways to capture the full value of the hemp plant.

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September 28, 2018

The AgriPost

The AgriPost

Molasses Lick-Tubs Relieve Drought-Stressed Pastures for Beef Cattle

By Peter Vitti Good pasture has been hard to find during the grazing season across the prairies. Even if we do get some timely rains before winter, it is likely to be too little and too late to bring back enough nutritious grass to supply the nutritional requirements of the cowherd. Therefore, I believe that it’s a good idea to put out enough low-moisture molasses lick-tubs to supplement whatever cattle nutrients are lacking on these droughtstressed pastures during the fall.

It is no secret that many producers prefer the low-moisture molasses tubs as a nutritional supplement for their beef cattle, because the cattle are attracted to molasses in the first place.

They might not realize that university research as far back as the 1950s consistently demonstrated that molasses fed to beef cattle has some great nutritional benefits, namely an increase in microbial activity and better digestion of cattle feeds.

That’s because these bugs when supplied with a readily available source of carbohydrates (re: dietary energy) from the molasses in turn helped them digest forage fibre, which in our case is typically found at high levels in dried-out pastures. Furthermore, this increased bug activity increases the amount of microbial-derived protein (digested in the lower gut of cattle), which also helps cattle meet some of their total protein requirements.

Molasses in low-moisture lick-tubs is also a great carrier in which additional dietary protein can be uniformly added from a number of different sources such as corn distillers’ grains, soybean meal or canola meal as well as cost-effective non-protein-nitrogen. As a result, a 30% (15% - NPN) lowmoisture molasses lick-tub can easily compliment a droughtstressed pasture that may look green, but still contain only 6 8% protein and thus help meet the protein requirement of an early gestation beef cow, which is 9 - 10% protein or growing replacement heifer, which is 10 - 11% protein.

These lick-tubs can also be fortified with macro-minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, which are often depleted in stressed fields or eventually decreased in any stand as the pasture season progresses. In addition, lick-tubs often contain appreciable amounts of essential trace minerals such as copper, manganese, zinc, iodine, cobalt and selenium that can be added in both inorganic (copper sulphate) and more

bio-available organic forms.

The process of making these types of molasses lick-tubs is as unique as the combination of molasses, proteins, minerals and vitamins as outlined above.

Years ago, I had the opportunity to take a tour of a manufacturing facility that specialized in making low-moisture molasses lick-tubs.

It started off with heating a mixture of molasses and vegetable oil and then vacuuming off the moisture found in the mixture. Then this low-moisture liquid is combined with dry ingredients (protein, mineral, and vitamins) and the taffy-like substance is poured into plastic tubs and allowed to cool. The end-product itself is hydroscopic (absorbs moisture from the air), which allows only the surface to become tacky, while the rest of the block remains rock-hard. It is this unique hardness that limits average cattle intake to about 0.50 - 1.0 lb per head per day because the animals can only lick and consume the soften surface. If it happens to rain on the low-moisture lick-tub an inch or two of standing liquid is created, which is drunken off by cattle and provides equal nutrition. We should acknowledge that the actual intake of these low-moisture molasses licktubs will vary with the number of total animals on pasture, pasture quality and environmental conditions.

Consequently, the most common recommendation to feed the low-moisture molasses licktubs to grazing cattle is to provide a 90 - 114 kg (200 - 250 lb) to about 25 - 30 animals.

Furthermore, the placement of these tubs is a matter of preference, either where animals congregate, near or away from waterers. If competition for the tubs becomes a problem, the number of tubs should be increased and spread out to ensure that cowherd consumption is consistent on a daily basis.

A friend of mine that runs a feed mill and has a 100-beef cowherd of his own, not only uses low-moisture molasses lick-tubs to supplement some extra nutrition to his cattle, it is also used to manage his cowherd onto pasture areas that they normally would not graze.

For example, a couple of years ago, he had about twenty acres of good pasture that the cows hesitated to move into, because they had to cross a swampy area that was covered in about a foot of water and mud. My friend placed about 4 molasses lick-tubs along a fence-line on this higher pasture. Within a day, most of the cattle could be

seen grazing the good grass.

This is good testimony as to some of the practical benefits of using low-moisture molasses lick-tubs. In situations where acres of droughtstressed pastures prevail, not only can we utilize lick-tubs to help supplement some nutrition that is lacking in driedout grass, but like my friend also show cattle where the good grass might be growing.

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Woodmore Women’s Institute Forms Outreach Program

By Joan Airey Woodmore Women’s Institute Food Security Initiative was formed as an outreach program by the Women’s Institute five years ago.

“Our plan was to teach gardening, skill development in preserving garden produce, baking etc. We hold garden tours on growing food in the RM of Franklin. We also team up with Roseau Valley School in Dominion City to teach the children how to grow gardens in their backyards,” said Janet Kroeker. “On October 14 we are having a Sourdough workshop at our place. Ian Timshel will be the instructor in an in-

formal classroom.”

If you would like to learn more about Ian Timshel you can watch this interview at pembinavalleyonline.com under bakinghobby-has-become-a-deliciouspassion.

“In December we are having a sausage making workshop where a person can use their own meat to make a variety of sausages such as garlic or Mexican,” said Kroeker. “In May we will hold a seed and plant exchange in Roseau. A dehydration workshop has also been planned for next summer because of the demand.”

“I encourage everyone to watch Michael Pillan’s series “Cooked”

The Woodmore Women’s Institute’s Food Security imitative promotes homemade breads and buns as inexpensive to make and delicious.

where he covers bread in the third episode. I found all the episodes and his book to be brilliant at YouTube/epmAq5WYJk4,” noted Kroeker.

For more info on the Sourdough workshop contact Janet Kroeker at 204-427-3524 or email woolkroe@mymts.net.

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The AgriPost

September 28, 2018

Take Tornado Warnings Seriously - They Happen in Manitoba

By Joan Airey Some people think that tornados are a new phenomenon to Manitoba while others think they were just not recorded in years past because we didn’t have internet, cell phones and modern technology keeping weather forecasters apprised of what was going on weather-wise in all parts of the province.

In August of 1961 I was visiting my grandparents in the village of Coulter when suddenly a storm came up.

Heavy rain, thunder and wind that was so loud it was scary. My grandfather was in his shop and post office building next door and the wind was so bad he couldn’t open the door of the building to tell us to head for the basement. My grandma was deaf and could not hear the storm like the rest of us. I tried to get her to go in the basement but she said we’d be fine.

When looking out the window of her sunroom where she grew plants I saw Arnold and Stella Downey’s chicken house thrown in the air and the chicken were flying out or being blown out by the force of the wind.

My parents owned a farm three miles from Coulter and we found out later that all these buildings were demolished except the brick house.

The Basil Atkinson farm a mile north saw no damage to the buildings including a large red barn. Another neighbour, the Stewart Millers’ barn was flattened by the winds and it was located just north across the road on the next quarter section in view from the Atkinson house.

The buildings on my parents’ farm were a total loss and because the insurance company said it was An Act of God our insurance didn’t cover that. Thank fully we had only moved a week earlier to Rivers where my dad was working so no one was living in the farmyard when it happened.

In 1962 my neighbour Lorrie Dyer tells me of what they called a cyclone hitting her parents’ farm near Elgin when she was a tiny girl. “August 14, 1962 Lorrie’s dad Ken Cochrane just drove in the yard for supper when the tornado hit their farm yard. Mr. Ken Cochrane’s truck was lifted off

What was left of hip roof barn after a storm in August 1961.

the ground. While his wife was in the house with three small girls when the tornado hit. The electric clock on the kitchen wall stopped at 6:10 pm when the tornado lifted the roof off the family home and set it back down on the house. The upstairs bathroom curtains were between the wall and the roof when it was set back down.

The family had no warning of the approaching storm.

The windows and doors in the Cochrane’s home were destroyed, furniture, dishes, pictures, dishes scattered throughout the house. One of the families’ barns was scattered across a field. Other buildings were damaged beyond repair. The storm had carried their garage away and the house was ruined.” recounted Dyer.

Dyer’s mother Vonda Cochrane received lacerations to her arms from the flying glass. The Cochrane’s did not find some of their cattle for two days. Trees in the yard were demolished by the storm.

While reading newspaper clippings it tells of buildings being destroyed on the HS Pettinger farm which was unoccupied. Harold Sneath’s family sat the storm out in their car. Hail stones the size of baseballs totaled their crop and broke the windows in their home.

A strip of crops seven miles wide and 35 miles long was hailed up to hundred percent because of the storm on August 14, 1962.

The weather office in Winnipeg said they had the first report of a funnel shaped cloud which was sighted fifteen miles east of Moosomin, Saskatchewan. The cloud apparently moved across to the Elkhorn area about 4:30 pm leveling crops, uprooting trees, knocked down television aerials, cut off hydro and phones in the area before hitting Elgin.

It is said that one home that was destroyed by a tornado in recent years is said to have sat in the same place a house was destroyed by a tornado a hundred years ago.

Historical records show that numerous tornados’, twisters and shear winds, have caused havoc in Manitoba and will continue.

Test this Year’s Corn Silage and Dairy TMRs for Nitrates

Close-up of a cornfield in southern Manitoba on August 8. It shows a poor corn crop starved for moisture Photo by Peter Vitti and baked in 30-plus temperatures.

I took this photograph of a cornfield in southern Manitoba on August 8. It shows a poor corn crop starved for moisture and baked in 30plus temperatures. It probably won’t make good dairy feed, but in these times of scarcity it will likely be ensiled for dairy TMRs. Furthermore, it may also contain toxic nitrates, so I advise anybody in the same predicament to take corn silage and associated dairy TMR samples and send them away for nitrate tests.

After testing, effective measures can be taken to reduce the threat of nitrates in most dairy feeding programs. That’s because any stressed cornfield has the potential to accumulate nitrates. Although it should be realized that under most circumstances, respective nitrogen taken up from the soil and into corn is part of the plant’s normal growth.

Namely, nitrogen from applied N-fertilizer or manure (dissolved in soil moisture) is taken up taken up by the plants’ root system and is transported throughout the plants’ stems and the leaves, where it is converted into plant protein.

Yet, it is this natural process stalled by drought; where uploaded nitrogen in the corn plant is not fully converted into nutritious protein, but as the intermediate-N compound, we recognize as nitrates. It is these

nitrates that accumulate in the bottom 1/3 or first 30 cm (12”) of the corn plant.

If we are “lucky” enough in a dry spring to be followed by a dry summer; much nitrogen should remain in the ground, because N-absorption is often poor and thus the final corn plant might even contain safe levels of nitrates. However, the chances of this happening are slim, which are complicated by the low-chance that dairy cattle might get used to such dangerous levels of nitrates found in the same cornfields in the first place.

Case-in-point: I used to know a dairy producer, who was aware that his corn silage contained high levels of nitrates. This producer built it up over a one-week period into a high forage diet for about twenty replacement heifers. For the next few weeks, everything seemed to be going okay until one morning when he found three heifers had died overnight. The vet confirmed the deaths as nitrate-poisonings.

It seemed that excessive forage nitrates overwhelmed the replacement heifers’ rumen microorganisms’ ability to process dangerous nitrates.

In turn, this failure caused an abnormal nitrate/nitrite pool to form in their rumens. This allowed the nitrites to be absorbed through their ruminal walls and into the heifers’ bloodstream; where they reduced the oxygen-carrying

Building destroyed on Jack Bennett farm, near Coulter in August 1961.

Photos by Joan Airey

Nitrate Chart - *Ohio State University

capacity of red blood cells, which caused body tissues to literarily suffocate.

Consequently, I have studied dairy science literature demonstrating that dairy producers can reduce the risk of such nitrate poisoning from corn silage in three different ways: 1. Suspect corn plants should be cut at 30 cm (12”) above the ground – leaving the highest concentration of nitrates in the field.

2. Ensile whole corn crop – The anaerobic fermentation process reduces field nitrate levels by 20 – 65%.

3. Formulate a well-balanced dairy TMR – Grains, protein concentrate and low-nitrate forages in the dairy diet dilutes high nitrate corn silage in dairy diets to modest and possibly low-nitrate levels.

These dairy specialists also cite that some university studies show little effect of feeding high nitrate levels to dairy cows upon their feed intake or milk production. In fact, increased milk production has occurred in some of these controlled field trials, where appreciable levels of nitrates were found in the lactating TMRs. These people said that it is almost similar to feeding high levels of soluble protein (with high levels of available carbohydrates) to dairy cows allowing their rumen microbes to process a potentially dangerous nitrate pool without incident.

Unfortunately, these dairy scientists failed to mention the probable subclinical effects of high blood nitrogen due to nitrates, which is also similar to feeding high levels of soluble protein to dairy cows.

This means that many lactating dairy cows might not show the outward signs of nitrate poisoning, but some research has linked feeding high nitrate levels to a reduction in dairy cows’ reproduction performance due to lower conception rates and a higher rate of early embryonic deaths and abortions.

Reproductive failure (and related problems as mentioned above) due to feeding toxic nitrates to dairy cattle is a good testimony to analyze representative corn silage and TMR samples.

Central Testing Laboratories (in Winnipeg) charges about $100 per dairy sample for a 7FF complete analysis w nitrate test and expresses nitrate results as either nitrate - % NO3 or nitrate nitrogen - % NO3-N (note – NO3% x 0.23 = NO3-N).

So, when dairy producers receive their nitrate testing results they should compare them to the following *guidelines in order to determine what they are dealing with when it comes to nitrates in corn silage and other feeds. They should also encompass the many extenuating circumstances (re: age of cow, stage of pregnancy and health status), which determines the actual amount of nitrate-contaminated corn silage that can be safely be fed to dairy cattle (see chart below).

Regardless, since many cornfields across western Canada will likely contain toxic levels of nitrates for dairy cows and other cattle, nobody should provide untested corn silage and other feeds to them. Rather, get corn silage and TMRs samples tested for nitrates and then determine the best approach to feed with safety and without worry.

The AgriPost

September 28, 2018

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September 28, 2018

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